In 2015, while in her junior year of high school, Louise Brady Davey was invited to attend the Grosse Pointe Young Life club. "I heard it was a fun place to be with people I knew and wanted to hang out with," she says. "I wasn't interested in the faith part that much, although I was cool with it."
Initially, she joined for community. She found the other members kind and living life the way she wanted to live. "I started learning about Jesus a few months in and was taken with the message. So then, I didn't only want to go because it was fun, but I was totally invested in learning more."
In 2017, she started leading the club and has been its director for the past two years. Young Life, found in all 50 states and more than 100 countries, is a Christian ministry that reaches out to middle school, high school, and college students. "One of our slogans is, 'We go to where kids are,' so that's football, basketball, and soccer games, and plays, musicals, and concerts."
If kids are interested, they may go on Slurpee® runs, coffee dates, and other fun outings to develop relationships with members. After that, they're invited to club if they're still interested. "Club, we say, is a party with a purpose. We play many games designed for kids to meet everybody around them and build a community. At the end of the night, the purpose is to have a message from me or one of our volunteers, which serves as a slow introduction to Jesus. From there, we invite kids who want to know more to partake in Bible studies in our weekly Thursday night campaigner's Bible study."
The number one message, she explains, is that they are loved by Jesus. "Another huge part of every message and what we want to make sure every kid walks away with is hearing that Jesus died for us, and if they say yes to a relationship with Jesus, then He's always there for them."
While some of its members were already immersed in the Christian faith, others, like Louise, were not. "When people get introduced to Jesus, it just changes their lives," she says. "It's so much brighter and joyful."
She says having faith can make things easier for young people struggling with issues. "Right now, a big trend with this generation is that they're questioning everything. They're questioning themselves and their identities, questioning adults and their intentions, and they just want to learn more. Being able to have Jesus and the Bible as a resource is a really amazing map and guide, especially during that time of life."
She says kids can come and hang out at one of their parties or get-togethers. "Just come on by and bring a friend."
Louise is the only staff member; everyone else who helps spread the message is a volunteer, and all go through background checks. "We love to have relationships with other local churches and youth groups, too," she says. I also have a committee of adults who just love the Lord and are constantly praying for us, supporting us, and making the ministry happen."
The club also offers Young Life and Wyldlife camping trips. "We typically hang out at a camp called Timber Wolf Lake, which is in northern Michigan, and every couple of years, we go out of state with our high schoolers."
Young Life is 100% locally funded. "We want to express our gratitude to everyone who helps us, whether by volunteering or giving financially."
If you're interested in learning more about Young Life and supporting its mission, check out its website. "I think it'd be really hard for anyone not to find some goodness in what we're doing."
GrossePointe.YoungLife.org
"When people get introduced to Jesus, it just changes their lives."