Adventure, Relationships, and Looking Ahead

Summer is one of the most exciting seasons at YOKE. While school may be out, ministry certainly isn’t. Throughout the summer, we have the unique opportunity to spend extended, intentional time with middle school students through adventures that build confidence, deepen relationships, and point them toward Christ.

Our YOKE Summer Adventures  kicked off with a leaders trip to the National Parks of Colorado and Utah.  That team and others have helped relaunch our student Summer Adventures with a full calendar of events.  Students from across several schools have already experienced hiking, paintball, and whitewater rafting together. These outings are much more than exciting activities—they are carefully designed opportunities for students to grow!

Research continues to affirm what YOKE has witnessed for decades: adventure experiences play an important role in adolescent development. As middle school students step outside their comfort zones, solve problems together, and overcome challenges, they develop confidence, resilience, and a greater willingness to take healthy risks. Experiences in nature also reduce stress, improve emotional well-being, and strengthen social connections during one of the most formative stages of life.

At YOKE, however, adventure is never the end goal.

The greatest impact comes through relationships. Every hike, every rafting trip, and every paintball game creates opportunities for YOKE Folk to walk alongside students, earn their trust, encourage them through challenges, and point them toward Jesus. Whether sitting beside a river after a rafting trip or talking on the trail during a hike, these moments often become the setting for conversations that can shape a MS student’s future.

One of this summer’s highlights has been our inaugural trip out West. A select group of YOKE Folk and Future Folk (our high school leaders in training) traveled together through four National Parks. As they stood before towering mountains, desert canyons, and vast landscapes, they were reminded to look beyond creation and encounter the Creator. The trip proves to be one of our most meaningful

leadership development experiences of the year.

We’re also anticipating wrapping up our Summer Adventures with summer YOKE Camp at Camp Bayoca (July 13–17). Camp has always been one of the most impactful events in the life of YOKE. Now, students can experience it for an entire week! Away from the distractions of everyday life, students build lasting friendships, encounter God’s Word, and experience real Christian community.

While summer ministry continues, we are already preparing for another exciting school year.

On July 13, we are honored to host our annual Middle School Principals Luncheon. This gathering allows us to thank our school leaders, strengthen partnerships, and celebrate the shared commitment to investing in the lives of middle school students. We are grateful for the incredible relationships we’ve built with our schools and look forward to another year of serving alongside them.

We’re also doing something brand new this August—our All Schools Launch Party! Rather than waiting several weeks for clubs to begin, this event will bridge the gap between the first day of school and the first YOKE Club. Students from all of our partner schools will come together for an evening filled with food, games, music, and an epic Color War. Our hope is that students will reconnect with friends, meet new YOKE Folk, and begin building relationships before the school year is fully underway.

Thank you for being part of what God is doing through YOKE. Whether you pray, volunteer, give financially, partner through your church or school, or simply encourage our ministry, you are helping create spaces where middle school students are known, challenged, loved, and introduced to the life-changing hope found in Jesus.

Prayer Requests

  • Pray for safety and meaningful relationships during Camp Bayoca (July 13–17).
  • Pray that students would experience lasting spiritual growth through every summer adventure.
  • Pray for our Middle School Principals Luncheon as we continue building strong partnerships with local schools.
  • Pray for our new All Schools Launch Party, that it would be a welcoming and exciting beginning to the new school year.
  • Pray for additional volunteers to step into ministry for the 2026–2027 school year.
  • Pray for God’s continued financial provision during July and August as we prepare for another year of reaching middle school students.

Thank you for walking alongside us as we impact middle school students by equipping passionate, faithful mentors to help them discover their identity and purpose in Christ.