0124Young Life seeks to reach out in West Holmes community

  • By Robin Hauenstein
  • January 19, 2011
  • 278
                        
Monday, Jan. 24, at Jitters Coffeehouse in Millersburg, a meeting will be held for parents and students from the West Holmes district, to see if there is enough interest to start a West Holmes chapter. For decades, Young Life, a national organization that seeks to mentor students and provide a spiritual base, has touched the lives of tens of thousands of young people. The Garaway High School chapter, now in its third decade of service, can proudly add a few thousand to that list. Now Young Life in Sugarcreek is reaching out to the West Holmes School District, to see if there is interest to begin a chapter there. Heidi Troyer of Sugarcreek, the Young Life director at Garaway, will lead a meeting, Monday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m. at Jitters Coffeehouse in Millersburg. There, in a casual setting, Troyer will discuss what the Young Life program does, who can participate, and the desire to recruit new students and volunteer mentors from the West Holmes community. “It gives us a chance to explain what Young Life looks like, and the program,” she said, “and if West Holmes wants this. It’s a chance to say if this is valuable to West Holmes.” She noted that this meeting is being held because of the interest expressed through some West Holmes individuals. Troyer said, “Our focus is to give every kid a chance to hear the Gospel message…and a chance to feel safe to be themselves.” She added that Young Life is “all about relationships,” and mentors “go where the kids are.” This means mentors can also be found at sporting and artistic events, talking to kids, sitting in the student section, and building relationships of trust with students. She mentioned that her husband was at the Garaway basketball game, talking to students. Troyer said the volunteer adult mentors are the heart of the program, and meetings for the nondenominational group will be held in mentor leaders’ and students’ homes. Activities include playing games, going to events, small group Bible studies and just hanging out and discussing life’s issues in a safe environment where kids don’t feel judged and can use their voice to speak. A 2000 Garaway graduate who also participated in Young Life, Troyer said it had “a profound impact, and spiritually, it helped me connect with my peers.” Volunteer mentor leaders are screened though interviews and background checks and receive training done by national and local leaders. The volunteers always keep the Young Life program and its goals of at the forefront. Young Life, Troyer said, is a “middle ground where kids feel comfortable…a bridge for kids outside of the church. Sometimes the church can be intimidating.” She said the goal is to get kids on track to begin attending the church of their choice, while growing spiritually. Kids, Troyer said, need to feel comfortable and accepted. The greater Holmes County community has a rich tradition of strong church youth groups, and Troyer said some kids may not need or want to come to Young Life. Troyer explained because it is a nondenominational organization, kids who do decide to go to church are going to many different ones, and not all to the same place. “We’ve not had an issue of kids going to just one church,” she noted, and wanted to add that Young Life is not backed by any particular church, but is supported by many area houses of worship. The Garaway Young Life program has between 30-40 regular participants, and also includes students from Hiland. To find out more about Young Life, Troyer encouraged parents and kids to attend the meeting Jan. 24, as well as those who would like to find out more about becoming a volunteer mentor leader. There will be a period of time for questions and answers. She also urged those interested to e-mail her at younglifetusc@frontier.com, call 330-204-4455, or visit younglife.org.


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