Similar to how our region invests in DFLs (Developing Future Leaders) that we help fund and train, Young Life International invests heavily in its top 100 non-US staff, and named this initiative, "i100." I agreed this year to coach 4 of the 15 i100 staff in Middle Eurasia: the directors for Moldova, Russia, Armenia, and Uzbekistan. We meet monthly for two hours to learn from each other and share vision. During this visit, I had the privilege of meeting them in person. Read on to have your heart expanded, mind blown, and passion re-sparked!
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| Moldova Director, Fiodor who I coach |
#10. No Money, So What? Moldova is the poorest country in Europe/Central Asia, but you wouldn’t know it by their ministry to kids. YL there offers camps at super low cost by using friends’ riverfront properties. Partners donate tents and supplies, volunteers prepare food, and leaders put on camp. Kids help serve, too. It may not be “glamping,” but kids meet Jesus in droves and say it was the best week of their lives.
#9. Stans the Man! In Middle Eurasia, YL is flourishing in all five “Stans:” Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Ukbekistan, Kyrgystan, and Tajikistan. These countries are more than 90 percent Muslim, and the government squashes any non-Muslim gatherings and movements—like YL. Arrests and full searches happen often, and leaders accept this as part of the cost of being a YL leader. They walk wisely, but their love for lost kids spurs them to keep going and not live in fear. They’ve been bravely introducing their teenage friends to Jesus since 1998. The Stans have 92 ministries and 485 leaders, and average 2.365 kids at club weekly, 1,010 kids intentionally discipled, and 8,000 kids going to camp.
#8. Stans’ Secret Sauce. The ‘Stan countries’ YL vision is to build a culture of generosity and service toward teenagers. At first, I thought that vision was a little weak sauce. Not specific enough, nothing to measure, vague to attain. Then the leaders shared how this culture would usher in the fragrance of Christ, that YL leaders’ #1 goal is to look for opportunities to love, serve, and give. One example is prioritizing 'Capernaum' YL ministry to kids with special needs in every area. As St Paul said "against such things there is no law," which is legit true in the ‘Stans.' In fact, kids and adults are compelled by how the leaders engage with generosity and servant-heartedness in the schools and community, and this is the secret ingredient that makes YL successful.
Extra sauce: As millions of teenagers have fled from Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria, YL leaders in the ‘Stans are intentionally praying and reaching out to these refugee kids to know them, love them, serve them, and introduce them to Jesus. Openness becomes much harder when they return to their closed-off countries. Love how they seize this kairos opportunity!
#7. Another ‘Darkness to Light’ YL camp. Armenia YL acquired a camp with a dark history that gives off similar vibes as Washington Family Ranch, which has its own dark “Rajneesh” (a gnarly cult there in the early 80's) history. The Armenia camp was a Soviet, communist youth indoctrination camp for decades. On the walls, old pics of teenagers arriving at camp with sullen, lifeless faces hang in stark contrast to recent, new pics of kids being greeted by YL work crew, everyone’s face lit by joy as the kids began a week where they would be introduced, gently and freely, to a God who knows and loves them. Jesus does immeasurably more than we imagine.
#6. Calling All
Musicians. Leaders across the big city of Yerevan Armenia invited any and
all kids who wanted to learn to play guitar, lead songs, and/or lead worship to
form a year-long YL club. 60 kids and young adults showed up and learned to
play, sing, and lead, and grew deeper in their faith. As a result, every weekly
club in town had multiple song leaders, young adults signed up to become YL
leaders, and local churches inherited new worship leaders and teammates. A
group of six of them led worship for our mini conference, and they switched
from English to Russian to Armenian. Incredible.
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| Jeff and Ukraine Regional Director Sasha |
#5. YL Rocks Here. Yerevan YL hosted a song-writing contest for kids. Kids and leaders from more than ten clubs across the city produced and performed more than 20 original songs. They were catchy and legitimately good. Many had themes of darkness vs light, hope vs despair/anxiety, and life to the full. The lyrics were reminiscent of the songs kids have sung at YL for generations. Many of these songs are now sung at clubs every week.
#4. Ukraine YL. In spite of the war, Ukraine YL is pursuing and impacting kids in unimaginable ways. They have 100 ministries, 1,000 leaders, and 40 staff. They know 10,000 kids by name, and they took 1,500 kids to a camp they rent. The fastest growing ministry in Ukraine is YL College, which is established at nine universities. They have a goal of being at 23. Kids are hungry for truth, hungry for purpose, and hungry for God. Urgency is high as young people are required to serve in the military during this war, but in college, they can be assigned specialties rather than basic frontline service.
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| Ukraine's aggressive growth goals! |
#3. Two-Timing Ukrainians! A few of the YL Ukraine staff take on two jobs: YL Director and HS teacher. First, they want to be in the schools with kids, which is gold. Second, they get paid extra money (schools pay better than YL). And third, teachers are exempted from military service, so they can continue their critical work leading YL for Ukraine. Amazing to hear how they completely rely on the Lord to lead them in the midst of war. It is no joke that club is the best night of these kids' week, and the leaders are presence with them expresses Jesus' posture of 'I will never leave you.'
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| Theeeee 'Arman!' |
#1. Disability? More like This Ability! It is tricky to gain favor and acceptance in places like the ‘Stans and Russia, which are hostile to the gospel of Jesus. Many adults, police, and officials see YL as a threat. When leaders are arrested and interrogated, or questioned by fearful parents, they have found their best strategy is to extend and invitation to “come and see” Capernaum YL club, the ministry to kids with special needs. It is the fullest, clearest display of the gospel. It silences the critics and halts hostilities. In fact, it’s a best practice to invite unbelievers and skeptics to help at club, by driving kids, serving food, and volunteering in other ways. Sounds just like something Jesus would do to reveal the magnificence of his Kingdom where the last are first, when we have done anything for the perceived 'least' its done unto Jesus himself, and the Kingdom is revealed in simplicity of inviting kids to Him! (Mark 10:14)
Love to hear your reflections from this, and even any God sightings you've experienced lately!
Yours in Christ's grip, Jeff