Young Life

Young Life
AbbreviationYL
FormationOctober 16, 1941; 83 years ago (1941-10-16)
FounderJim Rayburn
TypeChristian Fellowship
Social Club
University Student Society
HeadquartersColorado Springs, Colorado, United States
Location
  • Worldwide
President/CEO
Newt Crenshaw
AffiliationsChicago Agreement: Unity in Mission
Revenue (2019[2])
US$403 million[1][2]
Volunteers (2021-2022)
46,340
Websitewww.younglife.org

Young Life is an evangelical Christian organization based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which focuses on young people in middle school, high school, and college.

Week-long Summer camps are a major focus, and these have a definite evangelizing aspect.[3] For example, there are large-group “Bible talks” once or twice daily often followed by small-group “cabin time” discussions.

Young Life estimates, “33% of all summer campers meet Jesus for the first time. (This is based on our own camp director reports as to how many Bibles we gave out, how many kids went on new believer walk, and those who stood at ‘Say-So.’)”[4]

The organization was started in Gainesville, Texas in 1941 by Presbyterian minister Jim Rayburn and is currently led by president and CEO Newt Crenshaw.[5] Young Life operates globally using several different organizations with different focuses.[6]

As of 2021, Young Life was under investigation by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for allegedly failing to protect its employees against sexual misconduct and racial discrimination.[7][2][8] One alleged victim of sexual abuse reported that she informed more than a dozen people about the harassment she faced, being told at one point that it was "God's plan" for her.[9] Her case was dismissed after she received a settlement from Young Life.[9]

  1. ^ "Financial Info". World Wildlife Fund. Retrieved November 29, 2023.
  2. ^ a b c Zubeck, Pam (17 November 2021). "Young Life under investigation". Colorado Springs Indy.
  3. ^ When God Shows Up: A History of Protestant Youth Ministry in America, Mark Senter, Baker Publishing Group, 2010, page 220: “ . . but with the purchase of resort camps starting in 1945, a second more effective delivery system was discovered. Clubs became the vehicle . . ”
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference Young Life's Impact Over 8 Decades, May 2019 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ "Young Life Leadership - YoungLife.org". younglife.org. Retrieved 2023-12-19.
  6. ^ "Facts at Your Fingertips". www.younglife.org.
  7. ^ Carrell, Severin (14 February 2024). "Humza Yousaf 'naive' about links to evangelical Christian donor, say rights groups". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  8. ^ Debbie, Kelley (10 November 2021). "More Young Life victims allege sexual misconduct involving Colorado Springs-based Christian ministry". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  9. ^ a b "Sexual Misconduct Lawsuit Filed Against Colorado Christian Group - CBS Colorado". www.cbsnews.com. 29 June 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2024.