The Young Life club has many events coming up this year. The organization recently hosted color wars at Trailhead Park on Sept. 9, a major event to start off the Young Life club. Grades 9-12 went and each grade had different paint colors.
“We got to throw chalk at each other, colored water, paint and it was really fun. Everyone took photos, and we ended off with a really good message,” freshman Teagan Haag said.
Future Young Life events coming up include polar bear and silent disco.
“I’ve learned a lot of leadership skills,” sophomore Kate Stephens said. “I’ve learned the word of God, I’ve learned to grow my relationship with Him alongside some of my best friends and I’ve just made a lot of new friends throughout the whole club so far.”
During these events, the Young Life leaders give messages about God, telling students what to look forward to through their participation, and what the opportunities students have in Young Life, and why students should come and how Young Life leaders emphasize to students that they can talk to any leader or students there at an event.
“This is not my first. This is my second year in Young Life,” Stephens said. “I joined Young Life, because I was nervous at high school about not knowing anyone, and being made fun of, but that was the complete opposite after I went to Young Life. I was so comfortable with going to school. I knew I had older people to look up to and ask questions. I just felt more comfortable in the environment itself.”
Young Life always has a theme for each event that the leaders come up with, and if a student has the best outfit for the theme, they can win money off the cost of trips later in the year.
“I think Young Life has changed me so far by bringing me closer with God, friends and just making better decisions,” freshman Romina Minkov said. “It kind of brightens up my whole day knowing that I have Monday to look forward to every week and that I’m going to be with the people who are also trying to get closer with God and that I’m surrounded by those who are going through the long exciting journey also.”
Young Life accepts students who don’t really believe in God or are trying to get closer to God and don’t know how to. Leaders in Young Life are always coming up to students and asking them what they have done that day or if they did something over the weekend and try to make students feel welcome even if they made bad decisions in the past or are trying to start somewhere but don’t know how, since there is a Young Life meeting at a church every monday.
“I said, ‘Come, don’t be hesitant about it.’” Stephens said. “Everyone is welcome, everyone is kind, and no one will shame you. It’s a great time to be vulnerable, especially if you aren’t very vulnerable in the first place by your faith. It’s a great place to do that and meet a lot of new people.”
Ultimately, the community members try to support each other as exemplified by their religious leaders.
“Just trust the process,” Haag said. “Don’t rush it, and He’s always there for you, and He’ll always forgive you, and you can talk to Him at any time.”
