The Battle Ground Young Life youth outreach organization recently took 19 teens to a camp, but the organization hopes to gain more volunteers to accommodate and empower more teens in a year’s time.
Battle Ground Young Life is a nonprofit Christian youth outreach organization empowering youth and sharing the gospel of Jesus, Prayer Coordinator Viki Eierdam said. Battle Ground Young Life meets every Monday at Landmark Church, 1504 W. Main St. in Battle Ground, to have a home-cooked meal, play games, sing songs and more. Currently the weekly event has 15 to 20 teens attending, but Munoz and Eierdam hope that total grows along with the volunteer numbers.
Battle Ground Young Life Area Director Anthony Munoz said July’s camp was a success, but he hopes next year the group will take more teens on the venture with added help.
“They had the time of their life, and we hope to just do more of that, to have people come alongside students and to walk with them in life,” he said. “Some people say do life with them, invite them into our lives and just be a support system for some of these students who may not have the positive influence in their life. Although we have a small group of volunteers who are willing to walk in the lives of kids, I think we could always use a lot more.”
Battle Ground Young Life often works with high school-aged students who are committing self harm or experiencing substance abuse or other struggles in their lives.
“I think these are just symptoms of what’s going on inside of them personally,” Munoz said. “And so, I think if you have caring adults entering the lives of kids, walking with them and accepting them for who they are and where they are at, I think that could cause a pretty positive outcome if we go and do those things.”
Munoz was first introduced to the Young Life organization when he was in high school. He received a much-needed pair of shoes from a leader in the group who mentored Munoz. He said in a previous article with the Reflector that he came from a broken home and his parents were separated. The family didn’t sit at the table together for meals. When his mentor from the Young Life community befriended him, it had a real impact on him.
Munoz said he’d prefer if the group could assign one volunteer to every three to five students. Currently, Battle Ground Young Life operates with seven volunteers, he added. To become a volunteer, or to learn more about the organization, visit battleground.younglife.org.
“Even if it’s 15 to 20 students, I would be excited if there were enough volunteers that they could reach out to these students and have a meaningful impact versus having 40 students and not having enough volunteers,” Munoz said. “Now, I do hope that there’s 50 students having the time of their lives every week where this is the best night of the week for them. But more than that, I just hope there’s relationships built.”
Eierdam said Battle Ground Young Life will host a dessert banquet from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13, at the Battle Ground Community Center to raise funds for operating costs. To attend, visit bgyl.org/banquet.
