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The Rotary Clubs of Weirton and Weirton Heights had the opportunity to learn about the Ohio Valley Young Life, a ministry geared toward high school youth. Kirk Wilson, area director, spoke to both Rotary Clubs about the organization and establishing Young Life in Weirton.

Wilson stated Young Life is a program custom-made for adolescents. He said Young Life is a multicultural ministry focused on young people in diverse cultural communities and those economically-depressed areas.

"Young Life doesn't start with a program, it starts with adults concerned enough about kids to go to them on their turf and in their culture and building relationships," said Wilson. "It's about loving them right where they are."

Wilson said the organization is an international, interdenominational Christian outreach program. He said young people are making hard life decisions at a younger age every day. He said adolescents are more involved in drugs, alcohol, sex, crime and a variety of other things from as early as 11 or 12 years old.

Wilson said there are a variety of activities the youth members can participate in such as camp, for which the motto is "money is not an excuse not to go," socials where young people can sing, dance and play games such as spitting crickets, and much more. He said they meet in a non-threatening area and do not go into churches because the leaders they choose to have speak with the young people and build these relationships with go into their worlds.

"Whether it be on the basketball court or a friend's house, we go to them and love them right where they are," he added.

Wilson said one of the things they discuss with the youth members is what are the doctors in their lives. He said some are drugs, sex and a variety of things and the young people are asked how it's working out for them.

"If Jesus is the doctor, the church is the hospital, then we at Young Life are the ambulance," he said, noting the church is not pushed onto the young people but encouraged after they have earned the right to be heard.

Young Life is currently meeting at the Weirton Christian Center twice a month.

For more information on Young Life visit www.younglife.org.

(Dickson can be contacted at adickson@weirtondailytimes.com)