Some things have changed and others have not. Let’s start with what hasn’t changed…
1. Kids desperately need Jesus, and we are building relationships every day so that they have
every chance to know Him.
2. Young Lives continues to reach out to teen moms (and
occasionally dads). Club continues to bring them together, love them, equip them, connect them with mentors who care for them, and give them the Gospel. At a recent Club, Rob and Iyana both gave their lives to Christ.
3. Woodland Hills Young Life is still going strong. Weekly meetings at Dunkin Donuts are a beautiful gathering of Christian kids and their friends who meet to read the Bible and support one another.
Kids get together once a month for “extreme kickball” where kids who wouldn’t normally be interested in a Bible study can be loved and find out even a little bit about Jesus. Our staff person, Emonie, and Hunter, a volunteer leader, continue to pour their lives into these students. One such student is Avery. She is a junior at Woodland Hills and was asked to speak at Young Life’s citywide breakfast as a shining example of the work we’re doing in the Pittsburgh area. We’d love for you to meet her sometime! A new young couple has signed on to be volunteer leaders as well!
Here is what is exciting and new!
1. After much prayer, thought and planning, Jay Mitlo has agreed to step into the role of Area Director on a part-time interim basis. The goal is to have another young person, similar to Emonie, be hired who can learn from Jay and eventually take over.
2. Jay was the Area Director for Young Life in the East Hills from 1996-2008. He is currently the Pastor of Faith Church in Penn Hills. By him stepping in, we are paying less than half of the salary of an experienced Area Director while getting all of his connections and existing relationships within the school and community.
3. Since Jay has stepped in, 4 people have agreed to serve as volunteer leaders with Young Life Penn Hills. They are completing their training and will be ready to go by the end of the month.
4. Jay has been at the high school every day since he started April 1st. Whether it be at the
Athlete’s Food Pantry (free food provided to athletes in season), announcing baseball games, stopping by volleyball games or going to the musical, he has learned the names of 70 kids.
5. Jay was contacted by a parent from Trinity Christian School who has 5 kids enrolled. He said that he has been talking to other parents and they would like to resume Young Life at Trinity (we had it there 20 years ago).
6. We have had some talks with people about starting a ministry called “Capernaum,” which reaches out to high school kids who have special needs. It is very early but we would love for this to happen.
Please be in prayer for…
1. Young Life camp for Young Life and Young Lives. Camp is a great way for kids to hear the
Gospel while having the greatest week of their lives.
2. The new leaders. Pray that they would continue to answer the call to reach young people for Christ. Pray that their training would be thorough yet quick so that they can begin reaching kids for Christ.
3. Our committee. They have been through a lot over the past year and have continued to
support, represent and guide our staff in a godly fashion. Pray that others would join us and be a part of kids coming to know Christ.
4. Christian kids. That they would continue to grow in their faith and have a heart for reaching their classmates.
5. Our relationship with churches. That they would be filled with kids who have come to know Christ through Young Life. That the relationship between Young Life and churches would be a symbol of the body of Christ working together.
6. Our staff. That Nicole would continue to find young moms who need to know the true love of the Father. That Emonie would be able to balance her part-time job and Young Life. That Jay would make the right decisions as Young Life Penn Hills finally gets going again after so many years.
Finally, THANK YOU!!! You have been such a faithful supporter of Young Life for so many years. Thank you for the prayers and financial support. Thank you for always lifting up the ministry of Young Life and our efforts to help every kid come to know Jesus.
By: Jay Mitlo