If you follow me on Twitter (@hopekathryn17!), you might have periodically noticed me tweeting about something called WyldLife. I lead at Black River Public School and it is such a joy! In case you aren’t familiar with it, WyldLife is the junior high version of Young Life, which is an awesome ministry that I was involved in all four years of high school. The philosophy of WyldLife reads as follows: “Introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them to grow in their faith.” Plain and simple, but so important!
One of the coolest things about WyldLife and Young Life to me is that a huge focus of the ministry is going to where kids are, spiritually and physically. Leaders don’t wait for kids to come to them, we go to where they hang out, like JP’s Coffee, middle school basketball games, and sometimes even dances as chaperones. Kids know that their leaders make an effort to be involved in their lives in many ways. Leaders also make sure to discuss Christ with kids and to lovingly encourage them to pursue him. If a student is not ready for that, then we just continue to love them as we have been and encourage them likewise. We make sure not to force anything on students, but to make sure they know that they are loved and wanted by us, but more importantly by Christ.
On Monday nights, we have WyldLife club, which is known by some as “a party with a purpose.” We have music, games, pancakes, and a short talk about what it is to seek Jesus. It’s an awesome, welcoming environment where kids can come to feel safe, loved, and invited into a relationship with Christ. On Friday mornings, we have Bible study at the school before classes start. It’s an awesome way to get to know the students and hear what they have to say about the Bible. They have such awesome insights and it’s such a cool way to spend time with them! Sometimes we also have extra things on Saturdays, like meeting as a big group and just watching a movie and eating.
I also worked at Timber Wolf Lake in summer 2012, where I served WyldLife groups at meals for 3 weeks (and a Young Life group on one other week). That was one of the best months of my life and definitely gave me a soft spot in my heart for WyldLife!
I love my WyldLife kids and my team and I couldn’t be more thankful for all of them! If you have any questions about WyldLife or Young Life, feel free to leave a comment, send me an email at kathryn.krieger@hope.edu, or tweet @hopekathryn17!
Thanks for reading! Have a great week!
“Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.”
2 Timothy 2:15