About Us
Our Mission
Introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith
Young Life is a group of caring adults who go where kids are, win the right to be heard and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them.
Young Life doesn't start with a program. It starts with adults who are concerned enough about kids to go to them, on their turf and in their culture, building bridges of authentic friendship. These relationships don't happen overnight — they take time, patience, trust and consistency.
STAFF
Austin Hobart
Austin Hobart is the Area Director and oversees ministry in Iredell County. He has been on staff with Young Life since 2016. Prior to being on YL staff, he served as a volunteer WyldLife and Young Life leader for 7 years.
COMMITTEE
Each local area has a committee of adults who believes in the mission of Young Life. You'll find adults from all different backgrounds, careers and churches who care about kids. The committee provides a foundation of financial, administrative and moral support for the local Young Life team.
Leaders
We believe in the power of presence. Kids’ lives are dramatically impacted when caring adults come alongside them, sharing God’s love with them. We meet them where they are and as they are. Because their leader believes in them, they begin to see that their lives have great worth, meaning and purpose.
Who is Young Life for?
Everyone is welcome in Young Life! Our programs are custom made for kids throughout their adolescent years. Young Life is the name of our organization and is also the term we use for our program with high school students.
A Time-Tested Approach
Young Life began with a few simple ideas about sharing the truth of God’s love with adolescents. Those simple ideas have become time-tested methods for reaching out to middle school, high school and college students in friendship and hope.
Caring for Kids — Contact Work
Because kids don’t care how much you know till they know how much you care, Young Life leaders show they care by going where kids are, meeting them as they are, believing in who they can be. Within Young Life we call the persistent going out into the world of kids “contact work.” But kids just call it friendship.
A Party with a Purpose — Club
What is it about Young Life club that makes it the best night of the week for thousands of kids every week? We like to think of it as a party with a purpose. It’s controlled chaos that’s almost impossible to describe, but kids know it when they see it. And before the party ends, we share a simple message about God’s love for them. After all, that’s what the celebration is all about.
The Best Week of Their Life — Camp
Kids consistently tell us that Young Life camp is the best week of their life. That’s a rousing (and unsolicited) endorsement! But how else would you describe a week where deep relationships are forged in the midst of mind-boggling fun and where you experience and listen to what we believe is the greatest love story ever told?
A Time to Question, Learn and Grow — Campaigners
Campaigners is a weekly gathering for kids who wish to learn more or grow in their faith through study, service and leadership. We invite kids to actively follow Jesus Christ — and we’re with them for the long haul to help them take those steps of faith with unconditional love. Along the way, we encourage kids to celebrate their faith through participation in a local congregation.
