YL Training in Latin America

The Word became flesh and blood, and moved into the neighborhood. John 1:14 in the Message What a great verse, especially this time of year—the almighty, eternal God shows up in the barrio-- and nothing is ever the same. It helps me remember what’s at the heart of this season. It’s also really been the theme of my last couple of weeks. Two weeks ago in Panama we met for strategic planning for our region, and also to meet with a small team of leaders who and interested adults who are starting Young Life ministry there. They have a neighborhood chosen, they’re starting to move into the world of teens in that neighborhood—and we’re excited that kids there will not only hear about Jesus’ love but see it in action through their lives. This past week in Mexico was a great reminder of how powerful that vision can be. We had a meeting Monday night in Monclova with people with a group of Christian businessmen and church leaders who desire to see more done to reach ou...

Dear Friends, For a little over a year now I’ve worked in my new role with Young Life as Training Coordinator for Latin America, so the coming end of 2009 provides a great time to look back and reflect. In so many ways it’s been a very good year and I’ve enjoyed this new position immensely as I’ve worked with leaders from 15 different countries in Latin America. Frederick Buechner once said Jesus “never approached from on high, but always in the midst, in the midst of people, in the midst of real life and the questions real life asks. ” I’m continually amazed and blessed by the leaders I work with in Latin America and how they are able to enter with Jesus “in the midst” of the world of teens. A friend who met these leaders at one of our training events put it best when he said: “(they are) the leaders of leaders reaching out to the young people in countries all over Central and South America. They reach all levels of society. They reach into the poorest of the poor who live in ...

Dear Friends, Every once in a while God gives small reminders that what we’re doing here has eternal significance. I love those reminders. Sometimes it’s a note from an adult who used to be involved in club, sometimes it’s a current student talking about their life, and this week for me it was a note from a leader who was at our AD school in August. Flavio is part of Alvo de Mocidade (Target the Youth) which Young Life started in Brazil in 1963. The ministry in Brazil has grown greatly, is fully funded from within Brazil, and for quite a few years has operated very separately from Young Life in the US, but the last couple years we’ve started to work together more closely again. Flavio and two other Brazilian leaders came to Area Director School and it was their first interaction with leaders from our other Latin American countries. Flavio didn’t really want to go—his wife is pregnant and he didn’t want to leave her, he was worried about interacting with leaders who speak Spanish when h...