Lizzy's Young Life Story

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Lizzy, with her friends and YL leader, Katie, at YL Camp this past summer.

1. Why do you go to Young Life?

I love going to Young Life camp because I always come back feeling like I've been impacted by something bigger. I keep coming back because I feel as though the people there are my family. 

2. What impact has Young Life made on your life?

Young Life has changed the way I view others. I used to be a very judgmental person, and now I feel as though Christ has taught me how to live my life in a less critical way. Christ has taught me how to love myself. 

3. Who is your Young Life leader and what have you learned from them?

Katie Evans is my Young Life leader! I look up to her because she has been a rock for me since day one. Her relationship with Christ is one I would like to learn how to build.  I have learned how to grow and love others unconditionally through Katie. 

4. If you had to describe YL in one word, what would it be?

If I had to describe Young Life in one word it would be support. 

5. Describe your life before you got involved with Young Life and what impact it’s had on your life since.

Before I got involved in Young Life my life was incomplete. I was raised going to church but the importance of that relationship was lost on me. Since I've gotten involved In Young Life my life has been transformed. Honestly, I would be a completely different person if I had not met Katie Evans before getting on the bus to camp. She's driven me to be a better person and I work to be like her everyday. 

6. How has your experience with Young Life changed the way you think about your future?

After high school I would like to go to college and then enter the Peace Corps. I want to spend my time helping others and changing lives like Young Life has done for mine. 

TJ's Young Life Story

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1. Why do you go to Young Life? 

I go to Young Life to get closer with God and connect with my peers on a different level.

2. What impact has Young Life made on your life?

Young Life has caused me to become a more well-rounded person that is less judgmental.

3. Who is your Young Life leader and what have you learned from them? 

 My leader is James and I learned to be patient from him and to always do the best you can when helping out those in need.

4. If you had to describe YL in one word, what would it be?

 Family

5. Describe your life before you got involved with Young Life and what impact it’s had on your life since. 

 Before YL, I was immature and naive about religion. Now, I am more educated on the word of Christ.

6. How has your experience with Young Life changed the way you think about your future?

 YoungLife has made me wish to be involved in a youth group when I'm older or to start one myself.

Ellie's Young Life Story

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While serving for a week in Memphis over our Fall Break in a neighborhood, trying to clean up a park for people to hangout at and so kids are allowed to go outside more. I met this sweet 9 year old boy who was extremely interested in all we were doing and loved showing off his back flips for us.

1. Why do you love Young Life?
“I love Young Life because of the people. Everyone has a story and I love getting to know their stories. I keep coming back because Young Life has led to the most amazing friendships and best friends in my life.

2. Who is your Young Life leader and what have you learned from them?
“Mallory Valentine has been my Young Life leader for four years, while I have experienced love and friendship from so many leaders. I really consider all of the adults my leaders. They all have this powerful love and interest for me and all the other kids. It’s absolutely the coolest thing to watch and be apart of. But Mallory has taught me so much, every question and fear I have ever had she's helped me understand and conquer with the strength of God.”

3. If you had to describe Young Life in one word, what would it be?
“POWERFUL- the reason being is because its had to the ability to shape who I am today, a me who I absolutely love being.”

4. Describe your life before you got involved with Young Life and what impact it’s had on your life since.
“Before I got involved with Young Life, my life was overwhelming with stress and trying to become someone who I am not. Since I’ve gotten involved with Young Life, my life is filled with love. The friendships that I have made while being apart of Young Life for 6 years now, are indescribable; sometimes I have a hard time explaining it. Young Life has allowed me to meet my life long best friends. People who I NEVER thought I would be friends with, have influenced and impacted me in ways that have helped shape who I am forever, which I am very grateful for.”

5.  How has your experience with Young Life changed the way you think about your future?
“I think 5 events with Young Life really have influenced me. WorkCrew, which was volunteering for a month for free at a YL Camp, being a WydLife leader, which is mentoring the middle school students, and going on the three mission trips, to Red Hook and Memphis twice. I have been able to plan three of those trips and being such a huge part of the events I feel has made me who I am today. Understanding the reward and the hardships that come along with all of these events has really inspired me. I’m a senior and soon I will be off in college and I plan on majoring in Non- Profit Management. Having the ability to impact others for the rest of my life, even if it’s in the smallest way, is what I have a passion for. If I never would have attended Young Life I don't think I would want to purse this career path. So with that, I am grateful for every memory, friendship and story that has affected me and will for the rest of my life.

Becca (on the left), my best friend that I met at Work Crew, volunteering for a month at YL Camp, and Ruthie, a camper we met and became super close to while at Timberwolf Lake- YL Camp.

Peaking a mountain in Colorado on YL's Wilderness summer trip with my best friends.

Our first mission trip to Brooklyn, NY over Fall Break. We were serving at a church and then they served us with lunch!

My middle school, WyldLife girls attacking me with shaving cream at WyldLife Camp!

Jasmine's Young Life Story

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If I had to pick one word to describe YoungLives, it would be "passion" because I feel like the leaders give me passion to do stuff that I normally wouldn’t.

My first impression of YoungLives is that they welcome you into their home and their personal lives. They instantly made me feel like extended family. I feel like they literally are doing anything possible to help us succeed in life. From calling you and praying over the phone, taking you out for a meal, watching your kid so you can go to school or taking you in when don’t have a place to sleep.

They are not a short term committee. They are a long term. There are no if's, and's, or but's. They believe in me no matter what. I know they are going to be there. They try to show that you don’t need to live off the government. They really want to see us to succeed in life. Some care for us more than our own parents.

I come to YoungLives because I am able to let all my problems out there. I am able to relate to other teen mom’s problems and able to approach it a different way, instead of dealing with the problems on my own, at home.

I also come to YoungLives because I feel comfortable because I know there are other people that are just like me. People how have made mistakes like me and are trying to be improve themselves. We come there to have fun, but we also come there to be better.

You feel like you are at home. These women are here for you. They are there for you through thick and thin. At YoungLives they help me succeed in all aspects in my life. They can help us in many ways. For example, one of my leaders helped my with my Chemistry project so I could pass my class.

I am also able to get closer to God by coming to YoungLives. At YoungLives we hear about stories in the Bible about how Jesus went through things like us. I approach things differently now. Some of the verses we say at YoungLives, it has made me think differently. For example, turning the other cheek has made me think differently on how I deal with conflict.

I now know that God is always there and I have learned that His timing is perfect.

My favorite YoungLives memory with Sue Ripberger is when she comes to get me after school and we go get meals together. At these meals we are able to have to have one-on-one coversations and she tells me things that my own mom wouldn’t tell me. I like it when Sue is real with me about life and talks about the things that could have brought her down – she was a teen mom and she didn’t grow up with money, so she can relate to my life.

Sue prepares me for real life. She is able to keep it 100, which means keeping realistic. She was telling me things like, you don’t have to worry about people judging you about how much you know about the Bible because we are all going there to learn.

People see me as another statistic but when I am at YoungLives, I am not seen as a statistic by the other moms and the YoungLives leaders. At YoungLives you get to be yourself. You Don’t have to worry about being a minority. They don’t pick and choose who they love. 

I don't know where I would be without YoungLives but I am so grateful for this ministry. It has truly saved me and my son's life. Please support Young Life!