Do you remember the amazing story we shared earlier this year about Kenowa Young Life? How in just a few months time, a volunteer-led Young Life club at Kenowa Hills High School had tripled in size from 55 to 175 kids? It was the kind of growth that only God could orchestrate. (If you missed the story, be sure to read it here.)
Kenowa Hills YL
Since we first highlighted what God was doing in Kenowa, things haven’t slowed down. Interest in Young Life has sparked in the nearby communities of Comstock Park and Sparta. This continued growth led Kenowa Young Life to recently change their name to Northwest Grand Rapids Young Life and take an exciting step to hire their first-ever Area Director, Jake Wielhouwer.
“My favorite Young Life story is the one unfolding every day in front of my eyes in Northwest Grand Rapids,” said Jake Wielhouwer, just a few weeks into his new role as Area Director for Northwest Grand Rapids Young Life. [Tweet this.]
Jake is no stranger to NW Grand Rapids or to Young Life. Jake grew up on the northwest side, attended Westside Christian School and has loved YL ever since being involved as a student at Calvin Christian High School in Grandville.
Prior to becoming Area Director, Jake spent several years in the auto and real estate industries and most recently worked at a non-profit youth center. He was also a key player in forming and chairing Kenowa YL’s committee.
Jake and his wife Tory have three kids: Tessa (5), Heidi (3.5) and Jack (6 weeks). He loves spending time with Tory and the kids, playing hockey, working out, boating and cheering on Michigan football. Did we mention he likes hockey?
Jake shared, “Since I broke my ankle two years ago and am not able to play sports like I used to, I explored other options and found that ice skating doesn’t hurt my ankle. So I now play hockey as often as I can.”
In addition to these things, Jake is very dedicated to the mission of Young Life.
He attended his first YL club as a high school freshman and still remembers watching kids race to eat a banana through a pantyhose. The following summer, Jake went to Windy Gap; it was there that he accepted Christ.
“Young Life changed my life because I was able to truly grasp for the first time God’s unconditional love for me,” Jake shared. [Tweet this]
After that life-changing summer, Jake became a student leader and continued leading Young Life for three years following graduation. Coaching football was another way Jake continued to make connections and build relationships with kids.
Jake (far left) with Kenowa Hills students and Kenowa YL leader, Spencer Vanderheide (far right).
“I love how Young Life brings something authentic and real to disinterested kids,” Jake shared. “We are building genuine relationships with kids that are crying out for our help. And in a programmatic society, where kids oftentimes don’t have consistent relationships, Young Life leaders show up to be Jesus to kids on a regular basis.”
When asked about his hopes for Northwest Grand Rapids Young Life, Jake replied, “My prayer is that God would grow our new area and build strong ministries in our area schools (Kenowa Hills, Comstock Park, and Sparta) so that all students will have the opportunity to hear of Jesus’ unconditional love for them.”
“Just like Jesus chose unique people, God started Kenowa Hills Young Life in a unique way through unique people,” explained Jake. “We have experienced incredible growth over the last year and have been embraced by parents, the administration, and the community. God is at work and I still can’t believe I get to be a part of it! I am continually amazed at how God shows up faithfully and in new ways. I look forward to watching Him write the next chapter in this story.” [Tweet this]
>> Please join us in welcoming Jake Wielhouwer to this new role. We also look forward to watching God write the next chapter in the unfolding story of NW Grand Rapids Young Life.
>> To get involved with what God is doing in and through NW Grand Rapids Young Life, be sure to follow them on Facebook and Instagram or attend their upcoming banquet on Monday, November 7th. See details below.
