Young Life
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| Abbreviation | YL |
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| Motto | "You were made for this." "Life the way it was meant to be." |
| Formation | October 16, 1941 |
| Founder | Jim Rayburn |
| Headquarters | Colorado Springs, Colorado |
| Location |
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President
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Newton "Newt" Crenshaw |
| Website | www |
Young Life is a Christian ministry based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The ministry was started in Dallas, Texas in 1941 by Presbyterian minister Jim Rayburn. Young Life operates globally as several different organizations with different focuses.
In 1939, Presbyterian minister Jim Rayburn started the Gainesville, Texas chapter of the Miracle Book Club for high school students. The book club became Young Life on October 16, 1941. The headquarters moved to Colorado Springs, Colorado in 1946. By the time headquarters relocated to Colorado, the staff had grown from single digits to 20 women and men. Young Life volunteer leadership began in the 1940s at Wheaton College, Illinois. At the beginning of Young Life's ministry its focus was directed almost completely to suburban high school students. By the early 1950s, it had begun ministries in approximately 25 urban areas. Young Life now has over 700 ministries located in 324 cities, reporting about 18,000 members.
Young Life has several branches which focus on different demographics.
Young Life maintains summer camps in 17 American states as well as camps in British Columbia, Canada, the Dominican Republic, The United Kingdom, Armenia, and France. These camps incorporate Christian messages presented in a camp setting along with typical camp activities.
The largest of Young Life's camps is the Washington Family Ranch (and accompanying Big Muddy Ranch Airport) in Antelope, Oregon. The ranch was formerly the site of the Rajneeshpuram, an intentional living community centered on the Rajneesh movement.
Young Life also runs local Young Life clubs for high school students, held weekly and typically in homes, which include singing, skits, and where the Christian gospel is explained in short talks. There are around 700 Young Life Club chapters worldwide, and usually one Club is associated with one high school. Each club is composed of volunteers who contribute their time to mentor and assist high school students based on Christian values and principles.
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Wikipedia