Will Wyatt
September 2, 1928 – January 27, 2017
Will Wyatt was truly a pioneer in Young Life. Along with his wife, Betty, he purchased the property that became Wilderness Ranch, and also helped start Young Life’s Silver Dollar City Discipleship Experience (now known as Discipleship Focus).
Since 1952, Wyatt wore many hats in the mission: head wrangler at Frontier Ranch, volunteer leader, area director, committee member — just to name a few.
After purchasing the Lake Cliff Dude Ranch near Creede, Colorado, in 1970, the Wyatts dreamed aloud with Bob and Claudia Mitchell about introducing kids to wilderness camping while also training them up in their faith. Young Life soon began adventure camping at the newly named Wilderness Ranch, which still provides kids with life-changing experiences today.
Later, the couple felt the Lord leading them to develop a program where students could live in community, study the Word and live out their faith in a paid work setting. The Silver Dollar City amusement park in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains proved to be ideal for the endeavor.
In 1977, 30 college students began the inaugural program, serving at the park while learning deep biblical truths from the Wyatts and others. The results were obvious. “It is one of the best leadership training experiences I’ve ever seen,” said Mitchell, Young Life’s president at the time.
Please keep Betty and the entire Wyatt family in your prayers. A memorial service was held on Saturday in Escondido, California, and there will also be an open house celebration of Will’s life and ministry at Notch Pines in Branson, Missouri, on April 29.
