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Crazy About Kids
Founded in 1940 by Jim Rayburn, Young Life began with a proven method of outreach to adolescents. It is still effective today with all kinds of kids throughout the U.S. and worldwide. It isn't trumped up or cleverly schemed, but follows the simple model set by Jesus, the Christ, who himself stepped out of the perfect prescence of God the Father to enter the home territory of struggling, searching humans. It requires one life ready to be with another. It seeks out one leader wanting to be with kids regardless of their response, knowing that God will love those kids through that leader's personal willingness to be faithfully present to them. In a nutshell, Young Life is about introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ in a relational way. It is, as Rayburn was fond of saying, one group of people trying to get another group of people to listen to the greatest message in the world.
Caring and committed Young Life leaders seek out and build relationships with adolescents on their “turf”: around school, at the mall, fast food restaraunts, wherever kids hang out. We especially want to reach kids who are disinterested in church and God. We get to know their names, what they enjoy and dislike and what concerns and confuses them. We come alongside kids as they deal with the stresses and temptations of adolescence, being available to listen and participating with them in fun activities and providing them with positive adult role models.
Young Life provides healthy, creative fun. From weekly clubs to seasonal camping experiences to daily outings with leaders, Young Life is known around the world as the organization that knows how to have fun.
Club typically meets once a week and has been described as an experience in "controlled chaos." Leaders combine songs, humor and group interaction to create an hour of energetic fun where kids can express that teenage tendency to push the limits - but within the controlled context of a safe environment.
"Young Life" is the name of our organization and it's also what we call our outreach to high school aged kids. We have named our middle school ministry "Wyldlife" to differentiate between the two age groups and their varying developmental stages and maturity levels. Both ministries stay true to the time-tested practices we've been using for more than 60 years: going where kids are, loving them unconditionally, earning the right to be heard and communicating God's love in terms kids can understand.
A Young Life leader’s vision for reaching kids can be summarized in the phrase face to face, person to person, then heart to heart. When a bridge of friendship is established, meaningful, two-way conversation is made possible. Leaders can naturally share with their young friends the love and truth of Jesus Christ. Weekly “clubs,” camping programs and Campaigners Bible studies enable kids to spend quality time with their leaders and to take a fresh look at Jesus.
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