January and February Update

So Cal Trifecta: Surf

All of our clubs are back at it, and there is a ton of excitement in the air!

Our Capernaum club (club for kids with special needs) is meeting every 1st and 3rd Wednesday and have been having a blast. For March they are starting things off with a Movie Night tonight at Laguna Niguel Presbyterian Church, starting at 7. If you would like to learn more about this ministry, please email Rachel Antoun, our amazing interim team leader here. They are in need of guy leaders and helpers!

The WyldLife Marco Forster club kicked things off with a pizza party at Ballpark Pizza. It was a great time and we got to meet one of our amazing new leaders, Nancy Harris! She just moved here from Indiana where she did WyldLife for 4 years. She is super excited about getting back into things here and getting a chance to meet and build relationships with some girls from Marco. Marco had their first club last night, where 4 new kids came, had a blast, and then heard Bailey tell some of his story and share about the Prodigal Son. 

Marco WyldLife last night!

This story captures so much of what Young Life is about. We are for the kids that have wondered away. We LOVE the kids that have searched out the foreign land, and spent everything they had on partying and "wild living!" We love getting to be the people that meet them where they are, and help them find their way back to an incredibly loving Father, that runs to meet them, and embraces them in a way that is beyond comprehension.

The Ladera Ranch WyldLife club is doing amazing! They just got back from one of the most action packed days ever: the So Cal Trifecta! This was a day that started with snow, moved to the surf, and then ended with pizza at the Ladera skate park. What a memory for these kids... and leaders! Grant is trying to do something that will create a life-long memory for these kids once a month. He wants them to see how amazing life can be, and how a life with God is truly an adventure! Friday @ Founders has been incredible, and all the leaders have been getting the opportunity to share about Jesus on Friday mornings. Doughnuts, games, friends, and Jesus just doesn't ever get old! Grant has also started a small group with 8th grade boys that meet on Wednesday mornings to talk about life, read a verse from the Bible, and walk to school together. 

So Cal Trifecta: Snow

The high school club is going through some big changes! While club on Monday night was a ton of fun last year, we started to feel that we were spending so much time on club, and not enough time going to meet kids on their own turf. Because meeting kids where they are is the heart of Young Life, we are making some changes. This semester, we are going to be focussing on Contact Work, Campaigners, and Events. 

First, we are going to have Study Hall @ Starbucks every other Wednesday. This will be a time for kids to bring their homework to Starbucks and work on it with friends and leaders. We had our first one last week, and it was awesome! We will also be going to games as a leadership team together several times a month. This is all in an effort to show kids at SJHHS, Tesoro, J Serra, Dana, and SM that we care about what they care about... but mostly, that we care about them. 

Study Hall @ Starbucks

We will be starting a new format for Campaigners on Wednesdays. Campaigners will be on the Wednesdays where there is not Study Hall @ Starbucks. Guys and Girls will meet together for pizza and meal time questions before hearing a short talk and then breaking up into small groups, guys with guys and girls with girls. All of the leaders and I are really excited for this new format this semester, and truly believe that we will see some amazing things happen through Young Life in the High Schools in South Orange County this semester!

Campaigners

Lives are changing, and kids are meeting Jesus right now in South County Young Life! If you know someone  that would be a great leader, or are someone that would be a great leader, please contact me! We are in need of leaders for both middle school clubs (Marco Forster and Ladera Ranch) as well as in our Capernaum club (special needs ministry). Getting to walk with kids that don't normally attend church, or have much interest in Jesus is truly a gift. We get to be the love of Jesus in their lives, and then often get to begin a journey towards Jesus with them. 

Please call or text me, Luke Bright, at 949-293-6443, or email me: LukeBright.YoungLife@gmail.com. 

Friday @ Founders

What is Young Life?

High School Campaigners

"What do you do?"

I get this question a lot. It is usually followed by, "What is Young Life?"

If you look at the mission statement of Young Life, "Introducing adolescents to Christ, and helping them grow in their faith," it seems pretty straight forward... Young Life seems to be like any other youth ministry. We are trying to share Jesus with kids, and help them develop and grow in relationship with him.

To a very large degree, this is correct. We are like most church youth groups. We try to develop an atmosphere that is attractive to kids, and will foster their growth in Jesus.

But, at the same time, we are different than most local church youth groups.

We primarily seek the lost sheep that don't seem to have a flock, or have wondered away from home. We are going after the kids that aren't going to one of the many amazing youth groups that are all over South Orange County.

In Luke 15, Jesus tells a few stories of lost things. He tells the story of a lost sheep, and then a story of a woman who lost a coin, followed by the story of a father who loses a son. In the first two stories, the shepherd and the woman drop everything they are doing and seek after what they have lost. Jesus says that the shepherd would leave 99 sheep to just find the one that got lost.

Young Life is this shepherd. We are a part of the arm of the Church that goes out from the pen in search of the lost sheep. We do not have a building, and when we go out doing Young Life, we are leaving the flock behind in search of sheep that have gotten lost, or even sheep that just never seem to have found home. We go to these sheep, meet them where they are, earn their trust by showing them that we like them just the way they are, and then begin to bring them home through a loving and caring relationship.

This takes a lot of time, and, often times, it doesn't look pretty, doesn't look flashy, and can be incredibly hard work. More times than not, it might not be much to look at, there might not be a huge crowd, flashy program, or loud music. Sometimes it might just look like someone surfing with someone else, or getting coffee, or going to a movie, or weird adults showing up at freshman games. It can be exhausting and can test the patience of even the best leaders... but just like in the stories Jesus told, when we get to bring one of these sheep home... ITS TIME TO PARTY!

So, what do I do in Young Life? I get to search for God's lost sheep, his kids that seem to have wondered away, and begin the journey back home with them... even if it takes years, and even when its costly.

Please email me if you would like to be a part of this search and rescue mission! We are currently looking for leaders for all our clubs. There are opportunities to work with middle school students, high school students, and special needs kids.

Marco WyldLife

Ladera WyldLife Bonfire

Ladera WyldLife

October in Young Life South County!

South County rolling hard at the all Orange County YL skate night!

October was a great month for South County Young Life!

We started with an all Orange County Skate Party, and ended with an epic Halloween club. 

Pie in the face trivia: USA vs Canada

We started having "normal" clubs this month and saw the group grow in size every week in October. We had 14 kids at our first club of the month, and had 25 at Halloween club. We have seen more kids from both Ladera Ranch, and San Juan come out, and we have kids from SJHHS, Tesoro, Dana Hills, SM, and J Serra coming on a regular basis.

Juan with a HUGE smile!

Clubs have been super fun. We typically have three games, a raffle, and a talk about Jesus.

It has been incredible to watch kids let go and have a blast doing everything from trying to smash balloons tied to their feet, to racing to see who can unravel two rolls of TP the fastest.

While these games get crazy, and it may seem chaotic, they have a purpose. Games show kids that we want them to have fun. They show kids that we care about them by showing we spent time trying to plan something they would enjoy. The crazier the game, often times, the more accepted kids feel, and the more they are ready to trust us.

Club can get a bit crazy at times!

Club is also a time to just be with our high school friends. We do a lot of hanging out in Young Life because we believe that one of the greatest gifts we have to give our young friends is our time. We come to club early and leave late, often giving kids rides home, or meeting with them after. When leaders spend time with kids, they let them know they are valuable. We let them know that we think they matter, and that we think they are worth spending time with.

Mummy wars at the Halloween Club.

The last thing we do at club is the talk. We have the opportunity to share about Jesus. This is, without a doubt, my favorite part of club.

This month I have gotten the privilege of giving the talks. I believe, with all my being, that Jesus loves every single kid that comes to Young Life. I believe he loves each of them, the way they are right now. I love getting to share with them stories from the Bible where Jesus loved people, and made things new, better, and more full.

Jesus brings life wherever he goes. Whatever he touches is made better, from turning water into wine, to making a crazy person sane, Jesus makes things better. He has the unique ability to fully restore anything to the way it was created to be. He does this with us as well. Jesus doesn't wait for us to clean ourselves up, or get our act together, or do something good before he loves us. Jesus loves us the way we are. He loves the people others don't love, and he loves the people others have forgotten. This is incredibly life giving to our high school friends. To know that God loves them regardless of the way they act, or how they feel about him. Realizing this brings freedom, the freedom to love, and the freedom from shame.

Luke sharing the Good News of Jesus' love.

Young Life is about helping kids meet Jesus and then growing their relationship with him... but first we just seek to show kids we care about them, and then, because Jesus did this for us, we love them no matter what.

Halloween Club was a blast.

Pray With Us

Pizza Olympics and Young Life

High school is such an interesting stage of life.  More responsibilities are given to each student, but they are still told that they are not adults.  They want to grow up, stay young, and define themselves as individuals all at once.  They want the most out of life, but they also want to feel needed and safe. These students are told that they are no longer children, but they still want to have fun.

It is into this space that we bring YoungLife.  We want to give these teenagers a fun place where they can express their desires, be cared for by adults, and where they can simply belong.  We build all of this in order to show each student the love of Jesus.  Sometimes it looks a little wacky, like having a race between three different pizza delivery guys, but everything we do is in order to build a place for high schoolers to feel welcome, know that they are loved, and hear about the life that Jesus Christ is offering them.  

In our Pizza Olympics club, we had 29 high school students, games including human musical chairs, a Pizza Delivery Champion named German, the biggest ice cream sundae you've ever seen, and a talk about who Jesus introduced himself as.  All of these pieces seem separate, even disconnected, but each leader and I plan these events around the simple fact that we are building a time and place where teenagers will have the best time of their week.  It's about caring for them, and introducing each and every high schooler to Jesus himself.

Winding Up- Young Life Club

Winding Up

The first day of school is a pretty big deal.  Classes begin, athletes train, friendships rekindle.  The school campus comes back to life and bells start ringing.  I’ve been preparing and praying over the San Juan Hills campus for months now, recruiting leaders and calling kids.  It’s all leading up to the start of Club, the start of fun, games, friendships, and sharing the Gospel. 

We’re starting with a pool party tomorrow night, September 30^th.  The goal of the night is to get as many high schoolers as possible in one place, to have a great time, and to gain momentum for the year as we host more events and clubs.  I’m excited to start this process of winding up to new beginnings, a new school year, and a new YoungLife club!

-Josh G

Welcoming Summer

Welcoming Summer  

      The last few weeks of the school year are filled with anxiousness, excitement, and endless waiting. Walk into any San Juan Hills classroom in June and you will find plenty of kids stealing glances at the clock, the smell of sunscreen filling the room. With finals approaching and freedom close at hand, plans are made for camping, surfing, traveling, and even for sleeping.

       When we considered how to finish off our year of club, the Dana Hills and San Juan Hills leaders decided to do the ultimate Summer Welcome Party - the beach barbeque night. It was a great way to have kids show up and enjoy the first fruits of the season; hot dogs, watermelon, and ice cold sodas. We had over 35 kids come and enjoy games, food, and the sunset over Salt Creek Beach for our celebration of the end of school and the beginning of summer.

       It was a great time to congratulate these kids. They had made it through another year, and there was a sense of victory for all of us. Several of the students thanked their leaders for the encouragement and the investment that we made in their lives this school year. I was amazed at just how much my own life has been impacted by sharing time with these kids. Their struggles, successes and their questions of faith have enabled me to see how God is working in their lives and my own. As the sun went down on our beach barbeque, and I realized that this summer was going to be where I would be continuing to share my life with these kids. I have never been more excited to work over the summer months.

Camp is Coming- Dana Hills

As we announced the camp dates our students filled with excitement. This year there are new kids too who are already looking forward to the "best week of their life". 

As leaders and people who support Young Life, we can do alot to prepare. We work towards this all year actually. That week away to really get a chance to talk to the kids about Jesus away from their every day distractions. So much growth comes out of that week. Kids who have never talked to God before pray on that trip. 

It is incredible! 

What we really need to do is spend these few months in prayer. As you think of Dana Young Life from time to time, I ask you to join me in praying for our students and that week at camp.

Pray for:

• Kids to have an encounter with the Lord that forever changes them. To truly know God's love.
• They will desire to follow Him more than anything this world offers
• They will feel comfortable opening up to their leaders and sharing their burdens with us for our leaders
• Funds

Thank you for all your love and prayers that help carry this ministry.

-Megan

Dana Hills 2014 YL Dodgeball Champs

Dana Hills 2014 YL Dodgeball Champs

Okay, so maybe we weren't the dodgeball champions this year. Actually, we didn't even make it to the semi-finals. I'm not even sure if we won that many matches. Eventually as the night went on we lost track of the points and just enjoyed the game. This is one of our student's favorite nights of the year. 

This year our theme was greaser (which isn't all that different from all the kids already dress).  

We are all convinced next year will be our year to finally win!

The boys lining up about to start a round

-Megan

Skits- Dana Hills Young Life

Young Life loves to use humor as a way to minister to kids. Laughter breaks down walls and helps kids be themselves. 

Recently we have added skits to our clubs, something young life is known for. There will be different run on characters that lead the games. 

Our kids have been LOVING it. The skits have been adding even more fun to our clubs. 

-Megan

Dana Hills Young Life- Contact Work

Contact work is a huge part of what makes Young Life different from other youth ministries. We go to where the kids are and build relationships. This involves trips to campus and going to many sporting events. This past week one of my girls invited me to the formal pictures. I had a chance to meet a ton of her friends I'd never met before. The relationships begin before a kid ever attends a club, hopefully making them feel more welcomed if they do come.

-Megan

Dana Hills- Big Air

I've been going to the campus for a lunch time club at school. One Monday before our event I came & brought root beer floats. A lot of kids wanted to come to big air. the kids from our club were sharing what a huge impact young life has made in their lives. It was incredible to hear our club kids reach out to others.

Our kids always look forward to the trips to big air. When we went this time we had a lot of new faces.  It was an opportunity for is to make connection to the newer kids. Things as silly as jousting could be the beginning of a new relationship with a leader that could end up showing them Jesus. It was a great night and all the kids had huge smiles on there faces.

-Megan

Seeing the Fruit of our Work

Michela- one of the girls I've had the honor of getting to know through Young Life. She has become a little sister. Last night we worked together to start a Young Life lunch time club at Dana for this school year as a way to reach more kids and offer them a fun, safe place where they can get a glimpse of our God & his perfect love for us. It is exciting myself to be starting this, but the best part is Michela being the one to get it going. There is nothing better than watching one of my girls reach out so others can have the same opportunity to find Jesus through our ministry. It is amazing to watch one of our girls get that.

-Megan

Roller Skating

Roller Skating

The whole region went rollerskating to kick off the school year! It was a Hawaiian club where the kids got to dress up. We had so much fun. It was a great chance for the new leaders to bond with our kids.

-Megan

Dana Hills Starting Off With Tacos

Taco Night 

We started the year off with a taco night for the kids! We tell them to show up, bring their friends, and we'll provide the tacos. There was a lot of laughter, fun, and excitement about the year to come.

-Megan

Praying for the 2013-2014 School Year

Hello Friends

Please continue to be praying for Young Life as we move into this next school year. We have specific needs to be praying for here are just some of them.....

• More Leaders- Every one of our clubs can use more leaders
• Team Leaders- We have hopes for 2 new clubs this year but need the leadership
• Location for our Dana Club
• Financial Resources- It takes money to continue to grow Young Life
• More Prayer Warriors- We meet every Monday and pray, would you consider joining us?

Thanks for looking at our prayers for this next year and being willing to serve Young Life!!!

-Dave

Dana's Last Club of 2013

About 2 weeks ago we had our last club of the year! I can't put into words how amazing this year has been. Despite normal life challenges and difficult circumstances, Jesus continually provided for our club and led us. He brought so many new faces to Young Life. We have 23 kids coming to camp this year, most have never been before! I am so excited to watch them fall in love with Jesus. I am praying they truly come to know him at camp in 2 weeks. We are so blessed, the kids showed up and now we have a fun adventure right around the corner! 

To our donors, Thank you for all your support this year, we could not have done it with out the support of our amazing partners so THANK YOU for making this year possible! You have no idea what an impact you make, from $1 a month to $100. We are grateful for any prayer. It all matters. It all makes this possible. These kids have an opportunity to meet Jesus because of people like you! Thank you for showing them grace by believing in them. We could not do this without you. 

Thank you,  thank you, THANK YOU!






-Megan

Dana Hills- Lost Canyon 2013

After a year of hard work we finally took our kids to camp. We took 19 students. Most of the kids had never been to camp before. It was an amazing experience to watch God work in their life & draw close to them. Each student had so much fun and I could tell they felt genuinely loved. I love what camp gives the kids. A place to be accepted, welcomed, cared for, and love unconditionally. It is a place where the love of Christ is everywhere.  

-Megan

Big Air with Dana Hills Young Life

Since we took the kids to Big Air a few months ago they have been asking on a weekly basis to go back. The kids had a blast! The car ride there is just as fun as actually being there. It is a great bonding experience. The kids spent most of their time on the dodge ball court. I love when we are able to give the kids an opportunity to just be a kid, you never know what they might have going on at home. It brings me so much joy to see them just having fun & acting there age. A lot of kids these days are forced to grow way to fast due to difficult circumstances. I pray they feel loved and like they have a safe place to belong where they can fun just being themselves. Please pray for them all to really have a life changing experience with Jesus when we leave to camp in about a month now! 

-Megan

Dodgeball With All of OC Young Life

This past month we went to a region wide club where all the kids played Dodge ball. The kids got really into and had a really good time. It was a great bonding experience for all of us. The boys made it to the semi-finals, but the girls did not do as well (ok, so we lost every game). It was a really fun night that gave us new memories!

-Megan