If you are not Christian, what is your opinion of Wyldlife, Young Life, etc.?

[Anonymous]

Cult. They always recruited kids with difficult home life’s or going through a breakup.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cult. They always recruited kids with difficult home life’s or going through a breakup.

Home lives. Wowza.

Yes OP, I agree with you. I would be extremely concerned if my kids got involved with these groups.

[Anonymous]

Without a doubt these groups are hoping to make a Christian out of her. They are looking to create a safe space for good clean fun and all that, and their sell may be soft, but in the end they are hoping your child will find Christ.

That said, shouldn't your own beliefs be strong enough that your child can enjoy an activity or two in a clean setting without losing her way?

[Anonymous]

Christian kids don't ever get why non-Christian kids wouldn't just come along for the ride. To them, the religious stuff is so secondary to the fun that they don't see how it infuses every aspect of the organization.

It sucks being a non-Christian kid in an area where these organizations suck large numbers of your classmates out of school events and weekend availability, and it can be so tempting to just go. From experience (and I'm not even religious), the Christian element wears you down pretty quickly -- there's Christian music, and talk about missions, and frequent references to "the Lord" and Jesus and being blessed in passing, and there are short prayers for various purposes throughout.

I was happy to have a strong youth group through my temple, and didn't miss it much, but these groups foster bonds that are hard to get with these kids otherwise. Doesn't matter in a large, diverse area, but in a small area, it can really leave some kids out.

Same for SCA in high schools, which most Christian kids join (Society for Christian Athletes).

And OF COURSE the goal is to keep the youth in the church, and attract new youth. It's not called "evangelical Christianity" for nothing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Young Life is a fantastic organization. I was part of it in high school during the 80s, and my kids have loved it as well. It's not "predatory" or "creepy" in any way. It's just a bunch of kids having fun, doing corny skits, singing, being goofy, and talking a little about Jesus at the end. You don't have to be Christian to attend, but it is definitely a Christian organization. There are retreats which are fantastic and which I wish I could go on again. Some of the best memories of my high school years are from Young Life. It's a great group of kids and leaders and I highly recommend it without reservation.

I've never heard of Wyldlife, so I can't speak to that.

Yes, this. I am a Christian, so I am fine w/ the Christian message. It is about fun and friends but also about sharing the Good News. If that bothers, I can see how it could feel weird. But, that's what it is. Decide if you are OK w/ it or not and explain to your kid why.

Wyldlife is the middle school version of YL.

Wish Blair area had a YL group!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Christian kids don't ever get why non-Christian kids wouldn't just come along for the ride. To them, the religious stuff is so secondary to the fun that they don't see how it infuses every aspect of the organization.

It sucks being a non-Christian kid in an area where these organizations suck large numbers of your classmates out of school events and weekend availability, and it can be so tempting to just go. From experience (and I'm not even religious), the Christian element wears you down pretty quickly -- there's Christian music, and talk about missions, and frequent references to "the Lord" and Jesus and being blessed in passing, and there are short prayers for various purposes throughout.

I was happy to have a strong youth group through my temple, and didn't miss it much, but these groups foster bonds that are hard to get with these kids otherwise. Doesn't matter in a large, diverse area, but in a small area, it can really leave some kids out.

Same for SCA in high schools, which most Christian kids join (Society for Christian Athletes).

And OF COURSE the goal is to keep the youth in the church, and attract new youth. It's not called "evangelical Christianity" for nothing.

I think you mean FCA (not SCA). Also, totally hear you about kids being left out but from the opposite perspective. My dd is Christian and there is very little in terms of Christian groups around us and friends very non and some anti religious. She feels left out at times.

YL group is a faith group, not just fellowship. And, in a faith community, it is more like family, so strong bonds makes sense. Hopefully, your temple youth group provided the same for you. I hope every kid can find a group that connects them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Christian kids don't ever get why non-Christian kids wouldn't just come along for the ride. To them, the religious stuff is so secondary to the fun that they don't see how it infuses every aspect of the organization.

It sucks being a non-Christian kid in an area where these organizations suck large numbers of your classmates out of school events and weekend availability, and it can be so tempting to just go. From experience (and I'm not even religious), the Christian element wears you down pretty quickly -- there's Christian music, and talk about missions, and frequent references to "the Lord" and Jesus and being blessed in passing, and there are short prayers for various purposes throughout.

I was happy to have a strong youth group through my temple, and didn't miss it much, but these groups foster bonds that are hard to get with these kids otherwise. Doesn't matter in a large, diverse area, but in a small area, it can really leave some kids out.

Same for SCA in high schools, which most Christian kids join (Society for Christian Athletes).

And OF COURSE the goal is to keep the youth in the church, and attract new youth. It's not called "evangelical Christianity" for nothing.

I think you mean FCA (not SCA). Also, totally hear you about kids being left out but from the opposite perspective. My dd is Christian and there is very little in terms of Christian groups around us and friends very non and some anti religious. She feels left out at times.

YL group is a faith group, not just fellowship. And, in a faith community, it is more like family, so strong bonds makes sense. Hopefully, your temple youth group provided the same for you. I hope every kid can find a group that connects them.

Of course it did. But in a city of 200,000 people, there were 4 Jewish girls my age. Meanwhile, fully half of the 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade girls at the three schools the four of us attended were all doing some kind of Christian youth group. It's not the same as not joining the team or not doing the play or not joining the scout troop; it's a major activity that just wasn't available for us in the same way. Nothing illegal or discriminatory about it, but it still makes you feel left out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are atheists although I grew up in the Episcopal Church with several that were downright evangelical (yes, back in the 70s, there were such thing as "born again" Episcopalians...weird).

Having gone through my own childhood exposed to all sorts of "harmless" (but not really) youth groups, there is zero way I would let my children attend any religious youth group. There is always a proselytizing goal whether it is explicit or implicit.

The whole point of the program is to introduce kids to Jesus. It’s nothing but proselytizing.

[Anonymous]

Grew up in the South. In NC the YL groups were mostly popular kids who jabbered about how Christian they were while drinking, smoking, and hooking up with each other. It was definitely a status thing. Yes they did bible readings and talked about the good word but yet ostracized people who didnt believe in God or their hypocrisy.

[Anonymous]

Weird post.

If you are not Jewish, what is your opinion of Birthright Israel, etc? Does it bother you that one set of American kids get invited to travel to a foreign country based on religion, and yours do not?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Young Life is a fantastic organization. I was part of it in high school during the 80s, and my kids have loved it as well. It's not "predatory" or "creepy" in any way. It's just a bunch of kids having fun, doing corny skits, singing, being goofy, and talking a little about Jesus at the end. You don't have to be Christian to attend, but it is definitely a Christian organization. There are retreats which are fantastic and which I wish I could go on again. Some of the best memories of my high school years are from Young Life. It's a great group of kids and leaders and I highly recommend it without reservation.

I've never heard of Wyldlife, so I can't speak to that.

I disagree- I participated in Young Life for a little in high scjkkk, even though my family wasn’t Christian. We were encouraged by the cool, young, hip leaders to invite the dorky less popular kids in our grade. Popular students were frequently asked to host the weekly meetings.

I'm not sure what your point is? You were asked to include less popular kids? Oh, the horror!

Sounds like the leaders knew what they were doing by trying to include everyone. Good for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We are atheists although I grew up in the Episcopal Church with several that were downright evangelical (yes, back in the 70s, there were such thing as "born again" Episcopalians...weird).

Having gone through my own childhood exposed to all sorts of "harmless" (but not really) youth groups, there is zero way I would let my children attend any religious youth group. There is always a proselytizing goal whether it is explicit or implicit.

Well, duh! Young Life is very openly a Christian youth group. If you don't want to hear about Christianity, don't go. No one's trying to convert anyone, it's simply a fun place where the Bible is discussed in a down-to-earth way.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My daughter was invited to something with a friend, and she went. I think it was a movie night. They were not proselytizing....anyway, my DD's Atheism is strong. It seemed to me the purpose was to get the kids together in a save zone and off the phones. Not a bad idea. But, I still worry about the proselytizing.

With that said, if a creepy youth pasture tried to seduce my innocent daughter, she knows to kick him where it hurts.

You are misinterpreting the seduction going on -- it isn't sexual, it is religious. PPs don't mean creepy and predatory in a sexual way. They will prey on your child's insecurities and fears and allow her to let go of those negative feelings while with the feel good group. Not a bad thing. They will not proselytize because they know that doesn't work with teens. It will become her safe and happy place, then eventually she will learn that "Jesus is the way" to this bliss. And, hey, for many it absolutely is, but if you don't want your kid going down that road ....

The atheist may run strong in your kid, but every teen is impressionable and in flux, and parents are no longer their primary guides. Choose who guides them from this point forward with your eyes wide open.

DP. I became involved with Young Life in high school and to this day am so glad I did. I could easily have made some bad choices by hanging around with the wrong crowd, but I found a warm, wholesome group of kids and young leaders where I felt completely myself. Lots of fun activities, no drinking or bad behavior, good messages. I definitely feel they guided me in a healthy direction as opposed to where I might have wound up. My kids have enjoyed YL during their high school years as well, and made some of their best friends there.

Those of you calling it creepy, predatory, or weird seem a bit off. I'd much rather have my kids hanging out with other, like-minded, service-oriented teens than getting wasted at parties every weekend. YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Christian kids don't ever get why non-Christian kids wouldn't just come along for the ride. To them, the religious stuff is so secondary to the fun that they don't see how it infuses every aspect of the organization.

It sucks being a non-Christian kid in an area where these organizations suck large numbers of your classmates out of school events and weekend availability, and it can be so tempting to just go. From experience (and I'm not even religious), the Christian element wears you down pretty quickly -- there's Christian music, and talk about missions, and frequent references to "the Lord" and Jesus and being blessed in passing, and there are short prayers for various purposes throughout.

I was happy to have a strong youth group through my temple, and didn't miss it much, but these groups foster bonds that are hard to get with these kids otherwise. Doesn't matter in a large, diverse area, but in a small area, it can really leave some kids out.

Same for SCA in high schools, which most Christian kids join (Society for Christian Athletes).

And OF COURSE the goal is to keep the youth in the church, and attract new youth. It's not called "evangelical Christianity" for nothing.

I find your way of thinking bizarre. You even admit that you were happy to involved in a strong youth group - a Jewish youth group - where I'm sure the focus was on Judaism, correct? Why is it somehow threatening to you that Christian kids would be involved in Christian youth groups?

Have you ever attended Young Life? Because you don't seem to know much about it. There is lots of singing, not necessarily Christian songs. John Denver, CCR, folk music, etc. There is no talk about "missions" - perhaps you're thinking of the Mormon church? And Jesus is what Christianity is all about, so it's kind of a given he would be mentioned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Without a doubt these groups are hoping to make a Christian out of her. They are looking to create a safe space for good clean fun and all that, and their sell may be soft, but in the end they are hoping your child will find Christ.

That said, shouldn't your own beliefs be strong enough that your child can enjoy an activity or two in a clean setting without losing her way?

"Losing her way"?? How funny - you make it sound like being around Christian people having a wholesome, fun time together is worse than say, drinking and doing drugs. DCUM never fails to disappoint.