Discover Young Life Capernaum

We have been blessed to work some amazing church and with para-church ministries for a long time. During those years, most of that time was spent with students and their families (Jay), or with young moms and little kids (Amy). And we have loved every minute.

In June 2019, Jay began a new role as the Director of Family Ministry, at a church in West Virginia. It was another new season of ministry as we moved the family, joined an exciting church, and began to forge new relationships. But this new season of ministry also came with a brand new ministry opportunity. 

​​Let us introduce you to Young Life Capernaum! As per the Capernaum website, "Capernaum is about creating ministry spaces where teens and young adults with disabilities can meet Jesus and grow in their faith!" In October of 2019, Amy became the Ohio Valley Young Life Capernaum Coordinator, overseeing the leadership of a wonderful group of students and leaders.

​Ohio Valley Young Life Capernaum (OVYLC) had been gathering for a number of years. Led by a tremendous group of volunteers, OVYLC, has reached a number of students and their families. But the time had come to begin a new chapter of ministry in the Ohio Valley, and that meant bringing in someone who could lead the group into the "what's next."

It didn't take long for the ministry of Capernaum to become a family work. During those early months in 2019 and 2020, (pre-covid) Jay, Aiden, Asher, and Breya, all jumped in to help. Within those first few months, we were all hooked. Then Covid hit.

In March of 2020, like so many other ministries or organizations, OVYLC was forced to go online. Our group met regularly on Zoom for a little over year. We played games, sang songs, shared Bible lessons, learned our memory verses, and watched as God grew this amazing ministry. Yes, he grew the ministry.

Believe it or not, in the midst of Covid, OVYLC actually grew! We welcomed new students and new leaders. By the summer of 2021, we were finally able to begin meeting again in person! (With some restrictions and precautions, of course.) It was incredible!

As the year continued, we navigated the final months 2021, with patience and hope. We continued to add a few more students, buddies, and leaders to our growing Capernaum family. We were thrilled to see how God had not only sustained the ministry, but blessed it with growth and faithfulness. As we wrapped up 2021 with an incredible Christmas party, we paused to celebrate and give thanks for all that God had accomplished.

2022 began, and we couldn't wait to get back with our Capernaum friends. However, due to an increase of Covid cases after the holidays, we decided to take January as a planning and training month. We postponed our January club dates, and instead focused on creating our theme, scheduling out the year, and holding some training for our leaders. It was time well spent.

On Saturday, February 19th, we welcomed our friends back for an exciting afternoon of games, silly songs, crafts, worship, a Bible lesson, and fun! It was a great evening, and a great kick off for the new year! 

Our theme this year is, LOVE ONE ANOTHER! Our memory verse for the year is from, John 13:34, which reads, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another." (ESV)

Throughout the year, we will look at what the Bible teaches us about love, and how we can love others well. We can't wait to see what God will do with our Capernaum friends as they show us how to love each other.

At this point you might be thinking, why are we sharing all of this? Well, we would love it if you would partner with us as we serve these amazing students!

​One of the responsibilities we have as Capernaum leaders, is to raise awareness and support for our Capernaum group. As church leaders, we have worked with the local church for over 30 years, and in all of those years, we've noticed an absence of students and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. While Amy and Jay had both worked with students and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities through our experiences with camping ministries, we often wondered why there wasn't more ministry opportunity within the local church? It wasn't so much an obvious avoidance of the need as much as it was simply an unknown or unrecognized need.

But as we were introduced to the Capernaum ministry, we immediately knew that this was a ministry that not only did we want to be involved with, but we also want to help churches recognize the need and the opportunity to minister to families, students and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. So that's what we are doing!

We would like to invite you to partner with us as we work to grow not only our local Capernaum ministry in the Ohio Valley, but to join us in helping churches throughout West Virginia, begin and lead their own Capernaum ministries. 

How can you help? Great question, so glad you asked!

The first step to partnership is by joining our monthly email newsletter called, Capernaum Monthly. This email based newsletter goes out each month and shares important news and updates; everything from our monthly club recaps, campaigner updates, information about what's happening in the Ohio Valley and West Virginia, and ways you can help the ministry grow.

Second, pray for us and our Capernaum Club, friends, and their families! This is so important. Your prayer support helps us reach students and families, as God moves through your prayers.

​Third, become a financial supporter. As the leaders of the OVYLC, we are responsible for raising both the working budget and our salary for our local club. As a financial supporter, your gifts allow us to reach more and more students and young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities, provide for them monthly club meetings and activities, summer camp scholarships, and future staff and leadership development and training. 

As a partner, you will receive regular updates, pictures, and video of all the fun and ministry of Capernaum.

If you would like to be a OVYLC Partner, we would love to talk with you. Just complete the short contact form, and we will reach out to you to set up an opportunity to share with you how your partnership and investment will impact Ohio Valley Young Life Capernaum and throughout West Virginia.

If you would like to know more about Young Life Capernaum, or if you are in West Virginia and would like to see about starting Capernaum in your area, reach out to us using the same short contact form below.

We are looking forward to your partnership in 2022 and all that God will do for our students and their families! 

In His Grace,

​- Amy and Jay