A New Start

My dad was a coach for over 40 years.  He was always good at teaching a sport and growing kids into skilled athletes.  However, I was never that great at sports.  I lacked the “killer instinct” that so many of the best athletes seem to have.  I grew to be tolerant of sports because I like being around people.  By the time I graduated from high school, I had pretty much sworn off of competitive sports in any official capacity, and I figured that was the end of it.

Flash forward a few years and I find myself looking for ways to get on the San Juan Hills High School campus and meet the students there.  I kept hearing that one great way to start relationships on campus was through sports, and so I asked to become a volunteer for the track and field team.  On my first day, I was introduced to the team as Coach G., the new coach.  I stumbled my way through drills and techniques that practice, but somehow, I gained the respect of the kids.  

On our first home meet, I was assigned to help out with the starter and the timers, running around whenever something needed doing.  I was there at the beginning of each and every race, checking the lanes, encouraging the runners, and covering my ears as the gun went off.  I was able to cheer on my runners, and congratulate them as they finished.  I was proud of them, and they would each say “thanks Coach G.” as they passed by.  At the end of the night, our team had won and our kids were happily exhausted.  I told them goodbye before driving home with that word echoing in my head, “Coach...coach...coach.”  

I had never imagined that I would be a coach, much less for such a great team.  But here I am; encouraging, cheering, screaming, giving advice.  Some of these kids are my friends, some of them live in my neighborhood.  Some of them have even started to talk to me about their lives, their families, their thoughts on God.  Every day I get to be with them is a blessing, even if it is as a coach.

-Josh

Cosmic Bowling- San Juan Hills Young Life

Games can be competitive or even aggressive.  Sometimes though, it’s important to simply have fun.  We invited a couple dozen high schoolers to join us for a night of cosmic bowling at Saddleback Lanes where music and lights come together to make a simple bowling lane become a party room.  

We had kids meet us early and stay late.  On a Friday night, twenty-five students chose to spend their time hanging out with a couple of their adult friends having a great time at a bowling alley.  There were laughs, conversations, strikes and gutterballs.  It was never about the game, it was always about having a fun night with our friends and showing them that we can have a good time together.  I enjoyed watching these kids just be themselves and see that they don’t have to go too far to find fun on a Friday night.

-Josh

What Young Life is About

As of this week, WyldLife is in full swing in Lader Ranch. We had our first club this last Monday at Laser Quest, and our fourth campaigners meeting this morning.  It has been so great to get to know these kids, and we are meeting new kids at everything we do.

God is moving in Lader Ranch (but isn't he always moving everywhere) and it's really great to get to be a part of what he is doing.

This morning at campaigners we broke into small groups and talked about Jesus healing the paralyzed man and calling Levi, a tax collector, to be his disciple. As I thought about Jesus asking a tax collector, basically someone who knew about God but really was not interested in obeying him, I realized that this story really is a great picture of Young Life.

Jesus is the model for Young Life's ministry. In this story Jesus sees Levi collecting taxes and says, "Follow me." Levi, most likely someone hated by those who sought God, leaves everything and follows Jesus, eventually becoming one of the 12 disciples. What is crazy about this story is that after this happens, Jesus goes to a party at Levi's house. This party may have actually been a goodbye party thrown by his tax collector friends. The point here is that Jesus went to party with a bunch of tax collectors and "sinners!" 

This is Young Life. We go to where those kids that are not interested in Jesus, or going to church, or even being all that moral, hang out. We go to them where they are and we love them. We sit on the doorstep of these kids' lives and ask to be invited in, we don't force it, we wait for the invite, and we love regardless. 

So please, keep praying, keep supporting, and keep letting those you know who work with Young life know you appreciate what they are doing. It is such an honor to get to be a part of Jesus seeking these kids and inviting them into true life.

First Ladera Ranch Campaigners

Our first campaigners meeting was such a great time. These kids braved Storm Watch 2014 to come and have breakfast, and talk a little about Jesus. We even had 4 new faces come out, and our first girl!

We will be meeting every Friday morning at the park connected to LRMS at 7:15 to eat doughnuts, talk about life, and learn a little bit more about Jesus and following him.

I am very excited about what God is doing in Ladera Ranch, and so thankful for this morning. Going into this meeting I had been feeling a lot of pressure and doubting myself... It was so good to experience God's love, care, and sovereignty this morning. It was such a wonderful reminder that God can and will do so much more than we expect, that he cares about kids so much more than I do, and that he really can use us at our weakest to do really wonderful things for his Kingdom... what a gift.

So thank you for praying for WyldLife in Ladera Ranch. I'm so excited to see what God has in store.

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

Marco Forester Wyldlife

Hello all I hope you're week is going well. Just wanted to send out an update from our last Wyldlife club. As always it was filled with funny games good times and growing relationships with our young friends so that we can walk along side of them Through this crazy stage in life. In our time going though the bible I was stoked to talk about what it looks like to stand up for their faith and look out after the ones that are less fortunate then us.

-Dmar

Wyldlife- Marco Forester

Hello all I hope you're week is going well! Excited to share a little update about wyldlife club this week! 

We introduced music to club and it was a blast! The kids loved it and we had a great old time. 

One of our leaders plays guitar and piano so we were able to let loose and have some fun! We also had the pleasure of hearing one of our leaders Riley Murphy speak on my he is going to be gone doing missions work for the next six months. 

He did a great job and we look forward to his return so he can share all that he has learned on his travels.

-Dmar