VISION 1. Engage in contact work and begin building relationships across several campuses this school year. 2. Spur student leaders to take initiative in inviting unsaved friends to come and hear about the love of Christ in a safe, loving and fun environment. 3. Recruit leaders from Cairn University to serve as leaders, furthering our missional efforts with more hands on deck.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Operating Budget Staff Salaries (3):
$ 111,360
Benefits (3):
$ 50,656
Program Expenses/Training:
$ 14,000
Young Life in Bucks County
JOIN US Ways to Give Give Online:
BUDGET TOTAL: $ 176,016
• Go to > > > giving.younglife.org/landenswain
Monthly Giving Plan # of Partners
Amount per Month
Annual Total
2
$
100
$
2,400
3
$
75
$
2,700
10
$
50
$
6,000
50
$
25
$
15,100
$
26,100
TOTAL:
Personal checks may be made out to Young Life, with “PA466 — Landen Swain” on the memo line, and sent to: Bucks County Young Life 111 N Union St Lambertville, NJ 08530-1619
Young Life is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and has maintained that membership through a yearly review of its compliance with the ECFA’s standards.
Young Life was incorporated in 1941 by Jim Rayburn, a seminary student and part-time youth minister in Gainesville, Texas, who wanted to reach out to kids disinterested in church. Rayburn went where kids were and found creative ways to share the love of God with them. His methods continue to transform lives today.
Laden Swain landenswainyl@gmail.com 434-444-4035
LANDEN SWAIN
WHAT IS YOUNG LIFE? 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. Within Young Life we call the persistent going out into the world of kids “contact work.” But kids just call it friendship.
“ … being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” — Titus 3:7, NASB
CLUB
We like to think of club as a “party with a purpose.” It’s controlled chaos that’s almost impossible to describe, but kids know it when they see it. And before the party ends, we share a simple message about God’s love for them. After all, that’s what the celebration is all about.
CAMP
Kids consistently tell us that Young Life camp is the best week of their lives. How else would you describe a week where deep relationships are forged in the midst of mind-boggling fun and you hear the greatest love story ever told?
CAMPAIGNERS
Campaigners is a weekly gathering for kids who wish to learn more or grow in their faith through study, service and leadership. We’re with kids for the long haul to help them take the first steps of faith with unconditional love. Along the way, we encourage kids to celebrate their faith through participation in a local church congregation.
LANDEN’S STORY Growing up in a Christian household, I knew of Jesus all my life but did not come to know Him personally until I was a sophomore in high school. After cheating on a Spanish test, God convicted me of my sin, and the gospel’s redemptive, forgiving, grace-filled power made sense and became personal. Young Life became pivotal in my discipleship and missional formation, developing a profound love in me for people and the peace that comes from believing the gospel. The Bible’s commissioning for discipleship ultimately led me to want to pursue full-time vocational ministry and eventually I was led to Bucks County, PA where I hope to introduce teens to the gospel and commission them to be disciples who make disciples.
AREA OVERVIEW Bucks County is a large, affluent suburban area north of Philadelphia. Nearing the Northeast, the county’s religious experience varies from some church background to absolutely no church background. Students in the area are high academics and often strive for some of the top schools in the country. But the endless effort often finds teens tying their love and acceptance to academic accomplishments. What would happen if teens in Bucks County discovered that they are fully known and fully loved despite their performance, able to rest that they are accepted because of the atoning work of Christ? This is our mission. Young Life in Bucks County began in October of 2019 after seeing the abundant need in this unreached area. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which complicated Young Life’s efforts — complicated, but did not destroy. Even through social distancing limitations, ministry continued in the area. A committee was formed, kids were able to go to camp, and with only a limited team of leaders, Bucks County Young Life saw kids from all over the county come to hear about Jesus. Currently, we are pursuing gaining active and excellent leaders from Cairn University, a local Christian college, and from other places in the community.
WHAT IS YOUNG LIFE? 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. Within Young Life we call the persistent going out into the world of kids “contact work.” But kids just call it friendship.
“ … being justified by His grace we would be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.” — Titus 3:7, NASB
CLUB
We like to think of club as a “party with a purpose.” It’s controlled chaos that’s almost impossible to describe, but kids know it when they see it. And before the party ends, we share a simple message about God’s love for them. After all, that’s what the celebration is all about.
CAMP
Kids consistently tell us that Young Life camp is the best week of their lives. How else would you describe a week where deep relationships are forged in the midst of mind-boggling fun and you hear the greatest love story ever told?
CAMPAIGNERS
Campaigners is a weekly gathering for kids who wish to learn more or grow in their faith through study, service and leadership. We’re with kids for the long haul to help them take the first steps of faith with unconditional love. Along the way, we encourage kids to celebrate their faith through participation in a local church congregation.
LANDEN’S STORY Growing up in a Christian household, I knew of Jesus all my life but did not come to know Him personally until I was a sophomore in high school. After cheating on a Spanish test, God convicted me of my sin, and the gospel’s redemptive, forgiving, grace-filled power made sense and became personal. Young Life became pivotal in my discipleship and missional formation, developing a profound love in me for people and the peace that comes from believing the gospel. The Bible’s commissioning for discipleship ultimately led me to want to pursue full-time vocational ministry and eventually I was led to Bucks County, PA where I hope to introduce teens to the gospel and commission them to be disciples who make disciples.
AREA OVERVIEW Bucks County is a large, affluent suburban area north of Philadelphia. Nearing the Northeast, the county’s religious experience varies from some church background to absolutely no church background. Students in the area are high academics and often strive for some of the top schools in the country. But the endless effort often finds teens tying their love and acceptance to academic accomplishments. What would happen if teens in Bucks County discovered that they are fully known and fully loved despite their performance, able to rest that they are accepted because of the atoning work of Christ? This is our mission. Young Life in Bucks County began in October of 2019 after seeing the abundant need in this unreached area. Soon after, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which complicated Young Life’s efforts — complicated, but did not destroy. Even through social distancing limitations, ministry continued in the area. A committee was formed, kids were able to go to camp, and with only a limited team of leaders, Bucks County Young Life saw kids from all over the county come to hear about Jesus. Currently, we are pursuing gaining active and excellent leaders from Cairn University, a local Christian college, and from other places in the community.
VISION 1. Engage in contact work and begin building relationships across several campuses this school year. 2. Spur student leaders to take initiative in inviting unsaved friends to come and hear about the love of Christ in a safe, loving and fun environment. 3. Recruit leaders from Cairn University to serve as leaders, furthering our missional efforts with more hands on deck.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Operating Budget Staff Salaries (3):
$ 111,360
Benefits (3):
$ 50,656
Program Expenses/Training:
$ 14,000
Young Life in Bucks County
JOIN US Ways to Give Give Online:
BUDGET TOTAL: $ 176,016
• Go to > > > giving.younglife.org/landenswain
Monthly Giving Plan # of Partners
Amount per Month
Annual Total
2
$
100
$
2,400
3
$
75
$
2,700
10
$
50
$
6,000
50
$
25
$
15,100
$
26,100
TOTAL:
Personal checks may be made out to Young Life, with “PA466 — Landen Swain” on the memo line, and sent to: Bucks County Young Life 111 N Union St Lambertville, NJ 08530-1619
Young Life is a charter member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and has maintained that membership through a yearly review of its compliance with the ECFA’s standards.
Young Life was incorporated in 1941 by Jim Rayburn, a seminary student and part-time youth minister in Gainesville, Texas, who wanted to reach out to kids disinterested in church. Rayburn went where kids were and found creative ways to share the love of God with them. His methods continue to transform lives today.
Laden Swain landenswainyl@gmail.com 434-444-4035
LANDEN SWAIN