2020 has been a challenging year. Like each of us, kids are dealing with wave after wave of disappointment and loss due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many have felt isolated at home, discouraged about things being canceled, and anxious about the future. This is what makes the mission of Young Read more…
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a hard and challenging time for many. The students we work with, their families, our volunteer leaders, our schools and communities have all experienced losses, unexpected changes, and stress to varying degrees. Young Life staff and leaders have felt it too. Over the past seven Read more…
Today we are welcoming five new Young Life team members to the Western Great Lakes Region. These five individuals are deeply committed Jesus-followers who are passionate about pouring into the lives of students and young adults in their communities, with the goal of introducing them to Jesus Christ and walking Read more…
As summer slowly fades into fall, we wanted to share some highlights from this very different yet unforgettable summer. When most of our initial summer plans were either canceled or postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Young Life staff and leaders stepped up their game and discovered new ways to Read more…
Meet Greg Bird. Greg is the new Area Director for Rockford Young Life, a ministry established in the fall of 2014 to reach students at Rockford High School with the good news of Jesus Christ and to help them grow in faith. What began with a weekly club for high Read more…
Young Life’s Western Great Lakes Region is celebrating 30 years of connecting kids to Christ through the Church Partnership Program. The Church Partnership Program is a different approach to youth ministry that seeks to bridge the gap between the church and Young Life. Participating churches have described the program as Read more…
Today we celebrate Jay Lindell’s 40 years of service in the mission of Young Life. In recognition of this remarkable milestone, we are reposting the following tribute written a few years ago in celebration of Jay’s 35 years of ministry, twenty-five of which were spent as Area Director for Greater Read more…
In case you missed these stories throughout the year, here are our top blog posts of 2019.
We’re overjoyed to once again welcome eleven new staff members to the WGLR Young Life team. These individuals are committed to the Lord and the work of building His Kingdom. Each one cares deeply about kids and seeing them come to know the Lord. Please help us give them a Read more…
When Vicki Wagonis-Bryers and her husband moved to Mackinaw City two years ago to enjoy their retirement, never in her wildest dreams would she have imagined doing what she is doing today—hanging out with teens and preteens in her small northern Michigan town. Before retirement, Vicki spent 37 years as Read more…