…and the TOP 10 reasons why YOU should go next year.
Leadership Weekend, the annual gathering of Young Life leaders from around the Western Great Lakes Region, took place September 16-18. Young Life teams traveled from near and far and gathered at Timber Wolf Lake. (Let’s hear it for our team from Michiana who travelled 4 hours to be there!)
The weekend was filled with worship, teaching, prayer, rest, fun, idea-sharing and community-building. Below are the Top 10 things Young Life leaders have been saying about Leadership Weekend this year:
1. “God was praised.”
Our times of worship were led by the talented Crystal VanHekken (YL Staff member from the Greater Holland Area), accompanied by CJ Kingdom-Grier from Maple Avenue Ministries in Holland, MI and a band of others.
God was PRAISED tonight and it was so good. The world is dark but His light shines brighter. #YLLeadership2016
— Hannah Browning (@hcb1551) September 18, 2016
2. Aswan Morris’ message was “phenomenal,” “challenging and relevant” and “something we all needed to hear.”
Aswan Morris, Harlem Young Life Director in New York City, was our weekend speaker. He challenged our leaders to be Kingdom-minded and to intentionally work toward advancing the Kingdom of God, not just Young Life.
“I loved the ways in which he called us out in our ministry, making us truly think about the ways in which we are portraying the gospel to the youth in our areas. In addition, I appreciated having the leadership for the weekend be multicultural because it gave a beautiful vision of where our region is going and moving towards.”
— WGLR Young Life Leader
3. “The breakout sessions were useful.”
Bryan Jackson teaching new leaders to invite kids as, "participants in the divine nature." #ylleadership2016 pic.twitter.com/zfcBKIJqo9
— Jack Droppers (@JackDroppers) September 17, 2016
“There were sessions that directly addressed my personhood and needs. They were relevant and informative and thought provoking…”
— WGLR Young Life Leader
4. “The prayer time breakouts were awesome.”
5. “Timber Wolf itself was just awesome”
It was a picture-perfect weekend, that’s for sure. And Timber Wolf Lake did not disappoint.
Photo by Meaghan O’Connor
6. Program rocked.
Our Program Team (Ryan White and Carrie Rodgers) received rave reviews. Thank you, Program Team, for inadvertently teaching us to always check the “best by” date on our eggs before using them in a Young Life skit.
7. The big cookie was a highlight, as usual.
8. Leaders felt inspired and fueled up for a new year of ministry.
YL Leaders from Grand Rapids Urban having a great time together at Leader Weekend.
“I always look forward to leadership weekend, and it has always be a beautiful time where God really fires us up for His ministry! I never leave without big dreams of what the Lord is going to do in each of our areas!”
— WGLR Young Life Leader
9. “Being in a community of leaders is 1000% energizing!”
YL Leaders from Kenowa Hills participating in the Leader Weekend Quadrathalon.
“I love being able to bond and have fun with the leaders in my area so that we have and build that support for later on in the school year.”
— WGLR Young Life Leader
10. It was a chance to celebrate what God is doing.
Young Life leaders from Eastern Ottawa enjoying free time together at Leader Weekend.
Not only did we celebrate what God is doing and the growth occurring in the Western Great Lakes Region (we now have 30 different areas!), we were challenged in two important ways: 1) to look and live more multiculturally as a region and 2) to advance the Kingdom by spreading #YoungLifeEverywhere—meaning to go into every corner of the region, every county, every school, every hallway in order to reach every kid for Jesus.
>> You can follow more of the Leadership Weekend conversation by searching#YLLeadership2016 or #YoungLifeEverywhere on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
>> Watch our Leader Weekend Scrapbook Video below.
