- stamina as they balance their family life, school work, and Young Life responsibilities,
- to reach more kids through discipleship this summer,
- and that the plans and dreams from each of these leaders would come to fruition this year
A Spark That Began a Fire
A few years ago, Keylin and Ronald were pastoring a church in Palmares. Their family was walking through a difficult season of transition, and their greatest concern was close to home: their teenage sons were losing interest in faith. Youth events held no appeal, and their lack of spiritual desire weighed heavily on their parents’ hearts.
Ronald began to pray, trusting that God had a bigger plan not only for his boys but also for the youth of Palmares.
During a ministry trip to Uruguay, Ronald and Keylin met a couple who introduced them to Young Life Costa Rica. Their curiosity grew, and soon after, Priscilla, an Area Director in Alajuela, began visiting Palmares to meet with the family and a few local teens. She had been praying for guidance about where the next club should begin, and these doors opened at just the right time.
But it wasn’t easy.
Schedules were complicated, and the family wasn’t used to the Young Life model, which looked very different from what they were familiar with in church. But Pri kept showing up with her Alajuela leaders. They intentionally invested in a few potential leaders, who knew Jesus but did not know the Young Life ways. She visited multiple times with her leaders, helped lead a service project for the family and their church, and slowly earned the right to be heard from the parents but not from their sons.
When she finally presented the mission and vision of Young Life, their oldest son wanted nothing to do with it. In fact, he stormed out of the meeting.
But God wasn’t done.
In April 2024, they launched their first Young Life club on the soccer field next to the church. Kids played soccer, played games, laughed together, and then heard the message of who Jesus is and what He has done for us.
Over time, as Priscilla and her Alajuela leaders invested in the boys, something unexpected happened: their hearts began to change.
A couple of months later, they went to Young Life camp for the first time and in January 2025, they served on the Work Crew. Their eyes were opened as they watched God move powerfully in the lives of campers. They came home excited and motivated to continue the ministry in Palmares.
Keylin and Ronald have been incredibly supportive, offering their field, helping transport kids to club, and most importantly, trusting Pri and her leaders to train their sons as leaders.
What began with two teenage boys has now grown into more than 16 kids gathering every week, laughing, playing, and hearing the good news that God loves them and desires a relationship with them through Jesus Christ.
Ronald says that every week he watches teens walk into club because they want to be there. They are asking real spiritual questions, asking for prayer, and discovering who Jesus is.
His own sons have become committed, diligent, faithful leaders, eager to impact their friends and their community.
The boys in Palmares are continuing their leadership training and are growing excited not only about sharing Jesus’ love with their peers but also about making disciples.
-Bayron, a leader, is discipling Ian and his brother Matias.
-Ian is intentionally discipling three boys.
Ian, the older son, is the coordinator of Palmares. He says that Young Life has deeply impacted their lives.
At first, they didn’t understand the Young Life style, but after going to camp and seeing lives transformed, they decided to get involved. It has been a spiritual, mental, emotional, and personal challenge… but also a complete blessing for him, his family, and his community.
They have taken more than 15 kids to camp, and in January they will take another 15.
Ian is passionate about his role in Young Life discipling three boys and walking along side the leaders in Palmares.
His dream is to reach the 10,200 young people across the entire city of Palmares so they can know Jesus. He wants to bring the Word of God to every corner and impact his friends with the gospel in every neighborhood, and district.
He wants to show the young people in Palmares that a relationship with Christ will transform lives. It's not just an emotion or a feeling, but deep roots. Ian says, "We trust that God walks with us and that these dreams will be possible.”
Palmares is thriving and is getting ready to send kids to camp. Please continue to pray for the hearts and minds of the leaders and teenagers going to camp in January. May God continue to use Palmares as a beacon of hope, unity, and transformation. What began with a prayer of parents is now igniting hearts, restoring families, and leaving an eternal impact on their community. May this movement continue to grow for the glory of God and so that more young people discover the life and joy that only Jesus offers.