continued from page 21 even when academic obligations are pressing. Many of their WyldLife friends play in a recreational soccer league on Saturday mornings, and even though the fields are on the other side of Atlanta and the games start at 7 a.m., it never fails to be rewarding when they get up and make the trip. “Once we really got to know these Mission kids, they will tell you, ‘I really need to hang out with you today,’” Alex said. “They will tell you everything that’s on their mind. It’s so hard to miss things, because they really, really care that you’re there.” With 80 middle school kids in his center every school day, Felix is
“THEY WILL TELL YOU EVERYTHING THAT’S ON THEIR MIND. IT’S SO HARD TO MISS THINGS, BECAUSE THEY REALLY, REALLY CARE THAT YOU’RE THERE.” — ALEX always looking for volunteers, but over the years he has noticed that many of the well-meaning people who come to help aren’t approaching their relationships with the kids from a faith perspective. The WyldLife volunteers are young and the middle schoolers are drawn to them, he said, but more importantly they are believers who are approaching the kids with a genuine desire to see them know Christ. And Felix knows that when they have significant experiences with WyldLife, chances are better that they will stay connected into high school with Young Life, giving them more exposure to the gospel. “For us, the challenge is connecting the kid with believers, to people who have a heart and a passion to work with youth,” Felix said. “WyldLife provides that for us. That’s how we get the most help from WyldLife; their passion and their whole vision is getting kids to know Christ and to walk with Christ.”
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RELATIONSHIPS