Serving God and Their Community
By Renée R. Roth
Mike Wolbrink and Jody Younger live to serve. From the military to the marketplace and their ministry, they believe in God’s perfect plan for their lives.
Mike and Jody co-own Younger Gunworks in Le Center, Minnesota. A major facet of their mission is to teach people how to own a gun, and the importance of being an innocent party in any conflict or confrontation through de-escalation techniques. They encourage people to take personal responsibility for their attitude and actions, and to change their perspective on using a potentially lethal weapon.
Some customers drive a couple of hours to Le Center, passing by their competitors, so they get the hands-on experience Mike and Jody provide. They partner with police and sheriff departments to train and provide service weapons. They are currently working with one of the school superintendents to build a STEM course to teach students about using laser technology. Add in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and the Head Start summer programs and they cover all ages in a variety of ways.
Their store includes a unique business aspect owing to Jody’s creative nature (laser engraving, Cerakote and gun tattoos), so you can customize your firearm or any other item you have. They also create custom gifts and memorial keepsakes to honor special people in your life. When they opened the shop in 2023, Mike and Jody decided it was important to become part of the community, so they expanded their ministry in addition to expanding their business.
They host a weekly Bible study and started supporting a local police officer and his brother who created a mental health support group for law enforcement professionals called “Brothers in Law”. They are active in the American Legion which is the social center of Le Center (pop. 2,500) and support organizations like 4H and His Haven Ranch that provides equine therapy for children. Add in the hunting clubs, county fairs, trap hunting teams and gun safety and permit to carry training courses and they have a very busy life!
Mike was an Airborne Ranger and left active service in 1999. He served with the 82nd Airborne with combat tours in Panama and Iraq and spent time in the Reserves after that. Jody has a background as a mental health professional. They are serial entrepreneurs, having started four businesses in the past 25+ years, including Azule Staffing and residential mental health treatment centers in the Northfield and Owatonna areas. They are launching an Etsy shop to sell lasered awards and gifts this month, in addition to their storefront location. All the work is done in Le Center, where their equipment is constantly running, and they love giving customer tours of the operation. Even though it’s a retail operation, Mike and Jody make sure they remain focused on individuals and their general welfare. They enjoy engaging with people in their community and meeting their needs, highlighting the emphasis Mike and Jody place on relationships
Mike traveled to Israel during his military service and has been there numerous times since. A recent highlight for Mike was leading a group of Minnesota state legislators on a trip to Israel, where he baptized people (including Jody) in the Jordan River. One of the greatest compliments Mike received was from one of the participants, “The man of war is now a man of peace.”
Mike and Jody are both ordained ministers and enjoy their outreach “with our hearts in alignment with what the Lord wants us to do. He brings people to us, and we can share the Word with them,” Jody said. The first year the shop was open, young people started coming in to hang out after the community pool had closed for the season. Jody saw it as a ministry opportunity and started teaching “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens” and it’s become a regular book study for local youth. Recently, a woman came into the store and talked about her concerns over a family member, so Jody invited the person to join her in reading the book. This is one example of the impact they are having in the community and providing support in so many ways through their ministry.
“This phase of life is part of God’s perfect plan, He prepared us for this time and it’s been wonderful,” Mike said. “Look at Jesus’s life and ministry: 85% of His miracles happened as he was traveling, and his journey was ‘interrupted’. Can you imagine what would have happened if Jesus refused to stop and meet people where they were? We try really hard to be interruptible.”
Both Mike and Jody have USCCA accreditation, focused on personal responsibility and critical thinking for gun owners, and have built a strong reputation for training. Mike recently passed the 3,000-student mark in his training career, and they work together on private training for men and women in self-defense and defeating mass shooters.
Learn more about Mike, Jody and Younger Gunworks: https://youngergunworks.com
