Parking Lot Ministry

Wyldlife Camp Update

There’s something special about camp—about loading up vans full of kids, heading to a sacred space, and watching God show up in ways only He can.

In January, we had the incredible opportunity to take our first official Wyldlife Camp trip; 11 middle school aged kids went to camp for the first time! Many of them had never experienced a weekend away like this - full of adventure, laughter, and moments to encounter Jesus. 

Jalil (far left) hanging with some of our Wydlife Friends!

It was also a milestone moment as we took our first high school-aged student leader up to camp to lead our Wyldlife kids. It’s been such a joy to have a front row seat as Jalil grows in his faith and finds new ways to be courageous each week as he grows as a leader.  One of my favorite ministry moments each week is when I drop off Jalil back home after Wyldlife Club and we rate the club and talk about where we could grow as leaders.  Seeing the next generation step into leadership was a powerful reminder of the multiplying impact of Young Life.

Another exciting example of our high school young life friends giving back was that we brought a team of seven high school students who were once campers themselves to serve on Work Crew.  Now, they were on the flip side, serving the same camp that had served them, pouring into middle school students who, in just a few years, will be in their shoes. This is the essence of discipleship—students investing in students, creating a legacy of faith and leadership.  Seeing our prayers come to fruition in real time is such a beautiful gift.

One of the cool stories from the weekend was when one of our middle school friends told Chris (one of our YL adult leaders and committee members), “I want to be a Wyldlife leader someday.” It was an epiphany moment, where he saw for the first time that Young Life isn’t just about fun and games—it’s about being part of something bigger. He saw the way our Wyldlife leaders served and loved, and he wanted in. Seeds of leadership and faith are being planted, and we can’t wait to see what God does with them.

The FELLAS! These guys took a lot of pride in cooking the greatest Ziti dish camp has ever tasted.

(From left to right) Tashirri, Jen, and Juliana were on the Weekend Work Crew as servers.

One more story because with all of the blessings and opportunities at camp, my favorite part of the weekend didn’t even happen at camp.  It happened in the parking lot as one of our new Wyldlife friends and I waited for him to be picked up.  I hadn’t met this new Wyldlife friend until this weekend.  As we talked, I realized that his story had been full of chaos and complexities, none of it his own doing.  This, unfortunately, is an all too common story for some of our Young Life and Wyldlife friends.  I asked him about his faith background and he said he had never been to church before.  This meant that for the first time that weekend, he heard the message of Jesus—of a God who loves him, sees him, and has a plan for his life. This is what Young Life is all about—creating spaces where kids who may never step into a church or are spiritually disinterested can encounter the love of Jesus in a real way alongside leaders that show up for them no matter where they fall in their faith journey.

Moments like these are why our ministry is so important. It’s about first-time experiences, both in adventure and in faith. It’s about raising up leaders who will continue the mission of reaching kids. It’s about making sure that every student—whether they’ve grown up in church or have never heard the name of Jesus—has a place where they are known, loved, and invited into the greatest story ever told.

Thank you to everyone who prayed, gave, and made this weekend possible. The impact of this trip will ripple far beyond just one weekend—because what God starts at camp never stays at camp. It moves, grows, and changes lives for eternity.

The Entire Group!