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 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 Read more…
A spark of interest for Sparta Young Life began with a simple invitation. It was the fall of 2017 when a woman named Amy took a chance by inviting her former neighbor, Kristin, to the Northwest Grand Rapids Young Life Read more…
In the Western Great Lakes Region, one of our core values is to work responsibly in relationship with the larger church of Jesus Christ and pursue partnerships with churches and other like-minded organizations. One of the ways we do that is 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 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 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 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” – Read more…
Guest Post from Sara Webb “What might the church look like if people with profound and complex intellectual disabilities were conceived of as disciples with a distinct vocation—a calling given them by Jesus?” —John Swinton I am sitting on my 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 Read more…