The Start of Something New...

"Hey there, how's your cancer today?" From this shocking question, Jim Rayburn was able to change the atmosphere at the Penrose Hospital Cancer Clinic. The room transformed from a group of people sitting as far apart as they could and still be in a room, to people in a small group talking almost freely about their common problem. While going to the clinic for a checkup once a month, he noticed that the people in the waiting room were the "most morbid people I'd ever seen in my life" and he was determined to make a change in their attitudes. Jim had a unique way of looking at and interacting with the world around him. Not only did he have eyes to see places in need of hope but he also had the heart to change things. He brought community into places of dissociation.
Much like the people in the clinic waiting room, teenagers have become dissociated from each other. High school student bodies are often separated into groups of social status. Students are more concerned about fitting into a certain group than they are about finding what they have in common with their classmates as a whole. Jim Rayburn saw this division and hopelessness. He felt it was because the "majority of young people are not in church and never hear the truth about the Savior's love." He became determine to change this sad situation of young people by creating a community of hope from them. However, he had to break the traditional methods in order to reach these young people. This is exactly what happened when he founded Young Life in 1941.

Young Life... it's a place where kids continue to learn what the love of Christ is and what it can mean in their lives. Its goal, like said previously is to bring hope and community, which can only be found in Jesus Christ, to students across America, and even the world. Young Life really changed so many lives since its beginning in 1941 and it continues to change lives some 70 years later. It changes not only the kids, but also the leaders who range from high school students to married people with real jobs and kids.

With this we ask; how has Jesus, along with Young Life changed the lives of people we know. Young Life has been in Lexington since 1978. Lexington is one of 4 communities in Kentucky that has the privilege of sharing the good news with students. We want to hear stories of personal accounts of coming to Christ, encounters through Young Life and leading kids to Christ at camp, through late night talks and after events. We'd love to hear and share your stories!

Grace and Peace,
Kaitlin and Aarika