Oak Hills Younglife has recently hit a new milestone with almost 60 students attending each bible study. Younglife is a Christian-centered youth group that includes campaigners: bible study, and club: dancing, skits, and games. A familiar name to many is Maggie McMullen, a fifth-year Younglife leader for Oak Hills. McMullen balances work and graduate studies for physical therapy at Mount St. Joseph, all while dedicating time to support and lead girls with their journey in faith. When not training for half marathons, McMullen meets with girls one-on-one for bible study, talk, or simply to offer her support. She plays an essential role in the Younglife Community at Oak Hills.
McMullen takes inspiration from her high school Younglife leader Allison Korson, who showed her Jesus and gave her a more positive perspective on things. McMullen reflects, “I noticed that there was something different about her… her being there for times that were really hard in my life, helped change my life.” McMullen became a Younglife leader herself, hoping to be that same source of light and stability for students facing their own struggles. Now, as a leader, she strives to create a welcoming space where students feel heard, just as Korson did for her.
One of McMullen’s main goals in Younglife is to be open and to create a safe sense of community. McMullen explains that it’s important for her to “break down walls in a time that people don’t like to be real and uncomfortable.” In today’s era of social media and a world that often celebrates surface-level connections, McMullen sees a growing need for spaces where students can show up as they are. Within Younglife, she has helped cultivate an environment where students can be themselves, prioritizing authenticity over appearance.
Younglife is all about making deep connections, but also about having fun. McMullen expresses, “I love being at club and dancing and seeing students going out of their comfort zones, and it’s really freeing to see that.” She embraces every part of Younglife, growing a deep connection with God to singing, dancing, and just “being silly” with the students. Outside of club, one of McMullen’s favorite events of Younglife is Fall Weekend, a retreat to Camp Kern that includes outdoor competitions, worship, and time for reflection. This fall, over 75 students have signed up, making a record number of attendees. This shows the influential effect Younglife and McMullen are having on the students at Oak Hills.
One of the girls McMullen has influenced the most is Ally Hammonds, a Junior at Oak Hills. Hammonds has been going to Younglife for a little over a year, and McMullen has already made a significant impact on her life. For Hammonds, seeing a leader who isn’t afraid to be open about her struggles has strengthened her and given her more courage in her faith and with her peers. Hammonds shares, “I can be a leader just like she is.” McMullen has touched the lives of so many girls at Oak Hills, including Hammonds, showing them that they can overcome their struggles and be a light for others in the school.
McMullen expresses deep gratitude for Younglife’s exponential growth, amazed by how much the program has expanded. She admits that she has never led a group this large before, which has brought both excitement and new challenges. She emphasizes the importance of inviting others to YoungLife, even when it feels intimidating. McMullen encourages others to push past the fear of rejection, remembering that one invitation could change a life forever. In the future, McMullen wants to continue to show others God’s light and show them that change is possible and that there are better things ahead.
