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…
Today is the International Women’s Day. Around the globe today, people are celebrating women and their achievements. As in previous years, we have asked our staff around the region to nominate women they see making a difference in the lives of adolescents. These are everyday women—coaches, youth pastors, mothers, teachers, advocates, Read more…
On this last day of 2018, we are looking back over the year, over the many stories that were told, and how God has been weaving them together into his grand redemption story. In case you missed these popular stories earlier in the year, here are our TOP 5 blog posts of Read more…
The Western Great Lakes Region has been blessed with another round of new hires. We’d like to take a moment to introduce you to nine of the newest members of our the WGLR Young Life Staff. Let’s give a warm welcome to each one! Meet Anna Blauwkamp, the new Area Read more…
Reflections on Ten Years as Regional Director—Then, Now & Moving Forward Editor’s Note: Chris Theule-VanDam is celebrating ten years as Western Great Lakes Regional Director. We asked him to reflect on this significant milestone and where he’s seen God at work throughout the past ten years. Ten years ago. It Read more…
“When the music went out and we all came together and continued singing the song with just our voices, it was so powerful for us all to come together and just sing together and feel the presence of God” – Leadership Weekend Participant The presence of God was certainly felt Read more…
In the Fall of 2016, Kevin Eastway received an email from a college freshman named Abby Austin. Abby was a former Young Life kid from St. Joseph, MI, now studying in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. As a high schooler, Abby’s faith was formed through Young Life Read more…
What a year it’s been for Young Life in the city of Grand Rapids, especially given that almost everything in Grand Rapids City Young Life is new—a new name, new staff, and many new volunteers. But one thing hasn’t changed. For more than twenty years, Grand Rapids City Young Life Read more…
Just over a year ago, Paul Knapp found himself and his team from Southwest Michigan Young Life spinning their wheels with trying to reach youth in the Benton Harbor community. Something needed to change. As he shared about his struggle, he quickly discovered that he wasn’t alone. A local church Read more…
A discipleship weekend experience had been a dream for Area Director Erin Iafrate ever since kids from her area participated in the Student Leadership Project, Young Life’s summer discipleship program for high school juniors and seniors. Watching her students come back from SLP changed and challenged in their faith and Read more…