Young Life leaders are more than caring adults who serve as role models for kids. They are involved in kids' everyday lives. The following was written recently by a staff person in Singapore. 

I like God's style. He's a gentleman. He never forces us to do anything: that's not his style. Rather, he looks us square in the eye, loves us, and personally extends an invitation to follow himi into the unknown. There is something about his tone, his calling, his very presence... something so enticing, so mysterious that it challenges us at the core. When the disciples heard the call of Jesus, they left everything - EVERYTHING! - and followed him...

In a world that demands results and seeks instant results, we at Young Life Singapore have been trying to slow down and simply exercise the presence of Christ around students. We dig God's style and want to emulate it as much as possible.

When it comes to students, we want to take the time to know their name (and remember it!), to look them in the eye, listen attentively, personally invite them to activities, love them unconditionally, and challenge them to take an honest look at the person of Jesus Christ. And guess what? It's working! We've met tons of new students this year at various YL-sponsored events including: pool parties, paintball, and my personal favorite - wakeboarding!

We look forward to Wednesday nights when we can spend some quality time with students to laugh, fellowship, and explore questions of life, God, and relationships. We pray that God will use us to inspire kids to ask questions and seek the Truth. We pray for spiritual revival in the international schools of Singapore and pray that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide us into all truth.

(For more information on YL Singapore, please visit http://sites.younglife.org/sites/singapore/default.aspx )

Aimée Kessick 
May. 30, 2007
MinistryWatch.com, an online database with profiles on more than 400 of the largest churches and Christian organizations in the United States, has named Young Life one of their top 30 brightest "Shining Light Ministries" for the second year in a row.

MinistryWatch is a program of Wall Watchers, a ministry aimed at bringing improved levels of disclosure and accountability to Christian ministries. Because MinistryWatch is often asked to identify the "best ministries," they’ve published this alphabetical listing of the Top 30 Shining Light Ministries. Recently featured on ABC’s 20/20 in a segment regarding the lack of transparency among television evangelists, MinistryWatch hopes that the comprehensive information in their database will encourage responsible stewardship among donors and financial accountability among ministries.

According to MinistryWatch, the 30 "Shining Light" ministries share the following important feature:

1. The ministry has shown a willingness to treat donors fairly via a Transparency Grade of "A."
2. The ministry is unashamed of being identified and an evangelical Christian ministry.
3. MinistryWatch.com researchers know of no significant issues that would be of concern to donors.

For the complete listing of Shining Light ministries, go to ministrywatch.com.

Young Life applauds the efforts of Wall Watchers to hold ministries financially accountable. Young Life is firmly committed to good stewardship of the gifts God has provided through our many donors. As a founding member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), Young Life meets a high standard of integrity in stewardship. Through ECFA, Young Life is accountable to a set of peer ministries with a common, biblical commitment to sound stewardship. We also understand our need to be accountable to those who support our ministry. Openness about financial information and funding is valuable to donors. We value the independent judgment of those who support God's work. We will continue to spend our dollars wisely in pursuit of our vision: that every adolescent, everywhere will have the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ and follow Him.

MinistryWatch, a program of Wall Watchers, is an online database with profiles on more than 400 of the largest ministries and churches in the United States. It is also a place where you can learn about how to be a "responsible giver." Their hope is that by providing high quality research and ratings, they will be a vital component in an emerging ministry marketplace, where information regarding various giving opportunities can be easily and efficiently transferred to eager, prepared donors. Lord willing, these efforts will stimulate the adoption of best practices and encourage progress and innovation within the world of Christian ministries as donors become interested in the efficiency and effectiveness of an organization.