Ministry can be challenging in many areas of our mission. After spending a week with our Young Life staff in Europe, I walked away feeling both concern and excitement about the current state of ministry there. While it’s natural to feel sadness, frustration, or even bitterness about Europe’s “post-Christian” condition, what Young Life is doing in that region is genuinely remarkable. It would be easy—and understandable—for our staff there to simply “seek and save the found,” gathering other believers around them and focusing exclusively on discipleship.
But that is not what they’re doing.
Brooke Johnston, SVP of Europe and MEA, says, “We’re not Post-Christian; we’re Pre-Revival!” This perspective shifts the focus from merely sharing tips, tricks, and tools, to relying intentionally on the Holy Spirit’s guidance in building relationships with kids “who need a doctor” in their neighborhoods, communities, and regions.
Who we reach out to matters just as much—if not more—than how we reach out to them. Young Life was founded on biblical truths: seeking and saving the lost, recognizing it’s the sick who need a doctor, going and making disciples, and “moving into the neighborhood,” what we call Incarnational Ministry. While we’d never turn away a kid who’s passionate about the Lord, we recognize that our primary calling within God’s Kingdom is to the lost—and the number of those lost kids is increasing rapidly in many parts of the world.
Although this doesn’t describe every aspect of our ministry, our culture of numbers and growth, especially in regions where ministry feels increasingly challenging, can push us toward reaching the “easy” kids, the FAT (faithful, available, teachable) kids, and the Christian kids. Yet, our heritage emphasizes reaching those furthest out, playing the long game, and making sure kids understand the Gospel in terms they grasp—not ours. Christian kids need Young Life leaders, but there’s a growing population of young people in our communities who have absolutely no one.
So, how does all this connect to Digital Young Life?
Social media gives us tools to reach kids in ways we’ve struggled with for years. Social media itself is not the savior, but we hold the message that is. Many of our kids are navigating a sea of noise online, feeling isolated and disconnected, desperately seeking community, affinity, transcendence, and hope—but often settling for shallow substitutes.
The more I see our staff and volunteers effectively leveraging social media, the more convinced I am that avoiding these platforms is a mistake. Staying away means missing the very kids who may need connection most. When used thoughtfully, digital contact work can empower us to do some of the best Young Life ministry yet.
Let’s stay close to Jesus. Let’s pray bold prayers. And let’s remain committed to the mission God has entrusted to each of us: introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith.
