Dave Burkard (Sparta High School) Dave is pictured above (top row, second in from the left) with a group of Sparta High School students at Young Life camp. Dave is an ER doctor who has served as a Young Life leader at Sparta High School for the past seven years. Read more…
Our volunteer leaders are the heartbeat of the mission of Young Life. They faithfully sacrifice their time, show up consistently, and invest deeply in the lives of students. By building genuine relationships, our leaders help students feel known, loved, and valued. They meet kids where they are, walk alongside them Read more…
For the past 35 years, Church Partnerships have been an integral part of our goal for every kid in the Western Great Lakes Young Life Region to experience the good news of Jesus. In short, a Church Partnership happens when a church has vision for outreach in their local community, Read more…
With a special guest post from Nicole (VanLoon) Bautista. If you’ve been around our region for a while, chances are you’ve heard of Nicole (VanLoon) Bautista. While her hometown is Saugatuck, she has spent the last 8+ years serving faithfully in the Caribbean Islands. Nicole has a heart for young Read more…
This morning, as the coffee brewed and the house slowly woke up, I found myself flipping through the latest edition of The Relationships Journal from Young Life. It’s one of those publications that always feels like a warm conversation—full of stories that remind us how much God is at work Read more…
When you look at the life of Jesus, one thing is unmistakably clear: He loved, valued, and uplifted women. In a time when society often pushed them to the margins, Jesus brought them to the center. He spoke with them, healed them, defended them, and invited them into His mission. Read more…
Grand Rapids All City Club was a huge success this February! At least 330 students gathered to sing songs, play games, share a meal, and hear about Jesus’s love for them! Schools in attendance include Byron Center, Kenowa Hills, Sparta, Caledonia, Calvin Christian, East Grand Rapids, East Kentwood, Forest Hills Read more…
A Guest Post by Annika Bajema from Kentwood Young Life A few weeks ago at our banquet, we asked for prayers for our Young Life fall weekend. We had bold prayers to fill our vehicles. Thanks to your prayers and the Lord’s faithfulness, we had to rent not one but Read more…
A picture is worth a thousand words! We hope you love this gallery, snapshots from some of the adventures that were taken by students and leaders throughout Western Great Lakes Region this Summer 2024! All glory to Christ our King!
Guest Post written by Jonah Pit, Mission Staff for Eastern Ottawa Young Life This summer I was blessed to be able to take 8 graduated seniors to Castaway Club to serve on work crew for a week. Over their high school career, this group has been to multiple winter weekends, Read more…