Relationships Spring 2009

Relationships SPRING 2009

In a time of crisis, a leader shines. pg. 11 Overcoming obstacles to reach blind and deaf teens. pg. 15 Young Life College: engaging and equipping students. pg. 17

CONTENTS

SPRING 2009

TELL US THE GOOD NEWS Two high school students learn the new language of faith.

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FEATURE

DOING GOD’S LAUNDRY Olympic medalist sets personal records in Young Life.

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YOUNG LIFE GOES TO COLLEGE Initiative reaches Young Life alumni and newcomers alike.

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ACCESS TO LOVE Young Life clubs in California, Oregon and Florida are bringing the love of Jesus Christ into the lives of deaf and blind teenagers.

EVERY ISSUE

2 From the President 3 In Your Own Words 4 Young Life Lite 8 Young Life Online 13 From the Grapevine 20 Passages 22 Parting Shots

WINTER 2009 / 1

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WINNING ONE FOR THE GIPPER In a time of crisis, a leader comes to the aid of a friend and his family.

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ABOUT THE COVER Fun, energy and adventure. These important aspects of our Young Life and WyldLife ministries cannot be underestimated. To reach kids with the message of Christ, we appeal to their innate sense of daring and excitement.

The activities at camp and club exceed expectations and help convey the message of living life “to the full” as kids enthusiastically laugh and play together. Photo by Dan Dyer.

FROM THE PRESIDENT THE APOSTLE PAUL’S NEED FOR SPEED

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ur society is into “fast.” Like fast food and instant

As part of this desire to see the message spread communication. Sometimes fast is good when we rapidly, we have launched a new initiative: Reaching receive an e-mail from a loved one minutes after a World of Kids (RWOK). The concept is quite simple: we’ve written instead of waiting for regular mail. And double the number of kids we’re reaching each year from sometimes fast is bad when we begin to speed through life one million to two million and do this through recruiting, not taking the time to enjoy relationships, to ponder God’s training, deploying and retaining more leaders — many of creation, etc. whom will volunteer their time and energies. It has taken

The Apostle Paul had a desire for speed and, in his us 67 years to get to the point where we are touching the case, it was good speed. He penned these words: lives of almost a million kids a year. We don’t want

“As for other matters, brothers to wait another 67 to get to two million a and sisters, pray for us that the year. We want to do it much more message of the Lord may rapidly. Like in the next five to spread rapidly and be 10 years. honored, just as it was We have always with you. And pray that been a mission of we may be delivered leaders who volunteer. from wicked and But in the next chapter evil people, for not of Young Life, this everyone has faith. But will be an even more the Lord is faithful, and strategic emphasis. he will strengthen you And we need your and protect you from the help to succeed. First, evil one. We have confidence pray. That’s what Paul asked in the Lord that you are doing the Thessalonians to do. Pray and will continue that the message of to do the things we the Lord may spread command. May the Lord rapidly. And pray that The concept is quite simple: double the direct your hearts into we may withstand the God’s love and Christ’s opposition that comes number of kids we’re reaching each year perseverance.” the opposition from one million to two million and do this —offrom — 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5 individuals who (TNIV) through recruiting, training, deploying and don’t believe to the

Paul wanted the of the evil retaining more leaders — many of whom will opposition message of the Lord to one himself. Second, ask spread rapidly. And he yourself this question: volunteer their time and energies. asked for prayer that it Does the Lord want me might happen. to volunteer and work

In Young Life, we directly with kids? There want the Gospel to take root in many more kids’ lives as are no age limits. So why not you? It’s a risky prayer but soon as possible. We have a sense of urgency about this. one worth making.

We don’t want it to be “bad fast.” We don’t want to short Let’s double the number of kids we reach each year. circuit the spiritual growth process in any young person.

Let’s have the same desire as Paul: that the message of We don’t want to give up our relational approach of going the Lord may spread rapidly. where kids are and winning the right to be heard. But we do want to see more kids meet Jesus as rapidly as possible Denny Rydberg because we know there are so many who are lost and need to meet Christ.

Young Life President

2 / WINTER 2009

IN YOUR OWN WORDS Our readers share their thoughts

In the Beginning 2009 Thank you for the article about Addison 2004 1994 Sewell’s passing in Relationships. It was 1984 a very informative article about Young 1974 1964 Life’s five founding leaders: Addison 1954 1944 Sewell, Wally Howard, Jim Rayburn, George Cowan and Gordon Whitelock. In 1941, I was present at the Salesmanship Club Camp in Dallas, the first of such camps, and knew each of them personally.

You see, I was the first person saved at the tent meeting held in Dallas. My future wife, Winkie Morrow, was saved later at the same meeting, and Jim Rayburn performed our wedding in November 1944. We actually formed the first Young Life club in California in 1945. We had formed a small Bible study group of teenagers, and I asked Jim if I could call it Young Life, and he said OK.

Later, in 1955, Winkie and I, along with two other couples, founded Sky Ranch, first located in Denton County, Texas. Winkie went to be with the Lord in 1999 and I now live in a retirement center.

Meanwhile, Sky Ranch has become an international ministry also. All this would never have happened had it not been for Jim Rayburn telling us how to be saved at that tent meeting.

— Melvin Brewer Denton, Texas

In the winter issue of Relationships, the original five staff members should have been listed as Jim Rayburn, George Cowan, Wally Howard, Gordon Whitelock and Addison Sewell. Our apologies to Roy Riviere. for the misspelling of his name in the same article. Relationships regrets the errors and thanks Mr. Brewer for sharing his story with us.

Duplicate copies and change of address

If you are receiving duplicate copies or you would like to notify us of a change of address, please contact the Young Life Mission Assistance Team at (877) GET-YLSC (438-9572).

younglife.org P.O. Box 520 Colorado Springs, CO 80901

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is a publication of Young Life, a mission devoted to introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith.

2009 2004 1994 1984 1974 1964 1954 1944

The Second Time Around In 1971 I accepted Jesus as my savior at Malibu. I grew in my faith through high school and college and married a former work crew girl. But into our 30s and with a small child, the worries and cares of daily living slowly sapped the spiritual life out of me. My life was so dry I was reduced to one simple, final prayer, “Lord, if you want me, come and get me, because I have no desire left to find you.”

Several years later a friend called about the Bay Area Young Life 50-year reunion, and asked if I’d like to attend. I said “yes” only hoping to see old friends whom I hadn’t seen in many years. There we sang old club songs, saw skits (still funny even after all those years) and heard a club talk by Bob Mitchell. That night I realized my walk with God was too important to let slip away. “I’ve got to come back home,” I thought.

Now at 53, I’m a lay staff member in our church and on committee for WyldLife in our area, but most importantly I love Jesus as never before. God used Young Life not once, but twice to win me. I know retired firefighters aren’t supposed to cry, but I’ve got tears in my eyes even as I write this. Thank you, Lord. Thank you, Young Life. Yes, there are long-term effects of Young Life, eternal ones at that.

— Phil Machek Elk Grove, Calif.

Publisher /President Denny Rydberg Executive Editor Terry Swenson Lead Editor Jeff Chesemore Coordinator Donna McKenzie

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Copy Editor Jessica Williams Senior Designer/ Illustrator Luke Flowers Contributing Photographer Dan Dyer

Young Life is a Charter Member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

YOUNG LIFE LITE

By Stacy Windahl

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Sharing the love of Christ through laughter

hen Shelly and Tom Anderson and their family host Club Dinner on Wednesday nights they could serve 15 kids from Downingtown East and West high schools — then again, they could serve a crowd of 32.

Shelly never knows how many to expect, but she welcomes any and all who come.

Club Dinner started inauspiciously enough when the Andersons’ son started attending Young Life as a freshman in 2004. Inviting a friend or two to dinner on Wednesdays was just a convenient way of getting Blake and his friends off the football field, fed, showered and on to club. Besides, what’s another barbecue pork sandwich?

By the spring of the next year, 10-15 “regulars” were joining them for dinner every week. The Andersons encouraged those kids to invite others. And what started as a convenience soon became an intentional inconvenience for the Andersons in their Chester County, Pa., home.

Tom Anderson isn’t always sure about the number of kids who attend, (was it 24 this week, 30 last week?) but a busy night always nets two full dishwasher loads. Shelly isn’t usually available to take a final head count. Once she is finished cooking and serving, she leaves for club where she is one of the Downingtown leaders. Blake reflected on their hospitality and said, “I took their efforts for granted for a while. Then I realized the time it took my parents and what they were really doing.”

The Andersons are doing whatever it takes to get kids to club, welcoming kids like family and treating them like honored guests. That hospitality means a kitchen table extended with four leaves abutting a 6-foot craft table joined to a 4-foot card table, each topped with its appropriatelysized table cloth and flanked by a mix of chairs and benches as eclectic as the dinner guests themselves.

No hot dogs, paper plates or plasticware, either. In a grab-and-go culture, the Andersons serve a come-and-stay dinner. Regular diner Alyssa Ritter attests to that. “We fill up their entire kitchen and family room for a real family dinner — real food and real plates when it would be so much easier to use paper. It shows how much they care about us,” said Alyssa.

The Andersons’ sophomore daughter, Mackenzie, has joined these dinners since she was in eighth-grade. She’s had a front row seat to witness the Andersons’ care of guests around their table. She saw what happened when Shelly quietly attended to the dietary restrictions of Amro, a practicing Muslim who started coming to Club Dinners a year ago. Shelly started preparing a different dish for Amro whenever she served pork.

Mackenzie recalled the first such occasion when her mom placed a specially prepared plate in front of Amro. “Why’d she do that?” asked Amro.

“Because you can’t eat pork,” Mackenzie said.

Amro persisted, “But why would she do that?”

Mackenzie remembered the look of amazement on his face. “I think that was his first glimpse of what people who love Christ will do for you.”

People who love Christ and kids do some crazy things — like tearing out a half-wall when it limits the length of a growing family dinner table.

They serve meatballs by the dozen, and favorite dinners like homemade stromboli and “anniversary chicken.” And they prepare multiple menus when necessary so that every guest can feel at home.

Blake, now a college freshman, has his parents pretty well figured it out. “They know that Club Dinner helps bring kids to club and ultimately to Christ. That’s what they’re all about.”

The Andersons are doing whatever it takes to get kids to club, welcoming kids like family and treating them like honored guests.

4 / SPRING 2009

Two high school students learn the new language of faith.

By Elaine Carpenter

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n November 2008, I took kids from Woodson High School in Fairfax, Va., to Rockbridge (Young Life’s camp in Virginia) for our fall weekend. Four were Latino and had never even been to Young Life; they had no idea we would talk about Christ. I was a little nervous as the first club began, but was thrilled at how they responded to the games, skits and music.

They didn’t really pay attention during the talks, but they had a great weekend.

Norma, who is reserved but incredibly sweet, told me about her home country, and how “bad” she was when she lived there. For the past two years, she has missed not being able to do things here that she could back home. She confided that if she could improve her English, she would like it here better.

Belky, outgoing and energetic, has lived in the United States for five years and is more confident with her English. She told me she used to go to church, but stopped going because church is for good people or people who want to “get changed” into good people. She admitted that since she stopped going, she has behaved “worse” but didn’t seem to feel guilty about it.

On Sunday, both girls asked me for Bibles. On the bus ride home, we arranged to hang out the following Tuesday. When I called the night before to confirm the plan, Belky asked, “Elaine, can we bring our Bibles?”

Deep talk in a diner

When I picked them up from school the next day, they brought along their friend, Natalie*, who just moved to the United States from Morocco three months earlier.

I was already thinking that this was the most fun, most real group of girls I’d ever been with.

As soon as we sat down at the diner, they brought out their Bibles. That’s the moment I looked up at Natalie and realized, “Wait a minute, she must be Muslim.” So I asked her and she said that she was, but “not so strict.” I prayed for God to guide me as to how to show Natalie respect and sensitivity since I had not yet “earned the right to be heard” by her.

Belky had already read two chapters in John, but both girls admitted it was hard to understand, so I told them I’d order them Spanish Bibles and let them trade once SPRING 2009 / 5

I got them. They had so many questions. Norma asked me, “Wait, who’s John?” and Belky echoed, “Yeah, who is John?”

I explained that he was a disciple of Jesus and wrote one of the Gospels. They asked what “Gospel” meant and I told them it meant “good news.”

“Good news? Well, what’s the good news? Tell us!” I was wowed by all of this and couldn’t stop smiling and thanking God. I took a deep breath, said another quick prayer and charged ahead, “OK, let me make it simple and show you something really cool, then you can ask me questions as we go if you still have trouble understanding.”

And that’s when I showed them the bridge illustration (a visual tool that helps explain the Gospel) — which became a conversation where they could fill in just about everything!

Even Natalie contributed to the drawing and ideas. When I talked about how we were separated from God, she told us about the seven layers of sky that prevented us from seeing God. She was surprised that we didn’t know this “common knowledge.” I affirmed her contribution by saying that she was right; we are incredibly separated from God, without a chance on our own to see or be with Him.

I told her I did this because I love God and want to share the life I have been given with others, and that I couldn’t imagine anyone more worth it than girls like her. She looked over at me and said, “When I go to college, will there be Young Life? I want to be a Young Life leader, too!”

As we left the diner, the timing worked out again, because Natalie needed to be home by 3:30. I dropped her off first, without a dull moment in the car and endless thank yous from Natalie when she got out!

Going “home”

Before dropping off Norma, we sat in my car and prayed. The girls wanted to pray silently but asked me to say something, so I opened by thanking God for what He’s done for us, the life He offers us and blessings for both of them by name. I also thanked Him for the opportunity to be with them and share this moment with them. Then I stopped praying and a few minutes later they each said, “Amen.”

As I was driving Belky home, she looked at me and said, “Elaine, I have never met anyone like you before. You actually want to hang out with teenagers and have fun with them, and teach them about God. What makes you want to do this? No one does this for me.”

I told her I did this because I love God and want to share the life I have been given with others, and that I couldn’t imagine anyone more worth it than girls like her. She looked over at me and said, “When I go to college, will there be Young Life? I want to be a Young Life leader, too!” *Name has been changed.

— Elaine Carpenter, Young Life leader

Well, somehow God brought us through it all. He timed everything perfectly (Natalie even left for the bathroom right before the girls asked how they could actually begin a relationship with God). Belky and Norma were so excited to see all this as real — that they could have a relationship with God and experience eternal life — and it was something they could understand, and were free to do on their own!

Once they understood the process of admitting, believing and committing their lives to God, Belky looked me in the eye and said, “How can I start living this now?” I told her we needed to tell God that we wanted it, and asked, “How do we talk to God?” She responded, “Praying,” then, looking at me for affirmation, asked, “So when can we pray?”

At that point Natalie stood up and showed us how she prays and asked if we pray like that. I thanked her for her demonstration and said that God loves talking to us and will listen to us no matter how we stand or fold our hands, or what time of day, or even what we say.

Top: Belky and Elaine singing and laughing during club.

Right: Elaine hugging Belky after a successful, yet terrifying, ride on the Screamer swing at Rockbridge!

6 / SPRING 2009

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By Don

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Megan with her summer staff friends during carnival night at camp. (Leader Jessie Hynes is in the middle of the first photo.)

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Olympic medalist sets personal records in Young Life.

here are a few things you need to know about Megan Meyer. First, her father works on a pier fueling fishing boats. He has the “coolest job ever,” if you ask Megan. Her mother works in a bikini factory. She also has the “coolest job ever,” according to Megan, who gets a bathing suit for her birthday every year.

You might also want to know that Megan has more Olympic gold medals than Michael Phelps. “I counted them one day, but now I forget how many I have,” Megan said, nonchalantly. But the volleyball/tennis/basketball star didn’t make the trip to China last summer. She was too busy folding towels and sheets at Woodleaf (Young Life’s camp in California).

“I was doing God’s laundry,” said Megan. “Kids love clean stuff. Why would anyone want to come to camp and have a dirty bed?”

Armed with that simple logic and a love for Christ and kids, Megan set a few personal records this summer in Young Life. She became the first young woman with Down syndrome to serve on summer staff at camp. Like her ablebodied peers, she worked without pay to serve the campers coming each week. She folded more towels and sheets than any person with disabilities at a Young Life camp ever. And she stood and shared her story in front of the largest crowd of campers with disabilities that she had ever seen.

More than 180 deaf, lame and developmentally disabled kids sat riveted at Megan’s feet as she talked

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about her faith one night at club. Autistic kids who normally roamed randomly around the room stood still.

Kids with cerebral palsy stopped straining their arms and hands. Kids in wheelchairs leaned forward if they could, and kids who couldn’t hear listened with eyes wide open to the interpreter on the stage.

“I turned my face to Jesus,” Megan said, concluding her touching story. The club room was completely silent. Then, when Megan said, “Thank you,” the crowd went wild.

More than 180 deaf, lame and developmentally disabled kids sat riveted at Megan’s feet as she talked about her faith one night at club.

Megan might have never made it to her moment on stage without her mentor, Jessie Hynes. “We were looking for ways to go deeper with kids,” explained Hynes, who teaches kindergarten and leads Young Life. “I was thinking, what would be the next step for Megan? She has one of the greatest servant’s hearts. She loves community and is kind of independent. She’s emotionally strong. And I knew I had the summer off.” So Hynes spent the month with Megan at Woodleaf, working in the bakery, setting Megan free to serve across camp.

If you’re writing celebrity bios for the Special Olympics, there’s one more thing you need to know about Megan. It’s not her many gold medals that make her feel important.

“I know that I am loved,” said the summer staff all-star.

Which makes folding God’s laundry Megan’s favorite sport.

YOUNG LIFE ONLINE Connect with the mission @ younglife.org

Summer ’09 Only 20 percent off for each family you bring to camp!

Openings for Trail West’s Family Camp are usually hard to find this time of year. But, there are still some spots available for this summer. So, we’re offering 20 percent off for each family you recruit to Family Camp. If you bring five families, your time at Trail West is FREE! Go to trailwest.younglife.org, and scroll down to “Booking Information” for availability and rates.

Or, call Trail West at (719) 395-2477.

Headlines of 2008 From the All Staff Conference to international growth to a new logo and tagline to more kids attending camp, 2008 was a banner year in the mission of Young Life. You can catch up on some of the headlines in our 2008 Annual Report. To view the full document, go to younglife.org and click on the “2008 Annual Report” link in the Quick Links box.

Teachers, We Want You! Young Life is looking for teachers who still enjoy kids after 3 p.m.! As a teacher you already have an impact; as a Young Life leader you can continue this impact outside the school campus. This summer we’re holding four teacher summits throughout the United States, designed to train teachers to be team leaders of a Young Life ministry. You can learn all the details on where, when and what you can expect by typing “go teacher summit” in the search feature at younglife.org.

LOST CANYON - Williams, AZ - June 22-27, 2009

SOUTHWIND - Ocklawaha, FL - June 27-July 1, 2009 ROCKBRIDGE - Goshen, VA - July 31 - Aug. 5, 2009 (waiting list only) FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND TO SIGN UP, CONTACT YOUR LOCAL YOUNG LIFE STAFF PERSON.

8 / SPRING 2009

Gip’s high school senior photo – taken shortly before his accident.

In a time of crisis, a leader comes to the aid of a friend and his family.

Chuck Scott at the LSU Sugar Bowl party he organized for Gip.

By Jeff Chesemore

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s a Young Life leader it’s safe to assume your responsibilities will include leading club and Campaigner meetings, recruiting and training leaders, spending time at the school and taking buses of kids to camp. These were the primary tasks for Chuck Scott, area director in Gwinnett County, Ga., until he received a call the day of Sept. 6, 2003. In that moment his job and his life were about to change forever.

Gip Gayle, a freshman in college and one of Scott’s former Young Life kids, had gone hunting when a friend accidentally fired his gun, hitting Gip in the head from less than 26 feet away. He was now in a hospital, clinging to his life.

Life in the balance

Immediately following the accident, as Gip lay unconscious with a crushed skull, an amazing chain of events began to take place. In this remote field one of the hunters’ cell phones actually had a signal; the EMT arrived in less than 10 minutes; and a Life Flight crew, grounded due to a storm but realizing they were Gip’s only hope of survival, braved the elements and airlifted Gip to Savannah.

The Vidalia Sheriff telephoned Gip’s father, Richard, informing him of the accident; but he couldn’t confirm if Gip was still alive. Taking their other son, Taylor, with them, Richard and Beth Gayle drove the excruciating five hours to Savannah, calling everyone they knew to ask them to pray for Gip.

The Gayles arrived at the hospital to learn that Gip had been given his last rites by a local priest and that he had little chance of survival. Despite this dire news, however, Gip did survive. The victim of a traumatic brain injury, Gip would have to relearn how to do almost everything. From eating to walking to reading and writing, the challenges that lay ahead were immense.

shut down by AOL because of “spamming.” After explaining Gip’s situation to an AOL manager (who happened to be involved with Young Life when she was in high school) Scott was given an official spam account at AOL! Because Gip was in critical condition, he was unable to have visitors, only family. “Chuck quickly became ‘Uncle Chuck,’” Beth Gayle explained, “and he literally dedicated the next few years of his life to helping Gip and our family.

We don’t remember a day when Chuck was not at our side.

He came to the hospital at a moment’s notice whenever Gip’s condition took a bad turn; and that happened often!

He did whatever he could to bring smiles and laughter into our lives, at a time when we could barely breathe. Chuck Scott was ‘the face of Jesus’ in our lives! Since the day of Gip’s accident, Chuck has been there for us in every way possible; and so has his amazing wife, Julie, who supported him and took care of their family so that he could take care of ours.”

Gip himself echoes these sentiments, “There’s no way to list all the things Chuck did for me and my family. He prayed with me, sometimes for me when I couldn’t talk. He helped me in my therapies when I just couldn’t (Continued on pg. 11) Below: Proving laughter is the best medicine, “Dr. Chuck” checks on his favorite (and only!) patient.

Heroes in life

Not only was Chuck Scott Gip’s Young Life leader and football coach, he was also his close friend. “Gip was the kid I was closest to at Collins Hill High School,” Scott said. “He was my sons’ favorite player and is one of their heroes in life.”

After contacting the Gayles, Scott immediately enlisted everyone he could to pray. Within minutes of the call, Scott was forming what would become a “Prayer Warrior” team for Gip. Within days prayer requests would be streaming around the world, as the team grew and grew.

At one point Scott’s prayer list grew so large that he was 10 / SPRING 2009

(Continued from pg. 10)

go on anymore. He made me laugh, even when there was nothing funny about what was happening to me.”

From simple acts of kindness (bringing Gip his first “non-hospital” meal — a Wendy’s Spicy Chicken sandwich and chocolate Frosty) to larger efforts (“a Louisiana State University National Championship Sugar Bowl party” at the hospital) Scott was there for the Gayles, caring for them when all they could possibly focus on was caring for Gip. One special example of this care came the first Christmas that Gip was in the hospital. Because Gip’s condition demanded their constant attention, the Gayles were not ready for Christmas. When Gip’s brother, Taylor, asked if they were going to celebrate Christmas, his mom said that they certainly would celebrate the birth of Jesus, but Adecorate YoungorLife leaderthat year. they wouldn’t be able to go shopping Beth Gayle sharedgets what happened next, “Chuck creative as he once again rallied the Young Life troops and they spent reaches to kids As we an entire day decorating our houseout for Christmas! in the midst of their drove home late that night from the hospital, we couldn’t believe our eyes. Our home lit up the entire neighborhood! demanding schedules.

Words cannot even begin to describe the joy in our hearts as we drove up our driveway! With tears in his eyes, Taylor screamed out ‘YES! We’re going to have a Christmas after all!’ How do you thank someone for that?”

Beth Gayle said, “This was such a gift from God. Meeting Jeff, and of course laughing with him, lifted all of our spirits at a time when life was pretty tough.”

During their visit, Gip recounted the story of when he first woke out of his coma. Seeing all of his family there with him in the hospital, Gip wondered who was taking care of his beloved dog, so the first words out of his mouth were, “How’s Yeller?”

Foxworthy busted out laughing and said, “Gipper, I think I just found a new joke for my act! I love dogs too, and that story just touches my heart. That will forever be in my Redneck Hall-of-Fame.” Foxworthy put his new “Gipper joke” in his 2005 calendar: “You might be a redneck if the first thing you say when you come out of a coma is ‘How’s my dog?’” The date on the calendar? Sept. 6 — the day of Gip’s accident and Foxworthy’s birthday!

The gift of laughter

One night in May of 2005, Scott woke up at 2:00 a.m., unable to go back to sleep. “I had this idea of Jeff Foxworthy doing a benefit for Gip at the Gwinnett Arena. I went about my day and that night Jeff called me to bounce a big idea off of me. I hadn’t spoken to Jeff in two months, but I told Jeff I had a strange feeling I already knew what

You might be a friend of Gip’s if …

To say that Chuck Scott went the extra mile for Gip seems to be the greatest of understatements. No one could foresee what was to come next as Scott took yet another step of faith on behalf of his friend.

When the accident occurred, Gip was wearing a camouflage ball cap signed by Jeff Foxworthy, which he had won at a Young Life club. It was Gip’s favorite; he even called it his “lucky hat.” The blast from the gun went right between “Jeff” and “Foxworthy,” pretty much destroying the hat. Gip told Scott, “Man I’m so bummed about my hat.” Scott replied, “You survived this whole thing and you’re upset about your hat? I’ll get you another Foxworthy hat!” Determined to do just that, Scott exhausted all potential connections to Foxworthy, but had no luck.

That very night Scott went to his son’s basketball game and minutes later, in walked Jeff Foxworthy, sitting 10 seats down from Scott on the same bleacher. Hating to bother Foxworthy, but realizing this was more than mere coincidence, Scott introduced himself and told Foxworthy that “this was a God moment.” After listening to Gip’s story, Foxworthy said, “I’ll get that guy more than a hat.”

Foxworthy went home and told his wife, Gregg, and she said, “Oh yeah — Gip! I’ve been getting Chuck’s e-mails and praying for Gip every day.” The Foxworthys went with Scott to the Gayles’ house that week and the rest is history.

“Jeff and Gip just hit it off from day one,” Scott explained.

“He brought Gip three giant boxes of stuff — hats, DVDs, the works. He even autographed one of the hats, “Jeff Foxworthy — Do not shoot this hat!”

SPRING 2009 /11

The Gayle family today: Gip, Richard, Taylor and Beth

his idea was. He said I was ‘weirding him out a little’ and then proceeded to share his idea: to do a benefit for Gip at the Gwinnett Arena!” Foxworthy and Scott quickly related the “shared vision” to their wives and they all marveled at the clarity of God’s direction.

Nearly 8,000 people attended the benefit concert, helping the Gayle family with their staggering medical expenses. At the end of his comedy routine, Foxworthy showed a video of “Gip’s journey” since his accident and introduced Gip to the audience. Gip walked on stage to a standing ovation, where he thanked Foxworthy, Scott and his devoted team of prayer warriors. Not surprisingly, the Gayles agree that it was the greatest night of their lives.

The road back

Gip spent nearly a year in and out of hospitals, enduring more than 20 surgeries and procedures. He lost more than 70 pounds and his body shut down several different times, because he was so weak. “Gip was at ‘death’s door’ more times than we care to remember,” Beth Gayle shared.

“The days were long, the nights even longer. Gip faced many complications from surgeries with high fevers and infections. The doctors were not giving us much hope at times.”

So this is what the role of Young Life leader may also encompass: countless hours in a hospital room, establishing a worldwide prayer chain, decorating a family’s home for Christmas, enlisting a world-famous comedian’s help and doing so with a servant’s heart.

Through tremendous faith, Gip has rebuilt every aspect of his life. Wanting to follow Scott’s example of helping others, Gip began visiting other patients with brain injuries, encouraging them to have faith and keep fighting. Later, with Scott’s help, Gip served on summer staff (the opportunity for college-age students to volunteer at a Young Life camp for a month) at Windy Gap. He also became a Young Life leader at his old high school, where he had the opportunity to bond with Taylor, who had just entered his freshman year.

Sharing the journey

Feeling lifetimes removed from that day in September, today Gip appreciates what this long journey has meant.

“It’s taken five years,” Gip acknowledged, “but I’m finally back in college and living on my own again! I still have challenges to overcome and some days are tough, but I’ve been through tougher times and I know God is still with me every step of the way.”

“Gip continues to amaze his doctors as he meets and beats challenges,” Scott explained. “He really is a medical miracle. Because of the parts of his brain that he lost, he shouldn’t be able to do this or that; but he’s done great. Gip is Gip. He has to work harder than before at some things, but he hasn’t lost one second of his humor, quick wit or his memory; physically, he’s as strong as he ever was.”

So this is what the role of Young Life leader may also encompass: countless hours in a hospital room, establishing a worldwide prayer chain, decorating a family’s home for Christmas, enlisting a world-famous comedian’s help and doing so with a servant’s heart. Beth Gayle is quick to tell you what this has meant to their family, “We cannot imagine our lives without Chuck or Young Life!”

Left to right: Christmas “angels” in front of the Gayles’ decorated home. Jeff Foxworthy with Gip and Yeller, who provided the comedian with some new material. Gip’s football pose his senior year.

Chuck Scott recently accepted the position of senior campaign director for Carolina Point, our newest camp on the border of North and South Carolina.

For more details about the camp, see pg. 14.

12 / SPRING 2009

FROM THE GRAPEVINE A fruitful selection of stories from the field

Crawling to the Cross

By Rick Mumford

One night as I spoke at WyldLife camp at Castaway (in

The junior higher next to me, Chad Boedeker from Ely, Minnesota), I shared the Gospel in the context of the man Minn., who was not sitting in his wheelchair at the time, who was lowered through the roof by his four buddies. The started to move toward the stage. His leader Emmett, paraplegic, his friends, everyone, thought the man’s biggest thinking Chad might want his chair, leaned over and issue was that he was paralyzed. But as usual, Jesus surprised whispered, “You okay?” everyone by saying, “Friend, your sins are “Yeah,” he replied. “I’m just going to crawl.” forgiven.” Jesus correctly diagnosed and

As Emmett walked behind him and helped dealt with the real issue. him work his way through all the kids, Chad

I went on to share that we all slowly made his way to the cross. He crawled think we know what our biggest up on stage, wrote his name on a red paper issue is. Our parents are divorced. heart and nailed it near the bottom of We’re too tall or short or fat or the cross. skinny. We’re learning-disabled or I don’t know why it’s such a powerful unpopular. And yet Jesus knows image for me. Perhaps because, like the there’s a bigger issue. It was true paralyzed man in the story, this young for the paralyzed man and it’s man realized his biggest issue — and he true for us. understood that Jesus is his only hope.

After I shared this I gave Or maybe it’s because we are all the the kids a chance to respond by same — broken, hurting, desperate. And no writing their names on a red paper matter who we are, Jesus is willing to accept Chad flexes heart and nailing it to the cross we us and love us right where we are. before tackling had on stage. I watched from the side of the zip line at the club room as kids — some of them crying Castaway.

— individually thanked Jesus for His sacrifice.

A Loaded Truth By Cory Bordonaro Gretchen Sanger didn’t pack light when she traveled with young moms to the Puget Sound for YoungLives camp last summer.

(YoungLives is our ministry to teen moms.) In fact, when this Vancouver, Wash., leader prepared for the week away, she included a load of small rocks in her suitcase.

Before camp, she painted each one with words like “anger” and “fear,” frequently expressed emotions among her high school kids. “I think it’s common to women, but especially to these gals. They’re all looking for their knight in shining armor,” she said. “They’re needing love so bad that they’re looking for it in the wrong way or in the wrong place and, a lot of times, that’s why they’ve ended up in the situations they’re in.”

During cabin time one night, Sanger piled the rocks into a backpack and passed it around for each girl to wear. After commenting on the substantial weight of the pack, she emptied its contents onto the floor, inviting each camper to take hold of a rock that best fit the description of how she felt toward her life and current circumstances.

With the rest of camp settled into their cabins, Sanger then led the girls down to the lake and prayed as each young woman threw her rock into the water.

“There were a lot of tears,” she remembered, “and there was a lot of openness to hurts in everyone’s lives.”

Together, as they watched the rocks sink to the bottom of the lake, they felt the relief of their released weight. What an example of how Jesus promises rest for those who are heavy-laden and weary from the effects of sin.

Because Jesus often uses physical illustrations to communicate the Gospel, Sanger also prefers to use her surroundings to share truth. After a Sanger, with backpack, meaningful week at camp, she certainly wasn’t the only one thankful for a and the girls lighter load on the way home. at camp.

SPRING 2009 / 13

Significant Connections

By Kayla Anderson

“With sweat and mud running in my eyes, I saw two little girls standing in front of us giggling and smiling. We didn’t speak the same language, but I could see the gratitude in their eyes,” recalled Braedon McCoy, who engaged in manual labor alongside 22 other Young Life students from Singapore and Japan, as they served the staff and children of a Filipino orphanage.

The children of Home of Hope orphanage welcomed the Young Life leaders and students warmly and, likewise, the Young Life students bonded quickly to these kids. Though it was their intention to serve the orphans, the lives of the Young Life kids were Students equally impacted. smile and

“Most of the orphans attached themselves to a sweat in student or two for the duration of the week. Though service at the we were expecting to shower love on these kids through orphanage. our time and energy, it was these kids who taught us a rich reality of God’s unconditional love,” said Sarah Mae Billingsley, on staff with Singapore Young Life. “The students felt a significant connection to these orphans, so much so that their Facebook profile pictures were changed to ones with their special orphan.”

One of the students, Kelsey Lightfoot, was excited and inspired by the trip: “I came back not only being more closely connected to Young Life and the people involved, but also closer to God. I am currently pestering all of my friends to come and experience what I did. It was the best week of my life.”

Even as the team boarded the plane for their return, however, the trip was far from over.

“While I studied math with one student,” Billingsley said, “two others behind us engaged in a focused conversation that was spiritual in nature. An hour-plus later, the chat wrapped up in prayer, one walking the other through asking Jesus to be the center of his life. What a joy for us to set the stage for a student to speak love and truth to a peer.”

Two Steps Closer to New Young Life Camp

By Terry Swenson

A new Young Life camp on the border of North and South Carolina is now two steps closer to becoming a place where kids will spend a life-changing “best week.” Step 1: Select a name. Some of our readers will be familiar with the initial name, Pinnacle Point, which turns out to be a fairly common name for various businesses and landmarks in the surrounding area. A group of camp and field staff have therefore selected a new name: Carolina Point. Originally donated to Young Life by Jim Anthony, who also invested in initial development of the land, Carolina Point will have the unique distinction of being the only Young Life camp with a state border running through the center of the property. Step 2: Build a camp.

Plans are now underway to design, raise funds for and build Carolina Point, and meet a growing need for campers in the Southeastern United States. Please pray for Senior Vice President John Vicary and regional directors in the Southern Division, Campaign Director Chuck Scott and Camp Manager Greg Carlton as they lead the planning, funding and building of Carolina Point, and for the kids who will experience Christ at this special place.

14 / SPRING 2009

B

was so giggly and bubbly. I don’t think we’d heard her even ringing kids from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind (FSDB) to Young Life camp requires that Young Life sigh, let alone laugh before. Now every time she sees me she has questions to ask me about Jesus. And her parents are so leaders go the extra mile. Literally. supportive and happy, too.”

Many FSDB students come from families who financially qualify for a state-provided education. While Young Life Hope beyond high school campership donations help cover the cost of camp, these kids Young Life’s mission and methods have been translated in still need to find transportation there. many cultures with great success, and now the deaf and blind So several days before camp, leaders set out across the cultures in the United state, pick up kids from States are no exception, their homes and bring them thanks to the growing to Young Life’s SharpTop ministries to deaf and blind Cove, in Georgia. And in kids who attend residential between arriving at camp state-run schools not and heading home, these only in Florida, but also in Young Life leaders will California and Oregon, too. tend to many daily details Aimee MacDonald, so that deaf campers see who leads the Young what can’t be heard and Life leadership team for blind campers hear what FSDB, said deaf and blind can’t be seen. The logistics teenagers “need to know can seem overwhelming. they are loved and cared But kids like Maria* prove for unconditionally. They it’s all worth it. have a lot of questions that

Deaf since she was a other teenagers have. But young child, Maria came to they also wonder why they the United States at the are deaf or blind. age of about 14 from Cuba A lot of them have just with extremely delayed lost hope. We try to give language ability. “When I them a hope beyond met her, the only word she high school.” could sign was ‘hug,’” said Getting a taste of that Michelle Kratz, a Young Life leader and a deaf-education hope can be hard to come major at Flagler College in by. Many of the students St. Augustine, Fla., where don’t typically have access FSDB is also located. to churches that can meet

Because of Maria’s the needs of the deaf and language development, the blind consistently. leaders wondered how “Their [spiritual] needs she would be able to may have never been met understand abstract or they’ve experienced concepts like faith at resistance,” said Araya camp. But after each Williams, who started a

By Aimée Kessick club talk, Kratz and other Young Life club for students leaders would gather with attending the Oregon Maria and the rest of School for the Deaf (OSD).

Young Life clubs in California, Oregon and the girls from the cabin, In addition, especially for Florida are bringing the love of Jesus Christ into summarizing the club talk most students attending as much as possible. One state-funded schools, the lives of deaf and blind teenagers. day, Kratz was surprised “it’s not uncommon for when, during their kids to come from tough debriefing time, Maria suddenly signed, backgrounds and hard economic situations,” Lohr said. “The “My heart is changed. Jesus died for all.” challenges from their disabilities are compounded by the other “I’ve never seen her use those signs before,” Kratz said. “So I problems they face.” asked her, ‘Do you want to know Jesus? Do you want Jesus in Building bridges your heart?’”

But walk into any of these Young Life clubs and those Maria signed, “yes.” The two prayed in silence. And later challenges seem worlds away. In California, deaf students that night, “She was completely changed,” Kratz said. “She

SPRING 2009 /15

attend club with hearing peers.

“The first time I came to club, I thought, ‘Oh, what a fun deal!’ And everyone was happy, enjoying themselves, playing games, singing songs and hearing about Jesus,” said Isaac West, who is now a Young Life leader in the same club for CSD students.

He also noticed that club was a bridge between the hearing and deaf cultures. “When I saw deaf groups with some cute girls hanging with hearing groups, I was surprised that hearing students knew some American Sign Language. That was great for me to see hearing and deaf students get along and have fun.”

For Wyatt Baldwin, who recently graduated from CSD, his involvement in Young Life has been life-giving.

“I still think back to Woodleaf [Young Life’s camp in California] ­— the great friends, learning about Christ, having deaf and hearing people together. It really was the best time I’ve ever had.”

“Relating to them, because I am hearing, can be hard because I don’t fully understand all the hardships they go through. But I do my best, and I just let them know I am there and love them for who they are.”

Students from the California School for the Deaf, who attend Young Life club with hearing students from local high schools, went on a house building trip to Mexico in 2007.

— Abby Turver, OSD leader

Common language The clubs’ success is a credit to the relationships leaders build not only with students, but also with teachers, parents and administrators.

“Our leaders are really ingrained in the school,” Don Lohr said. “Leaders help with on-campus tutoring, they go to football games, and participate in dorm activities like crafts and game nights.”

And sign language expertise is not a prerequisite for spending time in these communities. Cassandra Luontela became a Young Life leader for the CSD club while taking beginner sign language interpreting classes. “I was clueless,” she said. “But I’m accepted by the kids even when I make mistakes.”

Abby Turver, a Young Life leader for the OSD club, has discovered that every kid understands the language of unconditional love.

“Relating to them, because I am hearing, can be hard because I don’t fully understand all the hardships they go through. But I do my best, and I just let them know I am there and love them for who they are.”

And it’s that kind of friendship that helps hearts sense the Savior’s love. “God definitely draws them to Him,” said Scott Swanson, a CSD Young Life leader. “I don’t know how it happens but it does.”

Campers from the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind took on the ropes course at SharpTop Cove last summer.

Kids from the Oregon School for the Deaf enjoying club last spring. The OSD club also combines with another public high school’s Young Life club once a month.

*Name has been changed.

16 / SPRING 2009

ung Life alumni Yo es h ac re ve ti ia it In e. and newcomers alik any Bradsher

By Beth

W

hen Christine Curry began her studies at Howard University, she knew nothing about Young Life; what she did know was that she wanted to be a doctor.

Today as a junior, she plans her class schedule around her calling as a Young Life leader as she charts a course toward a ministry career. The spark for Curry’s transformation?

Howard’s Young Life College outreach.

SPRING 2009 /17

“The biggest thing I would say is that through the ministry of Young Life I have discovered how to not only be loved, but to love others, and to share my life,” Curry said.

Curry and many others like her have grown deeper in their faith through Young Life College. Through Director Kymira Callaway’s tireless efforts to make friends at Howard and create growth opportunities for the students there, Young Life has established a unique footprint at Howard, one of the nation’s premiere historically black universities.

Howard is just one of 28 universities that have seen a new Young Life presence in the last two years — a dedicated Young Life initiative just for college students. With a full-time director and a growth plan aimed at embracing seven new campuses every year, Young Life College is one of the biggest things on campus.

To some degree, Young Life has always ministered to the university population,

especially in the recruitment, training and discipleship of leaders. But any staff member who has seen an excited new Christian falter when they enter college has tasted the need for something that also helps college kids navigate the unique challenges before them with their faith intact. Young Life College exists both as a spiritual lifeline for students who are making pivotal choices and as a pipeline to ministry for those who are already committed to Christ; moreover, the ministry seeks to reach students with previous Young Life experience and those new to the mission.

Veteran staffers catch campus vision

“If there was a theme, it would be the theme of forming a community that cares for these students as they begin to find ways to give their lives away,” said Mike Gaffney, the director for Young Life College. “Part of the mentality would be that we’re raising up leaders for the kingdom, period.”

Campuses like Washington State and Texas A&M have had staff and leaders engaging in collegiate ministry for years, but it wasn’t until 2005 that the idea began to bubble up on a missionwide scale, Gaffney said. Through his role in the college ministry at the University of Washington, Gaffney had worked alongside Young Life for years, and Young Life President Denny Rydberg thought he had the right mix of gifts and experience to oversee the effort.

“In some ways, Young Life College is trying to intentionalize that which is already happening,” said Gaffney, who signed on full time with Young Life in 2007.

One of the programs Gaffney has been able to guide into existence is in San Diego, where John Byard is seeking ways to reach the 55,000 students who are living and studying at colleges in that city. Byard’s primary focus is San Diego State University (SDSU), but he also has student involvement from the University of San Diego and Point Loma Nazarene.

A 14-year veteran of Young Life staff in Arizona, Byard

An important element of a new Young Life College ministry is getting the word out. Student leaders at San Diego State man an information table on their campus.

was initially skeptical when he heard about Young Life College in Phoenix. But he got involved with the Arizona State ministry in his role as metro director, eventually spending half of his time on Young Life College. When he learned that Young Life was looking for someone in San Diego, it seemed like a natural next step in his developing passion for college ministry.

At San Diego State, Byard has found a “hurting campus that desperately needs Christ and doesn’t know it,” and he has focused on planning campus events to get to know some students and training his team of 20 leaders. He and his wife, Jen, have started hosting dinner for students at their home each week, and in early February they started weekly clubs on site at SDSU.

“The biggest thing I would say is that through the ministry of Young Life I have discovered how to not only be loved, but to love others, and to share my life.”

— Christine Curry, college student “There’s so much diversity at San Diego State that I think we’re going to be able to capture a lot of different people,” said leader Sam Steele, who envisions up to 500 students eventually attending club each week. “I think God has really blessed it.”

Like John Byard, Kenny Nollan had a field staff background — he was an area director and a regional director — and while serving in Ann Arbor, Mich., he realized he was drawn to university ministry. The University of Michigan ministry just started in November 2008, and already Nollan has a handful of small groups and 40 students signed up for a spring mission trip to the Dominican Republic.

(Continued on pg. 19)

Kymira Callaway (left), Young Life College director at Howard University, leads students on a fall college weekend.

18 / SPRING 2009

(Continued from pg. 18)

Today’s generation of collegians gets a bad rap at times, but Nollan has been refreshed by the friends he has made on the Michigan campus. He said, “It’s been great to get back into the college world: the openness and freedom of thought that people have at that age, and the revolutionary mindset that they can change the world.”

Launching students into ministry

Young Life College might still be in its infancy as an official entity, but some universities have ministries that have been vibrant for years.

Tracey Beal, a Young Life leader in the Phoenix high school club her children attended, began to develop a heart for the students who met Christ through Young Life but then lost their spiritual clarity in college.

An active Young Life College program was already operating at the main campus of Arizona State University in Tempe when Beal was Young Life leader recruited six years ago toAlaunch the ministry at ASU West in Phoenix.

At ASU West — a university of 10,000 students Beal and her leaders gets creative as —he see 100 students attendreaches small groups each week and out to kids send mission work teams to Lima, Peru, each spring. the midst of their “I think it’s creatingin a community for them to really discover God,” Beal said. “They’redemanding coming to know Jesus and really making that schedules. their own, and they’re at an incredibly key time in their life to really discover their role. It’s the most fun thing I’ve ever done, because we get to impact them at so many life-changing levels.”

One member of the ASU West club worked with kids with disabilities in Peru on one of the spring mission trips, then came back home fired up about Young Life’s ministry to kids with disabilities, called Capernaum. That vision led her to start a new Young Life Capernaum club in northwest Phoenix and to recruit many of her Young Life College friends to become leaders. Every leader in Young Life College has a similar story — about students who grow through the ministry and are eagerly sent out as high school or college Young Life leaders, summer staff or servants in other ministries.

Gaffney walks each new Young Life College area through a fouryear plan for each student that moves them from a large-group focus to small groups to mission outreach opportunities, with the caveat that no student fits the mold precisely. For every former club kid who is just looking for the next level of Young Life, there is a student like Christine Curry who doesn’t initially recognize the Young Life name, but is searching for an outlet for discipleship and service.

Vince Hunter is now an intern for Northeast DC Young Life, but like Curry he was unacquainted with Young Life when he first encountered it as an undergraduate at Howard. He had the opportunity to be part of the work crew at the 2008 All Staff Conference in Orlando and at camp, and the people he met on those trips inspired him to commit his life to unreached kids.

“It seemed like I couldn’t find a place where people were authentic and actually living out their faith,” Hunter said. “I was really, really lacking that, and Young Life College to me just really embodied it. I found people who are really real and really getting involved in the Word of God.” SPRING 2009 /19

Top: Students at the University of Texas, which has a large and vibrant Young Life College ministry, show their enthusiasm before a football game. Middle: Two members of the ASU West club wait for a meal during a Young Life College weekend.

Bottom: Young Life College students at Howard University enjoying a fall day on the Washington, D.C., campus.

PASSAGES Honoring those who have served the mission

Rollin Wilson (July 14, 1926 — Nov. 7, 2008) Young Life’s longest-serving leader loved by thousands In 1952, Rollin Wilson began a Young Life club in partnership with Second Presbyterian Church of Memphis, Tenn. For 50 years, Wilson led that club which attracted hundreds of kids every week. In a contest to name the behemoth, it became known as CFAPTHI, “Can’t find a place (big enough) to have it.”

The name and the club continue to this day.

At the November 2008 memorial service celebrating Wilson’s life, the pastor invited those attending to stand if “Rollin was an influence in your decision to follow Christ.”

Hundreds of CFAPTHI “kids” stood.

Barry Jenkins, a co-leader with Wilson, said of that moment, “If you simply do the math, you will know that I am not exaggerating when I tell you that Rollin’s service could have been held in the FedEx Forum with thousands of people whose lives were dramatically impacted by Rollin. There are tens of thousands of people who are not far removed from Rollin in their spiritual family tree.”

Brad Baker, Young Life staffer for 38 years, is one of Wilson’s spiritual sons. “There was warmth about Rollin. He loved kids. He loved Jesus. That’s why he loved Young Life.”

You could say that Wilson loved Young Life camp before he even met Young Life. Wilson spent summers as a boy at Round-Up Lodge in Buena Vista, Colo., a property later purchased by Young Life and renamed Frontier Ranch.

A serendipitous meeting at a Sunday school class led Wilson and then Area Director Tom Bade to talk about Frontier Ranch and Wilson’s summers there. Not long afterward, Jim Rayburn invited Wilson and his wife, Margaret, to be his guests for a week of camp.

“If you simply do the math, you will know that I am not exaggerating when I tell you that Rollin’s service could have been held in the FedEx Forum with thousands of people whose lives were dramatically impacted by Rollin.”

— Barry Jenkins, Wilson’s co-leader

Baker recalled Wilson’s reflections about that week when Rayburn was camp speaker: “It was like I was hearing the Gospel for the first time,” said Wilson. “What changed me was seeing the faith of the work crew and summer staff. I needed to be more like that.”

And he was. Baker said, “Rollin picked up Rayburn’s way of capturing hearts and drawing us to Jesus.” In more than 50 years of leadership, Wilson pioneered weeklong ski trips during spring break and he organized the first Memphis Family Week that became the model for family camp at Trail West. He was loved for being a master storyteller with a big heart and a robust sense of humor.

But Barry Jenkins believes Wilson would silence any bragging about him. “Rollin would tell you that anyone can do what he did. For 50 years, he just kept showing up.”

“I try to imitate Rollin all the time, his ways and his talks.

I can’t do what Rollin did, but what I can do is keep showing up in kids’ lives.” Tens of thousands of Rollin Wilson’s kids could tell you that makes an eternal difference.

20 / SPRING 2009

Kids from under-resourced communities typically can’t afford a week at Young Life camp, yet they desperately need time with trusted leaders against the backdrop of God’s beauty to reflect on the Father’s love. Would you consider giving a special gift to help underprivileged kids come to camp? Please give to your local area first, then consider giving above and beyond so these kids can also enjoy the experience of a week at camp.

To contribute to camp scholarships, call Young Life Income Processing at (877) 438-9572 or go to younglife.org and click on the button that says “Help Kids Experience the Best Week of Their Lives.”

SPRING 2009 / 21

PARTING SHOTS A collection of photos from the field

1. Joe and Gus experience God’s love as they participate in an amazing summer experience at Woodleaf.

2. Every Saturday Young Life leaders provide club for kids at this orphanage near Chernovtsy, Ukraine.

3. Seasoned summer staff at Castaway agree, “It doesn’t get any better than this!”

4. YoungLives moms and kids are headed for the best week of their lives.

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FEATURE PHOTO

Staff at the first Africa All Staff Conference in Tanzania came from the 10 countries where we currently have Young Life and six countries where we are working to begin ministry. They represented more than 50 African tribes speaking in more than 300 languages.

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