Let us introduce you to one of these kids, Maddie…

We watched a young mom lead a skit for our WyldLife Club. Maddie got the whole audience of middle schoolers to sway side by side and sing the pizza party song! Every time there’s a club gathering it feels like a party with a purpose. Music, food, games, kids, leaders, and the good news. Maddie heard the good news all growing up in her household but found herself on another path searching for something else. She ended up on a destructive path until she found out she was pregnant with her son at 17. Maddie says that God used that moment to “wake” her up. This summer at YoungLives Camp, when Maddie heard the good news, it was different this time as a young mom. She was with 100 other teenage moms and their babies. And she was able to be a kid again and run around and experience all the things camp had for her, while her child was cared for. All the sudden, it all made sense to her. She realized that God had a plan for her life and loved her and had a purpose for her. She was so excited to dedicate her life to Jesus, that she quickly began to express interest in leading at the middle school club (WyldLife). We watched her welcome middle schoolers to Club the way Jesus welcomes us. She smiled and listened and laughed and sat with young girls. She was beaming with the love and confidence of Jesus. Her family loves that she is serving in this capacity and offer to stay with her one-year-old so she can do what she is called to do. We are thanking God for the gift of camp. And the gift of leaders pouring into Maddie, and now the gift of Maddie pouring into the next group of kids. We hope you are reminded that the good news is still good and is transforming the lives of young people in San Diego. It’s transforming teen moms, dads, high school students, middle school students, college age students, and kids in the detention system. The good news is Jesus was born to set this world free. Today we rejoice in that good news and invite you to rejoice with us.