There are more than 2,531 schools across the country and 867 outreach ministries throughout 83 countries affiliated with Young Life, a Christian organization for teenagers. Starting off with only 11 students in 2003, the Allen area’s Young Life has now grown to a size of two to three hundred kids in the past several years. It is a school- sponsored club as of last year.

“We just want to be another place where kids can come be themselves,” Chris Trevathan, Young Life area director, said.

Young Life meets every Monday at 7:29 p.m. at Greenville Oaks Church.

“[We] start with a parking lot party, which is to make people feel like a family and get everyone there, and everyone’s just having a good time playing games. Then [we] get in and do a hype-up song, like a Taylor Swift song or Katy Perry. Then [we] do a game, which everyone is involved in,” senior Alyssa Silva said. “Then we do a Jesus song. We have a couple of things that we add in there. At the end of it is when [we] talk about Jesus. One of the leaders goes

up and pulls out the Bible and gives life references.”

Young Life holds several events throughout the year, such as Mr. Christmas Tree Club, Halloween Club, Crud Wars and Paint Wars.

“It’s the best,” senior Anthony McGaffin said. “We’ve got crazy Young Life leaders that just go up there and act a fool.”

Crud Wars, a giant food fight, is Young Life’s event to kick off the school year. Halloween Club was a costume contest on Oct. 28 and Mr. Christmas Tree Club is a Christmas pageant for the guys of Young Life on Dec. 9.

“It’s controlled chaos, a fun atmosphere for every kid,” Trevathan said. “Our goal is for every kid to walk out and say, ‘I can’t believe we just did that.’”

Understanding the stresses high school students face today, leader and Young Life alumni Kim Jackson said she hopes Young Life will be the place where the stress can be forgotten.

“Just the pressure to perform and succeed and make good grades is a lot for someone who’s 16, 17 or

18 years old,” Jackson said. “I don’t know that any of us were made for that kind of pressure, especially not that young. We want them to have a place to go where they don’t feel that.”

However, there is also a deeper purpose behind Young Life.

“I hope [people get] more than just the fun aspect of it,” Silva said. “I mean the sole purpose is to get people to feel Jesus, so I’d love to see that.”

Silva said that in order to convey that the club is about more than having a good time, Young Life also focuses on emphasizing relationships.

“It’s not going to be Young Life that changes the kid. It’s going to be a relationship with Jesus,” Trevathan said. “I think that’s what Young Life offers; a place to have fun and be free; for kids to see that a relationship with Jesus can be fun not just restrictive. It’s freedom.”

Young Life also offers opportunities for more than just an opportunity to know Jesus. Trevathan said that they hope to allow students to develop life-lasting relationships with those around them.

“That’s what drew me in as a high school student,” Jackson said. “I needed someone to show me they cared and that made a huge impact on me.”

Young Life welcomes everyone with open arms, regardless of religious affiliations.

“One of the unique things about Young Life is that we don’t turn someone down if they say ‘No, not for me,’” Jackson said. “I think that’s a pretty big impact, just unconditionally loving somebody, even when they don’t have an interest in what you’re trying to give them.”

story by Monica Martinez // staff writer