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SPONSOR A STAFF MEMBER
Build a life-long friendship. Impact a generation.
Will you sponsor a staff member?
National staff from 5 MEA regions invite you to join them on their adventurous, often unexpected, and most definitely miraculous journeys God has placed them to reach the next kid for Jesus and impact future generations.
Will you consider walking alongside them, being their close friend, and supporting them financially and in prayer?
ARMENIA STAFF
Ani Brutyan
Area Director
Armenia
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Narek Ayvazyan
Area Director
Armenia
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gohar
Hovhannisyan
CLUB DIRECTOR
Armenia
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Vahagn
Asatyran
Club director
Armenia
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Ani has been coming to YL since 2005. During her first YL camp, she felt suddenly awakened as she heard about Jesus and what He had done for her. She couldn’t wait to tell other young people about him! Today, Ani serves as an Area Director. She works with kids and leaders, disciplining the next generation of Christ's followers. “I think my gift is building relationships with young people. I want to meet and get to know them everywhere I go.” Ani is a prayer warrior. Many kids and today’s YL leaders are a result of her answered prayers. “I’ll continue praying with the hope of seeing many young lives turning to Jesus and growing in faith.” Please lift Ani and her ministry to the Lord as she faithfully follows His steps and serves Him in important ways.
Narek is an energetic and passionate young man. He discovered Young Life fourteen years ago and has been serving in the ministry ever since. He loves serving because he loves teenagers and youngsters. “Serving is the best way to show God’s love, to invest in the lives of young people, and it’s a joy to serve Jesus by investing in the lives of young people.” Narek’s vision is to unite his teams so much so that they feel like a close-knit family. God gifted him with the ability to lead people in a unique way, which he believes is the key in his ministry. “I hope in the future we can create a strong discipleship school and raise committed leaders who will bring fresh ideas and open opportunities to reach a lot of young lives.” Narek lives in Yerevan with his wife, Lusine, and two kids. Please pray for Narek as he faithfully follows God’s calling in his life.
Gohar came to a Young Life camp for the first time in 2011, fell in love with Jesus and the ministry, and has served in the beautiful town of Yeghvard for the last ten years. She enjoys growing her team, starting new ministries, doing contact work, and discipling the new generation of leaders. “I feel happy here. Young Life gives me opportunities and tools to serve God. I also feel I have grown greatly in my ministry.” Gohar loves teenagers and is grateful to be in the place God put her in. She dreams of bringing the Gospel to every teenager in Yeghvard and opening clubs in unreached towns and villages. Gohar lives with her husband, Rafik, and two young kids. Please pray for Gohar, her team, and the dream the Lord put on her heart.
Vahagn started attending the YL College Club in 2014. Then, the word of God touched his heart deeply, and he decided to commit his life to following Jesus. As a club director, Vahagn lives in the kids' world 24/7, loving and caring for each one. He named his club Joyful to reflect the joy God placed into his heart. Recently, he started another club in one of the Armenian border villages, Vardenis. “God gave me full life, and I want to pass it on,” he says. Vahagn’s wife, Suzi, also volunteers at the club. Their mission is to make disciples who will make disciples. Please pray for Vahagn and the growth of the club leadership team.
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Central Asia staff
Alexandr K.
National Director
Central Asia
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Vlad P.
National director
Central Asia
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Iryna G.
Field staff
Central Asia
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Darya O.
Field staff
Central Asia
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Alexander was born to a young mom who was addicted to drugs and alcohol and was raised by his ailing grandparents. His teen years were full of foolish mistakes. At the age of twenty, he remembers feeling completely hopeless. But despite it all, something inside him desired a new start. The turning point came when Alexander came across a local church. God touched his heart, and he decided to follow Jesus.
The following year, Alex started serving in the youth ministry. When Young Life came to town for camp, Alex volunteered to help. He instantly connected to how Young Life served youth and saw his calling to the ministry. Alex and his wife, Julia, who also serves in Young Life, live in Astana with their young son. Your prayers and support are invaluable as they continue to reach the next kid for Jesus and raise the next generation of leaders.
Vlad was raised in the city of Tokmok in Kyrgyzstan. When he was eight years old, his father died, leaving him, his younger brother, and his sister with their mother. Vlad was left as the head of the family, helping his mother, who had three jobs, to support the kids. They went to church every Sunday, and despite the situation, his mom grew in her faith. Vlad joined her at church to please her, although he knew he would stop going as soon as he turned 18. But then, one day, he was invited to a Young Life camp, and he was smitten. When he returned home, his heart was on fire, and he wanted to start Young Life in his city. God helped them assemble a team and start the ministry in 2012. A profound revelation came to Vlad after that first club when he heard God saying: “How can you change others without changing your own heart?” That’s when Vlad decided to commit himself fully to the Lord. Today, Vlad and his wife, Nurkiyal, who also accepted Jesus through the Young Life ministry, live in Tokmok with their 4-year-old biological and a 14-year-old adopted daughter. He enjoys playing basketball and soccer, fishing, skateboarding, and sharing Jesus with the unbelievers. Please pray for Vlad as he seeks God’s voice and reaches the next kid with the good news of Jesus.
Irina was born and raised in Ukraine, the youngest child among her three siblings. When she turned 10, her parents made a difficult decision to send her and her sister to an orphanage. From then on, her life drastically changed, with her parents getting a divorce, her mother re-marrying, and her father passing away. But God didn’t leave Irina. She learned about Jesus and His sacrifice at the orphanage and accepted Him as her Lord and Savior when she was 18.
Since then, Irina understood the importance of sharing the Gospel with teenagers. “I see my calling in guiding young people. As the Scripture says: ‘Train up a child in the way he should go.’ It brings me great joy to witness the transformation in teenagers' lives, hear their first prayers, and listen to their testimonies. Each day, I see the value in serving them, and when I look around and see that there are still young people who are lost, it makes me want to serve even more so that God can come into their lives and bring them salvation.” Irina currently lives and serves in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. Please pray for Irina and her deep yearning to share God’s love with the next generation.
Darya (Dasha) believes she’s been a Young Life kid since she was born. Her parents, who were Young Life leaders, took their children to every club and camp, surrounding them with love and care. But it wasn’t until Dasha turned 14 that she made a conscious decision to follow Jesus. A year later, she sensed a calling to the ministry of Young Life and became a helper at a local club. At 17, she became a volunteer leader, sharing the love of Jesus with the teens in her city. Looking back at her journey, Dasha is convinced that ever since she was born, God has been preparing her for the Young Life ministry, developing her leadership qualities and ability to work with people. Today, Dasha serves in the city of Almaty in Kazakhstan. She has a team of volunteer leaders and a yearning to lead them well, nurturing, training, and helping them in every way she can. She is passionate about sharing the Gospel with the teens and seeing God working in their lives just like He has worked in hers all these years. Please pray for Dasha, her continued spiritual growth, and wisdom in raising the next generation of leaders who deeply love the Lord.
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The Far West Staff
Stacy Agapieva
Capernaum Director
Moldova
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Natasha Pascal
REGIONAL ADMINISTRATOR
The Far West
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IVAN V.
National Director
The Far West
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Ted Siceak
National Director
Moldova
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Although Stacy grew up in a family of non-believers, she always felt there was a God. She spoke to Him on different occasions and sensed Him answering her prayers. When Stacy turned 17, she started attending church, where she met Ted and Lena Siceak, Moldova’s Area Directors. They invited her to Young Life, an invitation Stacy at first met with skepticism. The Young Life crowd was too wild and crazy – how could it be about God?! But the experience Stacy had at the Young Life camp the following summer changed her heart and mind forever. She then knew her place was in this ministry. She became a part of the DGL program, received a university degree, and started Capernaum – the ministry to kids with special needs in Chisinau. “Working with these kids is like entering a different world. It enriches you beyond measure. We continuously pray for physical healing and the repentance of the entire families.” Please pray for Stacy as she pours her heart into the lives of kids and their parents and for the provision of this important ministry.
Although Natasha grew up in a family of unbelievers, she always knew there was a God who cared for her. But it wasn’t until her high school friend invited her to club that she felt His tangible love and presence. She loved everything about Young Life: the people, the leaders, and even the messy games she thought she would never participate in. Club talks were Natasha’s favorite – that’s when the Bible came to life for her! Shortly after, Natasha asked Jesus into her life, joining the team of leaders and becoming a student in the Developing Global Leaders program. “It is so rewarding to see God answer kids’ prayers and change their life’s paths,” she says. Today, Natasha serves as a Regional Administrator for the Far West Region. Born and raised in Ukraine, she and her husband recently moved to Norway with their six-year-old son, Alex. Together, they are learning Norwegian and are volunteering with Young Life Nordic. Please pray for Natasha as she continues to faithfully serve God and provide crucial support to Young Life in the Far West.
Ivan is a youth pastor, a dad, a husband, and a brother. He is an Area Director in Vitebsk, Belarus, where he spends most of his time working with local teenagers, leading club, taking them to camp, and teaching the Word. Sharing the gospel and witnessing hearts and lives being transformed is something that Ivan finds most rewarding in his ministry. He loves seeing smiles on kids’ faces when they share their victories and achievements with him. Ivan’s home is always open to kids, who come by for a quick dinner, ask questions, or get a break from the busy teen life. He is dearly loved and respected among the kids and their parents, so much so that the kids call him “Uncle Vanya.” Please pray for Ivan as he disciples the next generation of leaders and points the next kid to Jesus.
Ted was born to an ordinary, hard-working family in Chisinau, Moldova. In high school, Ted played handball for the national team of Moldova, and he thought his future would be all about this sport. But in 1995, the group disbanded, and Ted was left searching for a new life. That was when Ted was invited to a Young Life Club and met the Lord there. He says, “Jesus has filled my life with meaning; He is my Savior and best friend.” Ted served in the army, graduated from Bible seminary, and began volunteering with church youth. In 1999, he felt called back to the Young Life ministry. Currently, Ted is the Area Director of Moldova. Since 1999, the ministry has expanded, reaching kids with special needs through Capernaum, as well as the Romani communities in the city of Soroca. Each week, hundreds of kids meet at a wonderful Young Life Center in Chisinau for club and Campaigners – the unique meeting place secured and remodeled by Ted and his committed team of leaders. Please pray for Ted as he follows his calling to share the Gospel with every kid in Moldova.
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Russia staff
Sergey Petrenko
Area director
Russia
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Eduard (Ed) Shulga
Area Director
Russia
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Sergey Zhdanov
Area Director
Russia
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Evgeny Pisarev
MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT
Russia
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Growing up, Sergey was fond of wrestling. Little did he know that the wrestling club he joined as a young teen was a part of the Young Life sports club ministry. Shortly after, he was invited to a Young Life club, and six months later, he became a follower of Jesus. Twenty years passed since that first club, and Sergey hasn’t missed even one! Today, Sergey serves as an Area Director in Crimea. The ministry has grown exponentially since he and his family moved to the area three years ago. “Seeing kids’ hearts and lives change right before my eyes is my biggest inspiration,” he says. With the war occurring in and around the region, Sergey continues to pray for peace and for God to spare the existing clubs. His big dream is to continue bringing the good news of Jesus to kids in the entire Southern regions of Russia, in the cities of Sochi, Rostov, Stavropol, and the Caucus region. “Doing ministry is not always easy,” he admits. But I must remind myself and my team that our work is not a sprint. It’s a marathon. And that everything that we do, we do for Jesus.” Please pray for Sergey, and for God’s provision, protection, and guidance over the ministry.
Sergei was born into a non-religious family in Uzbekistan. According to tradition, he was baptized in an Orthodox church as a baby but never attended church afterward. He spent his childhood primarily in the streets while his mother worked to support her two children single-handedly. By the time he reached fourteen, Sergei had a criminal record. But God saw Sergei and had a different plan for him. When he turned fifteen, he met a group of people who invited him to a movie. After watching “Jesus,” something shifted in Sergei’s heart, and he started looking for opportunities to gain more understanding at the local church. When he heard about a Young Life camp being held in his area three years later, Sergei didn’t hesitate. What he learned during that week at camp astounded him: the Gospel wasn’t boring! It was alive, and it set his heart on fire! Soon after, Sergei responded to God’s calling and moved to Moscow. After five years of serving as a volunteer leader, Sergei took on the area director role in 2009. Please pray for Sergei’s wisdom and discernment as he navigates a highly challenging political and social environment in the largest Russian city.
Evgeny's (John) introduction to Young Life happened at a local wrestling club when he was twelve. Young Life leaders who organized the club took him under his wing, introducing him to Jesus. In 1999, John went to his first Young Life camp and decided to follow Christ. God continued opening doors, and several years later, John came on staff and became an Area Director for the Krasnodar region. He served in this role for 15 years, but in 2024, God placed John on a new path. As an Area Developer of the Southern Region, John seeks opportunities to open new clubs and create new ways to reach teens. “I’m deeply grateful for everything that happened to me. I feel blessed to serve in this ministry alongside my wife and kids, who are now learning to lead and share the Gospel with their peers.” John’s wife, Elina, whom he met at a Young Life club, provides administrative support for the Southern area of Russia. Together with their four kids, they live in Krasnodar. Please pray that God continues to open doors in the area and gives John the guidance and wisdom He needs to invite more teens into a relationship with Jesus.
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Ukraine Staff
Anna Turchinska
College ministry coord.
Ukraine
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Tetiana Nasedkina
regional administrator
Ukraine
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Bohdan Bilinskyi
area director
Ukraine
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Volodymir
hrychorchuk
Area Director
Ukraine
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Anna loved going to the Young Life club in her hometown, Chernivtsi. But when her leader invited her to the summer camp, Anna realized she couldn’t afford to go. By some miracle, Anna got a scholarship and was on her way. She has never felt more accepted and loved than during that week at camp. Afterward, Anna decided to join the Capernaum team, serving teens with special needs for the next six years. Anna felt a strong calling to start college ministry when she entered the university in 2013 as a DGL student. The first college club in Chernivtsi and the entire Ukraine was held in 2016, with other universities joining shortly after. “My great passion is for students – I want to know their hearts, thoughts, challenges, excitement, pace of life. My dream is to have Young Life on every university campus.” After receiving her Master’s in Philosophy, Anna joined the Young Life Ukraine staff as the College Ministry Coordinator. She and her husband currently live in Chernivtsi. She loves books, dogs, deep conversations, and people’s souls. Please pray for Anna and her journey with Jesus as He allows her to share His love with university students.
When Tetiana was just a young child, she lost her parents in a car accident. Her aunt and uncle, both non-believers, took her into their family and raised her. One summer, when she was seventeen, Tatiana discovered the Young Life camp. That’s where Jesus touched her heart, and she invited Him in. She’s been a part of the Young Life Ukraine family ever since. Although Tetiana currently manages numbers and creates reports as a Regional Administrator, she still loves working with teenagers. “I love serving at camp because there I witness teenagers choosing the life with Christ.” Tetiana’s favorite way to spend time is somewhere quiet, alone with God. She loves the outdoors and always enjoys taking a trip outside her hometown. Please pray for Tetiana as she serves in the key administrative role and continues to discover Jesus and the path He has prepared for her.
Bohdan heard about Young Life from his classmates, who invited him to club. He loved everything about it, and when it was time for winter camp, he packed his bag and joined his friends. That was the week when Bohdan decided to dedicate his life to Christ. He was sixteen. When he returned from camp, he continued to go to club, never missing even one! During that time, Bohdan always dreamt about an opportunity to work for Young Life, and one day that opportunity became a reality. As a leader and a Regional Director of Central Ukraine, Bohdan loves carrying out God’s commission and seeing growth in his disciples. “Seeing the Kingdom of God spreading and impacting our country and the world is amazing.” With his wife, Bohdan dreams of having his own house and a dog one day. And in his spare time, he enjoys running, walking, and reading. Please pray for Bohdan as he disciples the next generation of leaders.
Volodimir grew up knowing about Jesus. As a young teen, he even went to the Young Life club. But as he became older, peer pressure got the best of him, and he walked away from the Lord. When he was 18, his old Young Life friends invited him to camp. Volodimir decided to go, although his heart was set on stirring trouble. Instead, something shifted in his heart during that week, and he became a child of God. After that camp, Volodimir immediately joined the Young Life ministry. Today, Volodimir serves as an Area Director of Western Ukraine. Driven by his passionate desire to share the Gospel with kids, Volodimir is tirelessly pouring into his team of leaders. He dreams that leaders from different denominations and churches would come together one day in unity and love for Jesus and teenagers. Please pray for Volodimir as he disciples the next generation of leaders.
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