We are very pleased to welcome three new team members to the Western Great Lakes Regional Team. Please give a warm welcome to Missy Johnson, Eli Margaron, and Beth Price.
Missy Johnson, YoungLives Regional Coordinator
Missy was born and raised in East Lansing, MI, where she first attended a Young Life club as a gangly, awkward, somewhat self-righteous 14-year-old. Through the years the Lord used Young Life to grow her faith, self-awareness, and community. Missy has volunteered as a Young Life leader, a backpacking guide and guide team leader at Wilderness Ranch, and a YoungLives mentor.
After a season of navigating the world of sales and marketing, Missy felt called to full-time ministry. In 2017-2018, she began pursuing a counseling degree through Western Michigan University and then served as the Kids Ministry Director for Sojourn Church in Traverse City.
Missy shared: “I’m so excited about this timely return to the ministry of YoungLives. I love that it’s for teens and kids, that it meets the needs of our friends who can sometimes find themselves on the margins, and that it includes all of the best of what Young Life is known for. YoungLives is caring adults who faithfully show up in the lives of kids, with love in their hearts, for the glory of Jesus.”
As Regional YoungLives Coordinator, Missy will offer leadership, training, and support to the existing YoungLives ministry teams in the region with the vision of starting two new ministries in the Western Great Lakes Region over the next two years. YoungLives thrives when diverse, intergenerational teams of people are engaged in vibrant relationships with Jesus and are able to follow his lead into long-term, Christ-glorifying relationships with teen moms and their children.
Eli Margaron, Capernaum Regional Coordinator
Eli was born and raised in Greenville, SC where she was first introduced to Young Life as a high school student. God used the consistent club meetings, faithful leaders, and adventures at camp to transform her life and faith.
She is excited about serving with the same ministry that impacted her deeply as a teenager and continues to impact new generations of teens and young adults.
God has given Eli a strong passion to be an advocate and pioneer for people with disabilities and extend the love of Christ to people that are often overlooked and underestimated. Eli comes to this position with over a decade of experience serving with Young Life Capernaum, first in the small town of Bel Air, Maryland, then the Chicago suburb of Naperville, and now in the Western Great Lakes Region. In all those places, Eli has been witness to the positive impact that Young Life Capernaum has on students, families, and whole communities.
Eli shares: “I am excited about my return to the ministry of Young Life as the Western Great Lakes Capernaum Regional Coordinator. I am beyond grateful for this regional role that will allow me to help build and support Capernaum ministries and continue the legacy of providing communities of belonging, faith, and hope for teens and young adults with disabilities.
As Regional Capernaum Coordinator, Eli will offer leadership, training and support to the existing Capernaum ministry teams in the region with the vision of starting two new ministries in the Western Great Lakes Region over the next two years. Young Life Capernaum is dedicated to giving teens and young adults with disabilities a place to belong, a chance to be valued, and an opportunity to engage in meaningful friendships.
Meet Beth Price, Human Resources Coordinator
Beth grew up in a supportive Christian family and began a relationship with Christ at a young age. As she moved away from home and put Jesus on the back burner for a time, she saw what her life would look like without Him. She knew what she was missing and Who to return to, but her heart ached for those who did not know.
As Beth continued to grow in her faith as an adult, she encountered Young Life. Beth and the entire Holleman family (18 family members in all!) were able to experience a memorable and life-changing week of Young Life Family Camp at Trail West in Colorado. Beth recalls, “The JOY of knowing Jesus was so evident! That week had a profound impact on myself and my entire family (young and old) and sent us home with a passion to live out our faith through Young Life in our own communities.“
Beth has been active on the Grand Traverse Young Life committee since it started in Traverse City and has served as the committee chair for the past five years. Last year she became a leader at TCHigh.
Beth shares: “Young Life is a place of belonging and a place of mission for my family. It is here that we are reminded to Whom we belong and the love Christ has for us, and we are committed to sharing this with others.”
As Human Resources Coordinator, Beth will help develop Christian leaders across the Western Great Lakes Region by providing leadership and oversight to the process of hiring, on-boarding, and training new staff. A core value of Young Life is healthy people on healthy teams doing healthy ministry. We’re grateful for Beth’s expertise and leadership in this department.
