There is room at the table for everyone and you are invited. We're going to be real with each other in this space. We're going to expect that no one is perfect-- I'm not, you're not and nobody else is either. If we ever get to a point where it seems like nobody is messing up and we're all completely comfortable then we're doing something wrong. Jesus came for everybody and loves them just as they are in the middle of their mess.
When we say that Young Life is for everyone, we really mean it. On a normal night you'll find kids not only from HSE and Fishers, but also from Lawrence North and Cathedral High School. The Barn will have kids from every grade of HS. And there's not one type of kid who comes to YL-- there is space for you here.
There really are guys at YL. It's harder to get pictures of them because HS boys don't like to pose and I think I've had exactly 0 boys ever ask me to take their picture in the last five years. But sure enough, these guys and their leaders show up every week. This past summer, Beesley and these guys climbed a mountain together and it impacted them in a profound way. When you see them all get together you can't deny that they've got a special bond.
Young Life can be your "thing." For so many kids who are part of our family, Young Life is shaping who they are and their time in HS. Just like your other passions and interests become a huge part of your life, being part of this community will shape how you spend your week and who you go to for support/fun/encouragement/adventure/prayer. Our hope is that YL will always be life-giving which means that you find peace here and that you're filled up with life that only Jesus can provide.
We're so excited to point you to Christ and to walk alongside you as you learn-- but this isn't church. Young Life is an awesome place to grow in your faith, ask questions and learn more about God. But Young Life is not a religion in itself. We want all of our kids and all of our leaders to be involved with the local church just like God has called us to do. We believe that being part of the greater church body is something that we should be doing right now and in every season of our lives.
God is at work in your story. Last night we shared Cardboard Testimonies-- brief stories of how God has taken the old and transformed us into a new creation. But the truth that I'm learning over and over again is that God's work is never done. We'll have so many different story lines woven through our life and it's beautiful to see how He is moving. "God is honored when we live & believe that He is present & active, even when the evidence of his activity is hard to find." -Andy Stanley
I'm so proud to be part of this community and want others to experience what I've found here. There is room at the table and you're invited.
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