Young Life seeking those with a heart for teens
Heidi Troyer, right, longtime director of Young Life in Tuscarawas and Holmes counties, said the joys that accompany being part of the Young Life team are many and the group has significantly made an impact on the lives of teens.
Growing up attending mission conferences at Countryside Church, Heidi Troyer said she can remember seeing the artifacts missionaries brought with them from cultures around the globe.
That inspired her to get involved with a mission, only her mission artifacts might now include cellphones, team jerseys, empty energy drink cans and Chromebooks.
Troyer is the area director of Young Life in Tuscarawas and Holmes Counties, an organization that connects with high school students and builds relationships through faith. The purpose of Young Life is for adults to make a commitment to young people that shows them they are loved, their lives matter, and to build a sense of self-esteem and camaraderieamongthe teens who participate and attend Young Life gatherings.
“When I started on Young Life staff in 2003, the world of teenagers seemed much less foreign than it doestoday,” Troyer said. “In fact, it took me a minute to think of four physical things closely linked to them since they live much of their lives in a digital landscape. The reality that Gen Z and now Alpha are growing up in is vastlydifferent frommy adolescent experience. They carry the weight of 24/7 connectedness and comparison, live in a global neighborhood, and increasingly suffer from anxiety anddepression. But there is a constant that crosses generations and cultures — they are looking for thesourceof real life that can only be found in relationship with Jesus. As a Young Life leader, I get to introduce teens to Jesus and help them grow in their faith through the bridge of relationship.”
When Troyer joined the Young Life team nearly two decades ago, she had no idea of the impact the organization would make on first Garaway High School teens and later West Holmes High School teens.
However, in addition, she said she has grown in her faith through that time because of the way relationships have been so central to the organization’s commitment.
She said introducing others to a life of faith requires you show to them you’re willing to invest in them.
“One of the primary things I have learned in Young Life is that if you want to share Jesus with people who don’t know him yet, you have to live life alongside of them,” Troyer said. “There really is truth in the old saying, ‘People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,’ and building caring relationships takes time.
“When I step into the world of my high school friends — at games, at performances, at coffee shops — there is no shortage of people looking for life in all the wrong places.”
With so much at stake, Troyer said Young Life is currently seeking adults who can help instill joy and energy into the organization as they reach out to teens to make an impact.
“My encouragement to anyone interested is don’t wait until you’re perfect to begin,” Troyer said. “My second encouragement would be to say yes. Looking back over my journey, there are lots of moments where God has revealed himself. Most often that has been through persistent and consistent people in my life. There is space to be obedient to that nudge in the grocery store to speak life to a stranger, and there is time for a short-term missions trip, but don’t miss out on the joy of sharing Jesus day in and out with the people around you.”
While financial donors are always welcome, Troyer said what they really need is people investments, with the organization seeking volunteers in three areas.
The first is through committee volunteers who would lead the area through prayer efforts, raising financial support, donor and leader care, and promoting the ministry in the community.
“It is a great place for those who prefer behind-the-scenes work,” Troyer said.
The second area where volunteers are needed is leaders.
“We also have a great need for leaders who want to work directly with students, building relationships and sharing their faith,” Troyer said.
In addition to weekly meetings, leaders spend time going where kids are — to games, plays, coffee shops and anywhere the kids might hang out or perform — to build relationships and share the Gospel.
Troyer said the first step is presenting an invitation to anyone interested to join in one of their leader fellowships, a six-week training in the basics of what leading in Young Life looks like without a commitment beyond the fellowship group.
“It provides a chance to learn more about leading before making a long-term commitment,” Troyer said.
Finally, staff members are urgently needed for a team leader at West Holmes. In addition to working with students, this person would oversee, develop and grow the team atWHHS.
“This is a part-time position,” Troyer said. “We also have a posting for a full-time staff person that would include the team leader position atWHHS, but also include area responsibilities throughout Young Life in Tuscarawas and Holmes counties.”
Troyer said the gratification one receives when working in Young Life is remarkable, but the lasting effects of what it can do in a young person’s life is truly golden.
Anyone interested in learning more, getting on board or donating to Young Life may do so by contacting Troyer at Young Life Tuscarawas and Holmes Counties, P.O. Box 490, Sugarcreek,OH 44681, calling 330-204-4455 or emailing younglifeth@frontier.com.