Hello Friends of Young Life!
I am so excited to be your next Area Director for Southwest Michigan Young Life! My path has crossed with many of you over my last few years as Area Administrator, but I wanted to introduce myself to the rest of you.
I was born and raised in Southwest Michigan and graduated from Lakeshore High School. I was a Young Life kid and then went on to be a volunteer leader and Summer Staff volunteer at Castaway Camp while in college. I am a donor to this area and have been on staff as a part-time Area Administrator for nearly five years. My undergraduate degree is in Broadcasting and my graduate degree is in Public Administration—after pursuing jobs in reporting and higher education, as well as staying home full-time with my kids for awhile, I found myself drawn back to this ministry that I love.
One of the greatest blessings in my life was finding faith and starting a relationship with God at a young age. It is my hope that every kid in Southwest Michigan would have the chance to hear about a great big God that loves them, just as they are. And I believe we have a great team in place that I know shares this passion for telling kids about Jesus. The last eleven months have tested us—this staff has had to find creative ways to connect with students, dream up new virtual fundraisers and continue a relational ministry during a time when close proximity to another human is hard to do!
In addition to my transition, our committee is giving Associate Area Director, Andrew Collins, some additional responsibility to lead our Finance sub-committee. Andrew came on staff just a few months after I did in 2016 and we have learned our roles alongside each other. I’m grateful for the gifts he brings to this area and to continue working alongside him.
I don’t know what the next few months will look like. I don’t know when things will get back to ‘normal.’ But I know that kids need caring adults in their lives that will point them towards Jesus, now more than ever. Thank you for continuing to partner with us—your prayers and financial support help keep this ministry going!
In this with you,
Jennifer Walters
