I held up my green worn backpack in front of my high school friends,
and the weight of the rocks it held inside pulled the straps tight.

“Each of us carry burdens in our lives. We try to hide the weight
behind plastered smiles or in secret bags that we drag behind us.”
I pulled out the rocks, the words lonely, fear of future, others
expectations, insecure, and failure, were scrawled in black sharpie. I
held them up and let each fall the floor with a crash. These rocks
represented the burdens I have struggled to carry over the past year.
But Jesus has not called me to carry by burdens alone. He has called
all of those who are weary and heavy laden to come and he will take on
the load we bear. He has called us to come and rest. I encouraged the
students to think about what burdens they fumble with and hide. What
would be written on your rock?

One by one my high school friends got up and put their rocks in the
green backpack lying at the center of the room. Each rock fell heavy
onto the next- heavy with its physical weight, and with the weight of
what they represented. I am thankful that because Jesus gave His life
for me, I no longer have to carry my rocks. I pray that as we finish
up the semester and our students carry sometimes-unbearable loads they
would turn to the only One who has already taken on their burdens.

In honor of the NCAA Men’s basketball championship, Richardson decided
to take part in a little March Madness of our own. Basketballs bounced
in every direction, as music blared and kids chowed down on hotdogs in
the parking lot on Monday night.
The night consisted of a giant game of knockout, a twelve team 4-on-4
tournament, and a short watch party.

We took a break from hoops to listen to Travis tell us about Zacchaeus
and Jesus. He shared how Jesus called Zacchaeus down from the tree to
hang out even when everyone else hated him and rejected him. Christ
didn’t tell him to clean up his act, or to get better. Jesus wanted
Zacchaeus, at that moment, along with his junk and baggage. Regardless
of our past or reputation, along with our secrets, Jesus also wants
us, just like we are.

All Metro Young Life

Young Lives-

Aye’sha let go of her two-year old’s hand, as he waddled to the toys. Surprised that JR didn’t cry, she walked back to the club room, past the racks of baby clothes she would get to shop from later.

Thursday night four girls and two children buckled in car seats and squeezed in for the ride from Richardson to Allen to attend the first ever Young Lives club in north Dallas.  The girls were all smiles as they hopped around, stomping on balloons, and raced to pry apart frozen t-shirts.

Like any other Young Life club there were messy games and music. There was a funny skit, and a club talk at the end. But unlike a traditional Young Life club, a dozen babies played in the nursery next door.

On the way home, the suburban buzzed with young moms excited after enjoying a night created specifically for them. When asked what they
liked and didn’t like about the evening, the group anonymously replied, “We liked everything!”  What an incredible night. As Young Lives grows and relationships are formed, not only will the girls hear of Jesus great love for them, but their children will experience Christ’s love as well.

We are in need of mentor-moms from Richardson to meet with the young moms and attend club with them once a month. If you are interested
please contact me at turnerallison11@gmail.com.

I am excited to announce the first ever Young Lives club in north Dallas! Young Life in McKinney, Allen, Plano, and Richardson is coming together to create an environment specifically for teen moms and their
kids to hear about Jesus.

At club, girls will share dinner, make a craft, laugh, sing, and get matched with a mentor-mom. Most important, however, for a moment they will get the chance to forget the struggles that come with motherhood and talk about their Savior.

If you are interested in providing girls and their babies rides to club or becoming a mentor-mom, please contact me at turnerallison11@gmail.com

-Allison

So there’s been some confusion in past years about camp money! We’re here to set the record straight and hopefully provide clearer understanding for you and your student.

Myth: “So… We’ve heard there is a scholarship fund for campers that need money”
Fact: There are no “scholarships” (free money) available for campers. You mean work is involved? YES, but don’t worry! It is really fun and it is with your Young Life friends, leaders and staff. So a fun time is guaranteed!

Myth: “So if my child has to work, can he/she just work off the entire camp cost?”
Fact: There are a lot of students that need help getting to camp this summer. We ask that you pay all that you can (without sacrificing on your bills, food, and other necessities) and we are committed to helping find work for your kid to earn the rest of their way there.

Yep. You heard right. We are COMMITTED to helping your kid get to camp!
You do you part, we will do ours and your kid is certain to have the best week of their lives.

For more information view our Campership Protocol

Still have questions? Email Todd Pinkston

After an awesome all area club last week, Club and Grub returned to La
Mirada for the first ever Oreo Club! “Captain O” made a guest
appearance, as Oreos were flung across the room into eager hands. Each
student was given one minute to try to wiggle the Oreo from their
forehead to their mouth using only their face. Few prevailed, but it
was quite a funny site.
One of the volunteer leaders, Casey, shared about the rich young
ruler.  The man came to Jesus and asked, “What is it that I need to do
to inherit eternal life?”
Each of us also asks this same question. God, what do I need to do?
What will make me good enough?
The ruler says he has kept all of the commandments. He has followed
all of the rules. But Jesus says he is still missing something. “Go
and sell your possessions, give to the poor, and come follow me.”
The man walks away sad, tightly clinging to his possessions. His
hands filled, but his heart empty.
Like the ruler, each of us hold tight to something that will leave us
searching. Casey challenged us to stare down at our hands. What do we
hold? What is it that we cling to, hoping it will give us life?
Jesus waits. He waits for us to pry open our fingers, let go, and
cling to the True Life Giver.

Next week we will celebrate Valentines Day in style with Club of Love
at La Mirada and Frontier Ranch sign ups! Please pray for camp sign
ups and that God would move in big big ways in the lives of students.
I pray a work so great be done, it could only be the mighty hand of
the Lord. Amen.

- Allison

It is always special to have our entire Richardson Area Young Life family (committee, leaders and staff) together to celebrate Christ’s birth. From incredible food to fun games and great conversation, the night is one to remember. We couldn’t begin to thank everyone that played a critical role in making the night all that it was. So we will say “Thank You” to committee and the friends of Young Life that spent countless hours making sure the details of the night were just right! It was a night like none other!

Here are a few pictures from the night:

Need a cute gift for Valentine’s Day? Look no further! From Funky Hats to Cute Scarves and more… all items are $16. Proceeds from your purchase help send Young Life kids to camp this summer! Email kidstocamp@gmail.com to place your order! (Click on picture to enlarge the image) We accept cash, checks (made to YL) and paypal. You can pick your order up at the YL office or shipping is available: $4.95 per item or $10.95 for three items.

Funky Animal Hats: Black Bear, Snow Tiger, Sock Monkey , Owl, Wolf, Mountain Moose, Brown Monkey and the Rowdy Raccoon, The Lion
One size fits all.

Head Wraps: Winter White, Brown, Black and Berry Red
One size fits all.

Scarves: 

Flowered and Stripped Scarves: Multi-Color Brown, Multi-Color Teal

Fun Furry Scarves: Gray, Cream and Brown.

Fluffy Scarves: Brown/Olive and Turquoise/Gray

Just In! Scarves: Brown/Tan, Pink/Gray, Black and White

Flex Necklaces:

Skinny Flex Necklace: Silver, Multi, Bronze, and Gun Metal

Regular Flex Necklace: Multi

Questions? Email us at Kidstocamp@gmail.com. We’re happy to help!

The room burst with energy as we sang the song’s final verses and I stood in front of the crowd. My heart was about to beat out of my chest.  Inside I held the greatest news to ever grace the ears of my high school friends. I swallowed hard, and began to speak.

A bridge has been built, the gap has been filled. No longer are we slaves to our own sin, but through Jesus’s death on the cross we can be free. Jesus did not come to bring us rules. We already knew the rules and we still broke them. He knew we were going to mess up, but he chose to die anyway. The problem isn’t our actions, it’s our heart. We need a new heart…

Scanning the crowd, I locked eyes with Elijah, a freshman boy, swallowed by his yellow t-shirt. His eyes gleamed as I spoke. I beg and pray that for ten minutes, the distractions fell away.  He didn’t hear the girls whispering behind him or think about the food we were about to eat. For ten minutes I pray that all Elijah heard was Jesus and the truth of the Savior washed over him.

Like every week, the students filed into a line after the talk, eager for dinner. But instead of “The Cupid Shuffle” blaring over the speaker, songs from Young Life camp this past summer echoed off the walls. These were simple songs, but songs that spoke the truth of the Savior once again.

Please join me in praying for our students as the let they wrestle with truth.

Thank you to Julie Hess for the sub sandwiches!