Over the past few years Youth EE has had the privilege of partnering with the international non-denominational Youth ministry, Young Life. Here are two stories told by Young Life staff people who have been trained in Youth EE.

FIRST STORY

“Jen has been coming to campaigners (Bible Study) ever since she saw "A Walk to Remember" and frequently asks questions. Two of her good friends also go and are so excited, but none of us is sure where she really stands.

To sum up, last night we went shopping and to Applebees and after asking the two diagnostic questions she allowed me to continue...artichoke dip, a burger, a cute waiter, and fish and chips later, she said it made sense and yes, she's like to receive the gift of eternal life. In the car in front of her house she prayed to receive Christ. (If the ink is running on your page, it's because I'm crying a little). She anticipated that our conversation would "go there", but she said she wasn't scared or anything.

It was amazing to think that she was interested in hearing the
whole story that she's been hearing bits of in our Bible study. What I am grateful for is that without EE, who knows how long it might have taken me to get around to explaining a commitment to Christ and inviting her to respond. Please pray for Jen as she returns to her family and lives a new life. I am thankful for what the Lord is doing in my heart - I feel incredibly amazed and humbled. Thanks!

Becky

(Becky Cook is a fulltime Young Life Staff Area Director in New York)

SECOND STORY

"Yesterday I was doing contact work at the tennis match. Up comes this kid who graduated last year from First Colonial High School (my club) who had been a fairly regular attendee. He surprised me because I thought he had
gone away to college. He decided to go local and transfer. He asked me about the trip to Colorado that our club took this summer that he
could not go to. I told him I missed it but that I knew that it was great.

I shared about the different activities and then as a segue I said that I
knew that the spiritual side of it was really good as well and that many of those who went came back really excited about taking a deeper look at Christ I then said; "Tyler, you came to club a lot and had a great time but I never got a handle on what you thought about everything that we talk about concerning Jesus Christ. So he readily shared. He talked about going to church and thinking it was okay but he really loved what he had heard at club.

So then I popped the big 'ol diagnostic number one on his head!
He just looked at me and said, "Well I hope I'd go to heaven. But I don't know." So I popped the big 'ol diagnostic number two on him.
He said; "I don't have any idea how to answer that." I waited for a second or two, which felt like an eternity, and then he smiled and said, "Because I'm a nice guy?!!!" We laughed! It was a good time together. He talked about not getting baptized because he knew that meant really getting into the Christian faith and all. And then I just walked him through the gospel.

Well, when we got to the decision part I thought he was going to pull back and say that he wanted to go talk to the pastor of his church. But when I asked him if anything was holding him back from getting in on this right now he said "No!" I tried to "talk him out of it." I asked him if he realized what this meant, I referenced the baptism thing about really committing to identifying with Christ, and he said, "yes" to everything. I then shared the "committment" and asked him if he wanted to pray together right then. He said "yes." Now here is the funny part. We are leaning against a car that is right next to the tennis court. There are a lot of folks walking by so I asked Tyler if he wanted to move into the parking lot away from the crowd. He says, "No, this is fine with me!" So I am feeling a little antsy but we proceed. One of my campaigner (Bible study) girls comes over and I have her stand there with us and then I tell Tyler that I am going to pray and then tell him to do the "repeat after me" part. Well, when we get there I say "Okay, Tyler just say these words or something like them. Lord, I know that I have sinned and walked away from you."

Nothing.

After a second I look up at him and simultaneously he looks up at me! And he says, "I couldn't hear what you were saying. Could you pray louder?!" What a sissy I am!!! I was so afraid of appearing "religious" and here is this guy who really wants Christ and he doesn't care who is around! So I prayed a little louder and he prays after me. I did the final questions retracing the two diagnostic questions and he was right on with the Lord. He and I get together for lunch tomorrow and will set a schedule for discipleship at that time.

So what do you know? The Lord is good. This was a divine appointment and nothing could get in the way of it, not my cowardice or other people or anything.

Feel free to use Tyler's story anywhere you go. Thanks for all you are doing to train up those in the Kingdom to get the job done!

In Him,

Scott
(Scott Hamilton, Young Life’s Regional Director for Young Life in the state of Virginia)

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