L.A. is warm, and warm is the new cool. This week, we journey to the Greater L.A. Young Life Summit (#LAYL17), with an interview from one of the keynote speakers, Dr. Kara Powell (Fuller Youth Institute.) Check out Dr. Powell's work here, including her most recent book, Growing Young, and another, Sticky Faith. Hit us up: @younglifepod.

Do you build community the summer staff way? How do summer staff coordinators do what we all try to do everyday? Today, we take a dive into the world of summer staff with Josh Griffin (VP— Strategy), Anneke Brown (RD— Capital Region), and a 'guinea pig' named Luke Waltermire (Volunteer Leader— George Mason University), fresh off a recent stint on a summer staff crew. We're @younglifepod, and today use #IdidSummerStaff if you have your own reflections.

Carolina Pujol (Regional Director— Patagonia) brings her rich perspective on life, leadership, and Young Life. She proposes the simplest, but most profound question, one you might consider today— ‘Why not me if He called me?’ We’re @younglifepod.

A ‘fireside chat’ with our president, Newt Crenshaw, including reflections on this ‘freshmen’ year, early wins in the Forward movement, actively shaping Young Life’s culture, and his willingness to take a hit, if necessary. We’re @younglifepod on twitter/instagram. You can contribute to the show by joining our newsletter, where you’ll be prompted to share your ideas/comments/stories! Keep pioneering. 

Annie Udell (ARD— Chiacgoland Region) joins the show to discuss Young Life's radical camping experience, including what made her summer at Clearwater Cove feel like 'home'. Then, Chad Sievert (VP— Camping), discusses camping's 2017 impact, some radical behind the scenes camping practices you can apply anywhere, and the ongoing efforts around the world from his team to give everyone a chance to be welcomed home at one of our camps. Hit us up @younglifepod.

PS — You, too, can build a cairn.

Ken Tankersley (SVP— Global Innovation & Training) knows we are made for this, but are we ‘built’ for this? That requires life on life training, a posture of innovation, and focus on some key roles in the mission. You can hit us up on Twitter & Instagram (@younglifepod), and contribute to the show by joining our newsletter.  

Owen Apfel's Young Life leaders saw him not as someone to do ministry to, but with. The result? He made history in the mission of Young Life, but really, his story has just begun. In this episode, we consider the beautiful and effective results of working to ensure adolescents of every ethnicity, gender, and ability can see themselves on stage, represented in leadership. You can hit us up on Twitter & Instagram, and contribute to the show by joining our newsletter, where’ll you’ll be prompted to share your ideas/comments. 

After an intro by Susan Greene (Capernaum AD) regarding the growth in Capernaum, John Vicary (Executive VP U.S. Ministries) and Marty Caldwell (Executive VP Int. Ministries) begin to discuss the significance of the mission priority called “Growth” (3:25).  During the conversation, we are joined by Ashley Flowers (Associate Regional Director), and Sam Coleman (MC&U Divisional Coordinator) to discuss aspects of personal and ministry growth. Topics include the specific growth initiative (6:15), camping (7:36), growth in big cities (11:02), MC&U development (14:12), becoming a person who can facilitate growth (15:36), and Gospel astonishment to stay hungry (17:04). After visions in the event of Forward's success, each guest answers questions in a speed round (21:57).

Let's go — Forward.

“Young Life is and was innovation. That word best describes Young Life.” 

So began my conversation with Nkosi Sampindi, a Regional Director in Zimbabwe. Nkosi begins this episode noting the “everyday” things that make Young Life a radical innovation, as well as unique challenges that has kept Young Life in Africa on the cutting edge. Next, Josh Griffin (VP Strategy), Lindsey Patchell (VP YoungLives), and Scott Berg (Associate RD) join the show to discuss the Mission Priority, "Innovation." We discuss how Forward will engage our innovative team of staff and leaders worldwide (3:00), Innovation in Start-ups and other frontiers (5:42), YoungLives as an innovation (9:24), and how Forward will speed up the process of ‘why are they doing that?’ to ‘how could we not do that?’ (11:50). We also discuss an ideas incubator for Young Life (15:48), where to start when innovating (17:36), and answer one question in a short speed round (19:20).

Let’s go — Forward.