Young Life is a Christian ministry where young adults come alongside of high school students to build relationships with each other. This can be done by hanging out with them in a group or 1-on-1, attending a sporting event, a play, or something else they are involved in. Through these relationships, our goal is to show kids the love of Jesus.

I have been a young life leader for three years now, and I definitely have gotten so much out of my relationships that I have built with my girls. Seeing what God is doing in their lives has brought me so much closer to Christ.

Young Life isn't like your traditional youth group. We meet for an hour on Monday nights and we play crazy games for about 45 minutes. Games range anywhere from playing hot potato with baby food,(if you have it when the music stops, you have to eat a bite) to pillow jousting, or just simply dangling a doughnut in front of a partner who is blindfolded and seeing if they can consume it in under a minute.

At the end of this time, someone will give a short 10 minute talk about Jesus. These can be personal testimonies, stories about their life, or stories from the bible. These stories then lead into a discussion for when we have our bible studies on Wednesday night.

These bible studies are completely optional. We are separated by gender, and usually we dive into what was talked about at club that previous Monday, however, there is definitely room to rabbit trail or discuss something else that is on our hearts that night.

Once a year, we attend a winter and summer camps. These camps are just basically a bigger version of club and bible study all condensed into a week/weekend. This is a time where we get to travel as a group and also meet with other kids from Young Life areas all around the country. There are crazy field games, free time activities, and there is a speaker who gives a focused message throughout the time that we are there.

Being a leader in college isn't an easy task. You are balancing many responsibilities of your own. However, being a leader in this ministry is so important because you are investing in kid's lives. You have an immediate impact by just showing up. So your attitude is everything when you arrive. No matter what is going on in your life, it isn't about you anymore. It is about the students, and the love we are trying to show them.

Young Life has taught me what it means to be selfless. I have learned from my co-leaders as well as my area directors what this looks like on a daily basis. Sometimes it is okay to stay up a few minutes later studying on a Monday night so you can join your students at Chick-fil-a. Sometimes you put going to bed early aside, so that you can talk on the phone with a student who is struggling. Sacrifices are necessary, we are making disciples for the kingdom, and it will all be worth it in the end.

Matthew 28: 19-20

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”