Founded in 1941 by a young pastor with a passion for the students in his community who had no interest in going to church, Young Life brings the most basic message of Christianity into the lives of adolescents with an approach that is respectful of who kids are and hopeful about who they can be. Young Life seeks to give high school and middle school students an opportunity to hear about the life of Jesus in terms they can understand from adults they know and trust.
Young Life is organized around school communities, although the organization has no affiliation with either public or private schools. During the school year, adult leaders (both staff and volunteers) build relationships with students attending the school to which they have been assigned. They may meet students on campus during open access periods (with permission of school administrators), attend school activities open to the public or organize activities open to all students. The central Young Life activity during the school year is a weekly gathering, called “club,” which usually meets in private homes. Club involves music, games and a brief talk by one of the leaders. Attending a weekend camp once or twice each school year and a weeklong camp during the summer is also a regular Young Life activity. Young Life leaders bring nearly 90,000 kids to one of our 20 premier camping properties in operation in North and Central America; approximately 20,000 kids experience Young Life camping in other locations around the world.
Young Life has nearly 5,000 active ministries in more than 50 countries and is reaching nearly one million kids annually worldwide. We depend on the dedication and support of more than 30,000 volunteers serving alongside more than 3,000 staff. More facts on Young Life are available at Facts at Your Fingertips.