Charleston Living Magazine Nov-Dec 2021

Their fundraising efforts raised over
$11,000 that helped jump-start the ministry
that works with special needs youth. There are
already three additional fundraising events
planned for this semester.
Carter was impressed by their creativity,
as well as their determination.
“All five have been involved in Young
Life at some point in their lives and continue
to have a heart for serving. This was their way
of creating awareness for a particular need in
the Charleston area,” she said.
Those participating in the “5 Bikes +1
Country” fundraiser for Young Life
Capernaum were, left to right: Davis
Linscott, Nick Richardson, Tommy
Fairbairn, Matt Kierski and Stan
Connors.
Reaching area youth
At Young Life, the goal is simply to reach
out, build relationships with kids and model
behavior. As metro director Neil Gardner
explained: “We try to show up and be faithful,
and out of that, God helps us connect the dots
and allows us to engage in real conversations.”
When they do meet as a group, the
format is determined by those present: bible
study for the believers, and a broader-themed
conversation for a wider variety of youth.
Fostering relationships in a time of social
media is not easy. Gardner noted that it seems
as if today’s high school kids have forgotten
how to make new friends. He’s the team leader
at Wando High School in Mt. Pleasant.
“Friend circles diminish as kids get older,
but you can tell they still crave that interaction,”
Gardner said. After all, that’s what
makes us human. Enter Young Life leaders
who facilitate those conversations. The goal is
always to introduce kids to Jesus Christ and
help them grow in their faith. The means are
not always conventional.
Gardner reminisced about a basketball
game he watched at Wando where a talented
player caught his eye. Gardner met that athlete
and they connected over a conversation
about that very game, which promoted the
athlete to learn about Young Life.
“The youth ended up coming to some
meetings and sharing hardships from his past
that made him question God’s existence. He
kept coming around to meetings and this past
summer announced he was ready to trust and
begin a relationship with God. He soon began
modeling leadership behavior to other high
school kids,” Gardner said. “It’s all because I
happened to be at a basketball game that gave
me the opportunity to start a conversation.”
Impressions can run deep, and Young
Life has affected the lives of many in Charleston,
teaching values and engaging directly
with the young community, empowering
them to be the best versions of themselves
and make a difference. •
To learn more about Young Life Charleston, visit
www.charleston.younglife.org.
November/December 2021 | | 41