Young Life is a club at Fresno State that reinvents what it means to live life how Jesus intended. If you thought they just sat in a circle with their noses in the Bible, you’d be mistaken.

“At Young life, our focus is creating space for students to find three main things: adventure, community, and significance,” said Ben Boelter, the college director for the Young Life Fresno State chapter. “If students come to Young Life, that’s what we’re going to give them, or we’re going to help them find that for themselves.”

Young Life was founded in 1941 in Gainesville, Texas, by Jim Rayburn, a youth pastor with a heart for students who didn’t go to church. He started meeting students where they were, in schools and homes, creating a space where teens could explore faith and feel loved regardless of their beliefs. This became the foundation of Young Life, a place where all students are welcomed and valued.

Adventure

When you first enter the meeting, you’re instantly greeted by their volunteer leaders. There’s music playing, students laughing and rounds of cornhole happening before the meeting has even started.

You’ll know when it’s time to start when you see Boelter walk to the front of the room and tell students to grab a slice of pizza and take a seat while they begin their first order of business: the icebreaker.

Young Life meets every Wednesday at 8:01 p.m. with most meetings taking place in the Resnick Student Union (RSU). Club events are usually around an hour to an hour and a half long. Along with weekly meetings, they also host larger events like dances and trips, offering students more ways to bond and get involved.

This coming weekend, the club takes their annual Fall weekend trip to Woodleaf on Oct. 18-20, a camp located near Chico. This trip brings together other Young Life groups from places like San Jose, San Luis Obispo, and Santa Clara. It’s a chance for everyone to have fun and build connections with new people.

“It’s what we do here at the club, but it’s a lot more fun just because there’s more groups going,” says volunteer leader, Maddox Weng. “It’s a very nice campsite so there’s going to be plenty of stuff to do there.”

Transportation will be provided, so students won’t have to worry about arranging rides themselves. For those who prefer to drive, carpooling is encouraged, and gas expenses will be reimbursed. The camp experience will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner, ensuring that all students are well taken care of throughout the event.

Community

Everyone gets up on their feet and turns to the person closest to them. For this icebreaker, students are paired up into teams of two and face off in a game of head, shoulders, knees and cup. Who doesn’t love a bit of friendly competition?

The crowd quickly explodes into cheers as the game concludes. Boelter grabs his guitar to keep the energy up. With a strike of a cord, everyone sings along and enjoys a live performance from their campus advisor.

Young Life develops a strong sense of community for students by creating a welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone under 28 years old can connect, even if you’re not religious. Through events like dances, camps and weekly gatherings, students have a place to build meaningful relationships with one another. Jaselle Camilling, a volunteer leader with the club, who first joined as a freshman, shares her experience

“Coming into college, it was my first day and I met Ben Boelter, tabling,” Camilling said. “I didn’t really have any friends coming in so I was very nervous. I didn’t know what to expect, you know. I was 17 years old when I started college so I was really nervous when I talked to Ben.”

Most of the members who joined Young Life have a similar experience. The club can be seen almost daily in the Free Speech Area of campus where their club booth sits among many others. Its bright red color stands out and you can often find students inside, happy to answer any questions students may have.

“He invited me to one of their welcome week events. From there I met my people. I really connected with them and then I became a leader during my Fall semester” Camilling said.

The club also has an Instagram which is the best resource to see updates on their next meetings or to find videos and photos of their events. This is also a great place to reach out if you have any questions. If students ever need a ride to the event, you can DM the Instagram and they will set you up with a ride.

“If you feel like school is really hard for you and you’re really struggling with your homework and stuff, this is a great place to escape and learn about God and find some people to help you with whatever you need,” Weng said.

Significance

Boelter trades in his guitar for the Bible, except he isn’t lecturing. He tells his own personal story and connects it to a story he has chosen to share with the group. Everybody sits and listens intently.

He then turns it over to the students who have gathered in small groups. Volunteer leaders are sprinkled in as students take turns sharing their thoughts on the story and how it made them feel. While students are encouraged to share, they are never forced to add to the conversation if they don’t want to.

“I’ve been a part of Young Life for two years and as a leader, a year and a half,” Weng said. “We add friends, community and God into people’s lives. We try to add some knowledge about His life and about how you can experience stuff like Him.”

Young Life is an interesting form of youth group. For students who are practicing Christians, the closest experience you had growing up was attending youth groups, and as the stereotype goes, it was either the best or worst experience ever.

“I grew up in youth groups and I don’t actually love them, so I try to make Young Life a place for people who don’t enjoy going to youth groups,” Boelter said.

Young Life prides themselves on bringing college students the opportunity to explore their relationship with God while fostering long lasting friendships, without the awkwardness.

“Young Life to me is a space where I can live life with God and also be myself and have fun,” Camilling said. “I met such fulfilling friendships in my life that I wouldn’t even be the student I am today without that. I definitely love Young Life with all my heart and I think it’s one of the best things I’ve done at Fresno State.”

As soon as the interview was over, the Volunteer Leaders instantly went up to students and joined them as the meeting came to a close.

“Look at all these conversations that are happening,” Boelter said as he pointed to all the students still here even though the meeting had ended. “Where else would people just come together to talk and hangout and socialize like this. You might go to a football game and you’re with your people, but it can sometimes feel unsafe. Here you’re going to be safe… it’s why we have volunteer leaders to have eyes for our people.”

If you’re a student currently looking for a club, then you may want to consider this one. If there’s one thing that’s for certain, it’s that Young Life can be that escape that’s different from the rest of your life.

“It fulfilled my relationship with God,” Camilling said. “I may be busy, but Young Life is one of the top priorities on my list. I just have to be here.”