Western Europe Going All Out for Kids The Young Life Mission Introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. We witness changed lives and teenagers meet Christ. Young Life believes that every adolescent deserves a chance to consider the basics of the Christian faith in terms they understand from people they trust. We encourage those who want to grow in their faith to explore it in study, deepen it in service, share it in leadership and celebrate it in a church of their choosing. And we respectfully continue to share our lives and message with those who choose otherwise, because our friendship and love in Christ come without conditions. Challenge of Sharing the Good News of Jesus in the region is great, due to inhospitable societal structures. • The church in Europe is beleaguered and largely thought irrelevant. Historic collaboration between church and secular leadership adds to a culture of mistrust and resentment of religious movements. • The text of the European Union constitution makes no mention of Christianity or God. • Socialism in some countries has yielded 50% or higher tax rates which has discouraged charitable giving by individuals. • Western Europe has legalized adolescent use of alcohol and marijuana. Prostitution in many Western European nations is also legal. • Relativism is pervasive. A “live and let live” mentality is one of Western Europe’s most prevalent values. Western Europe Staff WHO WE ARE REGIONAL OFFICE Jim McNamee Regional Director Barbara McNamee Regional Associate Don Hux Regional Administrator Sarah Gammell Regional Trainer BELGIUM Marissa Hunsberger Area Dir, Intl Sch, Brussels Sergio and Roselie Murru Area Dir, Charleroi Vanessa Daddario Mission Staff, Intl Sch, Brussels FRANCE Amy Mich Direct Ministry, Grenoble Bill and Judy Duppenthaller, Sr Area Dev, Lyon Philipe DeWaele Area Dir, Camp Dir, Mont Blanc THE NETHERLANDS “The national leadership expansion in Western Europe promises to create one of Young Life’s finest examples of indigenous movements in the next few years.” Dr. Lee Corder, Sr Vice President, Young Life Intl North Division French Ski Camp Miquel Zuidweg Area Director, Dordrecht PJ Denboer Mission Staff, Spijkenisse PORTGUAL Sarah Gammell Area Developer Katia Pinheiro Staff Associate, Lisbon Ariel das Neves Staff Associate, Intl Sch, Lisbon SPAIN Jonathan Banegas Area Director, Catalunya Elena Banegas Direct Ministry, Banyoles Gemma Gisbert Direct Ministry, Girona Jessica Pereira Direct Ministry, Girona Luis Alarcón Area Director, Barcelona David Beltran Area Director, Madrid Emily Dunham Mission Staff, Madrid Drew Goodman Staff Associate, Madrid Sharalyn Goodman Staff Associate, Madrid WESTERN EUROPE REGIONAL FACTS WHERE WE ARE THE NETHERLANDS Spijkenisse Dordrecht Brussels, Waterloo, Wavre Charleroi, Marchienne au Pont BELGIUM Paris FRANCE Lyon Grenoble Praz de Lys Mont Blanc San Sebastian SPAIN PORTUGAL Lisbon Villafranca Madrid Oeste Villalba Madrid Girona, Banyoles Barcelona BELGIUM • Charleroi • Wavre • Brussels • Waterloo • Marchienee au Pont THE NETHERLANDS • Dordrecht • Spijkenisse FRANCE • Paris • Lyon • Mont Blanc • Grenoble • Praz de Lys (camp) SPAIN • Madrid • Madrid Oeste • Villalba • Banyoles • Girona • Villafranca • Barcelona • San Sebastian PORTUGAL • Lisbon • According to the Middle East Quarterly, the growing number of Muslims in France in 2016 is expected to be about 6 million, which is almost 3 times the total population of Paris, France's largest and most populated city. • There are on average 20,000 teenage suicide attempts in The Netherlands each year. • Belgium’s population of 11 million people is 97% nominally Roman Catholic (but only 7% attend mass occasionally), 2% Muslim and less than 1% is Protestant. Evangelicals represent 0.07% of the population. • Spain’s population in 2013: over 47 million, with 9.4% under the age of 20. Only 3% consider religion as one of their three most important values. • Portugal tied for 6th place among industrialized countries for rates of teen pregnancy. Accepting kids for who they are; having a vision for who they can be. Portugal Surf Camp Time Tested and Life Changing Contact work: Because kids don't care how much you know until they know how much you care, Young Life leaders show they care by going where kids are, meeting them as they are, and believing in who they can be. We call this going out into the world of kids "contact work." Club: It is intentional chaos with a purpose that's almost impossible to describe. And before it ends, we share a simple message about God's love for them. We call it "club." Campaigners: A weekly meeting for kids who wish to learn more or grow in their faith through Bible study, We call it “Campaigners.” Camp: Deep relationships are forged in the midst of mind-boggling fun and where kids experience and listen to what we believe is the greatest love story ever told. We call it “camp,” whether it’s week-long summer camp in Europe or the US, weekend camps, or various specialty camps during the year. QUOTES “They mix the fun with God and Jesus. I think it works well.” Spanish teen talking about YL “You are going to hear God and Jesus explained like you have never heard it before.” Spanish teen talking with a friend about YL camp “I think that there will be two great parts to my daughter’s life – before Young Life and after Young Life.” Parent of Spanish teen after YL USA camp Belgian Camp “Young Life has changed my son’s life.” Parent of Spanish teen after YL USA camp “Cédric is a French 17 year old that got involved with Young Life in 2009. He joined Young Life for summer camp and ski camp and started his life with Christ. After spending the summer in the USA with Young Life friends in 2011, Cédric is now a leader in training. Cédric is a role model for many students that we would love to see growing in their faith in Christ and serving Him through Young Life.” Percentage of People Calling Themselves Christians Belgium France The Netherlands Portugal Spain United States 62 61 46 94 77 77 % % % % % % 1.2 1 4.3 3 1 29 % evangelicals % evangelicals % evangelicals % evangelicals % evangelicals % evangelicals Operation World, 2013 YL France staff “I had a time that I stopped believing in God; I felt alone and began to look for God again. I found God again with the help of Young Life.” Dutch teen You (YL leaders) are a gift to me… to have known you has been the best thing that has happened in my life.” Spanish teen Western Europe Region Cerro de la Butrera 15, #4 / 28223 Pozuelo de Alarcón / Spain Tel: 0034913519388, Móvil: 0034610407108 From the US 615 469 4220 http://WesternEurope.younglife.org
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