Young Life/WyldLife Iowa City

06/24/2020

It's the last week to grab a crewneck for our YLIC sweatshirt sale! Orders close this Friday. All proceeds go to our local campership fund.

Order yours today! $20 (shipping included if you’re not local!)

https://t.e2ma.net/click/dakccc/5ff2uq/hpysjg

06/17/2020

YLIC sweatshirt sale! All proceeds go to our local campership fund.

Order yours today! $20 (shipping included if you’re not local!)

https://t.e2ma.net/click/dakccc/5ff2uq/hpysjg

06/10/2020

We're selling YLIC crewnecks!

Yours for $20 - shipping included if you're not in the IC area!

Order yours today using link below. All proceeds will go to our local camping fund. Questions? Message us or email [email protected].

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOq1oyJZdL8drDUxpavYOTZ3e4MCk5eORG6HeXKexVz5kSUg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1

06/08/2020

Black Lives Matter to us. Read more from YLIC staff below.

Amidst grieving the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and others, we felt it was necessary that we spend time reflecting on how our local ministry communicates that black lives do in fact matter. We believe in creating a ministry that creates a sense of belonging for the young....

05/17/2020

Today we celebrate Kelsey Hovey ! Kelsey graduated from UIOWA last year, but is moving on to Colorado this summer to pursue her nursing degree! We were lucky enough to have an extra year with her in Iowa City.

Kelsey has nearly done it all - she has served as a YL leader at west high for 5 years, on student staff for 2 years, been a camp trip leader for 75 students and leaders, led two YoungLives childcare trips, been a critical part of leading too many other YL events to count, and most importantly been an incredibly consistent and loving presence in so many students and leaders lives.

Kelsey has truly become a part of the foundation of our ministry in Iowa City! She exudes radical love and care, is thoughtful and faithful in her leadership, spends more time with kids than almost anyone, and gives generously of herself without exception.

A few of Kelsey’s favorite moments as a leader:

“-- I’ll never forget the crazy cabin of west high girls we took to Clearwater Cove two years ago. Those girls showed me joy and silliness to the full.
-- Waiting for kids to arrive to club at found farm!
-- Dance parties with my favorite people.
-- Hanging out with my YL girls.
-- Cardboard testimonies!

What have you gained from being a part of YL?

“Being a part of YL helped me solidify my identity in Christ, and become exponentially confident in who I am. YLIC is a family that has loved me so well. I’ll never forget my sweet memories with YLIC. These years have been some of the richest of my life! My YL high school pals have made my life spicier, deeper, sillier, and more loving!”

Kelsey is simply the best. We are so grateful to her!

05/16/2020

Today we’re celebrating our graduating leader, the one and only, Brooke Kelley!

Brooke has been a joy to lead alongside ever since she joined YL her freshman year of college. She has put her whole heart into leading junior high girls SouthEast for the 4 past years. She has played a huge role in building a team of WyldLife leaders who love kids with no agenda and love to have fun! She has led camp trips, served on summer staff twice, gone with kids on all night bus marathons, taken younger leaders under her wing, and lights up when she’s with her junior high friends.

WE LOVE BROOKE! She makes you feel comfortable in your skin, is hilarious, is passionate about learning and serving Jesus, and makes everything more fun!

A few of Brooke’s favorite moments from leading:
"— Going to camp and watching the girls open up throughout the week.
— "Hot seat at club! One club every kid wanted to be in the hot seat and other kids got to ask them questions and it was so cool to see each one feel heard and seen."
— "Wednesday’s at Wendy’s was always a classic. I think about southeast like every time I go to Wendy’s and all our fun memories there."

What she has gained from serving as a leader:
“I have gained such a sweet community that truly love me for me. I never had a personal relationship with Jesus before coming to college. Young Life has allowed me to be around people who let Jesus pour out of them and teach me how to have my own relationship with God. It has led me to meet people from all over the country and has given me lifelong friendships."

I am more grateful for Young Life than I can put into words. I just want to thank everyone who has made me feel seen, heard and mostly importantly loved”

Thank goodness Brooke will still be in Iowa City next year pursuing her masters in accounting! We are so grateful to have her a part of our community!

05/15/2020

Today we are celebrating “the legend” Curtis Sanders!

Curtis has been a MVP of our leader team since he joined YL his freshman year of college. He has served on both the SouthEast WyldLife and City YL team. He has mentored and showed up for many young men in Iowa City, taken them to summer camp, led countless WyldLife clubs, and been a rock in our community for 5 years!

A younger leader shared that watching Curtis lead this past year gave him the vision of what it means to be a WyldLife leader: being a real part of kids lives outside of club, knowing their families, and sticking by them.

Curtis is loved for so many reasons including his laid-back attitude and patience, easy laugh, commitment to always get better, and for being an unconditional friend to all.

A few favorite moments of Curtis’:
"--Taking on adventures at summer camp with the guys I’ve gotten to know all year long.
-- Witnessing a kid grow more curious about God at clubs and watching him accept Jesus at camp.
--Supporting guys at their sporting events during the year."

What he has gained:
"A deeper meaning and love for fellowship; from building relationships with kids to building a bond with the team you serve with. I see Young Life being in my life for many years to come. I can’t wait to support this great organization in whatever way needed in the future!"

WE LOVE YOU CURTIS!!!

05/14/2020

This weekend would have been graduation… so we are celebrating our graduating seniors, starting with Elly Kellner!

Elly joined Young Life College her freshman year at UIOWA and became a leader for City YL that spring! She began her time as a YL leader saying yes to coming to camp that summer as a leader without having known any kids beforehand. That trip launched 3 years of Elly leading the same girls she met that summer, walking alongside them through their high school years.

Elly has said “yes” to so many opportunities to serve as a leader during her college years, including: 3 summer camp trips, solo leading a senior girls backpacking trip, summer staff, team leading, planning YL College formals, overnight bus marathons, mentoring younger leaders, leading campaigners groups, and time spent with students that cannot be quantified.

We love Elly's passion to serve others, commitment to keep learning and growing, ability to have deep conversations with kids, and her love of making sure everyone is having a great time!

Elly names a few of her greatest memories as leader as “all of the intentional and real conversations about life and Jesus, day 3 of Northbound hanging on the hammock and watching the stars with the girls, and serving on summer staff at Windy Gap!”

Elly shares what she has gained from being a part of YL: “people who fully know me yet fully love me and experiences learning about Jesus”.

Elly will be moving to LA to pursue a career in event planning! We cannot wait to see all that she does. We are so grateful for her impact on our community and to have her forever part of our YL family!

04/09/2020

YL Goes On! Video Update #3. Featuring Alanna Lair!

Alanna, a senior at West High, reflects on her time in Young Life and how things have changed since COVID-19.

Alanna is part of a small group through Young Life we call "bagels and bibles" that met every Friday before school. Girls and their leaders would get bagels and coffee, debrief with friends about their week of school, and read the Bible together. Since school being canceled, we have moved to zoom and it remains a highlight of our week of ministry.

We are missing seeing students like Alanna every week, face to face, but we are grateful that relationships continue and we can find ways to stay connected!

04/03/2020

Young Life Goes On! Video Update #2

Featuring the incomparable Kelsey Hovey!

Kelsey is a nursing assistant at UIHC and is in her fifth year leading Young Life in Iowa City. She is admired by all for her kindness, faithfulness, and her consistency in showing up for kids over years and years.

Kelsey is one of many leaders who continue to extend friendship, connection, and belonging during this time of social distancing. They are checking in with kids, FaceTiming, sending snail mail, and hosting virtual events, all while navigating their own lives. We are so grateful.

Kels, thank you for serving our community during this time as a health care worker and as a Young Life leader!