A Wyldlife Leader's Story

     Where do I even begin? I guess I could start with the fact that I grew up in a warm, loving Christian home, but the truth is that I did not know Jesus personally until very recently. I lived life with Jesus in the back seat, only going to him when I needed him. I knew there was something missing in my heart. Throughout high school I tried filling that hole I felt with popularity, good grades, material possessions… But I never felt whole. No matter what I did, I always felt worthless. The comfort and self-worth I got from my successes never lasted more than a few weeks. All along I knew exactly what I needed, but it wasn’t until my life completely flipped upside down that I truly met Jesus. 

     Toward the end of my freshman year of college at Texas Christian University, I found out that due to finances and the increase in tuition, I could no longer afford to stay. During this time my dad lost his job, my mom was diagnosed with diabetes, and I was about to leave the country for 2 months on my own. I got on a plane to Costa Rica, so overwhelmed and stressed and clueless of what I was going to do with my life the following year. To make matters worse, I landed and met my mama tica (Costa Rican mom I lived with) and she didn’t speak a word of English. While in the mountains of Costa Rica I remember coming to terms with what had previously happened back in the States. I knew change was needed, and so I asked Jesus to come into my heart and transform me. From then on, God has been in the driver’s seat and my life is changed forever. I no longer feel the weight of it all on my shoulders and I feet a part of something greater than this world.

     God was with me when I decided to attend the University of Arkansas and He was with me all the way through that transition. I had been involved with Young Life back in junior high and high school and absolutely loved it. When I came to Arkansas, I immediately started leader training and was placed on the Wyldlife team this past semester. I am so pumped to start next semester sharing God’s love with junior high kids; a love and a presence that is so persistent and perfect. It’s no surprise that I have been the happiest I’ve ever been since meeting Jesus. He is always good.  He is always kind, forgiving, mighty, wise, compassionate, understanding, merciful, sovereign - you name it. My God is everything. And I’m so excited about what He has invited me to be a part of here at Arkansas!

Logan Marx,

Wyldlife

 

A YLC Leader's Story

     This semester we’ve had a series of blog posts highlighting each ministry. As the semester wraps up and we enter Winter Break, we want to switch gears and tell individual’s stories, of both leaders and kids, of how Young Life has changed their lives.

     My mom went on Young Life staff when I was 5^th grade. My dad became a pastor when I was in 9^th grade. Needless to say I grew up in a Christian home, going to church, going to Young Life. I went to camp every single summer, as a staff kid on my mom’s assignments and as a camper with our area. I also worked at a camp for a month my sophomore year of high school. I always heard amazing stories of God transforming lives at camp. And I was jealous that that wasn’t me. I wanted to want it, and when I didn’t get it, I grew resentful and angry. My freshman year of college I went through training to be a Young Life leader and was placed on the Young Life College team at the end of that spring semester. I was completely absorbed in the Christian culture, but it didn’t mean anything to me.  I had my “other life,” making more than my fair share of mistakes.  It wasn’t until my sophomore year of college that I genuinely started walking with Christ.

     Summer after my freshman year, I begrudgingly spent ten weeks at Discipleship Focus in Branson, MO. Growing up in a Christian home, I expected a lot of the material to be familiar to me. And a lot of it was. But the more I spent time in the program, the more God whispered secrets into my ears; secrets that every Christian should know. But few do.

     At the end of the summer, I moved back to Fayetteville to begin my sophomore year at UA. I stepped into my new leadership role with confidence and excitement. It didn’t take long before the life I had previously known started creeping back in. I got frustrated at how easy it was for my fleshly, worldly desires to take control again. It was the perfect opportunity to take what I had learned that summer and put it into practice. But it was hard. I failed over and over again, but God was always faithful to remind me of who I am and bring me back to Him.  

     I also grew frustrated with my leadership abilities. How was I supposed to lead a group of girls when I was either being a hypocrite or simply had no answers, no idea what to do? I felt incredibly inadequate and unqualified, and often that translated into passivity and failure.

     There was no defining moment or event where things turned around. But somewhere along the way, over the last year and half of being a Young Life leader, God has confirmed that, no, I’m not qualified for this. But that’s when His glory is revealed. When I am having to depend on Him through my weaknesses, He is able to show His strength. It’s still a process. But as I make myself available for Him to use me in His ministry, I am continually blessed with a transformed heart. I couldn’t tell you when it happened, but I am not who I was a year and half ago. I’m not who I was six months ago. God has used Young Life, specifically Young Life leadership, to transform me more to the likeness of Christ. He took something I was bitter and resentful of… and made it beautiful.

Amy Stutts

Area Admin, Young Life College Leader