The Young Life Podcast

Whether speaking about the intentional development of people, building a thriving ministry, or the success of Denver's ELDI (Emerging Leaders Development Initiative), Art Williams (Multi-Ethnic Coordinator for the NW Division) believes that clarity is king. Today, we sit down to discuss these items, and other lessons he's learned in 15 years of ministry with Young Life.  Special thanks to Irene Reza and Ashley Davenport, ELDI grads and world-changers who make guest appearances in this episode!   #clarityisKing        

Today, a refreshing look at Young Life's intentional, timeless, and essential discipleship efforts with Crystal Kirgiss (Young Life's VP of Discipleship). We're becoming more like Jesus by...   

One year ago, Hurricane Maria made landfall on the island of Puerto Rico. Today, one perspective from the many heroes in Puerto Rico who continued to bring light into darkness in the aftermath of a historic storm. Today, our prayers go out to all affected by Hurricane Florence.   

Today, a conversation with Young Life pioneer Chuck Reinhold, whose recent book A Life Worth Living details the principles that produced a fruitful ministry spanning four decades and multiple continents. Learn more: www.ChuckReinhold.comChuck’s Book A Life Worth Living (Amazon) Search the Scriptures (Amazon) How to Win Friends and Influence People The Topical Memory System The Christian Wheel     

“Young Life is not a ministry of moments, but a ministry that walks with people through various moments.” -Alex Lewis In our Season 1 finale, Alex Lewis (Digital Marketing Specialist) joins the show to recap the #TheBestWeekofYourLife Campaign and this years 'home' theme. Surprise guests include Tom Wilson (Regional Director and employee #65!) and some wonderful people from around camp. We're out until September, but in the meantime: check out the 4 vlogs YL produced for the special look at camp here at the links below to IGTV, and keep pioneering.   1 - "The Best Week of Your Life: Home" 2 - "Laughter: What if IG Followers controlled programs day?!" 3 - "It's not about me: Work Crew & Summer Staff"  4 - "Going Home"  

“A picture I have of the African women … is that she’s carrying the continent on her shoulders.” —Dyan Larmey Today, stories of redemption, hope, and empowerment from Africa’s ministry to women. Links:  Karama Collection Young Life Africa’s Website  

“Supervision is an underutilized avenue to care for and develop people in ministry." John Evans (Sr. Dir. of Advanced Training) has made a career of creating safe spaces for people to learn how to grieve their losses. In Part I of our conversation, he spoke about being a healthy and congruent person. Today, how to lead others from a place of health and emotional maturity. We're @YoungLifePod.     

John Evans (Sr. Dir. of Advanced Training) has made a career of creating safe spaces for people to learn how to grieve their losses. This week, he teaches us how to be congruent (Part I) and to lead others from a place of health and emotional maturity (Part II, coming this Thursday). Conversation topics for today include his perspective on ministry motivation, emotional health, grieving, technology, anxiety, depression, and much more. Questions to Ponder:  Are you pursuing spiritual health while neglecting emotional health? What are losses you need to grieve? Do you know how to grieve losses properly? What is your motivation for helping people? Do you turn to technology to manage anxiety? Do you have a healthy/safe person to be vulnerable with? Are you in the habit of getting on other people's level to communicate with them?      

Rites of passage are effective ways to bless young people as they complete formative experiences and move onto the next chapter of their lives. Today, we drop in on one of Young Life’s most revolutionary training programs, Latino Student Staff, to explore how it's is changing lives, sending people, and helping to transform the city of Houston. If your club or area has a rite of passage you’d love to share, hit us up @younglifepod.  Music by James Tutson & Podington Bear (from the free music archive)    

Our #songofsummer series features a camp musician(s) breaking down the music and message of their favorite song to play at camp. Today, Kel Taylor and Emma Harvey of Sawyer (@thebandSawyer) share about their song, ‘Easy Now’. Tomorrow, they fly to Malibu to play it. Are we missing a camp musician who played the songs of your summers past? Tag them and us (@younglifepod)— we’d love to help tell the story!   

Most of our Young Life staff, leaders, and stakeholders serve on teams. So, what makes them great? Today, an example of a caught up & compelled team: The Young Life Chicagoland Junior Board. Between Jon Houghton (Regional Director, Chicagoland Region) and Dana Kritsas (Chair, Jr. Board), we’ll drop in on a meeting to hear how this team is effectively engaging Young Life alumni to make a difference in the city, and beyond. *Words/Music by artist (& Jr. Board's Spiritual Director) CW Allen! (iTunes|Spotify)     

Since Young Life is in ‘his blood,’ Drew and Ellie Holcomb have felt right at home sharing their songs over nine summers of camp, lifting up themes like solidarity, romance, and honesty, alongside the message of Gods’ love for young people. Today, a piece of Drew’s musical history, and the story behind his #1 song of summer, ‘Live Forever’. If there's another camp musician you'd like to hear featured in our songs of summer series, tweet/DM us @YoungLifePod.     

Young Life is moving forward by going deeper into an authentic relationship with Jesus. Tracey Meeks (Young Life Staff, Towson, MD) has modeled how to choose depth. Today, her journey.   

Today, in our first bonus episode, we bring you two stories of monumental prayer walks to accompany Young Life's Missionwide Day of Prayer on April 21st, 2018. Use the hashtag #YLPray as you move. He sensed God saying, "Build it here." Voices: Alex Lewis (Digital Marketing Specialist) Micah Salazar (Camp Manager, Trail West) Steve Larmey (SVP, Young Life Africa/Middle East) Music by James Tutson, and Podington Bear, from the FMA    

This Saturday (4/21) is 'Move Forward', a global prayer walk for all of Young Life. Today, check out how Chad walks and prays, and listen for how you can join in this Saturday, and pray the Forward movement into reality. #YLPray  

In 41-month long summer assignments, Steve Chesney (Senior Reginal Director, Tennessee) has picked up a few nuts and bolts, some beautiful stories, as well as some timely advice for those embarking on 'the best week/month of their life'. In 60 days, the symphony plays again, with the beginning of the 2018 season.   

“Do not lose hope. Do not give up. Do not do this alone.” Luma Haddad (Area Director, South Bay Young Life) brings her wonderful perspective on thriving in an under-resourced area for 17 years. Her thoughts on ministry, rest, training, and leadership apply to all leaders — inside and outside of Young Life. Luma develops her best people by giving her best away, and today is no different. Hit us up @younglifepod with your takeaways!   

Today, a journey to the heart of Northern Ireland, a place with a legacy of sending it's best leaders out to change the world. Craig Mawhinney (Northern Ireland's Country Developer) helps us discover how they did it in the past, and how we can do it today.  

Embracing true kingdom diversity in mission requires growth in cultural intelligence. Dr. David Livermore runs The Cultural Intelligence Center (culturalq.com), and today he leads us in a discussion about achieving and sustaining kingdom diversity at all levels. Look for the surprise @YLAfrica intro — "Pamoja Pamoja" — to frame our discussion today! We’re @younglifepod on social media.        

Young Life in Africa/Middle East has grown tremendously since it launched less than 20 years ago in one country with a single high school ministry. Today, we explore how this movement has grown so fast, when the leaders of it intentionally move slow. Here's a copy of the Leadership Tree.