Helping teens is what Young Life Canada is all about. Now, as the local chapter of the Christian organization celebrates leaving its own teenhood behind, it's looking to the community for help.
Young Life is turning the big '20' this year. It's a bare-bones operation with one main organizer who works to build positive relationships with a few hundred teens in three St. Albert junior high and high schools. Nick Onyschuk has the help of nearly 20 young leaders who have been through the program. He's hoping to reach as many as he possibly can.
"It's all about the opportunity of building positive relationships with teenagers," he began. "It's amazing to not only have these relationships but to see the impact it makes on teens, then to see having someone who cares about them and listens to them and who wants to see them grow and succeed, and what that does in their lives."
The way it works is he and his team of leaders make regular visits to Bellerose, W.D. Cuts and Sir George Simpson schools. They build relationships so that the teens not only feel like they have a new friend, they get the kind of guidance that helps see them through what might otherwise be tough years of personal growth.
Just having one adult in their lives makes a huge difference, he continued.
"A lot of times with youths, they're just looking for someone to notice them, to care about them. For an adult to come alongside and say, 'I know your name'… simply knowing and remembering their name makes such an impact."
Every week, the teens get invited to an event called Club where they hang out at someone's house, participate in games and play music. At the end, there's a 15-minute talk about Christianity. Onyschuk says that the organization isn't pushy about the religion but does offer it as another way to improve the teens' lives.
"Our mission statement is 'loving teens in their world and encouraging them to know Christ.' We want them to learn about and know who Jesus is, but we're never going to push that on them. It's not a requirement for us. If a teen says, 'I really don't want that at all,' it's not the end of our relationship. I'm still hanging out with them. I'm still building those relationships because it's still important."
St. Albert Catholic High School student James Wright said that the group has really helped him to deepen his personal relationship with God and his faith, and figure some other important things out too.
"I've also really increased my knowledge about what I want to do after high school with my volunteering hours and working with people, exploring the world through Young Life. It's really helped me learn a lot of life lessons through working with people."
Dayn Scaber has been there. The Young Life leader is in post-secondary now but still remembers his first experiences with the group and its weekly Club.
"I was like, 'what the heck am I at?' I feel like everyone when they first go to Young Life really doesn't know what's happening. There's that first shock of 'oh, this is what this is.' And then you realize that it is pretty fun. The more times you go, the more you realize how fun it is."
"It honestly helped me figure out what my passion is in life and ultimately it made me realize that there's a place, especially for teens, that they can go and not feel judged, that it's a safe place, whether they believe in the Christian aspect or not, they know that they're loved and people are excited that they're there."
He said that Young Life has offered him a very healthy and exciting path, and more.
"It's brought me a lot of adventures, that's for sure."
Anniversary party
To commemorate its 20th year, Young Life is hosting its annual fall fundraiser on Friday, Nov. 18 with good food, entertainment and a silent auction. Tickets are $35 (in advance only) and sponsorship opportunities are available too. Onyschuk really hopes that the community rallies behind them because they could use all of the support that they could get.
"We do a lot more with a lot less. We sure could do with a lot more," he hinted.
The event will be held at the Sturgeon Valley Golf Club. Visit www.younglife.ca/stalbertfundraiser2016 or visit the chapter's office in the NABI building for more details.
