Young Life Kicks Off Another Season of Club Tonight at “The Naz”
by Loni Rahm
After 75 years, Young Life isn’t really that young by most standards. But YL participants continue to represent the same personal challenges, dilemmas, and spontaneous energy that high schoolers consistently face. So in that perspective, Young Life is perpetually about 16 years old.
Young Life got its start in the 1930’s when an elderly Texas woman — who was concerned about her community’s teenagers — recruited a group of friends to help her pray for the students in the local high school. Decades later, the Young Life organization has spread across the country, but the original mission and vision remains: caring adults who go where kids are, win the right to be heard and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
With the recent addition of WyldLife, middle schoolers also have the opportunity to participate in a weekly club experience, with caring adult and high school mentors helping them navigate the stressful transitions of moving through adolescence.
Wednesday evening activities for both high school and middle school age students kick off tonight at the Church of the Nazarene in Chelan. WyldLife (middle school age) starts with dinner at 5:00 p.m. with club following at 5:27 p.m. Young Life (high school age) has dinner at 6:30 p.m. with club starting at 7:07 p.m. All Chelan Valley youth are welcome to attend.
Pictured above at a recent Young Life Emerging Leaders program are (left to right) Chelan Valley’s Area Director and EL graduate, Dave Epperson, Tatiana Cabellero, Pedro Caballero, Zoee Stamps
Last month, Young Life held its annual banquet – a successful evening of food, friendship and fund-raising at Sorrento’s Ristorante. There were stories of lives changed and the ongoing need for the youth in our Valley to find ways to belong and discover positive tools to face their future with hope.
The banquet was also the perfect opportunity to introduce the new Chelan Valley Area Director David Epperson, who was dubbed by Young Life Committee Leader, Ray Dobbs, as “Dave who doesn’t shave”.
Ironically, one of the ice-breaker games involved a plate-full of shaving cream which Epperson, along with many other community leaders, willingly chose to take in the face.
At the end of the evening, pledges were made and generous checks were written to help keep the program moving forward.
The banquet may be over, but the opportunity to help continues. If you would like to donate time, talents, or funding, please contact David Epperson at YLDavidE@gmail.com or call 509-969-1681.
For more information, visit the Chelan Young Life website or the national organization website
