Press On

This week at YL Club we invited one of our YL leaders Landon Nichols to share his story.  You see we believe in sharing truth... truth about our own life and truth about who Jesus is.  We believe that we all have a story and that Jesus is in that story, from the moment you were conceived to the moment you meet HIm face to face.  Landon shared a snap shot of his journey with us and ended with a spoken word he wrote.  Let me tell you it was a treat.  God uses our yesterdays to make a difference in the lives of others today.  

I press on

through the sharp thorns

past the bulls and their prominent horns

I press on 

to a new shore

to open a new door

where purpose and adventure are in store

I press on 

through the dense trees 

wiping away fallen leaves

being calmed by the present breeze

even though on the horizon awaits stormy seas

I press on 

wading through the frigid wave

the cold is not my master, I not its slave

yet it calls out, and offers me a watery grave

I will not succome, until my all I have gave

so I venture on, continuing the trail I blaze

I press on

with muddy feet

I'm but a vessel facing a giant fleet

yet I lead the charge, there's no retreat

the enemy quakes at the echo of my heartbeat

even if my fate renders defeat

I fear not, for my Father is who I'll meet

I press on

through the fire, through the flame

through the bricks and the wall of shame

through deceit, through the fame

through hypocrites and "friends" who don't know my name

through the depths, through the blame

through expectations and others painted picture frame

through the lies that tries to coincide with suicide

through the punches, though the blows

through the struggle and the hurt no one knows

through the pain, through the fears

through the blood and through the tears

I press on

striving towards the goal

I press on

running after heaven's pull

I press on

though my feet will fall

I press on

chasing after my call

I press on 

to finish the race

I press on

till I meet Him face to face

I press on

I press on

(Landon Nichols)

http://lsyl.weebly.com/

What is YL?

Out There In a World of Kids

Young Life doesn’t start with a program. It starts with adults concerned enough about kids to go to them, on their turf and in their culture, building bridges of authentic friendship. These relationships don’t happen overnight — they take time, patience, trust and consistency. 

So Young Life leaders log many hours with kids around the world — where they are, as they are. We listen to their stories and learn what’s important to them because we genuinely care about their joys, triumphs, heartaches and setbacks. 

We believe in the power of presence. Kids’ lives are dramatically impacted when caring adults come alongside them, sharing God’s love with them. Because their leader believes in them, they begin to see that their lives have great worth, meaning and purpose. 

This is the first step of a lifelong journey; the choices they make today, based upon God’s love for them, will impact future decisions … careers chosen, marriages formed and families raised. All ripples from the time when a Young Life leader reached out and entered their world. 


A Time-Tested Approach

Young Life began with a few simple ideas about sharing the truth of God’s love with adolescents. Those simple ideas have become time-tested methods for reaching out to middle school, high school and college students in friendship and hope. 

Caring for Kids — Contact Work 

Because kids don’t care how much you know till they know how much you care, Young Life leaders show they care by going where kids are, meeting them as they are, believing in who they can be. Within Young Life we call the persistent going out into the world of kids “contact work.” But kids just call it friendship. 

A Party with a Purpose — Club 

What is it about Young Life club that makes it the best night of the week for thousands of kids every week? We like to think of it as a party with a purpose. It’s controlled chaos that’s almost impossible to describe, but kids know it when they see it. And before the party ends, we share a simple message about God’s love for them. After all, that’s what the celebration is all about. 

The Best Week of Their Life — Camp 

Kids consistently tell us that Young Life camp is the best week of their life. That’s a rousing (and unsolicited) endorsement! But how else would you describe a week where deep relationships are forged in the midst of mind-boggling fun and where you experience and listen to what we believe is the greatest love story ever told? 

A Time to Question, Learn and Grow — Campaigners 

Campaigners is a weekly gathering for kids who wish to learn more or grow in their faith through study, service and leadership. We invite kids to actively follow Jesus Christ — and we’re with them for the long haul to help them take those steps of faith with unconditional love. Along the way, we encourage kids to celebrate their faith through participation in a local congregation. 

Adults Who Care — Committee/ LEAD and LIFE Teams

Young Life is making a difference in the lives of kids around the world because we are supported by adults who care about kids in their community. For every talented Young Life staff person there is a team of dedicated leaders who works directly with kids. In each community, the local “committee,” comprised of parents, Young Life alumni and civic leaders, provides a foundation of financial, administrative and moral support for the local Young Life team. 

Hole in the Roof

You may have heard or been to a hole in the wall, but YL is a hole in the roof.  One of my favorite passages in the Bible is:

Mark 2:1-12.  

2 A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. ² They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them. ³ Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. ⁴ Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. ⁵ When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”

⁶ Now some teachers of the law were sitting there, thinking to themselves, ⁷ “Why does this fellow talk like that? He’s blaspheming! Who can forgive sins but God alone?”
⁸ Immediately Jesus knew in his spirit that this was what they were thinking in their hearts, and he said to them, “Why are you thinking these things? ⁹ Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, take your mat and walk’? ¹⁰ But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the man, ¹¹ “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” ¹² He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”

I got to speak at Club this week and share with students this story.  You see the main characters of this story are:  4 friends, the paralyzed man, Jesus, and the teachers of the law- "the haters."

While doing some research, I was really impressed by these 4 friends.  You see they had a friend with a need that they knew they couldn't meet.  So what do they do?  They walked for 17 MILES carrying their friend who is stuck on mat to the only person who may be able to help- Jesus.  Then they arrive and there is no room.  Long story short, desperate to get their friend to Jesus, they go to the roof dig a hole and lower their paralyzed friend.  He heals their friend but in a way that no one expects He heals his heart and his legs.  

We want YL to be a place where people can bring their friends who are stuck on a mat, where people can come who have a need that no one can meet- that only Jesus can.  Where kids can come and find hope, healing, and life in Jesus.  And our biggest hope is that after encountering Jesus, the "haters," the friends, the paralyzed or stuck will all say...   “We have never seen anything like this!”

Thank you to those adults and leaders who have been digging a hole in the roof for students by supporting this ministry.  By your prayers, you encouragement, your donations, your meals, your leadership.  God is good.  

Our Hole in the Roof