The Young Life Ministry has been planted in Butler County. Mike and Emily Ambuske of Center Township are answering the call to tend the project and the lives they hope it will impact.

The couple moved here from Springfield, Ohio, after being invited to visit Butler by Mike Chilcoat, metro director for Young Life Pittsburgh.

Young Life is a nondenominational Christian ministry that reaches out to adolescents.

“We both have served as volunteers with Young Life in various capacities for the last 10 years,” said Ambuske. “We came to visit and felt clearly that God was calling us to come to Butler.”

Ambuske, 39, serves as the Young Life area director and holds a bachelor's degree in organizational leadership from Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio.

His wife Emily, 34, is currently a stay-at-home mom of four with a master's degree in school counseling from Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va., and a bachelor's degree in sociology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va.

The mission of Young Life is “introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith.”

The organization does this by providing role models who will live out their personal faith in Jesus Christ and share the message of the Gospel to teenagers. “Young Life accomplishes this by going to where teenagers are, and building relationships with them. We do not expect these kids to be perfect, but instead we love them where they are. Teenagers see that we love them genuinely, and we care about their lives,” said Ambuske.

Mike and his staff have connected with teens all around Butler.

“So far, my leaders and I have gone to football games, soccer matches, band concerts, volleyball games, met kids for smoothies at Panera, and other places,” said Ambuske.

There is an informational dessert Nov. 7 at Christ's Outreach Church,

120 Walker Ave., for people to learn more about Young Life and meet the Ambuske family.

“We want people to come and see what Young Life is all about and hear about what Young Life can look like in Butler and learn how they can actively join us,” said Ambuske.