Organizers hope to open a Young Life club in Battle Ground area

Paul Valencia
ClarkCountyToday.com

A Party with a Purpose is coming to the Battle Ground area.

That’s the plan, anyway.

Young Life is having two get-to-know-us gatherings this week in Battle Ground, with the hopes of starting a club aimed toward young people in the Battle Ground, Hockinson, Brush Prairie areas of Clark County.

“Young Life is caring adults entering the lives of adolescents, walking alongside them, mentoring them, and being there for them,” said Anthony Munoz, a Young Life leader who helps run a chapter in Vancouver. “As the relationships are built … there is a place to be together to sing songs, play crazy games, and further those relationships.”

That would be the hour or 90-minute weekly “club” meetings, Party with a Purpose.

“After the end of this wild hour … they will hear about our faith,” Munoz said. “No judgment. They don’t have to believe. If a kid ends up believing, we’re going to walk alongside them. If they don’t end up believing, we’re going to walk alongside them. That’s the heart of Young Life.”

According to Young Life’s website, “We go to kids, build bridges of authentic friendship, and introduce them to Jesus Christ.”

That’s what happened to Munoz when he was a youngster living in Coos Bay, Ore.

“It’s the place where somebody reached out and cared about me,” Munoz recalled. “That was the ministry that cared enough about my life. I couldn’t provide anything for them. For me, it just means unconditional relationships. It means, regardless of how I believe, how I feel, how I look, they’re still going to walk alongside me.”

That will be the Munoz family message at the informational meetings this week. Anthony, his wife Amy, and their two children, Pennelope and Anthony Eli, are all about spreading the word about Young Life, and making sure that all are welcome. All.

“It’s about kids who would never step foot in a church. Times have changed. Sometimes they don’t feel comfortable in churches these days,” Munoz said. “Hopefully we’ll be a place where people from every walk of life, whatever they’re into, they can go there and feel comfortable being themselves. To have a fun time, to have a great time, and to hear about hope ultimately. Regardless if they end up believing, hopefully they’ll feel comfortable around Young Life leaders.” 

The first meeting is 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dev’s Coffee Bar. The second meeting is 7 p.m. Thursday at the Battle Ground Community Center. These are hour-long events, with Young Life leaders taking questions. Young Life is for high school-age children, middle school-age children, and also has programs for children with special needs and for teen parents. 

For more information, and a short video on Young Life’s origins and the plan for the future, go to: https://bgyl.org/.

For questions, email Anthony Munoz: Anthony.Munoz@bgyl.org