What I Love about Young Life I Saw at Summer Camp

Scott and Holley have been volunteering for Young Life Ministries in Frisco for several years. We’ve seen how they impact high school students as they attend their students’ football, volleyball, and baseball games; track meets, band and UIL competitions, graduation and baccalaureate ceremonies … more than most parents. That is on top of the Young Life club meetings and Bible studies every week. And then they use their summer vacation to be leaders for these students at summer camp.



They invited Marty and I as adults guests when they took their group to Crooked Creek Young Life Camp in Colorado this year. And who could turn down a chance to go back to summer camp?!



Within the first hour I met "Sam", who was from a different city, as I wandered the camp. This was his first time at Young Life camp, a YL leader in his school had basically insisted he come, and he was feeling lonely. An awkward teen, he told me how he felt like no one wanted to be around him on the bus. Marty joined us as we walked and talked. At two different times, kids from his group came up and asked him to join them and he blew them off. Marty gave him a good “guy” talk about hanging with those kids and we’d check on him later.



That night at the club gathering, we noticed Sam hanging back. As we watched from the side, we could tell that Sam would push people away with his words just to see if they really wanted him around. Another student walked up to Sam and physically drew him into the group. Soon, they all were hanging on each other as they sang and jumped around to the songs.



We passed Sam on the way to breakfast the next morning and asked him what he thought of club night. “It was the coolest time ever!” The next time we saw Sam, we was King of the Rodeo and belting out the National Anthem (solo!) in front of 450 kids.



The adult guests at the camp are free to help or participate in all activities and leader's meetings or simply hang out. There were 10 couples and shared a separate house, which looked like a national park lodge. Our host couple, Boone & Peggy, were as energetic as the kids. It's obvious they love Young Life as much today as they did 56 years ago when they first met in college and Boone was a YL leader. I loved hearing their heart for the kids and their community and I'm glad they live in Dallas.



One of the other couples, “Dawn” and “Mark” told us the story of how a Young Life leader had invited their son to camp. Mark and Dawn were each doing their own private spiritual searching and not involved in church. That year, Dawn had been diagnosed with MS, her mother had died and their son “was making some very bad decisions.” That son came home from camp with a completely different attitude and conduct and started going to church with his YL leader. Dawn and Mark decided to check it out...that was six years ago and their individual lives were transformed.



And finally, I've seen what Young Life has done for the leaders...the way that YL has deepened the marriages and friendships of Scott & Holley, Cody & Kelly, Jerry & Shari and others as they intentionally serve together in their marriage and model relationships that some of these students never see in their own homes. Brian and Julie are not officially with Young Life. But as foster parents, they and their kids are good at making other kids feel at home, so they volunteered to take care 4 year old Everett so Jerry & Shari could serve as leaders.



As we heard at the first leader's meeting ... "we want to make sure that everything this week will help the student's encounter Jesus." And they did!