YOung Life Begins

8441 San Fernando Way Dallas, TX 75218

Once you’ve arrived or on your way there, press play on the audio link below. Feel free to scroll the information below as you listen.

LIttle forest hills & Forest Hills

The birthplace of Young Life

This was one of the first areas of Dallas to be populated by white settlers. In the mid 19th century, surveyor Warren Angus Ferris settled here along White Rock Creek with the hopes of starting the new Texas city of Warwick.

Development of Little Forest Hills began after White Rock Lake was completed in 1910 with development taking off in the 1930s. The neighborhood’s collection of wood-framed 1930s and 40s homes were originally recreational lake houses and hunting cabins. At the time this area was considered the out skirts of town. On December 13th, 1929 it was made illegal to discharge a firearm within city limits. Because of this, White Rock Lake Park was created and lakeside hunting came to an end.

The 1980s and 90s saw an influx of artists attracted to the relative affordability of the homes and the close proximity to the lake. The neighborhood soon mirrored it residents whose talent manifested in the colorful landscaping and creative ornamentation.

The Forest Hills neighborhood began developing as a village in the 1920’s starting along San Fernando Road just southeast of where the arboretum is today. The Neighborhood was annexed into Dallas in 1945.

In the late 1930’s and early 40’s, 8441 San Fernando Way (built in 1932 and pictured below) was the home of Orville and Frances Mitchell. In their backyard they had a “boy scout shed.” That shed hosted “Old Club #37” (because who wants to go to club #1) which history now considers the first ever Young Life Club. Young Life was started by a man named Jim Rayburn and several of his fellow students from down the road at Dallas Theological Seminary. The first meeting there had 8 boys and 3 girls present and Jim’s diary describes it as a “Fine time. Excellent prospects.” A few months later Rayburn described a meeting of 40 young people there as “the greatest crowd to talk to that I have ever had. Perfect attention! Oh to get out of the way so that the Holy Spirit can do a job on these kids. His own way!” The scout shed became the place where Jim could go and hang out with the young men he called “roughnecks” who really challenged him.

In Rayburn’s diary it is clear that he was a man of prayer who loved and trusted Christ with his whole heart. It is also clear that Young Life Club #37 was just like Young Life Clubs today. Sometimes amazing and sometimes difficult. On Tuesday February 10th, 1942 Jim says “The #37 meeting was the best we ever had and perhaps about the best club meeting I was ever in. The Holy Spirit was manifestly present and the whole program went over with the young people. One fellow accepted the Lord.” Exactly one month later, on Tuesday March 10th, 1942 Jim says that it was a “poor meeting at #37 tonight. Orville and Frances were there and I was very disappointed – as I had to get very tough with the kids about just silly horsing around.”

Young Life officially began in October of 1941. Orv’s brother John was one of the founding members of the board and its first chairman (he also lived next door at 8427 San Fernando). Orv’s son Bob was led to Christ by Jim Rayburn.

At 13 years old, Bob loved hearing the gospel mixed with humor in a fresh way from Jim Rayburn. Nine years later Bob joined Young Life staff. He went on to become the president of the organization from 1976-1986. He became dear a friend of Jim Rayburn. Standing at Jim’s bedside as he passed, Jim told Bob, “Mitch, don’t ever let them stop talking about Jesus.” 

Young Life started here in Texas and has grown to be an international ministry sharing the gospel with thousands of kids now for generations. Their first Young Life Camp was in tents along the shore of Bachman Lake near Love Field.

Eastside partners with White Rock Young Life as well as Lake Highlands Young Life and SMU Young Life. Our local Young Life ministry shares the gospel with kids in middle school (Wyldlife), high school (Young Life), college (SMU), teen moms (Young Lives), and special needs (Capernaum).

The Diaries of Jim Rayburn: Founder of Young Life selected and edited by Kit Sublett

It’s a Sin to Bore a Kid: The Story of Young Life by Char Meredith