It may have been a cold start to 2026, but our hearts are warm with all God is doing in Eastern Fairfax Young Life. Justice High School Young Life welcomed a new leader. Vida Joven welcomed a part-time staff member. Our Committee grew with two new members, and YoungLives is mentoring mothers in their new faith. 

We have started to invite students to summer Camp, and we need your help. Please pray that students are unhindered to sign up so they can experience the best week of their lives. Many of our students require scholarships to attend so we are raising $40,000 this year to help send them to camp. Would you help fill our campership fund so we can ensure that no student misses this life-changing opportunity because they can't afford to attend?                                               

We get asked this question a lot. So here's the skinny. We break into small groups and rotate through stations to pray for different parts of the Young Life ministry-- students, leaders, volunteers, schools, camp, club, and campaigners. Low pressure. We just want you there! You do not need to pray out loud-- or wear a mustache. Unless you want to. We are totally cool with that. 

Please join us on Saturday, March 28, at 9:30 at Cornerstone Church. Email gretchennutz@gmail.com  to RSVP, although it is not required. 

YoungLives celebrated their 6th birthday, Love Club, and Spa Night in the new year. We are praising God for the ways He has allowed our connections in the schools to meet four new moms just in the last month. There are so many laughs and memories we could share. 

"As I reflect on this Lenten season, I am most grateful for an hour at McDonald's a week ago with a mom and her toddler. This mom gave her life to Jesus at Camp this summer and has been on the journey to figure out what walking with Jesus every day means. We met most weeks in McDonald's and have been reading through John together these last few weeks. I'm reading out loud in John 3. We get to John 3:16 and when I look up as I finish reading the verse, she is still staring at it in her Bible. I said "Have you ever heard this verse before?" and she replies with awe in her eyes, "No I haven't heard it before.". I hide my shock and exclaim, "It gets even better...wait til we get to John 3:17!!!!"  So I read it and she looks up at me with tears in her eyes because the mom who has felt condemned her whole life is reminded that Jesus didn't come to condemn the world but to save it, to save the very one who has felt too far gone, too condemned, too lost. He came for her. And He came for me. And He came for you. Nothing beats an hour at McDonald's this month."

 

YoungLives Prayer Requests

Pray for deepening relationships with the young women and their children and that our mentors continue to shine the love of Jesus into their lives. 

Please pray for our mommas who are really considering what it means to follow Jesus with their whole lives!

January and February have been a sweet time in Justice Young Life! We have opened up summer Camp sign-ups and students are excited. We just gifted a campaigner her first Bible! Students are inviting their friends to come and see who Jesus is. Discipleship is happening in every game attended, every meal shared, and in every conversation between leaders and students! Another exciting announcement is that we've added a new leader to the team -- Keziah! We are praising God for the ways He is moving and working in our midst. 

Justice Young Life Prayer Requests

Praise God for Keziah, our new leader.

Please pray for students to catch a vision to bring friends to Young Life and attend summer camp.

Pray for fruitful Contact Work to open new doors to new high school students, especially in the Freshman and Sophomore classes. 

Vida Joven continues to be full-of-life and momentum this season! Each Wednesday at Cafecito, we’re meeting new kids and building relationships that open the door for deeper conversations about life and faith. Club has been especially fun lately as we’ve watched kids begin to take ownership—inviting their friends and helping create a welcoming space for others.

We recently launched a girls' small group where students are growing in community and exploring what it means to walk with God together. Our Friday morning mañaneros Bible study (Campaigners) continues to be a meaningful time as students deepen their relationships with God and with one another.

 

We are thankful for our dedicated Vida Joven leaders who even meet via video call during lunch breaks outside in frigid temperatures!! 

 

Vida Joven Prayer Requests

Praise for God's provision in bringing Michaela on to part-time staff.

Please pray for leaders to continue to see the Lord first in all that we do, that Jesus would always be the center of our lives and that we would never be too busy to spend time with our Father! 

Also, join us as we pray for guidance and the power of the Holy Spirit in our girls' small group! 

We sometimes get asked, "What is the Young Life Committee?" We are a team of local adult volunteers—including parents, community leaders, and alumni—who provide the foundation of financial, administrative, and prayerful support for the Young Life Eastern Fairfax ministry. They are responsible for behind-the-scenes tasks like fundraising, supporting staff and volunteers, praying, and helping strategically plan for the growth of the ministry. 

We are excited to welcome two new committee members to the fold, Kelly Freeland and Fred Schwien. We are also preparing for the departure of our faithful special events power duo, Kenny and Lanita Cheung, at the end of the school term. Is God tugging at your heart to serve on Committee? Please contact our Chairperson Deborah Harmer for more information, harmer.deborah@gmail.com.

This month we held a three-year strategic planning meeting. We were filled with prayer and thankfulness for how much God has done since our last strategic planning session over three years ago. So many of our spirit-led goals have been achieved through God's blessing and provision. We ask you that you please pray for us as we finalize our vision and objectives for the ministry through 2029. 

Esther Horner, Area Director and YoungLives Coordinator (ehorner19@gmail.com)

Bella Rivas, Staff Associate (brivasyl@gmail.com)