Bob:  You and Aledra got involved with YL after your kids finished high school. What drew you to YL?

 

Craig:  Once the kids finished college, we wondered what we would do with our time and money.  We began to investigate evangelistic organizations in Loudoun County and thought of Young Life.  When we heard Erin Hatcher speak at our church, we decided to get involved.  A trip as adult guests to summer camp at Rockbridge clinched it for us.

 

Bob:  You have taken on the role of committee chair. What 2 or 3 duties of committee chair are you most focused on at the moment? Why those things?
 
Craig:  While planning is always important, I am focusing on communication and relationships with committee members and donors.  These two are the bedrock of the ministry, and the ones that challenge me the most.  God is passionate about His relationship with us and His daily communication with us through His Word and His Spirit.  As His child, I want to be like Him as I relate and talk to those involved in Young Life.  Plus, there are so many exciting things that are happening right here in Loudoun County that it's easy to talk about them.

 

Bob:  Beyond the standard committee chair responsibilities, are there any other things maybe specific to Western Loudoun YL that you want the committee and staff to focus on over the next few months or years?

 

Craig:  The single most important thing for Young Life is to follow God's leading.  In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus tells us that true godliness is obedience, not sounding religious or doing lots of activities.  In fact He says to them, "I never knew you.  Go away; the things you did were unauthorized" (NLT).  I want to be sure we are listening to and following Him, not getting caught up in the busy-ness of unauthorized activity. And the second thing is to have fun.  As Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life said, it's a sin to be boring!

 

Bob:  So what do you mean by "unauthorized activity"? Are there certain things that a ministry like YL can fall into that fit that description, or are you just speaking of staying on course with where God is leading us?

 

Craig:  By "unauthorized activity" I think God is telling us that doing things independently from God, even when it seems like the right thing to do, is not what God wants.  He is passionate about our relationship with Him, and that includes His ministry through us.  It's important for us to remember that Young Life is His ministry, not ours.  We want to always ask God what He wants us to do, and not just do what we ourselves think is the right or what we usually do.  Jesus said He spoke only the words that God gave Him to speak.  We want to follow His example.

 

Bob:  A lot of times people look to numbers to justify the effectiveness of an organization or a person. The higher the numbers, the more effective the ministry. The more activity and events, the better. Is there any other way to measure how well things are going, should we even try to measure such things, or are the numbers still the best way to determine how healthy the ministry is at any given moment?

 

Craig:  Men look at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart.  I think this also applies to judging and measuring the effectiveness of a ministry.  Our job is to obey His leading in the power of the Holy Spirit, and leave the results to God.

 

Bob:  YL Loudoun recently divided into Eastern Loudoun and Western Loudoun. As of this moment, what can you tell us about YL's presence in western Loudoun schools?

 

Craig:  Western Loudoun Young Life seeks to have a visible presence in all of our middle and high schools. At the present time, we have active ministries at both Loudoun Valley and Heritage high schools. Students attending Loudoun County High School are encouraged to come to the Heritage meetings. We also have one WyldLife group to which all Western Loudoun middle schoolers are invited.

 

Bob:  What prevents YL from being in all of the schools in western Loudoun?

 

Craig:  We know that God wishes for all students to experience the love of Jesus, but He also chooses to reach students through us. So what we really need are volunteers that are committed to sustaining a ministry at any of our schools. This includes both adult and student volunteer leaders, parents, and donors.

 

We are actively pursuing support communities for each of our schools. We have started one for Heritage, and would like to formalize the existing support at Loudoun Valley High School.  And we are praying for a community to start at Loudoun County High School that could support an active ministry presence in the upcoming school year.

 

Bob:  I know you are looking for a few more people to serve on committee in western Loudoun. So give me your best sell. Who are you looking for? What can they expect by working on committee?

 

Craig:  We are looking for people who want to see Western Loudoun change for the better, one kid at a time - change that comes through relationships that express God's unconditional love.  Ideal committee members love Jesus, kids, and Young Life, and are willing to serve through their time, gifts, and talents.  In return, they get to watch God miraculously work in and through them, and share the joy, excitement, and fellowship with like-minded people.

 

Bob:  When you survey western Loudoun and see Young Life at work in our area, what encourages you the most? What puts a smile on your face and makes you say "this is why I'm doing this"?

 

Craig:  Changed lives!  For instance, this fall a student started coming to Young Life and became excited about the Lord, and then brought a parent to church who surprised the family by giving his life to God. I love to see God at work, whether it's in a student who understands and accepts His love for the first time, a volunteer who is surprised by God's perfect provision, or a family member who feels God's love reflected in their teen's changed life.