WE INTRODUCE KIDS TO JESUS
Where There Are Kids, There is Young Life
In Latin America and the Caribbean, kids are everywhere. They are running through the streets chasing down soccer balls. They are walking through their barrios, talking with family members they pass along the road, greeting everyone with a kiss on the cheek and laughing with their friends. They are studying in schools, pursuing dreams of being the first in their families to finish high school and go to college. Over 154 million of the population in Latin America and the Caribbean is made up of young people, which makes it the perfect place for Young Life to plant roots.
WHO WE ARE
Young Life LAC is made up of over 3,000 volunteer Young Life leaders serving in 700 different ministries across 25 countries with wildly different languages, ethnicities and cultures. We exist in 11 different regions, but we all make up one Latin America and Caribbean family serving one God.
God is using these leaders to plant seeds in the hearts of kids in their countries, cities and neighborhoods. These seeds are growing into trees that are rooted in Christ and bearing much fruit. God is raising up the next generation of Christian leaders and disciples for the future of these 25 countries, and Young Life gets to be a part of it!
The Senior America Latina Team
Rebecca Sweeeney Campaign Director Rafa Alejo Vice President, East
Astrid Preciatt Divisional Administrator
Rebeca Clifford Director of Financial Operations
Hollman Mendoza Vice President, West
Danny Sharpe Director of Operations
Carolina Pujol Vice President, South
Kevin Suwyn Senior Vice President
LAC WEST
M e xi c o
Ce n t r a l Americ a
B e li ze, G u a tema l a
Ce n t r a l Americ a Central
H o ndu r a s , El Salvador and N i ca r ag u a North
Ce n t r a l Americ a South
Nicaragua South, C o s ta R i ca a nd P a n am a
LAC EAST
Caribbean Spanish
Do mi n i ca n Rep u blic, Cuba, Puerto Rico.
Caribbean
Tri n ida d a n d Tobag o, Aruba, Jamaica and, Grand Cayman
Haiti
LAC SOUTH
Tricolor
Colombia and Venezuela
Ama z o n
Ec u a d o r , Peru, Bolivia, Chile and Paraguay
B r azi l
P a tagoni a
Ar ge n tina a n d U ru g u a y
“God created the garden called Haiti and it is a good place. We must tend the garden and grow lasting fruit.”
—Cheche, National Director YL Haiti
DISCIPLING THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS
Double, Double
The vision of “double, double” has captured our people. We are asking the Lord for more than we can possibly accomplish on our own. We are praying to the Lord of the harvest to double fruit of our labor and then double it again to exponentially reach more young people. This vision is bringing us back to dependence and expectation, reminding us daily that while we plant and water, the Lord is the one who grows this ministry. This vision is encouraging us to GO to the next place, even when it looks impossible. It has been challenging and uncomfortable, but a radically faith-filled, joyful and rewarding path!
Disciples making Disciples
It’s as simple as this —In the same way Jesus sent his own disciples to make disciples, our leaders in Latin America and the Caribbean are empowering kids to invite their friends to hear the greatest love story ever told. As kids go with their leaders to camp, they start to ask, “Who can I bring to camp?” As kids read the Bible with their leaders, they start to ask, “Who can I read the Bible with?” Over and over, leaders share their faith with kids, these teenagers are inspired to share their experience with their friends and more and more kids are coming to know Jesus.
“If we can reach one more for Christ, and we do it with intentionality, we’re going to impact a city. We’re going to impact a country. We can talk about numbers, but really, the key is one-by-one bringing kids to Jesus.”
- Rafa Alejo, Vice President, LAC East
Three Core Strategic Movements
Young Life leaders in every country across Latin America and the Caribbean are praying and acting on these daily three strategies to reach kids for Christ
DREAM MAP
Our leaders are constantly dreaming and praying about the next club, the next neighborhood that hasn’t been reached yet, but that they desperately want to see impacted by the Gospel. Each leader has a “Dream Map” folded in their Bible or hanging in their home. This is a map of their surrounding area that reminds them to see, plan and pray over the next place they want to invest into.
MATTHEW 9:38 LIST
Our staff and volunteer leaders have a list of names that they pray for consistently, asking the Lord of the harvest to bring more workers. Who will move from this list to start the next club? Who will become the next staff person in their country? They pray for the workers, and the people who will come alongside the workers to support, love and encourage. This inspires our leaders to also pray for and invest in the people on their own lists!
LEADERSHIP TREE
Leaders disciple kids who then become leaders themselves and disciple the next generation of kids, and a tree-shaped web of relationships forms. Picture the trunk of the tree as a Young Life leader, who pours into 3 branches (leaders) who then pour into 3 more leaders, and a Leadership Tree will begin to take shape. Every single one of our leaders in Young Life LAC has a Leadership Tree drawn in their journal with names of leaders and kids in their area.
Pursuing Every Kid, Everywhere
“Amongst the chaos, living with Him in my heart, I can see a glimpse of hope, love, and faith.”
—Angel Castillo, Age 17, San Antonio Club, YL Venezuela
2,147 VOLUNTEERS/LEADERS
TEEN MOMS, CAPERNAUM, UNIVERSITY
When a leader envisions reaching their neighborhood with the gospel, they connect with all kinds of kids— teenage moms, kids with disabilities, and university students. Young Life leaders walk alongside them, showing these teens they are seen, loved, and not forgotten by God.
LOCAL STEWARDSHIP
Adults throughout Latin America and the Caribbean are being invited to partner with local Young Life neighborhood ministries to ensure long-term health and sustainability.
KIDS KNOWN BY NAME
21,963
DORMITORIES EXTERIOR RENDERING
HAITI CAMP
We are building a new camp in Haiti. This new camp will provide a culturally excellent camp facility that will impact the Kingdom for years to come. The finished camp will house 270 kids and leaders and 50 work crew and staff.
INTERNATIONAL LEADER DEVELOPMENT
Our top-level leadership development program with a proven track record of training staff to build teams and lead in increasingly complex geographies.
FORWARD FOCUS
2027
Known by name. For a purpose.
KNOWN CAMPAIGN
From now until 2030, we have a Holy-Spirit inspired vision to impact thousands of kids in the loneliest generation. We are compelled to know Jesus, to know young people, and make Jesus known by opening 572 new ministries.
NEIGHBORHOOD MINISTRY
The neighborhood is the epicenter of a teenager’s life in Latin America & the Caribbean. We have seen that when a life is changed, a neighborhood is changed, and even a country is changed. Because of this, we have identified the neighborhood as a strategic place in LAC. Join us as we pray for new neighborhood ministries.
SPONSORSHIP
Sponsorships empower leaders to grow and expand ministry to reach more kids. Staff, country, regional, and divisional sponsorship levels reflect the scalability of support provided. A 3-year initial commitment invites a trusted funding and deep kingdom partnership. A sponsorship is the most helpful way to make a big impact for kids to be known by Christ. Become a sponsor today!
175,666 1,237 117,848 KIDS KNOWN BY NAME 3,942 VOLUNTEERS/LEADERS
Juntos . Together.
Our goal is to raise 12 million by 2027 to support leaders’ goal of 567 new ministries planted in Latin America & the Caribbean.
Young Life Latin American and the Caribbean is a missional family made up of staff, volunteer leaders and financial partners in the United States and abroad who are all passionate about reaching more kids for Christ. Your support helps us reach every kid, everywhere.
Here are some ways that you can impact the Kingdom as part of the Known Campaign:
SPONSORSHIP
Sponsor a geography where you want to see more kids hear the good news of Jesus Christ. CAMPAIGN GIFT
Join us in reaching neighborhoods with the gospel by pledging a multi-year campaign gift.
Give appreciated stock, planned gifts, or estate gifts to launch, grow, and sustain ministry for decades to come.
To take the next step, email Rebecca Sweneey at rsweeney@intl.younglife.org or visit latinamerica.younglife.org.
Campaign Gift Plan
TODAY:
Give a campaign gift to help move forward this year.
TOMORROW:
Make a three-to-five-year pledge gift to Latin America & Caribbean campaign.
FOREVER:
Pass on your values with a gift to the Latin America & Caribbean Legacy Fund.
JAY MIRANDA
Graduate Student
EXECUTIVE CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University
Washington D.C.
KRISTEN MIRANDA
Graduate Student
Executive Support Coordinator
Opex Corporation
Washington D.C.
KEVIN SUWYN
Senior Vice President
Young Life Latin America & the Caribbean Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic.
COLLEEN MCVANEY
Managing Partner McVaney Inc. Littleton, Colorado
JIM BLOIS
Board Chair
Blois Construction Camarillo, CA
ALICE BLOIS
Retired Camarillo, CA
CHRISTY SNEED
Volunteer Greenville, South Carolina
MARTY CALDWELL
Senior Vice President
Young Life Middle EurAsia Phoenix, Arizona
CHRISTIAN HILLIARD
Owner
Legacy Outdoor Kearney, Nebraska
REBECCA SWEENEY
Campaign Director
Young Life Latin America & the Caribbean St. Louis, Missouri
Young Life Latin America/Caribbean 420 N Cascade Ave.
Colorado Springs, CO 80903