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

Ladera WyldLife: SO CAL TRIFECTA!

This last Saturday may have been one of the most action packed days in the history of days... well maybe that's an exaggeration, but it was glorious!

Grant Waggoner had a dream, a dream of snowboarding, surfing, and skateboarding all in one day. Saturday, he along with 8 lucky kids from Ladera Ranch Middle School, 1 lucky sophomore from SJHHS, 2 lucky Young Life leaders, and an amazing dad, Mitch Needleman, made this dream a reality!

Watch the video for some highlights!

This is a big part of what Young Life and WyldLife is about! Making memories with kids! Taking them to do things they never thought possible, with leaders who are for them, encouraging them, and loving them because these leaders know and love Jesus.

So often this opens the door to deep conversations. On on of the lift rides, Grant was asking kid about his classes. This kid said that he has a hard time paying attention because they are so boring. Then Grant asked him how he felt during the part of WyldLife when we talk about Jesus... the kid's face lit up, and he said that he loves hearing about that because he wants to know more about Jesus! This kid does not come from a church background, and has heard most of what he has heard about Jesus through his experience in WyldLife!

I love getting to be a part of this mission! I love getting to be a part of God's love story for these kids... especially when it involves snowboarding, surfing and skating all in one day!

To learn more about Young Life South County, and Ladera Ranch WyldLife, please text or call Luke Bright: 949-293-6443, or Grant Waggoner: 702-533-8324. You can also email Luke here or Grant here.

Regional Leader Retreat

What a great group of leaders!

This last weekend was the annual South Coast Regional Leader Retreat. South County took 12 leaders up to 1,000 Pines Christian Camp for an epic weekend. It was awesome to be there with close to 500 other leaders from our region, which includes pretty much all of Southern California south of LA.

Grant, Bailey, Caleb, Shay, Hannah, and Andy

The weekend started with club. It was great to get to be a part of a Young Life club made for leaders, and as with all clubs, it was a blast! The program team did a wonderful job showing us how to make people laugh, by making us laugh, and then the speaker, Larry Anderson, was incredible. Club was a real treat, and we all walked away with smiles and lots of ideas for our own clubs this year.

Club time!

South County and Coronado Young Life teams dominated paintball!

Free time was filled with things ranging from a high ropes course, to paintball. 8 of us decided to play paintball and had an absolute blast playing with and against the leadership teams from San Clemente, San Diego, and Coronado Island.

Inspiration point shenanigans.

One of the best things for me was watching our team get to know each other. There were a few leaders who didn't really know anyone coming into this trip, but walked away feeling like a part of a great family. Seeing these leaders get to realize how big the Southern California Young Life family is, was also great. They got to see that they are not alone, that our area is a part of something much larger.

Young Life is a good time, every time.

The theme for the weekend was that Young Life is about Jesus. Everything we do flows out of our relationship with Jesus. While club, and campaigners, and program, and everything else we do has its place, if all we are doing is introducing kids to Young Life, we aren't really doing much. Jesus is the center, and if that isn't the case, things start to fall apart.

Almost 500 leaders from around Southern California singing praises to our loving Father.

This leader retreat was a rallying point for our teams. Both the WyldLife team, and the Young Life team are excited about what is coming this year. They are excited about growing closer to Jesus as we grow close to our high school and middle school friends. They are excited about bring Jesus' love into the schools and communities of South Orange County this year, and they are excited about being a part of a mission that seeks to glorify God through loving kids in Jesus' name.

The program team that did all the skits spent the weekend trying to figure out what the letters YNWA stood for. After the weekend was over we came to learn it stood for You'll Never Walk Alone. This is so true. We just spent the weekend with almost 500 other people that love kids and love Jesus and want to be a part of something that helps kids find their way to Jesus' feet.

This was illustrated perfectly when leaving, Josh's car got stuck in his parking spot because of some soft sand. Multiple leaders from multiple areas quickly swarmed the car and pushed it right out.

To say the least, I am VERY excited about this year of ministry, and being a part of the mission of Young Life in Southern California!

What a team!

Ladera WyldLife: Jesus' Mission

Kate is Back!

It was another great morning at Founders Park today! Kate was back! She is the youth pastor at Rock Harbor Mission Viejo and its so good having her come help out on Friday mornings.

Nothing like Founders on a Friday morning

Grant has done a great job of setting up different things for leaders and kids to do as they eat doughnuts and hangout before the game starts. From Spikeball, to Disc Slam, to ultimate Frisbee, there are several different way for kids and leaders to connect over a good doughnut.

Musical chairs... with a twist.

The game this week was a variation of an old classic, musical chairs. Instead of chairs we had the kids split up into two groups, one group acted as chairs, and the other as the people trying to sit on the chairs. It was fun watching as kids got wild and started fighting for a spot on a chair.

Bryce and some 6th graders talking about life.

I got the privilege of giving the talk today. I talked about having a mission, getting lost, and then being found.

I talked about a time in 4th grade when a friend and I were bored on a summer day and came up with a mission. We were going to get lost! We packed a water bottle, you have to be prepared you know, and set out from his house hoping to not be able to find our way home. The only thing was, he wasn't allowed to cross any streets with stop signs and he knew his way around his neighborhood too well. I decided that if we wanted to accomplish our mission we were going to have to split up. Seconds after we split up, I was completely lost.

I remember feeling like around each corner I would see his house, but each corner brought new, unfamiliar sights. The more I walked, the more desperate I felt. I will never forget the feeling of seeing his mom's car come around a corner. I was such a relief, and the feelings of desperation changed to feelings of relief and joy instantly.

Jesus came to this planet on a mission. The Bible tells us, over and over again, that Jesus came to rescue the lost. and to save people, even those that didn't know they needed saving.

I told the story of a man that was desperately lost. His name was Zacchaeus. Three things to know about Zach is that he was a tax collector, meaning he stole money from people. Tax collectors were hated because they worked for the occupying government. They were Jews that used authority given to them by Rome to take advantage of other Jews. The last thing to know is that Zach was short. He was a "wee little man" as a classic Sunday School song states.

So, when the day came when Jesus was coming to town, Zach didn't have a chance to see him. Imagine a scene something like the scene in DC this week with the Pope. People were crowding everywhere to get a glimpse of Jesus. Jesus had become a big deal. No one would let Zach get in, so he found a tree that hung over the road Jesus was traveling down. He hid himself in the leaves so no one would see him and waited till Jesus passed by.

The second Jesus got under Zach, Jesus did something Zach wasn't expecting. He looked straight up at Zach and said, "Zach, come down immediately... I must stay at your house today."

NO ONE WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THIS. Jesus, staying at Zacchaeus' house... People like Jesus weren't supposed to hang out with people like Zach. But Jesus didn't follow those rules. Jesus was different. Like the Pope stopping the parade to say hi to a little girl that got over the barricade this week, Jesus made time for everyone.

Zach responded to Jesus' kindness by changing. He told everyone he was going to give half of what he had to the poor, and then pay back thos he took advantage of 4 times the amount he stole. Zach knew that he had been lost, but was now found.

Jesus responded to those who questioned his actions by saying that he, "came to seek and save the lost." In John 3:17, directly after the ever so famous John 3:16, John writes, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him."

This was the mission of Jesus, to save, to find, to restore.

The three take-aways I had for the kids this morning were:

1. Jesus didn't come to hang out with "good" people, or popular people, or people that looked like they had everything figured out. Jesus came to be with everyone, especially the kind of people no one else wanted to be around. No matter who we are, how "good" we are, how "bad" we are, how strong or weak, how guilty, how messy, how rich or poor... Jesus came to be with us. Jesus wants to come to our house.

2. Jesus was on a mission to save people. He didn't come to judge or pint his finger at people and make them feel bad for not doing the right things, or making mistakes. Jesus came to love people, and to save them from living a diminished life. He doesn't use guilt and shame to show people what they are doing wrong, but lovingly invites them to follow him, motivating through love and kindness, like with Zach. Too bad so many of his followers, myself included at times, have missed that completely. Jesus uses love to invite people, not shame to exclude people.

3. Jesus can always find us, and he will never stop looking for us. In life, sometimes we just get lost. Its as true as anything, and, thank God, Jesus is always quick to search, and quick to find. Like he found Zach in the tree when no one else noticed him, he sees us and he invites us to come down, so he can come and be with us. We cannot get lost enough, or hide well enough for Jesus. He will always come to our rescue, he will always find us.

This is really GOOD NEWS. If you think of guilt and shame, or if you have ever experienced Christian people pointing a finger of judgment at you or someone you care about. I am sorry. That is not a good representation of Jesus. Jesus doesn't do that to change the world, Jesus loves, even to the point of death. Jesus was a perfect representation of God, Jesus was God, and God is LOVE.

World record amount of kids doing ninja kicks at Founders park.

A Look Inside: Eat the Menu

Over 40 kids, and over $250 of McDonalds food... such a fun night.

The purpose of events like this in WyldLife is to give kids a place to be crazy kids, to build relationships between kids and leaders, and for leaders to earn the right to speak into their lives.

While these events just look like chaos, there is actually so much more going on just under the surface!

WyldLife Eats the Menu!!

Matt and Charlie with each teams menu!

Fridays are for WyldLife in Ladera Ranch!

 

We had our first Friday night Club last night. The game we played was called Eat the Menu! It has become the annual kick-off event for Ladera Ranch WyldLife club.

 

Last night over 40 kids came to McDonalds ready eat some really delicious and healthy food (there may be a bit of sarcasm there)! We split up into three teams and ordered $250 worth of food. Each team had to race through the food and the team that finished first won.

 

While this event may seem crazy (it is) and it may be hard to understand the reasoning behind doing something like this, it goes a long way in helping us leaders earn the right to be heard. Having these events where kids are encouraged to do something way out of the norm, but still super fun, helps them to realize that we want them to have fun, be crazy kids, and be themselves. As they begin to see that we aren't trying to change them, and that we genuinely want to be their friends, they begin to trust us. As this happens we get to share Jesus' love with them... and they listen because they know we care about them, and we have earned the right.

 

The beauty of Young Life and WyldLife is relationship. Leaders build real friendships with kids and then enter into their lives in order to support, encourage, and love. When kids give us permission, we are quick to help direct kids towards better life decisions, build habits that will help them in the future, and introduce them to Jesus, helping them learn what it is like to have a real growing relationship with him.

 

So, while things like Eat the Menu may seem a bit strange... there are some deeper things happening amidst the chaos.

Team Turkey Sandwich getting crazy!

The desert queens doing work on the sweets!

Chomp chomp chomp...

When WyldLife takes over McDonalds!



The MVP of the night... you don't want to know how much her ate.

Our Week at Oakbridge!

This summer's Oakbridge trip was easily one of the best camp trips I have ever been a part of. From the kids all getting along, to the leaders doing an absolutely amazing job, to the camp staff… it was incredible.

We took 19 kids this year, and of those 19, 6 kids said "yes" to Jesus for the first time ever, and 10 kids rededicated their lives to Jesus that week. 

Please watch the following video and take a look at the pics to get a glimpse at what a week at WyldLife camp looks like! We will be going to winter camp this November 20-22, and then back again next summer (we will let you know the dates ASAP)!

About to have one of the best weeks of our lives!

Matthew meeting one of the WIlderness Explorers!

Mixers the first night.

The boys slept out under the starts the first night… it was awesome!

The food at Oakbridge is sooo good!

Unity game uniforms!

Again, that camp food is so good, Jack agrees!

Protect your leader… Matt was pretty dry compared to the other guy!

All camp pic! I see a lot of yellow!

The leap of faith.

Leaders got ruined at the carnival… so fun!

Grant, Matthew, and some pantyhose!

Max, having a blast at the messy games!

Spencer, about to do damage ith some shaving creme!

Best messy games ever!

Everyone had a blast!

Don't mess with Michele when it comes to card games!

Midnight dance party!

Water games!

Failed attempt at a human pyramid.

The high dive was a highlight! Natalie getting wild!

Archery! Kieron's got some great form!

Tyler G with the bull's eye!

The game room!

The ropes course was rad.

Spencer soaring down the zip-line.

The girls doing some awesome freestyle walking at the skatepark. 

Guys had epic pillow fights the last two nights!

Saying "YES" to Jesus!

Such a wonderful week!