Making an Impact - Young Life Virginia Beach

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Young Life Virginia Beach
580 Lynnhaven Pkwy Ste 104
Virginia Beach , VA 23452-7333
Phone: (757) 463-6312
Fax: (757) 463-1552
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November 07, 2009

High Schoolers Leading Middle Schoolers

Billy is a rising senior in the Magnet Program at Ocean Lakes High School. He was first introduced to WyldLife as a student at Lynnhaven Middle School. He has been a student leader for the past two years at Lynnhaven WyldLife. I asked Billy to share about his experience as a WyldLife leader.

How did you first get involved with Young Life?

During the summer of 2006, my friend Sammy convinced me to go to Rockbridge for WyldLife camp. While I was there, I heard the Good News and met a great group of people who convinced me to start coming to Young Life club at FC the following fall.

Why did you start leading WyldLife?

Well, I actually stumbled upon the opportunity while dropping off my sister, Katie, at WyldLife club. I stopped inside to say hi to Rob, my Young Life leader, and he told me that I could stay and help out if I wanted to. I gladly accepted and began coming to club every other Tuesday. After a few times, I realized how much I enjoyed spending time with the kids as they experienced awesome clubs and simple but effective talks. When Rob asked me if I wanted to become an actual leader, it was an easy decision.

Tell us about your involvement with the baseball team.

I began coaching baseball at Lynnahven Middle after being cut from my high school team in the spring of my sophomore year. After I completed my eighth grade year at LMS, my baseball coach said I was always welcome to come back and help out. I took up the opportunity and I love it. I decided to coach again this season, and things have been a little different because of WyldLife. I've been able to become better friends with some of the guys on the team, and have even seen players show up at club! Its a crazy feeling to know that God is using me as a coach to reach out and meet kids. I'm planning to help out again next season, and hope that it continues to be a way I can bring WyldLife to a group of guys who need it.

How have you seen God work through you at WyldLife?

The Lord has allowed me to become an outgoing person around kids I don't know, a quality I had never developed. I've also been blessed with the ability to sit down with a kid, one on one, and have a comfortable conversation about the Lord, something I never would have been able to do if I hadn't found God and began leading.

How have you grown closer to God because of leading WyldLife?

Well for one, I've developed a regular prayer life, something I was having a tough time with before I began leading. Being a person who helps middle-schoolers understand the most important stuff they'll ever hear is something that keeps my faith in check and growing, by keeping me in the Word, and keeping me surrounded by fellow leaders who support me in every way.

Parents Start WyldLife at Princess Anne Middle School

What an answer to prayer that we've been able to start WyldLife in the south-side area of Virginia Beach! An "Interest Meeting" of eight parents first met in November 2008 with Young Life Area Director, Win Levis. The WyldLife mission was presented, together with the view point of Young Life High School Leader, Lauren Bradshaw who shared her experiences with WyldLife. The group prayed and accepted the challenge of planning club events, inviting high school leaders and bringing middle schoolers to WyldLife at Princess Anne Middle School. A wonderful connection was made with Principal James Pohl at PAMS through one of the parents, Andrea Beam. Mr. Pohl was very excited to support the ministry because of his involvement in Young Life when he was a high schooler. The Good Lord was opening many doors for WyldLife at PAMS and prayer and obedience has been the key to our club's success. With a place secured to host club, enthusiastic parents growing in faith together to make WyldLife happen and spirited high school leaders dedicated to share their busy times with middle school kids, WyldLife at PAMS was accomplishing its mission - to reach the hearts of our middle school kids in the south side.

We kicked off our club with Broom Hockey at Iceland with Lynnhaven Middle School’s Wyldlife in February. What a great turn out! Since then we’ve had five clubs that have met on Friday nights from 6:45 PM to 8:15 PM. With amazing faith and a willingness to "go with the flow", our plans and unanticipated turn of events always worked out. The kids (and adults) have had an awesome time playing blob tag, musical islands and steal the bacon. We also had many laughs during our chariot and four-legged races! Aside from Princess Anne, our kids represent other middle schools including Landstown, Corporate Landing, Kemps Landing Magnet and St. John's.

After fun and fellowship, our kids have had the opportunity to hear the Good News of Jesus Christ during our club talks given by Win Levis, Mike Fitzpatrick and Saunnie Butts. The last club for this year’s WyldLife at PAMS will be May 29th and we hope to bring a lot of kids to camp at Rockbridge this August. If you have any questions about our WyldLife at Princess Anne Middle School, and want tips or encouragement to start a WyldLife at your kids' school, please do not hesitate to contact our Team Leader, Katrina Cruz at 563-9651 or through E-mail at WyldLifePAMS@gmail.com.

Max Karam Thrives in Kellam Young Life

Max Karam has had a challenging life by any person’s definition. He grew up being handed back and forth between his mother and father between Tennessee and Florida. Both of his parents struggled with addictions which meant that Max had to be the caretaker of his four younger siblings. When Max was nine his mother passed away in Memphis and the whole family lived in Florida with their father. When Max was 13 the Karam kids were sent to foster homes and separated from each other.

After ten months, one the Max’s aunts adopted all five kids so that they could live together. On July 14, 2008 the whole family moved in with their aunt and uncle in a beautiful house about five miles from the shore. What a joy it was for the kids to be back together again!

Max was first introduced to Young Life in the summer of 2008. In late July, Max came to the pre-camp pool party and loved it. He kept coming to the summer Bible studies (Campaigners) throughout the summer and then dove into Kellam’s club and campaigners in the fall. He decided to go to the fall Rockbridge weekend and it was there that he decided to commit his life to Christ.

Since then Max has been growing in his new relationship with Jesus by leaps and bounds. One of the Kellam leaders, John Brady, has taken a special interest in Max. Max is part of a weekly guys group that studies the Bible and encourages each other.

Max is super excited about going to summer camp at Saranac this summer. He has also encouraged two of his younger sisters (Cheyenne and Jealousy) to attend WyldLyfe at Princess Anne middle school. Please pray for Max and his family as they establish roots in Virginia Beach and a foundation in the Lord.