I’ve recently had two different meetings with social workers, who were telling me about their well-funded programs that they have to "bribe" kids to participate in. They were shocked that we have so many kids at Young Life. I also recently sat in Campaigners with a room full of teen moms who bowed and prayed for each other and asked God for the strength to be good mentors. It’s a good reminder that I would rather have my Campaigner girls than a well-funded program. God is good.
– Lucy, Plainfield, New Jersey

Being a Young Life leader stretches me and it brings me joy to be a positive part of a teenager’s life. As a teacher, I also reach kids in a different way by challenging them mentally and aiding them in that clumsy transition into adulthood. In both roles, I help teenagers maximize their potential as young adults, and I have the opportunity to make more than a difference in their education, but help plant seeds for their eternity.
– Brian, Washington

As Young Life leaders we really do feel that we are in the seed-planting business and that it is up to God to do the harvesting. Sometimes, however, we are privileged to see an individual life change with the power of the Gospel right before our eyes.       – Bjorn, New Hampshire

What Young Life camp does is this: It reclaims humor, laughter, good memories and unconditional acceptance. It challenges kids with the fact that a better way to live is through purity, passion and forgiveness. Camp says this is the way life should have been and you’re going back to a life that could be better, if only you remember what you lived this past week.
– Jocelyn, Germany

One recent summer, two weeks after moving to a new area and becoming a first-time Young Life area director, I got the privilege of going to summer camp. I wanted to be "thrown in" to a cabin wherever there might be a need. So I got to be in Todd's cabin of six high school guys who were at their first Young Life weeklong camp.

On the first night of camp, we had our first club and kids and leaders did an obstacle course. After finishing the obstacle course we sat down in a circle on the floor — it was Todd, the six high school guys and me. Things began to "slow down" a bit, and as I listened to the guys talk, I felt so privileged, yet inadequate, to be part of this circle. I watched and listened as Todd led the guys who he had invested his life into. He set us up to talk about real things, to be honest and not to hold anything back.

Todd's question to them was this: "What was your favorite part of the day?" One by one, kids talked about the crazy six-hour bus ride, the Blob and the funny guys up front. They talked about the zip line, how good dinner was and even how cool the speaker was. Then Bret, one of the six guys, said, "My favorite part of the day was the obstacle course because I got to protect Todd. I love Todd. Man, I'd do anything for him." Hearing that, I was reminded of why we do what we do.
– Ryan, North Carolina