Young Life is 72 years old today. This day is special, it’s a time to step back and praise God for the way He so carefully guided Jim Rayburn in pioneering this ministry, and how He has had His hand on it for the past 72 years. One of the biggest mistakes those of us involved in Young Life can make is making our work about Young Life and not about the One that this ministry was created for. Many of us are involved in Young Life because of the principles behind it, the approach we take in presenting the gospel is biblical, and it is Christ-like.
For our leadership training in Greensboro we are reading Back to the Basics of Young Life by John Miller. John Miller and Young Life go way back. He was the 19th staff member and a close friend to Jim Rayburn. This book is a book about Young Life, how it started, and a great reminder about what and Who we are representing by working in Young Life. I read this book last year for my senior leader training and I forgot how great it is. It reminds me exactly why I want to work with Young Life.
Jim Rayburn, during one of his last times speaking in front of people left us with a reminder that is remembered still. “Young Life is Jesus Christ and don’t you ever forget it”. We are representing Jesus in our work with Young Life. We are bridging the gap between Jesus and teenagers, in so we are being the very hands and feet of Jesus. We are called to love so relentlessly and consistently that people ask themselves what is different about us. This is a love that is not blocked by social and economic barriers and is not hindered by fear of awkward encounters. 72 years later that has not changed and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. Remember today that we serve Jesus, that Young Life is His vessel, and that even though we fail a lot, the God we serve is much bigger than our mistakes and shortcomings.
Growing In Christ 