Want to get involved in YoungLives this year but not sure what area to serve in? Below is a list of various ways you can be a part of loving on teen moms and dads. It is not too late to join us for training this Saturday, August 27th from 8:30a-1:30p at the RH Office (3095 Redhill Ave., Costa Mesa). Register for training here

Mentors
Walk with a teen mom or dad for one school year.  This often looks like doing things together such as going to the park, sharing your story with them or helping them register for college classes. Your mentor relationship depends on you and your mentee’s needs and can often look different from person to person.

 

Music

Using appropriate secular and Christian music that the teens recognize and enjoy helps them to let their guard down and shows them that you value them where they are. It also pulls the group together and sets the mood and pace of club. Enthusiasm from all of the leaders in the room is the key to good club music!

 

Mixers/Games

A mixer is an activity that the group does together or in team competition. It creates unity as a group and breaks down walls. The non-verbal message of a mixer is “we are all in this together. A game is a silly competition that just a couple of kids participate in while everyone else cheers them on. YoungLives clubs use the same games that Young Life clubs use, because teen moms and dads love to laugh and have fun just like any other teenager.

 

Club Talk

Young Life’s founder, Jim Rayburn, said, “It’s a sin to bore a kid with the gospel.” The purpose of the club talk is to reach the farthest-out teen mom or dad by presenting the Gospel in a compelling and understandable way. Everything else we do during club breaks down the barriers so that teens are ready to hear the club talk. The club talk is THE most important part of club.

 

Childcare

YoungLives clubs always provide childcare. Everyone eats dinner together first, and then the moms and dads drop their children off before club starts.

 

Dinner

Because YoungLives serves teen moms, dads and their children, we serve dinner at club. Some clubs set up a rotation of church small groups to bring in a home-cooked dinner, some have a volunteer or group of volunteers who make dinner for every club, and others have food donated by local restaurants.

 

Transportation

We have found that most of the teen moms and dads we serve don’t have reliable transportation. This means that mentors and committee members pick up one or two girls for club and take them home afterward. Some areas hold their club near the high school, on a bus line, by a metro/train station, or within walking distance of the neighborhoods where the majority of their teen moms live. Anyone who provides transportation needs to complete the Young Life Driver Questionnaire on the Staff Resources Site.

 

Crafts

Girls love to make things with their hands, and it creates a relaxed environment for getting to know each other and the mentors. YoungLives uses crafts (making baby items, holiday decorations, photo frames, scrapbook pages) at the end of club as a time for mentors and girls to discuss the club message.

 

Guy Time

While girls love making things with their hands, guys love physical activity. During “Guy Time”, mentors and teen dads play soccer, basketball or some other physical activity that allows them to be active and connect with other guys.  YoungLives uses guy time at the end of club as a time for mentors and guys to discuss the club message in a relaxed, non-threatening environment.

Other Involvement Opportunities (contact northocyounglives@gmail.com for details)

-Donations Coordinator

-Skits

-Washing table cloths for monthly club

-Christmas Planning Team

-Prom Planning Team

-Craft Fair Vendor for annual fundraiser

-Committee

My name is Brittany Pacheco, I am a wife and a mother of two little ones, Judah who is 3 1/2 and Ava is 15 months. My season of being a new mom had and still does have its challenges. Little ones need your constant supervision, love and attention. My husband and I were married for 7 years before our first one was born and we did SO much together! We went on several mission trips and served at our church regularly. But once we had a baby, my husband continued to serve and I stayed back to watch the baby. By the time Ava came along we were living in Huntington Beach close to our family and on occasions my in laws could watch the kids so I can do ministry with my husband at a local rehab or join in with our Life Group. I loved and appreciated those moments where I was serving others and felt like I was actually doing something other than staying back with the kids. (which don’t get me wrong, I love! And parenting is a ministry in itself!) This momma needed something more!

One day at Rock Harbor H.B, they did an announcement about getting involved with Young Lives, which I have never heard of.  When they mentioned it was a ministry to love on teen moms and their babies, my inner most being jumped for joy! I thought, this is perfect! I can mentor a teen mom and have play dates with our kids at the same time!! Sign me up! This ministry is for this momma for sure!

My best friend Kelsey who is in the same boat as me signed up as well. New mommas who felt like we found a place to serve in the body of Christ and bring our babies along in hand.This past year, was my and my families very first year serving with Young Lives. We enjoyed meeting all the young families and making friendships that will last a life time. My boy, Judah loved going to Young Lives club and would get so excited to play with all the other kids.  The school year was coming to an end and I made a real connection with a young mom, Jayanna, who was pregnant when we met. Camp was coming up and I decided I should go, my husband so graciously with joy, said “I got the kids for a week, you go ahead!”

As a young life leader I had to do an online orientation that helped me prepare for what to expect at camp. One of the questions was, who are you specifically praying for to go to camp?  I wrote down Jayanna’s name but figured she wouldn’t be able to go because she has a newborn.  But, I still prayed for her any way!  A few weeks went by and I messaged Jayanna and told her how excited I am about camp and that I wished she was going. To my surprise, she told me that Maria and her could go because Maria was right at the 7 week mark and was able to go! I was in shock!! Answered prayer right in front of me! Also, Maria was a couple weeks early, it was all meant to be and God knew!

 

 

 

Camp was seriously Amazing!! Everything about it was just incredible! We got to have fun, be silly, get real, cry together, have meaningful conversations about our faith, dance, eat amazing meals together, make friends and enjoy this beautiful place for a whole week! As a mentor, I would definitely go back! I am forever changed by this experience and came home with an even greater love for Jesus and an excitement to get into the word like I had when I first came to know Him! I’m so thankful for everyone who made camp possible!! True treasures in heaven being stored up!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!

 
With Gratitude,

Brittany Pacheco

Hi, My name is Fatima Avila.

I have a 2 year old daughter named Leah that I love so much!! Being a young mom is amazing and I love everything about it, but it’s also very hard. To this day I still get judged for being a mom so young. I always tell my self that no matter what people think, say, or do never let those bad things get to you. God blesses us every day and sometimes we don’t realize it.

I remember Myrna insisting on me going to YoungLives camp, I was scared because it was kinda far and I never been away from home, also because I was having stomach problems. I had already said no. Myrna had some awesome people pray for me and for my pain to go away and it did a week before camp, which I’m so great full and happy it did. I signed the papers and started packing for camp. The day came and Jessi picked Leah and I up. We got to the bus that was taking us, I was nervous and excited at the same time! I honestly can’t thank everyone enough for giving me and my baby this opportunity to go and get away from our problems,  have fun, and get some time away for ourselves.

Once we got there it felt like home. It was so beautiful and everyone was so kind. I knew God is real and I know he’s here with me but I didn’t quite let Him in my life like I did that week. I never felt close to Him, but this week I found him thanks to our amazing leaders that came with us. I can now say I found God and I let Him in my life for the first time . It feels amazing to know I’m loved by someone and that I’m not alone and no matter what the situation is God will be holding my hand and helping me get through anything and everything.

I’m so happy that I joined YoungLives and it’s such a blessing to have all these amazing people in my life who show me and my daughter nothing but love, I’m so grateful for everyone who has helped me. Camp is something that I will never forget it’s the place were I decided to let God in my life and that’s a big deal for me and He will always remain in my heart.

Thanks to my amazing leaders who were there in cabin time supporting us! Thank you Kylie, Brittney,  Massa, and Myrna ! I’m so blessed to have you all in my life. For all the girls that have never been to camp you should go! You are missing out on the most wonderful week of your life and you will not regret going. From my experience I recommend all you girls to give it a try and you will feel so loved and appreciated . It’s worth it . God has a plan for every single one of us. Follow him and you will never feel alone. His love Is pure and true. It’s the best love story ever. Between you and Him.

 

We have been doing passion projects and for those of you that don’t know what that is, you can find out more about them here. Mike stepped up to raise funds for YoungLives and plan his own really big passion project all of the funds from this were matched by a donor so Mike’s efforts were doubled. We are so grateful for his time and efforts and it was so amazing to see it all come together. Below you can read about the 1st Annual Golf Tournament from Mike’s perspective.

I love the scripture in Luke 17:5 where the Apostles ask Jesus to increase their faith. Remember what The Lord said to them? If you have the faith as a Mustard seed, you can say to this tree, “Be pulled up by the roots and cast into the ocean” and it will obey.

When I first felt The Lord nudging me into planning a charity golf tournament for Young Lives, I thought I was a man of fairly strong faith.

I remember thinking how tiny a Mustard seed actually is. So our faith tank, never really needs to be full. Jesus just wants willing people that he can use to display His power and Glory!

I understand that. I preach that. However, the planning of the golf tournament would turn out to be my first get out of the boat into the stormy sea moment. I have been walking with Jesus for nearly 30 years. I have two wonderful adult children. They both at different times and for different reasons, spent a week or more in ICU as children.

This may sound crazy and I understand how you may feel that way, but each of my children’s episodes in the ICU, paled in comparison as a test of my faith when compared to putting together the golf tournament. When my kids were sick, my wife and myself knew to pray, seek the Elders of the church and reach out to The Lord.

I guess because this was mostly immediate family and about our prayer life, I just had a complete peace that God would heal my kids. He did of course heal both my kids. That I thought, would always be a solid basis for my faith. I saw God work in the diagnosis. I saw Gods healing touch. I saw God bring in the right doctors both times.

The planning of the golf tournament would be a complete test of my faith. The reason I believe is there were so many moving parts. Assembling a team to help (they were fantastic), was the easiest part. Securing a golf course, web page issues, banquet issues, securing donors and all the people I had to rely on were overwhelming at times.

The Lord kept saying to me “I got this.”

Even when time came to start paying the bills for the golf course, banquet facility and car insurance for a Hole in One prize and we did not have any money.

God said “I got this.”

 

We began in February for a July tournament. In a lesson of trust and humility, I learned that God puts his desires into those hearts that yield to Him. I found out this was not about my planning expertise or my faith. This was about a group of people obedient to the work God wants to do in and through YoungLives.

On tournament day we had a couple of blips that God had under control, but all in all went well. I though believed the day was a disaster. Not what I thought or saw coming. During the days following, I had many,many Emails and text messages telling me that the day was fun, a blessing, and a huge success. One individual told me that the tournament was the best one he ever attended.

OK God I get this now. You just want me to say I do and you will pour out your faithfulness in such abundance, that I will be completely aware that your sovereign hand more than makes up for my lack of faith and trust.

We have plans for next year already, July 20th 2017, will be the Second Annual YoungLives Golf Tournament. We lived, we learned, we are stronger in faith and most of all, loved by a God who wants to bless us beyond or wildest imagination.

-Mike Nelson