want more info on how to get invovlved? click the ministry links below!
YOUNG LIFE(HIGH SCHOOL)
WYLDLIFE (MIDDLE SCHOOL)
CAPERNAUM (HIGH SCHOOLERS WITH DISABILITIES)
YOUNG LIFE COLLEGE
YOUNG LIVES (TEEN PARENTS)
Does it matter?
4 out of 5
Young Life participants
consider Young Life and its leaders to be a significant influence on their faith.
94%
of volunteer leaders and staff
with Young Life would overwhelmingly recommend their leadership experience to a friend.
GRANT ZELLER
AREA DIRECTOR
Grant Zeller has been on staff for over 10 years with Young Life, serving in Abilene and Albany. He is currently serving as the Abilene Area Director, and is a Young Life leader at Wylie High school. Grant grew up in Abilene, graduated from Abilene High School, and attended Abilene Christian University. Grant loves the city of Abilene and the Big Country, and has a heart for kids and adults in this community. He is married to Emily, and they have a beautiful daughter, Libby, a son, Jack, and another son arriving very soon!
LAUREN OWEN
WYLDLIFE DIRECTOR
Lauren Grizzard is starting her 7th year of being involved with Young Life in Abilene. Lauren has spent her time being a leader at Wylie High School and leading college small groups. In May of 2021, she went on part time staff with Young Life to restart WyldLife, which is Young Life for middle schoolers! Lauren grew up in Midland, and attended Abilene Christian University where she received her Bachelors and Masters Degrees in Social Work. Lauren loves Abilene, and looks forward to continuing to give back to the community that has done so much for her. She loves middle school and high school kids, and believes there really is no price too high to pay to ensure that young people have the chance to know Jesus.
SYDNEY GRANT
COLLEGE DIRECTOR
Sydney joined Abilene Young Life full-time after serving as a Young Life College volunteer. She grew up in Abilene and then attended Baylor University. After living in Dallas for a few years, she made her way back home to Abilene in 2024. Sydney has a passion specifically for college students. She feels called to create a space for them where they know they belong, while sharing Christ with them as they navigate life in college and learn to discover who God is and who He created them to be.
AMY COCHRAN
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Amy grew up in Abilene, and graduated from Abilene High School. After college at Texas Tech University, she and her husband, J.R., found their way back to Abilene. J.R. is one of the lead pastors at The Well and they have three sweet and busy boys, Tom, Ben and Joe. Amy is grateful for the opportunity to enable and empower the staff and leaders of Young Life with tools to help them do the work of Jesus with excellence.
MAX BLOOMER
STAFF ASSOCIATE
Max spent 5 years as a volunteer with Abilene Young Life while he completed his Bachelor's Degree and began Graduate School at Abilene Christian University. In August of 2024, Max joined the full-time staff with Young Life in Abilene. He spends most of his time at Abilene High School and with Capernaum, which is Young Life for our friends with disabilities. He loves to be involved in the lives of students in Abilene and to have the opportunity to be in relationship with and love them, so they will know the love of Jesus Christ for themselves!
