Reflections from an Alumni Reunion   Alumni reunions are happening across the mission all the time. This fall, hundreds of Virginia alumni and their families gathered at Rockbridge. Here's what one alumna had to say:   Returning to a Young Life camp after 15 years of not being involved was very exciting. Rockbridge was a perfect spot to reunite with old classmates and leaders. Upon arriving we went straight to the dining hall and walking in seemed like old times. Looking around the room there were faces that used to be a regular part of my life that I had not seen in some cases in almost 20 years. It was so exciting to find out what God has been doing through and in so many of my old classmates.   ------------------     Holding an alumni event? We can help you spread the word to people around the country and the world. If you'd like to have more exposure and help getting the word out, consider posting your alumni event on younglife.org in the Events section. To do so, please complete the Submit an Event form.     Young Life is working in and through the lives of kids with disabilities. Check out the experience of one leader who served as a buddy at a Capernaum camp this summer.       Crooked Creek was my chance to help those with disabilities to understand and want to have Christ in their life. The actual experience itself was 10 times more rewarding and exciting than I ever thought possible. Seeing these kids listen, wide-eyed and open-mouthed to the message of Jesus Christ, taking in the details, singing the songs, praising His name, is a memory I will hold on to forever. I got asked questions such as "Does God hear me when I sing even if I don't sing well?" Being able to answer those questions with YES!!! ALWAYS!! is an AWESOME sensation. The tag line for the week was "I am a beloved child of God", which is something everybody, disabled or not, should know and repeat. I don't think one person who attended Crooked Creek that week doubted God's love for them after hearing that phrase so many times. - Katy, IL    The Alumni Database ... Please Subscribe!   Why? First, because we care about you and don't want to lose touch. Also, it is a great way to find your Young Life friends and to help them find you. Sign up now!    We'd love for you to forward the Alumni eNewsletter to your friends. They can add their names to the database and sign up to receive the eNewsletter directly from our Web Site.

Young Life Alumni - Changing Lives   Young Life leaders and staff invest countless hours each week building relationships with kids. The love communicated by these leaders is one means by which middle and senior high students come to understand the love Christ has for them. But you don't have to be on Young Life staff to be involved. You can make an impact in kids lives in so many ways. Take a minute to find Young Life near you. Be a part of the team impacting kids in your community.              We always love to hear from those who've been touched by this mission. Drop us a line and let us know who you are, where you are and how Young Life played a role in your life. We'd love to share your story in a future issue. And, if we do, we'll send you a Starbucks gift card as a thank you!        In This Issue Forever Changed: The story of how God changed the life of one lost high school senior by allowing him to serve others through Young Life. Alumni: Your Stories The Alumni Database - Please Subscribe! Young Life Gifts for Family and Friends    Forever Changed Read about Chris, one of the thousands of "new alumni" who've recently graduated from high school and stayed involved with Young Life.   Chris, a senior in high school, was having the toughest year of his life. He experienced the death of close family members, as well as serious injuries that prevented him from playing the sports he loved. He thought relationships with girls would make life seem better. They didn't. He also tried partying and spending all his time with his friends. But that wasn't enough either. "I knew at this point that I needed something, something to fulfill my life and make me whole," Chris said. His younger brother, Sean, had been involved in Young Life. Chris had seen his life be impacted by God. Chris started going to club, where he began to listen to his Young Life leader, Dan Ormond, explain the love of Jesus Christ. Chris was intrigued. He wanted to know more, so he started to meet with Ormond, and then he also signed up for Young Life camp at Rockbridge that summer. Within his first day at camp, Chris knew his life would be forever changed. Chris and some of the college-aged volunteers at the camp helped a quadriplegic camper named Alan go through the camp's obstacle course on the first night. "By the time I was finished [carrying him] I couldn't lift my arms," Chris said. "Every award, ski race, football or lacrosse game I had ever won, put together, could never amount to the feeling I had when we reached the finish line with Alan. For the first time in my life I had done something fulfilling, and it was the love of Christ that had fulfilled me." Throughout the week, Chris spent time with Alan and the other Capernaum campers. "Every day this made me realize what God had given me physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually,' he said. "As my relationship with these kids grew, so did my faith and love for Christ. I had learned the things He did for me so that I could have eternal life." At the end of the week, Chris shared with nearly 400 other campers his new faith in Jesus Christ. And that was just the beginning. In the fall of 2006, Chris headed to college in the Northeast, where he continues to grow in his faith. "Chris has been pursuing Christ with relentless passion," Ormond said. "He has been involved in leadership training and has just been placed as a Young Life leader." Alumni: Your Stories Susanne Miner grew up in Kentwood, Mich. Because of the impact of her Young Life leaders, she was able to successfully navigate through her adolescence and chose to directly impact the lives of foster children and delinquent teens by working for Children's Services in Detroit, Mich.       I was involved in Young Life in Kentwood, Mich., from 1980 until I graduated from high school in 1982. My involvement in Young Life got me through a time in my life when I may have otherwise turned to drugs, alcohol or sex as an escape. The concern of the staff for my emotional and spiritual well-being was immense.      My senior year of high school was a particularly rough time for me, in that a friend of mine committed suicide. I'm not sure if I would have made it through that year if I had not had the caring support of Young Life staffers and the positive message of God's love for me that they presented every week in such a fun manner.    My involvement in Young Life helped lead me to the career choice I made. I have been employed for 20 years as a Children's Services Worker in Detroit, Mich., working with foster children and delinquent teens. The staff were positive role models for me, in that I saw their concern for and involvement with youth and wanted to be able to help children and youth when I finished my education.   I had a great deal of fun during the time I was involved with Young Life and Campaigners, and I also learned a great deal about the Bible and how to study it properly. I think very fondly of my time with Young Life.   Great Christmas Gifts for Family, Friends and Yourself on The Young Life Store Start Shopping.