Jump to content

Young Life

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 72.190.55.94 (talk) at 02:48, 27 May 2009 (POV). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Young Life is a non-profit, Christian non-denominational, incarnational, parachurch ministry. Young Life consists of many branches of ministry (see below) but most commonly the name "Young Life" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed towards high school students. Young Life staff and volunteer leaders build relationships with teenagers through a variety of social interactions, formal and informal events, and group trips.

History

Young Life was started when Jim Rayburn, a youth leader in Gainesville, Texas, was given the challenge of targeting high school kids who were not interested in church. In order to connect with these kids, Rayburn decided to spend time and develop relationships with them (this came to be known as contact work). After establishing relationships with these kids, he began weekly clubs. Kids attending these clubs would experience singing, various skits, a game or two, and finally a message about Jesus Christ. [1] Soon, the popularity of these clubs increased, targeting many teenagers.

Young Life in the United States was officially incorporated by Jim Rayburn in Texas on October, 16, 1941. [1] The philosophies of this US version inspired evangelical efforts in more than 50 other countries, and Young Life reaches an estimated 1 million teenagers annually.

Purpose

Young Life's leaders state that their ministry philosophy is "incarnational" or "relational" ministry, which Young Life defines as a ministry in which adult volunteer leaders build mentoring relationships and share their lives with teenagers in order to teach them about Jesus Christ and how to live lives in a personal relationship with Him and for Him. Young Life's goal is to spread The Gospel of Jesus Christ in order to expand the belief to areas that have limited or no Christian influence.

Young Life activities are coordinated by the Young Life Area Director, other staff members and/or volunteer Young Life leaders, who are assigned to a particular high school. These volunteer leaders are usually trained, interviewed, and screened by the area director (who sends their background information to Young Life National), who is ultimately accountable for their actions and whatever activities are planned. The training process is left to the judgment of the area director, however Young Life has a hierarchy where a supervising staff member is accountable for every staff member under them all the way up to the president of the organization.

Campers relax in the pool at the Young Life camp Wildhorse Canyon, located in Antelope, Oregon.

Young Life is active in all 50 states in the United States of America and currently has a Young Life club present in roughly 2,500 high schools across the nation. It has expanded internationally, to more than 45 countries[1] including Europe, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Africa, North and South America.[2] More than 70,000 teenagers spend a weekend during the school year or a week during the summer at one of Young Life's camping properties in the United States and Canada.[2]

Young Life is not limited to only high schoolers. It has extended its efforts to reach out to every kid, and from this other ministries of Young Life have been created. [1]

Capernaum: Young Life’s ministry to kids with disabilities. Named after the town where Jesus performed many miracles.
Small Town/Rural: Young Life’s ministry to kids in one-high school towns of fewer than 25,000 people.
Multicultural: Young Life’s ministry to racial and ethnic minorities, focused on kids who live in high-density communities and who are historically, socially and/or economically disadvantaged.
WyldLife: Young Life’s ministry to middle school kids.
YoungLives: Young Life’s ministry to teenage moms.

Camping

There are currently 20 Young Life camps in operation across the continental United States, two camps in Canada, and three camps in Latin America. Young Life also owns two currently inoperative camps. Almost 90,000 kids around the world spend a week at a Young Life camp.[3]

Young Life Camps in the United States

Young Life Camps in Canada

Young Life Camps in Latin America

Camps Under Development

  • Clearwater Cove in Lampe, Missouri, USA
  • Pinnacle Point, Brevard, North Carolina, USA
  • Unnamed Camp being built on Washington Family Ranch property. Expected to be done 2011.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Ministry Watch Profile
  2. ^ a b Facts at Your Fingertips
  3. ^ http://www.younglife.org/Camping/ Young Life Camping
  • From Young Life Bylaws, Article IX

Further reading

  • Cailliet, Emile; Young Life (1963)
  • Meridith, Char; It's a Sin to Bore a Kid: The Story of Young Life (1977) ISBN 0-8499-0043-3
  • Miller, John; Back to the Basics about the early years of Young Life including a lot of Rayburn's life.
  • Rayburn, Jim III; From Bondage To Liberty - Dance, Children, Dance a biography by his son (2000) ISBN 0-9673897-4-7
  • Rayburn, Jim: The Diaries of Jim Rayburn (2008) Rayburn's personal journals, edited and annotated by Kit Sublett Morningstar Press and Whitecaps Media ISBN 978-0-9758577-7-9
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Young_Life&oldid=292584220"