YoungLife of Rockdale offers a helping hand to reach out to teenagers who might need a person just to listen or just support them in their endeavors.
This international, nondenominational Christian nonprofit program has been in Rockdale for eight years and aims to make a positive impact on kids' lives and build positive relationships with young people by going one step beyond becoming a mentor. The leaders of YoungLife support the teens by attending their extracurricular activities and meeting them where they are.

"The amount of time the leaders spend going into the high schools, going to the football games, hanging out in the crowds," said YoungLife Committee member Matt Cardoza recalling the many years he and his wife spent as leaders.
"When you're a leader, they'll look at you and say ‘do you not have friends your own age?' It's like, ‘yes I do, but we care about high school kids,'" he said with a laugh.

By spending the time and building the relationships with young people, Young Life leaders hope to share about Jesus Christ.

High school teacher Lisa Leavitt has been a part of YoungLife in Rockdale County for six years. "It truly has been most rewarding," she said. "YoungLife offers me the chance to just hang out with them as friends rather than as an adult."

Leavitt has made some life-long relationships with both leaders and students. "I have began to build some amazing relationships with kids. YoungLife is unique in its approach to presenting the gospel."

YoungLife is not only for teens but parents and other adults in the community as well. Each local area has a committee of adults who believes in the mission of YoungLife. The Rockdale committee is also in the process of finding a full time area director.

Adults can support YoungLife in a variety of ways - by becoming a volunteer leader or committee member, by attending a YoungLife fund-raising event, by hosting YoungLife or by simply telling others in the community about YoungLife and its commitment to kids.

Reaching out to the students is one of the most encouraging highlights of YoungLife for Cordoza.

Leavitt's prayer is that each student builds a relationship with adults who know Christ and can continue to plant the seeds of Christ's love in each of their lives while they struggle with growing up.

"I pray that YoungLife doesn't become a crutch for students of Rockdale County, but rather through relationship and conversation opens the door for someone else in their lives to water the seeds planted," she said. "I would love to see the people of Rockdale County support YoungLife not just financially but also through prayer and their own time. There are so many opportunities for the citizens of Rockdale to make a difference in these kid's lives."

The committee is comprised of parents, Young Life alumni and civic leaders, and provides a foundation of financial, administrative and moral support for the local Young Life team.

YoungLife of Rockdale meets at Smyrna Presbyterian Church at their Youth Building at 8 p.m. on Mondays. It is a time for the teens to get to know one another and express themselves. At this time, Young Life is seeking more volunteers in great hopes to recruit more students. They are looking forward to their upcoming Llama Ween Extravaganza in October.

For more information about Young Life visit http://sites.younglife.org/sites/Rockdale/default.aspx.