For youth pastors & pastors
Send one of yours for a year.
You have prayed for them, taught them, challenged them, and walked with them through some of the most formative years of their lives. But after graduation, many students need more than a next step. They need a strong step.
Direct answer
What is Cross to Life, in one paragraph?
Cross to Life picks up where youth ministry often leaves off, giving young adults ages 18–28 a year of focused discipleship, real-world work experience, biblical community, mentorship, and service at Pine Valley Bible Conference Center in the mountains east of San Diego.
What kind of student is a good fit?
A student who...
- Recently graduated high school and isn’t sure what comes next
- Is considering a Christian gap year before college or career
- Is taking a break from college
- Has leadership potential but needs more formation
- Needs structure, responsibility, and mentorship
- Wants to live in Christian community
Students can return home with:
What changes by the end
- A stronger foundation in their faith
- A deeper understanding of Christian community
- Greater maturity and personal responsibility
- Real work experience and practical life skills
- A clearer sense of direction for the future
- Stronger habits of service, discipline, and humility
Why youth pastors recommend Cross to Life
Questions youth pastors often ask
Is this affordable for my student's family?
It's more than affordable — it's paid. Unlike most gap year and Bible school programs, Cross to Life pays participants $12,000+ per year, plus free housing, daily meals, and transportation, in exchange for a $100/month training fee. Cost shouldn't be the reason a student you believe in doesn't go.
We are not replacing your ministry
Cross to Life is designed to build on the foundation already laid by families, churches, youth pastors, and mentors. Our desire is to help students grow in faith, develop maturity, and become better equipped to serve Christ wherever God leads them next.
Will students stay connected to church?
Yes. Church involvement is part of the Cross to Life experience. Participants attend a local evangelical church together as a cohort each Sunday. The goal is to strengthen a student’s connection to the body of Christ, not replace it.
Can I refer a student directly?
Yes. If you have a student in mind, you can encourage them to apply, or contact the Program Director to ask questions before making a recommendation.
What happens next
How a referral actually works
- 01
Reach out or point them to Apply
Contact the Program Director directly with questions, or have the student apply on their own — either works.
- 02
The Program Director follows up with both of you
Curtis connects with the student and, with their permission, keeps you in the loop as the referring pastor.
- 03
Stay updated during the year
You're welcome to check in throughout the year — this is a partnership, not a handoff.
- 04
They come home — stay a resource
When the year ends, you're still their pastor. Cross to Life is a season within their story, not a replacement for it.
What "partnership" actually means
A relationship, not a contract.
There's no formal legal partnership agreement to sign, and no cost to your church. What it actually looks like: you refer or point a student toward Cross to Life, the Program Director keeps you reasonably informed if the student agrees, and you stay their pastor the whole time — Cross to Life isn't trying to become their church, just to strengthen their walk with Christ for a year in community with others doing the same.
If your church wants something more structured — regular updates, a standing relationship across multiple students over multiple years — that's a conversation worth having directly with the Program Director, not something built into a one-size-fits-all process.
From a partner church
Cross to Life didn't try to replace what we'd already built with our students. It gave the ones who needed it a year to actually live out what we'd taught them.
For your ministry
Resources for pastors
Two things pastors ask for most. Request either directly — Curtis will send it personally.
Parent Conversation Guide
A short guide for talking with a family that's unsure about a gap year — the real questions parents ask, answered directly.
Request This ResourceA Message Outline on the Graduation Cliff
A pulpit-ready outline on why students drift after high school, and what a church can actually do about it.
Request This ResourceWe'd be glad to talk it through
Have a student in mind?
Parents, students, and youth pastors are welcome to contact the Program Director with questions before making a recommendation.
Email Curtis