We're There

The following is something written by Denny Rydberg, the President of Young Life.

By now, most of us are very aware of one of the latest shootings on a high school campus. This time it was a horrific situation at Marysville-Pilchuck High School not far from Seattle. It’s also not far from my hometown of Anacortes, Washington. In fact, Marysville High (the only high school at that time) was a rival of ours, and I played against the guys from Marysville on numerous occasions. Now some of the kids, grandkids and the community of these former players have been deeply affected by what transpired there a few days ago.

Young Life is involved with the kids at MPHS. Long-time regional director, Mason Rutledge, and his family, live not far from Marysville. And the Rutledges reside very close to the hospital where victims were transported. Mason and other staff and volunteers have ministered to the medical staff who have been battered by what they’ve seen, as well as to the kids, their parents and the community. Tyler Marcus is our volunteer team leader at the high school, and I’ve been in touch with him. In addition, a former staff member of ours is tied closely to the families who live there, and she has been very involved in reaching out to those who are hurting. Brent Schwartz is a Young Life staff member assigned to the navy base close-by in Everett. MPHS has military dependents who go to school there.

All those mentioned, and dozens more from Young Life and many, many caring adults from churches and other community groups are coming alongside kids and parents and comforting them. They are praying and helping kids see the love of Jesus in the midst of the tragedy.

The tragedy and our involvement at Marysville-Pilchuck High has impressed on me even more that whenever trouble of any kind breaks out, our Young Life staff and volunteers are nearby making a difference. The Ebola crisis in Africa has taken the lives of some of our leaders and kids, but regional director James Davis and his team have worked around the clock in Liberia and Sierra Leone to reach kids. Young Life donors have put together an emergency fund to help us keep going there. The war between Ukraine and Russia has made an impact on our outreach to kids in both countries, but we have two outstanding regional directors who live in the Ukraine — Sasha Utkin and Sergey Romanyuk — and we have continued to serve and love lost kids in that war-torn place.

Whether floods in the Philippines, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, storms crashing into the East, or horrible shootings on campuses, we are there. And, Lord willing, we will stay!

I am so sorry for the hurt in this world. I am so thankful that the Lord has put us there in the midst of the pain. I am praying with you that God will give our staff and leaders the courage, compassion and energy to continue to serve faithfully and well. May the peace, presence and power of the God of the Universe continue to break through the darkest nights!