Young Life
In 1988, at the invitation of local Nicaraguans, Jim and Sarah Hornsby began the work of Young Life (Vida Joven in Spanish) in Matagalpa, Nicaragua by making contacts with youth through English classes and sports. At the same time they searched for adults who could build Christ-centered relationships with local youth. In 1989 a group of 15 adults formed the National Adult committee and in 1999 Fundacion Religiosa de Vida Joven was founded. In March, 2011, Holman Mendoza was appointed as the Nicaraguan team leader of the ministry.
In Nicaragua the median age is 21 years old due to underdevelopment, wars, and natural disasters. Because of this many youth have become alcoholics, drug addicts, and apathetic about their future, with neither ability nor resources to overcome their desperate situation. Nor are there sufficient organizations with the needed resources to empower these youth.
And so Vida Joven began with the purpose of helping youth accept Jesus Christ as the center of their life to the end that they would become transformed persons capable of valuing themselves and their neighbor, of surviving, growing and developing in difficult circumstances and helping others to do the same. To care for youth, Vida Joven seeks to be practical, concrete and integrated. In other words we respond to their total needs: spiritual, cultural, academic, economic, recreational and social.
Using the model of the incarnation, our approach is to contact youth where they are, in their own milieu, in their own cultural and relational language. We build a relationship and invite a young person to attend our club where they have extreme fun, and encounter the powerful message of the gospel. Our camping ministry is an extension of our club work where we invite youth to the best week of their life. Here, in the stunning mountains of Jinotega, they experience the beauty of God’s creation, opportunities to be challenged spiritually, great food and hilarious fun. For many, our camp may be the first time they have used a flush toilet or had 3 square meals. Also, for many, our camp is holy ground, for it is the place they often associate with their decision to become a Christ follower. We continue our discipleship through additional camps, local Bible studies, leadership training, and personal growth.
Our camp doubles as a working farm where we grow and sell world-class coffee—the profit of one bag of coffee goes to send one Nicaraguan youth to a camp for a day. Additionally, we have a steady stream of North American mission teams visit, who experience a deep transformation that radically affects their own churches in the states.
When we sell a bag of coffee, we are making this Nicaraguan ministry to young people self-sustaining and self-supporting. That is why we say that 100% of what we do with our coffee is to benefit young Nicaraguans, to reach them with the message of the Christian gospel, and to help them navigate through the difficult waters of a poverty culture.
Your purchase of coffee is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of Nicaraguans. As you enjoy it and share it with your friends, tell them the story of our work here with Young Life Nicaragua.