What we're doing: Imagine if...

Imagine moving to Germany as a 14-year old kid. You know nobody, have no friends and your parents make you go to an international school where your classmates are completely different than you. You might have friends back home, but the eight-hour time difference would make it hard to connect. Now imagine that there are no Scouts, no youth groups, no Boys and Girls Club, no YMCA, and club sports are for those that are only for the athletically gifted. How difficult would that be! What you would need is a friend. Not just any friend, a friend that gathers others together, has a ton of fun but simultaneously is interested in you and real issues that you are facing. This “friend” is called a Young Life leader—an intergenerational friendship that is modeled after the person of Jesus Christ. In reality, Meg and I are doing nothing new; in fact, Young Life has been doing this now almost 80 years! We are showing up in the world of kids, entering their turf, earning the right to be heard, and telling them about their worth as a child of God.

Meg and I are in charge of the International Schools in Munich, Germany where there are over 2500 kids. These kids are third-culture kids—kids that are in a weird limbo stage between their home culture and the culture they find themselves living in. Talk about being pulled in every direction! What gets us so excited about working with these kids is that we not only get to mentor, but they in turn help us learn and grow in ways we could’ve never imagined. The ability to be curious of other cultures is an incredible way to build up Cultural Intelligence (aka CQ, a growing proficiency for every major industry). This curiosity will make us better learners and listeners which in turn will help us become better leaders, no matter where in the world we go.

What does this intergenerational friendship look like on a weekly basis? Here are some examples: chaperoning school functions, inviting kids over to our house for after school tacos, asking them to share their culture, coaching sports, getting together for coffee, helping out with homework, substitute teaching, sharing a Bible story, hosting a board game night, going through a book in a small group, or even putting on a good old American Thanksgiving. All these are ingredients that help build a thriving community with Jesus Christ at the center of it all. This might not sound like much at first glance, but this way of living has had profound impact on my life, so much so that I have dedicated my life to get the opportunity to share it with others, especially those who might need it the most.