Young Life College, New York, Equipping Future Leaders
New York, NY
One emerging leader can help an entire generation of young people discover hope, belonging, and the love of Jesus in New York City.
Every young person benefits from a caring leader who understands their story. Nysiem found that leader through Young Life, where he encountered Jesus and has now discovered a calling to ministry. Your vote will equip him through NextGen Leaders, Young Life's national two-year leadership development program designed to prepare diverse Christian leaders for lifelong Kingdom impact. Through spiritual formation, leadership development, cultural competency, and practical ministry experience, Nysiem will be equipped to serve students who share his journey. One transformed life today becomes the beginning of many more, creating a leadership pipeline that will continue reaching young people with the hope of Jesus for years to come.
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The opportunity
Every day, thousands of first-generation college students across New York City balance long commutes, demanding work schedules, family responsibilities, and the pressure of creating opportunities their families have never had. Many are searching for purpose, belonging, and someone who truly understands their story.
For Nysiem, that search led to Jesus.
Raised in a Muslim family, Nysiem encountered Christ through Young Life at City College New York (CCNY). Since then, he has faithfully shared his faith, served on summer staff, and continued pursuing God's call to ministry. Now he is ready for his first opportunity to work part-time with Young Life and invest in students at CCNY who face many of the same challenges he navigated himself.
This investment would equip Nysiem through NextGen Leaders, Young Life's national two-year leadership development experience created to recruit, train, and deploy emerging multiethnic leaders who are called to make a Kingdom impact with college students from diverse communities like in New York City. Participants grow through four integrated areas of development: Young Life Essentials, Cultural & Ethnic Identity Development, Personal & Professional Development, and Theology & Spiritual Formation, preparing them to serve with both cultural competence and Christ-centered leadership.
Like Nysiem, 60% of New York City college students are first-generation college students, and 82% remain in New York City after graduation. 60% of students involved in Young Life College had no previous Young Life experience. Those numbers represent more than demographics—they reveal an extraordinary opportunity during the college years to develop leaders who will remain in their communities, build lasting relationships, and introduce future generations of young people to Jesus through Young Life. The opportunity is about far more than preparing one leader. It is about growing leaders who reflect the communities they serve so that more young people experience authentic relationships, discover their God-given purpose, and encounter the hope of Christ.
The plan
To invest in Nysiem as a college student while preparing him for long-term ministry through the two-year NextGen Leaders program, providing part-time work, leadership development, mentoring, and practical ministry experience.
Expected outcomes
Nysiem's completion of the 2-year NextGen program will include:
- 150 new college student contacts will be made.
- 10 students will attend Young Life College camp.
- 5–10 students will connect to a local church.
- 5 career leaders and 5 college leaders will be recruited to lead club, campaigners, camp, and implement a summer discipleship program.
“When students see someone who shares their story following Jesus, they begin believing it's possible God has a purpose for their own lives.”
Vote for Young Life College and help raise a leader whose story will inspire hundreds of young people to discover hope, belonging, and an invitation to know Jesus.