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You've probably never heard of National City, California. That's because this racially diverse place isn't so much a city as it is a suburb—downtown San Diego is less than five miles away.

Young Life, an organization that reaches out to students, has sponsored Christian clubs in the San Diego area for years. But until five years ago, the closest club to National City was on the Mexico border in San Ysidro.

George McClure was a high school freshman with a past he was struggling to put behind him. Then he got to know Young Life leader Christine Garde and started attending the San Ysidro club.

"I was always living in the wrong neighborhoods or being in the wrong place at the wrong time," George says. "Young Life changed my whole life. When I met Chris and became involved in the club, I found out who Jesus was."

When George's family moved from San Ysidro to National City, he knew students at his new school, Sweetwater High, faced big-city problems: gangs, drugs and crime, to name a few. George asked Chris and Young Life to start a club in his hometown. He got it. "I wanted to share Jesus with my friends," says George.

Now, just a few years later, it's not unusual for more than 30 students to show up at Sweetwater on Wednesday nights. The weekly meetings usually include food and games, but always end with a message from a speaker—a message that encourages attenders to get into the Bible, pray and pursue a deeper relationship with God.

"Young Life is about letting teenagers who want to learn about God have fun while they're learning," George says. "I think that's the best way—learn and have a good time."

Jahdai: I really like the diversity here. There are all kinds of cultures—Mexican, African American, Philippino, Samoan, Caucasian, Indian, Guamanian. It gives you insight on how other people live.

Allen: I know for a fact that Young Life would help me out if I messed up. People there are role models you can talk to about any problem you have.

Stephanie: At first I came to Young Life to play games and stuff. Now I come to learn more about the Lord.

Joe: My family doesn't go to church. But I want a closer relationship with God. Young Life is really fun, and each time the leader has a message that gets me thinking. So I'm going home thinking about my life, and the Lord's role in it, and that's what I need.

Sheva: I don't like all the gangs around here. They don't cause serious trouble, not yet at least. But they do bad things. I look at them and think, I don't want to be like that.

Marcella: Tiffany is really active in areas I'm not active in. She'll run around and play basketball, and I'll be the mental type and go sit down and watch.

Tiffany: No one else has the attitude Marcella has. She's really blunt. She'll never tell you a lie. I like that.

Marcella: Honesty's the best policy.

Adriana: If I could do anything, I'd go skydiving. Or scuba diving. Or I'd travel to Brazil or Europe.

For info on Young Life clubs, call 719-381-1800, or check out www.younglife.org.

Copyright © 2000 by the author or Christianity Today International/Campus Life magazine. Click here for reprint information on Campus Life.
January/February 2000, Vol. 58, No. 6, Page 16

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