As
Young Life moves FORWARD, it is propelled by a commitment to deeper
discipleship, greater diversity and richer unity within the body of Christ.
Naturally, this work brings us together with our Catholic brothers and
sisters throughout the world. Right here in the United States, God is doing something truly special in the Northeast, home to more than 25 million
Catholics. Inspired by the prophet Isaiah, Nathan Gunn sees Young Life and the
Catholic Church working together to “rebuild the broken walls.” “If we can walk
alongside each other to rebuild the broken walls of young peoples’ lives and
restore our cities,” he recently said,
“then count me in.”
Nathan
Gunn has served on Young Life Staff for over twenty years. He lives with his wife Tammy and two sons in
DeWitt, a suburb of Syracuse, New York.
For the past ten years, he has partnered with Holy Cross Church, a local
parish that shares the mission of Young Life in a Catholic context. While Nathan serves as the Associate Regional
Director for Young Life in Central New York, his ordination into the permanent
diaconate of the Catholic Church in 2016 provided a quantum leap in his ability
to build bridges between Young Life and Catholics today. Serving as Deacon within the Catholic Church
places emphasis on proclamation of the Gospel, service and solidarity with the
poor and those in need while also placing Nathan on the altar for much of
Catholic liturgy.
Young
Life and Holy Cross’s shared ministry and mission have allowed them to have a
deeper impact on middle school kids through Wyldlife while also taking over 600
kids and adults from their community to rural El Salvador in a shared mission
experience. This has led to the start of
Young Life ministry in El Salvador along with a host of other blessings to
Young Life and the Church. Each week,
more kids than ever hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the unity and cross-pollination
that exists between Young Life and Holy Cross as leaders and adults work
together to reach kids.
Starting
in January 2017, Nathan began to work formally in YL-Catholic Relations with a
focus on the Eastern states. The fruit
of Nathan’s work has already provided a wonderful witness to his ecumenical
calling. A relationship is being built with the Springfield Diocese of
Massachusetts that could have major impact on the quality and depth of youth
ministry in the entire state. In late
January, YL staff manned the first-ever Catholic Confirmation Retreat at Lake
Champion and the feedback from kids and adults was enormously positive. With a Catholic population numbering in the
millions within a 3-hour radius of Lake Champion, using this property as a
venue for Catholic retreats is both good stewardship and an amazing opportunity
for unity and collaboration.
Nathan
is also helping forge a relationship between Young Life and the Archdiocese of
New York. This winter, Paul Coty (Regional Director on NYC) and Colin Nykaza
(Director of Young Adults Archdiocese of NY) met with Nathan to begin a plan of
engagement where Young Life and the Archdiocese could begin to cross-promote
one another’s ministries and create a pipeline for much-needed Catholic
leadership within the mission of Young Life.
John
Wagner, Senior Vice President of Young Life’s Greater New York Division, has a
particular interest in Nathan’s work and the broader movement of Young
Life-Catholic Relations. He recently noted:
The Catholic Initiative may be one of the most
important things we do here in Greater New York. It is said that Long Island,
almost 3 million people, is 80% either Catholic or formerly Catholic. That’s a
lot of people. Jersey, Connecticut, the city – particularly the immigrant
population – are all hugely Catholic. I couldn’t be more excited about Nathan
and his leadership in the Eastern states.
At
the heart of Young Life is the desire to see every kid hear the Gospel of Jesus
Christ through the means of a trusting relationship with an adult. As we begin to look Forward in Young Life, engaging with like-minded Catholic adults
who share our mission and dream of reaching kids is at the forefront of
Nathan’s calling and passion. Please help me welcome Nathan to the Catholic
Relations team and celebrate his work of bridge-building in the kingdom!
Deacon Nathan Gunn, Associate Director of YL-Catholic Relations, Eastern States
Nathan can be reached at
gunner721@gmail.com.
