In Gainesville, Texas, a young associate pastor named Jim Rayburn began showing up in the lives of young people. He wanted to create a fun and safe place for young people to be themselves, make friends, and have the opportunity to talk about real life and real hope.
In 1954, Young Life started its first club in France. Today, Young Life is a global organization with a local focus. You'll find Young Life leaders from diverse cultures, nationalities, and backgrounds in over 100 countries around the world. Young Life is currently in 22 countries across Europe, including Albania, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, N. Macedonia, Poland and Romania.
Whether it's in cities or villages, towns, or tower blocks, in countries on every continent, Young Life leaders are working with over two million young people, right in their own neighborhoods.
Since 1941, Young Life leaders have walked with young people and earned the right to be heard in an exhausting and exciting world. In 2018, 348,000 young people were involved every week all around the world. Over 18,000 of these young people live in countries around Europe.
Volunteer your time to work directly with young people.
Support the staff and leaders as part of the local adult committee.
Give resources to start or sustain the financial foundation at the local or national level.