Advice about my Sister... anyone familiar with Young Life?

[palabravampiress]

Hi, all.

Does anyone here have any experience at all with an organization called Young Life? If so, can you tell me a little bit about it?

My little sister, who is 20, has been involved in Young Life since she was a Freshman in high school. I left home when she was in eight grade, though, so most of her involvement has been sort of a mystery to me. I found it confusing and offputting, but it seemed harmless enough. I was a Girl Scout when I was a kid. My sister was a Young Life kid. It seemed like the same kind of organization, but with a focus on religion instead of on skill-building, so I was not too worried. I didn't like it when, on one visit, she told me I was "going to Hell." I didn't like it when, after she attended Bible studies, she couldn't clearly describe the lessons she learned. Still, I figured it was none of my business. When my husband and I attended my sister's sixteenth birthday party, we were concerned by the presence of older Young Life people - married adults as well as college students. My parents assured us that the club was, like many youth organizations, just a way to keep young kids out of trouble. Young Life seemed strange to me, but I figured that was because I am not a religious person.

I didn't think about it much until recently. My sister is now 20 and in her second year of college. I am surprised to find that she is still in Young Life. I am even more surprised to find that not only is she in Young Life, but she's been asked to become a leader. This is a serious commitment. She has drifted away from her best friend. She has broken up with her boyfriend of 2 years (also an up-and-coming Young Life leader) in order to devote more time to God and to Young Life. She no longer has time to visit home. When my parents asked if they could go visit her, she she provided only a very narrow window of time between Young Life events. She schedules her classes and her work around Young Life. She even wants to live in her college city instead of her home city this summer so that she can hang out at the pool and other areas so that the kids to which she will be assigned get used to her presence. She is also supposed to hang out at her assigned high school at dismissal and other times. It seems like Young Life is taking over her life, and that makes me worried.

I thought the organization was like a Christian Girl Scouts, but now it seems far less benign. Twenty-year-olds should not hang out at high schools in order to attempt to form relationships with 15-year-olds. In fact, I think that might be illegal. College students should not be encouraged to schedule their lives and classes around one club, to give up healthy interpersonal relationships for the club, and to change their summer living arrangements to suit a club. This behavior seems cult-like and destructive. What I don't understand, though, is what the organization gains by doing all of this. As far as I know, no one has asked my sister for money, except as needed to pay for summer camp. Am I overreacting, then?

What do you guys think? I am worried about my sister, but I'm not sure whether or not my fears are well-founded or how to approach her. Have any of you had experience with this organization? Can any of you shed some light on why one club might take all of a college student's time?

 

[Joyce Summers]

I've only heard of it, but beyond that I don't know very much. It always seemed to me, like you said, to be Girl Scouts Christian style. But I understand your concern- it does sound as though your sister is cutting off all ties to allow more time for this Young Life thing.
A cult is described as anything that takes over a person's life and results in them cutting off all ties- which seems to be pretty much what is happening here. However, as I only know a little bit about it, I can't say whether this is actually a cult-like organization.

It is well-known though that extremist Christian organization do tend to end up completely dominating the members' lives, especially if they enter the group at a young and/or influential age and that does seem to be what has happened here.

My only advice is look into it further, do your research. Googling as simple as it seems may come up with a lot answers.

 

[Kean]

I am not familiar with this organisation but I am involved in youth leadership programmes and youth ministry workshops here. Honestly I think you may be right to be worried. These leadership programmes, if designed correctly, are to give a kids the qualities needed to get the most out of life not to have their lives focused one thing. They are MOST DEFENITELY NOT supposed to be cultish, which is what this seems to have the makings of.

As regards the school thing. That is a big no no. A leader is not supposed to be alone in the same room with a student, never mind hanging around their school. A leader is not supposed to engage any type of interaction with the kids outside the programme unless the student initiates it, and even then it's sorta frowned upon. There is a whole slew of Child Protection Issues that are to be observed at all times.

The laws may be different in the States but alot of what you described sounds very iffy, and I know a few of them would never fly here.

Youth leadership is supposed to be something enjoyable and worthwhile. It should NEVER have control of your life. I would take SCT's advice and do some research. See if you can talk to past members, anyone who thought it wasn't all above board.

Also have a talk with your sister. See if maybe there is a reason why she is retreating into this so much. Is there something she is trying to get away from or is she just being pulled in.

Good Luck.

 

[alexa]

Sounds like you're in a difficult spot. I would also suggest talking to her.. and maybe trying to expose her to other things, so she might eventually have an open mind and not be so judgmental of different people.. if she is. Like Keanoite said, maybe there is a reason she feels so comfortable with Young Life.

 

[Vicariously]

I have feeling your sister feels that she is dedicating her life to God and spreading his word and good teaching threw this organization. I doubt talking to her would do much good but you could try and I am quite confident that that is what she will tell you. Young Life seems to be a group of radicals...please don't get me wrong I think religion can be an extremely positive thing in a persons life but I think alot of times they allow themselves to become brainwashed and it becomes their sole focus on a daily basis. I have a hard time believing your sister is as happy as she may seem...I would try to guide her in another direction...I am guessing she attends church? Try to convince her that it might be better if she bacame a youth leader within the church and distance herself between the organization, explain to her that as much as "God loves her" that you can hardly see him wanting her to give up her chance at a successful future in college and isolate herself, explain that if she feels his word is so important to share that secluding herself to only this organization limits her ability to share it with the ones she loves. Talk to your family see if they would be willing to devote time to listen to her and engage in religious conversations with her...not saying they have to agree with her but maybe if she talks to others NOT part of this organization and hears their views on the subject she might second guess some of the teachings and explore more on her own and what SHE believes vs what the organization believes. Hope that helps hun.

 

[anyatara]

I've never heard of that orginisation, but this sounds really bad. I know of people who've lost friends and stuff but not about anything like that. Have you tried, like, searching the internet about it?

 

[palabravampiress]

Thanks for your input, guys.

I actually googled the organization before I posted here. I found some examples of people raising the same concerns. I found one claim of molestation but, then again, every youth organization is likely to have at least one such claim. I found their website most informative, as it did clearly state their intention of reaching kids "on their own turf" in order to proselytize to adolescents. Furthermore, their statement of Faith worried me because it declared the Old and New Testaments "the final and supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct." Final? Supreme authority? Similar extremist vocabulary was used throughout, for example: "incapable of a right relationship to God apart from divine grace" and "The only Mediator between God and all human beings is Jesus Christ our Lord." That seems to promote a very narrow worldview that does not exactly coincide with the radically inclusive example set by Jesus Christ, whom they claim to follow (as I understand that example, anyway). I also talked to my roommate, who went to a meeting or two when she was in high school and left with a bad taste in her mouth. Right now, I'm just sort of looking for information.

I was involved in a lot of non-profit type organizations when I was younger. I am actually a Lifetime Member of the Girl Scouts, although I'm no longer an active one. I headed up most of my college campus' community service organizations, including heavy involvement in and leadership of Habitat for Humanity and Relay for Life. This Young Life thing seems different, though. Even when I took on leadership roles in those groups, the required commitment of time was not such that I was unable to have outside interests. In high school, I had an active dating, social, and work life outside of school and scouts. In college, I had a boyfriend (who eventually became my fiance and then my husband); I maintained friends, family, and work connections, I was involved in non-service oriented clubs and events (like work, rock climbing, writing contents, and student government); and, although I had my share of difficulties just like anyone else, I can honestly say I had a full and happy life on a variety of levels. I was a very involved, active young lady. I was the kind of kid (and then young adult) who was well-known by students and staff alike. Even so, no one club ever demanded so much time, attention, or devotion that I felt the need to reorganize my class schedule, end relationships, or change living arrangements.

I think I'm going to try talking to her, but I'm not sure what to say. I live roughly 2000 miles away, so it's not as if I can really try to expose her to different things in a hands-on sort of way. I'm also not a Christian, so I'm not sure she'd listen to my concerns in that arena or give them any more credence than she gives my usual stance with regard to religion (my usual stance, by the way, is that religion is fine -- if you keep it out of politics). The only thing I'll say now is that Mom told me my sis doesn't want to come home to her usual summer job, family, and friends because she wants to hang out with her assigned high school kids. I think I will question that - like how she intends to earn money for college over the summer while paying rent and other bills. I think a non-judgmental approach that focuses on practical questions like these might be best. That way, I won't be attacking her religion; I'll just be questioning whether or not she can afford this altered plan of action.

What do you think?

 

[Blondie Bear]

When I was a Junior in high school, my family joined a youth group which was heavily involved in "ministry"; they had a little variety show (songs, skits, etc) that they'd perform at churches and (when allowed) schools. It seemed perfectly benign, and a great way to keep kids busy, and for the most part it was. But if you started to dig, it wasn't so harmless. Most people were kicked out at 18 unless they became leaders (and there was only room for so many leaders), so a lifetime thing wasn't as much an issue as this Young Life thing. But while in the group, any romantic relationships had to be approved by the leadership. Dating couples were purposefully kept as far from each other as possible during meetings, and public displays of affection were absolutely banned. At the same time, dating someone outside the group was frowned on, and dating a non-Christian completely disallowed. Any disagreement with the leader (who was a psychologist with his own clinic) was met with a stone wall and a distinct impression that YOU don't know anything, that HE was always right, and that YOU had better just shut up. And God save you if you didn't get along with his children.

For those that didn't become intimately involved with the group, it was a great social experience. For those of us who DID, however, it was kind of creepy. I escaped when I moved, but my mom is still involved.

 

[palabravampiress]

Yeah, Blondie Bear, my mom is concerned with the dating aspect of things, too.

Like I said, my sis recently broke up with her boyfriend of two years. He had become quite the part of the family. He was/is friends with my mom. He went to family holidays, birthdays and events, and when my parents were out of town, he even stopped by to walk the family dog. They both said the breakup was mutual and they both cited Young Life and God as reasons. One of them (the guy) even said they prayed about it and talked to people "more wise than they" (or something along those lines).

What you're saying about dating relationships also rings true, Blondie Bear. Young Life rather severely condemns sex outside of marriage (making it one of their main messages, as I understand it, even though it's not one of Christianity's main messages), so my mom thinks that might have something to do with it. She thinks they may have separated so they won't take that step. How could they tell high school kids to wait if they didn't? Of course, neither have said that directly. But it still worries my mom, who would much rather see her daughter sexually active in a healthy romantic relationship than in some kind of a cult. Also, when my sister was in high school her group of friends (Young Life people) were very judgmental of her for dating a non-Christian from another school and of the recent ex for kissing a girl without a formal "going out" agreement. Basically, they had/have all kinds of strict dating rules and stuff that I didn't really understand. From what little I know of their dating culture, I'm sure I would have been drummed out. lol.

 

[Vicariously]

be prepared for the answer Amanda that "God will provide for me" and "I dont need possesions" or soemthing of the like...Good Luck Love!

 

[Blondie Bear]

While I don't know your sister, from my experience, the only way you're going to get her out of there is if she willingly steps out. I'm an individualist. For awhile, my individuality was subsumed to the greater Christian whole (I was raised that way; it's hard to get around your raising) but when I started to think for myself, I saw how ridiculous that whole thing was (not the Christian thing, but that group thing) and got out. Something similar will probably have to happen to your sister. And then she'll spend some time floundering around trying to figure out what SHE believes as opposed to what's been implanted in her by the group. It won't be pretty. That's when you'll really need to be there for her. She'll need a strong person to help her get back on her mental and spiritual feet while she figures out what she wants and who she is, especially since the majority of her formative years were spent in a cultlike environment. But unless she decides to reject their teachings and leave on her own, there's really nothing you can do.

 

[Kean]

Blondie Bear is right, your sister will only move away from this organistaions if SHE wishes too. I'd wager they probaly have coached their members on how to deal with 'non-believers' so to speak. I think your sister will be very much prepared for any criticisms you have about the group. To me this group seems to specialise in emotional abuse. From what you have said about them and your sister's behaviour I think they are doing more harm than good. perhaps you should look for help of some sort, someone who has dealt with this kinda thing before, a mediator of sorts. God knows this has happened before, their has to be help out there.

I could ask around here, I have alot of connections with youth groups, they might know what would be the best plan of action to help your sister.

 

[VisionGuy]

I used to be into church during my teenage years. From personal experience, a lot of these leaders are good at manipulating people to think they are doing God's work by cutting themselves off and and dedicating all their time to the ministry. I agree, that the only way she is going to let this go is if she leaves willingly.

 

[Nabila]

First of all I agree this is a cult. It always makes me sad, as a mother and a human being, when I hear about young lives being taken over by an organisation. Young hearts must run free.

I also agree with Keanoite that a mediator who is experienced in this sort of thing is your best course of action now.

Now if that doesn't work, you might have to use your creative talents. I think we all agree that confrontation with her is not an option. Maybe you can show an interest in her activities there in a very subtle way of course. If you all of a sudden appear over eager she will know you're spying on her. You have to build a new relationship with her based on your sincere concern, and gain her trust. This way, if she is ever troubled by anything in that organisation in future, she might just confide in you. It will be a longer process but at least she will be in your life. I think you know what I mean. You can only fight for your sister with love. Well, that's just a suggestion, and I really hope you will eventually find the answer that will help.

 

[palabravampiress]

See, here's what I don't get: if it's a cult, then why aren't they asking for any money? What do they gain by recruiting members just to believe what they teach and spread the message to kids? I'm worried about my sis, but I'm not 100% sold on the cult idea because, even though I can see it having a destructive influence on my sister, I can't see how her altered lifestyle benefits the leaders of the group. I mean, what's the point?

That's the confusing part. Girl Scouts had a point. It wanted to teach girls skills and, through those skills, it wanted to teach them confidence. It was a feminist organization designed to teach girls to depend on themselves in situations from basic survival to the boardroom. Confident, competent, caring girls would become confident, competent, caring women capable of protecting and promoting equality of the sexes. Habitat had the goal of building quality affordable housing by trading labor for labor instead of labor for dollars. Relay for Life wanted to raise money for cancer research. The film festival that I helped to coordinate wanted to provide prize money to and pad the resumes of deserving student filmmakers. To see merit in any of those organizations, I had to agree with some sort of moral philosophy. I had to agree that girls were as capable and as deserving as boys. I had to believe that families deserved affordable, quality housing. I had to believe that cancer research was important. I had to believe that resume padding was important. Even with those beliefs at their cores, though, those organizations all had real-world results. Green space was preserved. Houses were built. Research and films were funded. I don't understand what kind of real world results Young Life achieves just by swaying young people to its way of thinking. What's the end goal? What good does it do to have people devoted to it?

 

[Kean]

They may not be a cult but they are definietly manipulating people's emotions.

 

[Vicariously]

think about it this way Amanda SOMEONE has to funding their activites....they dont neccessarily have to be asking for money from the actual members but they are somehow raising it...even their website (I was curious and decided to do some reasearch) asks for donations...an organization only gains noiorty by popularity...the key their is membership. Not all cults are in fact money based, alot of them are religious, this one being one of them. Perhaps the creator of the group has some wealth to gain but it wouldnt surprise me if their soul purpose is about becoming a religious mass. I dont think the people in the group neccessarily look at their participation as being "cultish" at all. I really think they look at it as devoting themselves to God threw the organization and are taking on the organizations beliefs and passing them on, they just well...they are just going about it the wrong way, they are going about it the radical way. (staking out highschools is in my opinion stalkish...they probally are trained at picking out "lost souls" people that would be easy to manipulate into believing the things they teach are true. They may think they are building self esteem but they are tearing it down by convincing their members that their way of life is wrong, selfish even. Those that are the "leaders" have fully started to believe that what they are teaching is the truth! The organization holds something much more powerful over your sister than money,they hold a promise of redemption I am guessing. They are holding FAITH over her head. And they have probally taught her to fear the very power she loves so much, they also probally have her scared of disapproval from the organization as she views it now as disapproval from God. I hope she realizes that while her religion and faith is very powerful she to is powerful...and that she see's that she IS capable of standing alone.

 

[nerd4hire]

Have you seen this one Palabra?

Cult Education Forum :: Destructive Churches :: Young Life?

The second poster claims to have been involved with the organization, and goes in depth into how things are run.

 

[nerd4hire]

Slayer Comma The - The Linky is not working

That's strange. It works for me. Oh well, he you go.

I agree that Young Life is a cult in the sense that it encourages separation from the outside world, implies that all other types of Christians are inferior, and practices mind control, although I know that some people take offense at the term. Some definitions of a cult don't fit, but that doesn't mean the organization is benign. I think that Young Life is organized in an irresponsible way that allows ill-intentioned or misguided people too much access to our children.

I was involved with Wyldlife in the early 90's, Young Life as a "campaigner" (someone who attends the Bible study meetings and recruits others) in the mid 90's, and as a leader in the late 90's and early aughts (quit 2001). I think it's fair to say that I am familiar with the organization and how it works.

1. Young Life's goal is to get kids to "accept Christ." YL often touts the statistic that "3/4 of all people who will accept Christ will do so by the age of 18." Therefore, they focus on middle and high school aged teenagers.

2. Young Life's leaders are told to "win the right to be heard." This means to befriend teenagers with the intent of converting them.

3. Young Life explains to its leaders that they must attract the popular or second-tier popular students to Club (the so-called fun night which is a cover for proselytizing) because then the less popular kids will want to attend, thereby maximizing return for effort. (I attended a leader training conference two times, and both times a ladder was drawn representing the tiers of high school groups, with popular athletes being at the top and alternative/goth kids being at the bottom, and the second tier was circled for emphasis).

4. Young Life leaders "disciple" Campaigner kids so that the Campaigner kids will be the worker bees in the school. When they are ready, they are then encouraged to disciple other students who are "younger in Christ," and to continue the cycle, resulting in further recruitment.

5. Campaigners are encouraged to pray and read the Bible every day and to have an "accountability partner" with whom to share secret failings and sinful thoughts. This process leads to mind control.

6. Campaigners feel pressure to bring "unsaved" people each week, especially people who have never before attended YL.

7. There is a tenuous relationship with churches. Although YL says that it works with churches and encourages church attendance, the accepted viewpoint is that all students who have not attended YL are considered unsaved until they prove their zealousness or begin attending YL. Kids get the impression that this is the only way to be a Christian.

8. The pinnacle of the YL process is attending camp. Most kids are not going to experience a desire to convert during a ten minute talk crammed in somebody's living room. Camp is designed to play on emotions -- eliciting excitement and revelry one minute, and then catharsis and release the next. There is at least one talk per day, then time to reflect and share with one's group and leader one's questions. After the most intense talk yet at the end of the week, students are sent out with the instructions not to talk for twenty minutes and to search their hearts and see if they want to let Jesus in. They then return to singing and clapping and are encouraged to share the news that they have converted. Now these new converts will enter the ranks of Campaigners and begin recruiting more students.

YL claims that very few adults can be converted (with the explanation that satan or pride has hardened their hearts), so they focus on minors. As a teacher, I know that critical thinking skills are not developed until the late teens. I believe this is the real reason that YL focuses on this age group. They are in the black/white stage of thinking in which they want answers and for the world to make sense. Later they will be more comfortable with ambiguities, but at this point, they will have already developed checks in their thought processes to discourage questioning.

YL encourages former YL kids to become leaders as early as the second semester of their freshman year of college. They are told to go where the kids are -- to walk the halls of school, go to the mall, play basketball on the school court after school. They are told that they are ambassadors for Christ, when really they are kids themselves, barely able to do their laundry. While most have good intentions, it easy to imagine how a 19-year-old could end up being a poor role model.

Each area (usually a county) has an area director, a paid staff member. It might even have one or two paid interns. These people must raise most of their salary from churches and fund raisers. Each area also has a committee of parents who oversee the goings on to whatever level they desire (they are volunteers, after all). Unlike a church where the staff members range in age and duties, Young Life leaders tend to be in their twenties (although those who choose to make it a career can be older) and tend to excel at acting like a teenager. They spend most of their time with teenagers and other leaders. There is not much of a reality check, and there aren't many examples of "real grownups" to emulate.

And now for my own personal experiences with Young Life:

My sister who is 7 years older was involved when she was in high school. She took me and my mother to a family weekend at a Young Life camp when I was 11, and took us to a Billy Graham crusade when I was 12. After her encouragement, I accepted Christ at the crusade and felt relief that I wouldn't be going to hell. My sister is now a minister in a liberal church and does not believe in evangelizing others or hell.

In middle school my involvement was minimal and most of my friends were Jewish (protestants were in the minority in my town -- I was the only WASP in my elementary school class). In high school, perhaps because all of my friends had their "groups" -- Hebrew School, Indian Cultural Society, etc. -- I ditched my former friends and became a zealot for YL. My freshman year I was "discipled" by a sophomore. My 23-year-old leader told me that satan was attacking me when I confessed catching a bit of a porno as it came through in patches in a hotel and liking it. She made me memorize verses for use in fending off satan's attacks.

By my sophomore year I was an old Campaigner pro. I befriended people with no friends -- the new girl who needed someone to show her around, the overweight girl who ate alone in the courtyard at lunch, etc. -- and brought them to club and, ideally, camp. I led Bible studies among my friends. When a friend stopped having "quiet times," I emailed her a Bible verse every day.

In my zeal I felt that I had to be perfect. As a strong-willed person, I managed never to curse, never to drive above the speed limit, never even to kiss the boy I dated for over a year. Still, I felt unworthy and guilt-ridden, and I confessed unkind thoughts to others. Despite my desire to draw others in to my worldview, I think I scared them away by my extremism.

After fifteen years of working for YL, our area director left to get a job that made real money, and there was difficulty finding a replacement. A 23-year-old intern, John Baldino, was given the position. John encouraged fanaticism and total commitment to Young Life. He also, it later came out, was molesting teenaged boys in our group.

A friend attended one of the churches that competed with YL to attract kids to its evangelistic programs. His parents were on the YL committee. A boy who was a member of their church told church leaders that John had molested him. I am sorry to say that police were never involved and the church and YL handled this matter privately. The church withdrew its support of YL and my boyfriend's parents quit as committee members. Thanks a lot for leaving us alone with this jerk!

The remaining committee members told John that he must never be alone in private with kids. He disobeyed them, and I saw him wrestle inappropriately with boys and give girls messages while straddling them (perhaps in an effort to prove to us that he was not gay?). I told parents of friends on the committee about this, and they quoted a Bible verse about how no one can have darkness in him and walk in light, but they did agree that John's days at my school were done and had him assign somebody else as our leader. Later I found out that right before his wedding (yes, that's right, he's married with children now), he confided in a high school senior who was the closest thing that he had to a friend that he struggled with homosexual urges. Just the fact that he would confide in a high school student is so, so wrong.

Then, 7 years later charges were brought that he had molest 7 males over the past 8 years. After the charges came out, 3 more males came forward. Who knows how many more are out there. You can see his picture on the New Jersey Sex Offender registry [http://www.state.nj.us]. In the news articles after his conviction (received only probation), John was quoted as apologizing for "anything that went on." He couldn't even phrase his apology in the first person.

I don't blame YL for John turning out to be a molester. I do blame YL for having very little accountability. After high school, I moved a few states away and became a leader my freshman year. The 40-something area director and I ran YL at this one school, while other leaders led at a few other schools in the county. I'd say the area director put in about 5 hours a week running our club and campaigners, whereas I put in 10 to 15 and was an unpaid, full time college student. But you should have heard the moving, amazing stories of teenagers lives whom he had claimed to help when we would have a fund-raiser. I was always like, "Who is that kid supposed to be? Must be someone from 10 years ago." He wasn't doing anything criminal, but he had no accountability, and did very little work and purposely misled donors into thinking he was doing a whole lot more than he was.

I don't have enough bad things to say about Young Life. From its obvious preference for all white, all protestant affluent schools (excepting Urban Young Life, but just the fact that it has a different name and different week at camp belies the segregation therein) to its focus on the second tier of popular kids in a school to its manipulation of emotions over the week of camp, Young Life has flown under the radar for too long.

Parents, just because the leaders seem nice and encourage your kids not to drink or do drugs doesn't mean that YL is benign. The leaders may be telling your kids that they need to cast out demons or confiding in them as though they are friends. No one really knows what is going on there except for the kids themselves, and they don't have the judgment to know when somebody who is the ultimate recruiter -- somebody with the "wisdom" of an adult but who acts "cool" -- their leader, does something inapproriate. And we have to ask ourselves, what kind of an adult wants to spend 10 to 20 hours a week trying to pick kids up in the library or getting pied in the face to the hoots and cheers of a bunch of teenagers? It may be someone with good intentions, or it may be someone who is getting some sort of validation or inappropriate excitement from interacting with your children.

Cult Education Forum :: Destructive Churches :: Young Life?

 

[arabella]

Alright, I feel bad because I haven't posted in a LONG time and for that reason almost none of you know me enough to respect my opinion...but here it goes.

When I was in High School and at University, I was involved in Young Life on and off as a student and in some leadership and organizational roles. That said, at this point I am probably the MOST agnostic person you will ever meet. The organization is really harmless. It provides excellent opportunities for people your sister's age to engage themselves in community service and outreach. Yes it is a religiously focused organization, but is no more a cult that your average evangelical church or other religious club like campus crusade for christ or something like that. They are interesting in that instead of just beating you over the head with !yea GOD! Jesus Loves You! they organize activities that are actually fun for youth (concerts, sports activities, etc.) and build mentoring relationships that help youth get into pro-social, community focused activities during free time that may be negatively used otherwise. I found it to be a positive experience for everyone that was involved. Yes some people got really into the whole religion thing as a result, but the benefit of the positive activities out weighs any religious indoctrination.
At the end of the day, it all comes down to your sister's freedom to believe whatever she wishes and your freedom to choose to disagree. Both can do so respectfully and if she is really getting Young Life's message she should always focus on building a relationship with you and being positive and "christ-like" over trying to get you to conform to some religious dogma. Fortunately your sister is enrolled in University and it makes sense to me on a psychological and developmental level that she would choose to stay in her college town during the summer. Sure she will do Young Life related things but probably is also enjoying asserting an individual identity (and doing her own thing apart from the watchful parental eyes). I know many people that stopped going home in the summer because college is fun and the clubs, activities, etc., that are offered in the town are great experiences.
In my most sincere opinion, Young Life is not a cult (unless you consider all religious organizations cults--which is not incorrect by definition) and will not harm you sister in a lasting way. Rather, it will provide enriching experiences that will leave her community focused regardless of whether she continues to believe that Jesus is the ultimate solution to all things. Colleges also have the tendecy to teach people to think more critically and examine personal beliefs, which may effect her religious beliefs (either she will decide that she disagrees with some things, entirely disagrees, or will continue to feel strongly and be able to support her decision in a critically thought out manner).
I do not regret my experience with Young Life and think that it helped make me more focused on the community, even though I am not a really religious person. It taught me how to set up and get involved in a variety of service activities (not necesarrily sponsored by religious organizations).

Hope this is useful or at least sensical.