ARIZONA YOUNG LIFE LEADERSHIP MANUAL

Transcription

1 ARIZONA YOUNG LIFE LEADERSHIP MANUAL CONTACT CLUB CAMPAIGNERS CAMPING 1

2 FOREWORD Welcome to the Young Life Arizona Region Training Manual! We are excited that you have decided to explore what it means to be a Young Life leader. Jim Rayburn, the founder of Young Life gave this definition: Young Life is a group of people committed to the idea of winning a hearing with kids for the greatest story ever told. The information in this manual will be a resource of some of the basic information about Young Life. It will give an explanation of Young Life s approach to ministering to teenagers. We believe these principles work because they are the way Jesus approached ministry. It is our belief that this manual does not provide exhaustive training. Real in-depth training happens though your team and your experiences when you start walking alongside kids. It is a core belief in Young Life that the best work with kids is still to be done. As you apply these principles to your ministry situation, God will use to you to discover new ways to impact kid s lives. Young Life is most essentially a volunteer organization. Young Life staff members are hired to work with kids, but more importantly they are hired to develop and serve our volunteers. We are looking for people who have been called by God to invest their gifts and time in the lives of kids. It is our belief that, through leading in Young Life, you will experience God in profound ways and grow to love Him more. The average leader serves in Young Life for 2-4 years. But there are plenty of examples of long-term volunteer leaders who have had a profound impact on their communities. We would like to ask as you serve in Young Life, to consider making a life-long commitment to the ministry. It is our sincere hope that these principles of ministry will become a foundation as you life a life of availability and service to Christ. 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Section 1 Young Life Vision for Leadership Page 4 Section 2 Contact Work: Incarnational Ministry Page 10 Section 3 Club Page 15 Section 4 Campaigners Page 22 Section 5 Sharing Our Faith Page 26 Section 6 Camping Page 30 Section 7 Young Life Values Page 35 Section 8 Volunteer Leadership Page 40 Trainer s Appendix Page 45 3

4 SECTION 1 YOUNG LIFE 4

5 Young Life is looking for people who have been called by God to serve in the ministry. Calling is usually when several factors come together: Young Life 1) You should be in love with Christ and growing in your relationship with Him. 2) You should like kids. You should be willing to have a few teenagers as some of your close friends. 3) You should be willing to make the time commitment needed to be a leader in Young Life including: Weekly club, team meetings, campaigners, contact work and area leadership. You should plan for a minimum of 10 hours a week. In addition there are weekend and summer camp trips and leadership weekends. 4) You should be willing to make a commitment for the school year. 5) There is a commitment with respect to lifestyle. When you become a leader you sacrifice some of your freedom in Christ. There are things that, although permissible, that you will need to refrain from so you don t cause another to stumble. What do you gain for giving such a significant and costly commitment? 1) You gain the chance to see God use your efforts to make a difference for eternity. You have the chance to reproduce yourself in the lives of kids. 2) You will be drawn to Christ. You will go deeper in prayer and in God s word as you seek to minister to kids. You will see and experience firsthand the power of God. 3) You get the chance to do things for Christ, only because you love Him and wish to obey Him. Kids can never repay you what your time and efforts are worth. You are a leader for Christ s sake, not for any possible benefits. 4) You get the support and deep friendships that grow out of a mission community. You get the chance to laugh and cry together. Young Life s Approach to Adolescents: Go where kids congregate. Accept them as they are. Build on their instinct for adventure. Learn how to walk in wisdom with those outside the faith. Recognize the dignity of each person. Expect to earn the right to be heard. Find a neutral setting to meet together. Create an environment that is casual and non-threatening. Consider it a sin to bore kids, especially with the Gospel. Speak naturally and conversationally, and in terms familiar to a teenager s vocabulary. Communicate your enthusiasms and certainties, rather than flaunt your doubts. Capitalize on the elements of good humor and music to establish an openness of mind and heart. 5

6 Two of these approaches, initiating relationships and the use of humor, are such an essential part of Young Life s approach to ministry they require further explanation. Relationships Young Life leaders pursue friendships with kids. Leaders intentionally put themselves in the awkward situation of entering an adolescent s world, going to places that most adults avoid. They are not looking for good Christian kids. Instead they are looking to become good friends with kids who are disinterested in the Christian faith. They go onto their turf to meet those kids. It is so unusual that a common question kids ask is What are you doing here? What kids mean by this question is Why are you in a place where we never see adults? The honest answer is NEVER trying to recruit kid for Young Life. This approach is part of the basic mindset of a Young Life Leader. Leaders are willing to go to a place where they are uncomfortable so they can meet kids where they feel comfortable. Leaders do this so they can give kids the opportunity to hear about Christ from a friend they trust. We believe that if we can get disinterested kids to take an honest look at Christ, they will be drawn to Him. There is an openness and friendliness that becomes a part of every leader s life. They are willing to frame their conversations around kid s interests rather than their own. Initiating relationships with kids who are making poor lifestyle choices can be risky; often even a source of criticism. Leaders are willing to follow Christ s example and endure such criticism so kids can come to know Christ. A person in a leadership position can be running the program parts of Young Life - club, campaigners, camps - but they are not really a Young Life leader until they start to go to kids and initiate relationships. Humor Humor is an essential part of how Young Life leaders approach kids. This doesn t mean that they are always trying to be funny or that someone has to be a comedian to be a Young Life leader (but it does help). It does mean that leaders love to laugh a lot. Young Life leaders don t take themselves too seriously. They are learning to be comfortable with the way God has made them and so are able to laugh at themselves. There is a lightness to how they live that is uplifting and healthy. With laughter comes a positive and unique energy. Leaders try to live in such a way that their lives reflect the joy that comes from knowing Christ. There is a winsomeness that is part of Young Life s culture. We love to include the element of surprise in most things we do. Humor is a part of every club and camp, but even more, it is part of every friendship. And it is a tool that opens teenagers to take a look at Christ. Although using humor can open Young Life to the criticism of being shallow, leaders are very serious about humor. Humor overcomes the image that Christians are serious people who seldom have fun. Humor can speak to emotions and feelings, and can do it in a way that give credibility and validation. It is non-judgmental. It draws people together. It communicates much of how leaders view God and how He wants them to live out their faith. Laughing is a gift we give kid. A gift with no strings attached. This goes a long way towards communicating the gospel of grace. 6

7 PRINCIPLES OF MINISTRY Young Life I. Kingdom results are directly related to our walk with Christ. We seek to love, adore, trust and obey Christ. I need to be growing in my love for Christ if I am to lead others to Him. Since God is the power source, I can dare to attempt beyond what I can accomplish on my own. Prayer is essential. Prayer is not the pregame show It is the game. I can create a lot of activity on my own, but only Christ creates inward change. We are dependent on Christ to accomplish God's work. We are committed to prayer, relying on grace, and God's word as a source of power and guidance. We are a called people. Our involvement in Young Life is an act of obedience not a favor for God II. Effective ministry is incarnational. Jesus is the ultimate example of incarnational (meaning intentional and relational) ministry. God taking flesh that He might live among us. And then He gave Himself for us. I am committed to go as Christ did, by going and dwelling in their midst, sharing my life, and modeling the gospel, in addition to its verbal proclamation. "Ministry is Christians, in obedience to Christ, giving of themselves - their time, their resources, their emotions, their whole selves - to other people in order that they may come to know Jesus and follow Him." III. The goal of ministry is both evangelism and discipleship. We do both evangelism and discipleship as part of our ministry. Jesus is our example. Jesus never neglected the masses (contact work, club, camp). He invested in a few (campaigners) the 12 and the 3 He poured His life into these men. Our challenge is to find the right balance. IV. Every believer is called to a life of ministry in service of the Kingdom of God. God has blessed us that we might be a blessing. Part of following Christ is to be involved in giving my life away for the sake of others. Serving Christ is not just for the most spiritual, but is God's purpose for all who know Him. We live in a time of great apostasy - where people profess a belief in Christ but live for themselves. V. As representatives of Christ we will pursue excellence to bring glory to God In everything I do, I am keenly aware that I am serving the Lord as His representative. If I believe in an excellent God then I should strive for excellence in my ministry. I do everything in a manner that would be pleasing to Him and reflect His Glory. I won't settle for half-hearted attempts; the work is for the Lord, not for men. I am committed to being teachable, always learning. I am not finished, but still in process. I seek and give honest feedback. 7

8 Young Life Key Scriptures for Young Life I Thessalonians 2:8 Having so fond an affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. We want to impart the gospel We want to share our lives We deeply love kids John 1:14 And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth Jesus came to be with us so we go to kids His life was a balance of grace and truth (not one without the other) Colossians 4:5 Walk in wisdom toward them that are without. To behave wisely toward them = being understanding and friendly Be gentle and tactful Seize opportunities when they come along I Timothy 3:7 Have a good report of them that are without. Deal with people in a way that demands respect Have a high code of ethics without being self-righteousness Have integrity, selflessness, and warmth I Thessalonians 4:12 That you may walk honestly toward them that are without. Have openness and sincerity Be friendly, warm, unselfish, kind, patient, and tactful Matthew 4:19 And He said to them, Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. The key to effective ministry is to follow Christ He will make us fishers of men Matthew 28:18-20 All authority has been given to Me in heaven and authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. Our calling is to both convert and disciple We need to teach kids surrender to Lordship doing anything he commands II Timothy 2:2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also. There are 4 generations in this verse Paul to Timothy to Faithful Men to Others Paul had a world changing vision of reproduction I Pet 3:15 But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence We are called to set aside a special place in our hearts for Christ We should always be prepared to explain the hope we have It is to be given with gentleness. 8

9 John 15:5 - I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. Our connection with Christ is essential We can do nothing without Him Matthew 9:37-38 The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out workers into His harvest. There is a plentiful harvest of kids around us We should ask God to send out workers The harvest is God s Mark 3:14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach. II Corinthians 5:14-15 For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all died; and He died for all, so that they who live might no longer live for themselves, but for him who died and rose again on their behalf. Our lives are controlled by Christ s love Christ died so we could live for Him We invite people to live for Christ I Corinthians 2:1-5 Our message is about Jesus Knowing Him is the source of our power II Corinthians 5:20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. As an ambassador, we represent Christ in everything we do We call people to a relationship with God John 12:32 And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself The center of our message is the crucifixion, when Christ was lifted up If we lift Christ up and give kids an accurate look, kids will be drawn to Him Colossians 1:15-20 Jesus is fully human and fully God Jesus reveals God s character He is the most compelling and attractive person who ever lived. Philippians 2:5-11 Jesus gave up His privilege to enter our world He took the role as a servant Luke 15:1-32 Jesus motive for befriending sinners is the heart of His Father for the lost 9

10 SECTION 2 CONTACT WORK Incarnational Ministry 10

11 Contact Work INCARNATIONAL MINISTRY Incarnational Ministry is the very foundation of Young Life. We are a ministry that believes initiating relationships is the ultimate tool in our evangelistic efforts. In this section of our training we want to look at what incarnational thinking involves. Approaches to Ministry As we begin to desire that others come to know Christ, our first question is probably What should I do? Here are some common answers to that question: Informational Approach: This assumes that what is really needed is information. The focus becomes getting the right information in kids hands. But impersonal information rarely has the power to change lives. Confrontational Approach: This approach focuses on telling others what is wrong in their lives and how only Jesus can fix it. Inspirational Approach: The focus is on creating an environment that produces an intense emotional response. But emotions are fickle and prove to be a poor foundation for true faith. Programmatic Approach: This type of ministry assumes that working with large numbers means large success. One way to attract large numbers is with exciting events, and the focus of this ministry is on promoting those kinds of events. But attracting numbers doesn t necessarily change lives. Relational Approach: This approach understands the truth that the most effect way to promote radical change is through deep relationships. The next question we should ask (but all too often don t) is: What did God do? Jesus Approach: Incarnational Approach God decided to become flesh and live in the very midst of the world, in the person of Jesus. Jesus chose to initiate relationships with all kinds of people from the religious to the notorious sinner. He spent time with and cared for the lepers, the sick, the tax-collectors, simple fishermen, lawyers and prostitutes. There was no place He was not free to go. He chose to be with the people, available to them and their needs. Incarnational ministry is proactive relational ministry. Leaders consistently go where kids are, on to their turf, to initiate relationships. Young Life calls this intentional incarnational ministry Contact Work. 11

12 Contact Work CONTACT WORK: Befriending Jesus Friends The idea of contact work is built on an understanding of how God chose to communicate His character to lost and rebellious people. John 1:14 says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us as we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. God, instead of communicating through the programmatic, or the inspirational, or the confrontational, or the informational, chose to communicate truth about himself through a person. He went where people live, initiated relationships, and revealed God s love. That person, Jesus Christ, practiced contact work. He spent enough time with common people that He was often criticized for being a friend of sinners (Luke 15). He understood that where He spent His time and how He conducted His ministry was an expression of God s passion for the Lost. Contact work is the distinctive feature of Young Life. The basic building block of Young Life is one loving, caring adult who gets to know one kid. Unless we get to know kids, Young Life never gets started. It is only in going that we can understand the complex adolescent world. It goes by many different slogans: going where kids are, creative loitering, or winning the right to be heard. They all express the heart of Young Life. Goals of Contact Work: The goal of contact work is to develop relationships with a purpose: to make disciples. Contact work has two-fold aim: 1. Towards non-christian kids: to develop meaningful relationships that cultivates an openness that allows us to share the gospel. It IS NOT to build a Young Life club. If we only go on club day to invite kids, that is club recruitment, not relationship building. 2. Towards Christian kids: to mold and aid them in their ministry to their friends to be present in their world in order to encourage and exhort. We should regularly take campaigners with us to help them catch God s vision for their school. Ultimately, contact work isn t just a couple of hours spent at the school. It is inviting kids to be a part of our lives. Four Levels of Contact Work: You are part of a process; be patient. You must probably win the right to be heard, that is, to speak in significant ways with young people. Kids will listen to a friend, not a stranger. Think of it in terms of building a bridge of friendship across which someday Christ may come to that teenager. These are the four levels to build relationships through contact work. 12

13 Contact Work 1. Being seen: At school events and wherever kids are. It is important for the leader seeking to build friendships to express his interest by attending the events that are important to the teenager. This could be a school play, athletic event or practice session, or some other activity in which they are engaged. It could be a shopping center, a street corner, or a park. 2. Meeting Kids: Before long you must step up to this second level and actually talk with someone. If you go on just hanging around, suspicions will grow as to your purposes. Real friendships can only be built through communication. 3. Doing Things Together: Shared experiences are a critical step in any relationship and will open up whole new avenues for your friendship. Look to do things they are interested in doing. 4. Sharing Christ with Kids: We should always remember that the ultimate goal we are working towards is to win an opportunity to share our faith. When the relationship allows, look for ways to initiate conversations about Christ. Strive to always be involved in each of these levels. Practical Suggestions In order to be effective, you must be regular in your approach to kids. It might mean going when you don t feel like it, but because you are seeking to serve them for Christ s sake, you go. We go because we are following Christ s example, so do not give the young people the idea that you are there only to build a ministry, by showing up only on club day. Pray: Contact work is a reminder of your dependence on Jesus Christ. Prayer is essential. If we realize that apart from Christ we can accomplish nothing (John 5:5), then we must go to Him and seek His direction. Ask God for a sincere interest in young people. Be the first to introduce yourself. God has not given us a spirit of timidity I Tim 1:7 Learn to network - meet kids through kids: Start with kids you already know. As your friendship grows, make sure you meet their friends and continue to build new friendships. Note how Jesus started with a single woman at a well and ended up knowing an entire town (John 4). When possible, go in pairs, with another leader or a campaigner kid. Find ways to serve the school volunteer as a coach or tutor or chaperone Get a school calendar: so you know what is going on at the school and put them on your schedule. Do not attempt to be one of the kids : Be yourself. You are a leader aware of your age, yet loving and genuinely interested in them and in their affairs. They need to see adult models. Do not force your way into certain social situations where you would not be welcome. Work hard to learn and use names: Anyone can be good at this if they are willing to put forth some effort. Use a notebook or school yearbook (buy one) to record names and things about people you meet. Their name is their most favorite word. Talk about things they are interested in. Learn to ask questions to get them talking. Be curious. Let them be the expert and teach you about their interests. Be careful about talking about yourself. Think SLIR School, Likes, Interests, Relationships. Seek to know, in the right timing, the whole person; their family, past, hopes, etc. Avoid making fun of young people: Sarcasm, put-down humor, etc. is the most dangerous kind of humor, and will wall you off from many of the more sensitive kids. Take kids with you to things or where you are already going: Never go to an activity or place alone if you can take a young person with you. Be ready to be part of their lives: for a long time, maybe a lifetime. 13

14 Contact Work Guys focus on relationships with guys, gals with gals. Look forward to the future. Dwell on the potential. Look at a kid and say to yourself, that kid could be a world-changer for Christ. Final Words on Contact Work: The textbook on principles of contact work - How to Win Friends & Influence People by Dale Carnegie. Read it and practice its insights. Look forward to hindsight. Beginning contact work is difficult but someone has to initiate, plow and plant in order for there to be a harvest. Look forward to kids living for Christ as a result of your time at the school. Kids really are open to adult friendships. They may not ever express that to you but it is true. They tend to approach adults with caution, but when older people offer genuine friendship that caution turns to enthusiasm. Explain to campaigner kids what you are doing at the school. Unless you explain yourself, they probably will not understand what you are doing. Once they understand, they can help by introducing you to their friends. You can use your time at school to teach them (verbally and non-verbally) about ministry and encourage their attempts to minister to their friends. Be intentional about who you are spending time with. Pray and ask God to lead you to the kids He wants to reach through you. Let God, not kid s cliques or what feels comfortable, determine where you invest your efforts. Stay close to Christ He is your source of love and power. You don t need to attract kids. He will attract kids to Himself! Adolescents are in that difficult stage of transition between childhood and adulthood. Most people treat them as one (as an adult or as a child) and are frustrated when they act like the other. We choose to treat them as adult friends while accepting their child-like characteristics. Christ said Go! It is an act of obedience to Him. THE ESSENCE OF YOUNG LIFE If there is a non-negotiable in Young Life (apart, obviously, from the absolute centrality of Christ), it is contact work. Real contact work is hard...draws us to Christ...is lonely...is uncomfortable...costs in time and reputation...can be misunderstood...takes tremendous tenacity. Real contact work is not an occasional visit to the school... not just passing out fliers for club not hanging with familiar, friendly Christian kids (this is important but this is discipling, not contact work)... As we enter the new school year, I want our emphasis to be on loving and reaching out to the lost. There are no short cuts or easy ways to do this. Contact work challenges every security we treasure. We are awkward, can question why we re doing it, can feel rejection, are out of place and often unaffirmed. We re usually going to a hostile group of kids who have horrendously negative views of Christ and His followers. Why do we keep doing this? Isn t there an easier or better way (27 years into this and I m still asking)? Simply, it is the method of Christ! Read Philippians 2:5-11 and John 1:14. All of these difficult experiences we have as we go, pale in comparison to the depth of alienation Christ must have felt. Not only do we go to reach lost kids, but we also identify with Christ. There are riches of knowing Christ that can only be known as we walk in His steps. By definition Contact work (i.e. awkwardness, rejection, feeling alone) means having only Christ to trust in. It is a great privilege. It is highly spiritual. Let s go daily, for weeks, months, years. The impact on our walk with Christ and on countless lost kids is universal. Tom Hammon 14

15 SECTION 3 CLUB 15

16 WHAT IS A YOUNG LIFE CLUB Club The Young Life club has been an effective tool in reaching out to the adolescent community. Usually the weekly meeting is held on a weeknight in a neutral place, such as the home of one of the kids. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed. We call it planned informality, with kids and leaders sitting on the floor. A good Young Life club is relational in nature. The club is driven by the relationships that kids have with leaders and the relationships among the kids themselves. Everything, including pre-club times, the meeting itself, and the time after club should further relationships. Each club should be approached as a great privilege and responsibility, striving for excellence. This requires prayer and planning. The meeting is designed to introduce disinterested high school kids to Jesus Christ. Nothing is pushed or forced since Christ does not force Himself on anyone. We slant the meeting towards that young person who may not know very much about the Lord, and who may even feel negative toward Him. Young Life club is open to any student in the school or community. The club meeting usually involves lively singing, skits, games, and a short talk about Jesus Christ. The music and games of club are all part of the nonverbal communication of Christ, and should prepare the way for the verbal presentation of Jesus Christ. The message is the climax of the meeting. Leaders are free to experiment with new features in club just as long as the Gospel is proclaimed. Club has a second function. It is a discipleship tool: a place to give Christian kids the opportunity to reach out to their unbelieving friends. Most healthy clubs have a group of Campaigners who invite friends and help to make club friendly and inviting. Encouraging Campaigner kids to use club as a place for ministry helps teach them to live their live ministering to the people God brings into their lives through school, work, and friendships. TRADITIONAL INGREDIENTS OF A YOUNG LIFE CLUB MEETING Team Time: You need to take time to draw together as a team for preparation, prayer and encouragement. These times are important because the quality of your team s relationship communicates the gospel in a powerful way. Pre-Club: The 15 minutes before club is kid contact time. The Music has particular value in getting young people doing something together and in preparing them for the message. Good singing can be a tremendous asset to the meeting's atmosphere and effectiveness. The Minutes (Skits & Games): This is not just a skit thrown into the program, but rather an important ingredient for breaking down barriers and making kids laugh and relax in a happy setting. The Announcements. Mainly used to break the stride of the meeting and cover any future plans for the club, including camp promotion. The Message. An important part of any Young Life club is when a leader has the opportunity to speak of Jesus Christ to young people who do not know Him. We prepare to grab their attention and give them an honest look at Jesus Christ. The Close: Brief, but important in leaving kids with a good impression of the meeting and what was said. Post-club: When leaders get a chance to hang out and talk with kids. Many clubs go out to a local spot to get something to eat. 16

17 MUSIC IN YOUNG LIFE Club Music is a defining characteristic of youth culture. It is a pervasive part of kid s lives and provides a sense of atmosphere and energy to any gathering of kids. When club size is small it can be difficult to get kids to buy into group singing but this doesn t mean they don t like to sing. Kid s feeling of belonging is promoted by the thoughtful use of music. Music has the potential to provide energy to any gathering of kids. Music has the ability to draw a group of people together and focus their attention up front. Music is not just a preparation for the proclamation in club. It's part of the proclamation. Songs Selection There should be a reason for every song that is used it club. Is the leader trying to create excitement, emphasize a message, have fun, etc.? The opening songs should be upbeat and easily recognizable to most kids. These songs need to draw kids into participation. The goal should be 100 percent participation. You are trying to draw the group together and focus their energy. For this reason it is important to pick songs that make students feel like they belong. Songs should slow down as club goes on, preparing kids to listen to the message. These songs should have more content, to help draw kids to Jesus with our music. Music Preparation Preparation is the key for good group singing. Even the most talented and experienced musicians and song leaders must be well prepared to produce quality club music. Always remember it is group singing not a performance. It is important to make sure the song leader and the musicians know the chords and the words. It is important they are in sync about starting, song order, and ending the song. They should work to avoid long gaps between songs. It drains energy and you start to lose attention. Song Leading Song leading has little to do with musical talent. But it has everything to do with leadership and enthusiasm. Genuine enthusiasm is infectious. Song leading is not a performance; it is leading people in singing. Every song leader is made better by having leaders and campaigners who are sitting on the floor are following and encouraging their friends to sing. Here are some of the techniques song leaders use to engage the crowd: stopping songs to get kids to sing loudly or do it 'right' leading and expecting everyone to clap (on 2 nd & 4 th beats) have a line in the song that everyone needs to yell using the guy/girl singing dynamics (ie: sing a couple of lines with girls only) varying the volume (singing softly and loudly) using acapella singing to get the group singing loudly Recorded music in club Recorded music can help set up your music by providing energy. Have upbeat recognizable music playing before, during skits, and after club. Care needs to be taken that you don t play songs with offensive lyrics. 17

18 MINUTES (Skits, Mixers and Games) Club When Jim Rayburn started the first Young Life club, he wanted to make the meeting attractive to the disinterested kids. Since minutes were a part of a normal club meeting, he took the idea and made it into something crazy. In Young Life, minutes can include mixers, competition skits, set up skits with a surprise, run-on skits, or skits prepared by kids or leaders. We use laughter in Young Life to help break down barriers. The use of humor breaks down a huge negative stereotype and shows that Christians can have fun. One of the distinctive characteristics of Young Life is that although we are serious about Christ, we are not too serious about ourselves. At a Young Life club we hope to welcome a cross section of the high school population. For all kinds of kids to feel comfortable, we have to help free them from the need to maintain a cool image. Through humor, we are helping set kids free to be themselves instead of trying to be someone they are not. It s hard to be cool when you are eating a banana through a nylon stocking. Skits allow kids to laugh at themselves and each other. Run On: A run-on is a short skit that interrupts the flow of club. It can be a one-shot deal or a skit that is built on for several weeks running. It can be used to sell an event or just get a quick laugh. A continuous run-on often grows funnier and creates an air of anticipation for what is coming as kids look forward to the next act. Games: Be a student of the type of humor that works best with your club. Some groups love messy skits, others are offended by them. We want kids to have fun. Use wisdom when picking kids you will use to participate. Don t pick kids who might feel embarrassed. If you take kids out of the room while you set up the game, explain that you want them to have fun and to go for it. Make sure you have a clear understanding of the game and how to explain it so kids are excited to participate. Think through how to set it up so kids can see. Test it yourself to make sure it works. Think through how to protect the house and how to clean up. Mixers: A mixer is a game in which everyone participates and demands that each kid interact with at least one other. They feel a connection with each other and it creates a team atmosphere like they are all in this thing together. Skits: A skit is a chance for leaders or key kids to provide a funny moment and allow kids to laugh at them. The keys to being funny are to be well rehearsed with good timing. It is also a way to show that we don t take ourselves too seriously. Jim Rayburn liked to say, "A fool for Jesus is an honorable thing." 18

19 ANNOUNCEMENTS Typical Announcements Camp promotion or information. Club location and plans for next week. Announce upcoming special events. News about kids or the school Collecting kid information club cards or another method Recognize special accomplishments, birthdays, etc. Raffle some clubs raffle prizes each week. Club CLUB TALK A phrase of Jim Rayburn which captures how we wish to proclaim the Gospel is: It is sin to bore a kid with the Gospel. We must remember that Jesus Christ is never boring. When Christ is lifted up, kids are drawn to Him. This message needs to be the call to give our whole lives to something of ultimate worth. The purpose of the talk is to sow, water, and till the seeds of the gospel, helping to bring disinterested kids to the point of harvest. The talk should present the gospel in a manner that kids can understand. When speaking in club we should be talking to the kids the furthest out from the gospel. If lots of new kids are coming to club, the club talks should be geared towards them. Avoid Christian jargon, but instead use language they will understand. But we won t compromise our message to avoid offending kids. Speak with sincerity, humility and passion. A good club talk is short (10 to 15 minutes), clear and conversational in style. The person speaking should be someone who is spending time developing relationships with kids. In a talk you: 1. Get their attention (through a story, humor, or drama.) 2. Make scripture come alive and make it understandable 3. Apply it to their life. It is best to start preparing but identifying the conclusion. What is the main thing you want to say? Choose a passage of scripture (usually from the Gospels) that best illustrates this main point. Work to make the ideas in the passage real to kids. Describe the scene, help kids to imagine themselves in the scripture, and explain how the ideas in the passage are true. Then come up with an introduction. It is most important to get their attention. It is even better if the introduction illustrates the main point of the message. Then it is important to have good transitional statements between each of these parts of the message. Be sure to practice the message out loud several times before you give it in club. Include in that practice reading the scripture out loud. A semester talk sequence usually includes this progression: Welcome to Young Life The existence of God The Incarnation Jesus is God in the flesh His power, love, divinity and humanity Our need Sin avoid being judgmental by using we The Cross The Resurrection Trusting in Christ - Appropriation 19

20 LEADER RESPONSIBILITIES AT CLUB Club Arrive early before any kids arrive. Get organized and take care of last minute preparation and pray together. Prepare the room. It your job to protect the house or meeting room. The 15 minutes before club is a time to meet kids. Our goal should be to make Young Life the most open and accepting group in the school. It is a good idea to have a couple of leaders outside to greet kids. It is especially important with WyldLife to meet their parents. Have a way to collect contact information for new kids. Floor Leadership: When not involved up front, leaders should spread out and sit with kids. Participate in what is happening up front and encourage kids to participate. Help make club fun. Be prepared to do your part with excellence. Be ready and practiced - then you are free to have fun. After club, initiate conversations about the message and be available to answer questions. Leaders should be praying for the opportunity to talk with kids about what they heard that night. You can also use this time to set a date to get together. Clean up. Be sure to vacuum, return the house or room to its original condition. Take trash with you and say THANK YOU to your host. Don't leave while kids are still there. Get kids home on time. KEYS TO MAKING CLUB EXCELLENT Love Christ First: The First Responsibility of a leader is in a class by itself in importance. It is the leader s relationship with Christ. There is nothing that is more important. Remember, without Christ we can do nothing (John 15:5). Have a prayer strategy for club We must learn that prayer is our chief work. The power of prayer cannot be overstated. It powers our lives and empowers our ministry. It is possible to pull off what would technically be described as good ministry without ever praying. It would be something that has the appearance of godliness, but lacks the power. Cultivate the habit of praying without ceasing during club. Team Unity It is essential that the team of leaders have loving relationships with each other. Kids can readily spot a lack of love. If agape love characterizes our relationships with one another, kids will perceive this and be drawn to hear our message. There is, therefore, no substitute for being together. This will take time. Set aside time to be together. Inevitably there will be relational conflicts and problems as we seek to work together, but resolving them needs to be a top priority. Planning Club: It is best for the whole team to meet and plan an entire semester of Young Life. Having club responsibilities assigned, skits and talks pre-planned, and the semester calendar thought through, helps take the pressure off the week-to-week running of the ministry. When planning club, the goal should be to pay attention to the various gifts of the team members. The goal is not sharing each task equally but to use giftedness to promote excellence while giving opportunities for growth and training. 20

21 Club Kid Ownership Campaigners are our partners in ministry. The leader s role is to help facilitate the relational part of club for our Campaigners. We are to serve and encourage kids and help them catch a vision of what can happen in their school through a team effort of prayer, love and hard work. We should strive to give Campaigners as much responsibility for the club meeting as possible. People support what they help to create. Let them give feedback about club each week in campaigners. But kid ownership is much more than having kids in front of club. Real ownership and ministry is found on the relational level. In Campaigners, go over specific ways they can care for their friends. A Campaigner kid s mission field is sitting next to them in class. We ask them to risk their reputation by inviting a friend and we promise to never embarrass them by making club unattractive. We don t use kids to build club. The reason we want kids to own the ministry is that we believe it will deepen their relationship with Christ, not just to build our club. Any sacrifices involved will help bring them closer to Christ. Have Campaigners make a list of friends they want to pray for and work to invite to club - a Ten Most Wanted List. Encourage them to give friends rides to club. Tell them to introduce their friends to leaders. Celebrate when those kids come to club. Have them help make club a friendly environment by greeting kids. Campaigner kids who are friendly and accepting are crucial. Encourage them to spread out and sit through out the crowd. Help them understand floor leadership. Have kids lead songs or skits, give announcements, do walk-ons and skits (They should be carefully coached first.) At certain times in the year consider asking kids to share their faith. Promise Campaigners they will be proud to invite their friends. Hold a Board of Directors meeting each semester. You can invite all kids or make it the kids who are helping lead club. Seek their thoughts on fresh ideas for the coming months. Then ask them what roles they would like to take on this semester. Here are just a few: a greeting team, club setup and teardown squad, prayer team, maps, skits, mixers, announcements, thank you notes, find houses. Club Numbers: Club works best with a larger group (over 60 kids). Well-attended meetings usually have a stronger feel of excitement. Kids feel safety in a crowd. In order for club to work there must be a critical mass of around 30 kids. If the group is usually smaller, it is hard to get momentum. Prayer, contact work, taking kids to camp, and Campaigner partners are needed. Kids are busy today, but what we have been called to is unique, challenging for kids and life-changing in nature. It's not just another event in a busy schedule, but the best, most life-changing place for kids to invest their time. There are two ideas that we must keep in tension: 1) Numbers are important! Christ commands us to go to into all the world. We should ask God to use us to reach as many kids as possible. 2) We should never allow numbers to be our primary focus or the final source of evaluation. By definition, that which is spiritual (the work that God is doing in the lives of kids) is not measurable. 21

22 SECTION 4 CAMPAIGNERS 22

23 Reason for Campaigners Campaigners The goal of campaigners is to start kids on the road to maturity in Christ. We are given the incredible privilege of being involved with kids during a crucial time: as a young Christian. They are beginning to explore what it means to follow Christ, and at the same time, as an adolescent they are deciding what things they will count as important. These two characteristics provide the potential to produce people radically committed to Christ. To nurture this kind of radical commitment, we need to include both group meetings (Campaigners for everyone) and one-on-one times (Discipleship for the committed) in our plans. Our meetings need to strike a balance between involving the head (knowledge), the heart (emotions), and the hands (actions). We must be challenging kids not to settle with becoming good Christians (a lot of knowledge about Christ with a focus on a cleaned up outer life). We also want them to understand surrender, lordship, service, and what it means to have a relationship with Christ. Effective Campaigner meetings should have these elements: Community Build trust and honesty through being vulnerable (with wisdom), fellowship, and worship. Let them share what Christ has been doing in their lives. Encourage and pray for each other. Have fun together, work on asking good questions, don t tolerate negative humor, eat together, pray together. We also work to introduce kids to the church. Adventure Something is wrong when we become bored following Christ. It is the great adventure. We are talking with kids about changing their world not just cleaning up their life. We need to keep focused on that vision. We need to challenge kids, opening doors that kids can pass through, thus taking the next step. Adventure also means keeping meetings from becoming too predictable. Responsibility - We want kids to discover their calling. We are working to teach kids to be contributors in the kingdom of God, not just consumers. A helpful tool to use is club. Club is a place where they can work to change their world now. They can also learn by being responsible for helping others to grow. They learn to give of themselves for others. Education - Every Campaigner meeting needs a time when we teach them the Word of God. We teach them to do all that Christ commanded by focusing on their hearts and teaching them to submit to His lordship and seek His will. Then God has access to every area of their lives. When we teach kids how to live out the great commandment - to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and our neighbor as ourselves - they are drawn to Christ, and will want to bring their lives into obedience to Him. The Goal is Reproduction Life-on-life discipleship is the most effective way to influence the lives of kids, so we inevitably will have some kids deeply involved in our lives. Life-changing effectiveness comes from the personal time and not from meetings. Kids who become a part of our lives have the opportunity to see our Christian faith lived out before their eyes. You can impress people from a distance, but you can only impact them up close. Leaders who wish to reproduce themselves must focus their efforts on a few kids. Ask God to guide you to those He wants you to influence. Look for kids who want to go deeper, are compatible with you, and can be leaders of others. Then every time you are together look for how God might want you to help take the kid deeper in Christ. Pray together, share what God s teaching you, memorize scripture, exhort, encourage, give them vision for what God can do in their life. It results in exponential growth. 23

24 12 Great Things to Build in Kid s Lives: Campaigners Love God and love others Develop your life purpose statement Run to Jesus in dependence understand grace Serve others, deny self, give your life away Know the Gospel and how to share it Remember Him every 15 minutes Get involved in Church Ask God for wisdom about all decisions Practice contentment and thankfulness Fellowship openness, support Be disciplined get to know God through prayer and Bible study Live out your convictions Campaigner Teaching Methods What we teach in Campaigners is important, but how we teach also has a profound impact on how kids receive the information. The most commonly used teaching method is a lecture format we give a talk and kids listen. This is the simplest meeting to prepare: you decide what you want kids to learn and then you tell them. It is a very efficient way to communicate information, but it is not very effective for formation, or the changing of lives. We often think that if you tell a person what they should do (give them information) it will automatically become a part of their lives. But there is more involved in deep change. How people learn should determine how we teach. We have the potential to remember 10% of what we hear, 50% of what we see, and 90% of what we do. Maximum learning is always the result of maximum involvement. Kids need to be involved in discovering truths for full impact. One way to facilitate discovery is through sharing and discussion. Good discussion is built by asking open questions. The best way to describe open questions is to say what they aren t. They do not have a simple yes or no answer (i.e. is Jesus God?). They do not require kids to repeat what they ve just read (i.e. What three things do we learn about Jesus from this passage?). Usually they don t have one right answer (i.e. Who is Jesus?). Open questions usually use the words, why, what, how. Time invested in developing good questions will result in good discussion. Never tell what you can ask is a good principle for Campaigner preparation. If we are doing a good job providing community, adventure, responsibility and education, Campaigners meetings are going to begin to attract some kids who have not made a commitment to Christ. It is natural they would want to come to a group that provides so much of what they need in their lives. We should welcome them. But it is important to remember that the purpose of Campaigners is to make disciples. We need to plan our meetings to build up and challenge our most mature Christian kids and avoid the temptation to water down the time to accommodate the less mature. Jesus plan for impact was astonishingly simple: He drew around himself a small band of dedicated disciples. For three years He lived with, shared with, cared for, taught, corrected, trusted, forgave and loved them. They often failed Him, disobeyed Him, misunderstood Him, hurt Him, and disappointed Him, yet never did He withdraw His love from them. And later, empowered by the Holy Spirit, this small group of trained disciples turned the world of their day upside down. 24

25 THE DISCIPLEVANGELISM PROCESS Campaigners Young Life leaders are involved in trying to reach out to un-churched kids. The process of reaching those kids can often be slow and difficult. Sometimes we may be tempted to simply share the gospel and reap the results. The problem with that kind of approach is that most un-churched, disinterested kids are not ready to hear and respond to the gospel message. There is a more basic work that must be done first. James Engle has developed a scale that helps visualize the process. When we are with kids, we should always be looking for ways to move them along the next step towards discipleship. GOD S ROLE YL LEADER S ROLE MAN S RESPONSE General Revelation -10 Awareness of the supernatural - 9 No effective knowledge of Christianity Conviction Presence (Contact) - 8 Initial awareness of Christianity - 7 Interest in Christianity Proclamation - 6 Awareness of basic facts of the (Club, Camp) Gospel - 5 Grasp implications of Gospel - 4 Positive attitude to the Gospel Persuasion - 3 Awareness of personal need (Personal Sharing) - 2 Challenge and decision to act Regeneration - 1 Repentance and faith A NEW DISCIPLE IS BORN Matthew 28:19-20 Sanctification + 1 Evaluation of decision (Campaigners) + 2 Initiation into the church Notes: (One on one discipleship) + 3 Participate in making disciples + 4 Growth in discipleship: Growth in Christian character Discovery and use of gifts Stewardship of resources Prayer, Bible Study Effective sharing of faith Servanthood 1. Presence (relationship) is our role whenever we are ministering. 2. Persuasion is most appropriate and effective when a person has been prepared for the message. 3. Our role is not finished when a person responds with faith. We are focused on reproduction. 25

26 Campaigners SECTION 5 SHARING OUR FAITH 26

27 The Gospel Message Sharing Our Faith I. The Four Parts of the Gospel: A. It is a message about the character of God 1. His Love (John 3:16) 2. His Grace (Ephesians 2:8-9) 3. His Holiness (Psalm 86:2, 1 Peter 1:16, Revelation 4:8) B. It is a message about sin 1. It is intensely relational (Isaiah 59:2, Ephesians 2:12) 2. It is not to feel guilty, but to see God s standard (1 John 1:18) 3. God, who has created everything good, has been rejected 4. It is denying God His right to be God (Romans 1:21) 5. It plagues all of us as a disease (Isaiah 53:6, Romans 3:23) 6. Its consequences are eternal separation from God and death (Romans 6:23) 7. We can do nothing about it - we are hopeless (Romans 7:15-20) C. It is a message about Jesus Christ - not what He can do for us, but it s who He is 1. The incarnation (John 1:1, Philippians 2:5-11, Colossians 1:15) a. He is man (Humanity) (Matthew 8:24, 21:18, John 11:35) b. He is God (Deity) (John 8:58, 10:30) 2. Christ is Savior (Romans 5:8, 1 Peter 3:18) 3. Christ is Lord (Romans 12:1) 4. The Cross (Luke 23) 5. The Resurrection (Luke 24, 1 Corinthians 15) 6. Must receive Christ (John 1:12, Revelation 3:20) 7. Christ was tempted but lived a perfect life (Hebrews 4:15). 8. Christ died as a substitute for our rebellion (Romans 5:8). 9. He s alive today to give us a new life of fellowship with God (John 10:10). D. It is a message of repentance 1. We need a change of heart and mind and direction (Mark 1:14, 15) 2. Not a performance (Ephesians 2:8-9, 1 Corinthians 2:1-5) 3. People must turn (repent) to Christ (Mark 4:17, Luke 13:3) 4. If you believe you will be saved. (Rom 10:9) 5. The cost is all God s it is free to us We present the Gospel in word and in truth. We never change or distort God s message to convince someone to believe. We must do our best to present the truth so young people can hear it, but it will always be the Holy Spirit that convicts, convinces and changes that young person s heart. Our goal in Young Life is to speak with people personally about their relationship with Christ. Club talks and camp may present the Gospel clearly, but a young person needs personal communication to understand and respond. We should be prepared to share our faith, prayerfully looking for opportunities. One Verse Evangelism is one way to share our faith. 27

28 Sharing Our Faith ONE VERSE EVANGELISM DIRECTIONS: Draw a box around the word wages and write it on the left side of the page. Draw a box around the word SIN, write it midway down the left side of the page, under WAGES and box it there also... Draw in the lines of the cliff on both sides and explain that sin has separated everyone from God. Draw a box around the word DEATH, write it down on the illustration, and box it there. Draw a box around BUT in the verse and write it in a box between the bases of the cliffs. Draw a box around GIFT in the verse and write it on the right side of the cliff. Box it there. (From now on, be sure to point back and forth to each side of the cliff to emphasize that the words contrast with each other.) FOR THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEATH BUT THE FREE GIFT OF GOD Open your Bible to Rom. 6:23 and IS ETERNAL LIFE IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD ask the person to read the verse aloud to you while you write it at 1. BELIEVE 2. REPENT the top of a piece of paper. CHRIST JESUS LORD WAGES GIFT Start constructing the bridge picture by drawing a box around WAGES SIN GOD in the verse and then below write WAGES and draw a box around it DEATH LIFE there. WAGES BUT How would you define the term wages? (Wages are the reward we receive for what we have done.) How would you feel if your boss refused to pay you the wages that were due to you? Deep down, we all know that it is only right that a person gets what he deserves. We earn wages from God for how e have lived our lives. SIN What do you think of when you hear the word sin? How would a person have to live in order to get into heaven? Have you always lived a life like you just described? (This should help him to see that even by his own definition he falls short of living a good and perfect life.) Sin is more an attitude that an action, It can be a hostile or apathetic response to God. For example: When you made your plans last Friday night, did you even consider what God wants? DEATH What thoughts come to mind when you think of death? There are two meanings of death: 1) Because of sin we will all physically die 2) We also all experience spiritual death right now. Because of sin we are cut off from God. Death often means separation. If a person chooses to reject God while he is alive, that separation will extend into eternity, in hell. Not only will he experience separation from God today, but also forever. BUT This is the most important word in the verse because it indicates that there is hope for all of us. What we have talked about so far is bad news, but God has good news. What we re going to talk about now is a contrast to what we just discussed. GIFT What is the difference between a gift and wages? A gift is not earned by the person who receives it, rather someone else pays for it. How do you feel toward someone who gives you an expensive gift? Some people try to earn God s favor by doing good deeds, living moral lives, or taking part in religious activities. But it is impossible to earn something that has already been bought. 28

29 Draw a box around OF GOD and write it on the right side of the cliff, across form SIN. Box it. Point to SIN on the left side and then back to God on the right and explain that all of us have sinned but God is perfect and has not. Draw a box around ETERNAL LIFE and write it on the right side of the cliff with a box around it. Point to DEATH on the left side and show that ETERNAL LIFE is the opposite. Draw a cross between the cliffs as abridge. Box the words CHRIST JESUS in the verse. Write CHRIST JESUS inside the cross. Box LORD in the verse, and write it inside the cross on the illustration. Write BELIEVE across the top of the cross on the left side and number it with a 1. Write REPENT across the top of the cross on the right side and number it 2. Draw a man on the left side of the bridge. Draw an arrow across the bridge. If the person is ready to repent of his sin and trust Christ for salvation, help him to pray, confessing his need for Christ and surrendering his life to Him. OF GOD God wants to give you a gift. I can t give it to you; a church can t give it to you; no one can give you this gift but God alone. Why don t you think God would want to give you a gift? Why does anyone want to give someone a precious gift? ETERNAL LIFE What do you think eternal life is? Eternal life means a relationship with God. Eternal life means that when we die we will experience life with God. But it also means life right now. Just as separation from God starts in this life and extends into eternity, eternal life starts now and goes on forever. No sin can end it. (Ask if there is any part that you have explained so far that he does not understand of if he has any questions. Be sure that each point is clear before you proceed any further.) CHRIST JESUS How do we get from death to life? Jesus is the means by which we can obtain the gift of eternal life. Jesus, God s son, lived a life without sin so that he is able to take the wages for our sin on Himself. No one can offer a gift except the one who purchased it. He purchased it by paying for it with His life. Hold out a pen to the person, and ask him to imagine that someone had bought it for him as a present. As you hand it to him, ask him at what point the pen becomes his (when he accepts it). Tell him he can accept God s gift to him by following two steps. LORD The gift is offered to everyone who makes Jesus Lord. For Jesus to be Lord, He has to have control of a person s life. He gains that control, or becomes Lord, when a person does two things. BELIEVE AND REPENT To Believe means to agree with God that we have sinned, that there are things in our lives that are wrong, and that Christ has come as a perfect sacrifice for our sin, paying with His life to forgive. To Repent means to decide that we want to turn around and allow Christ to be the final authority in our lives as we turn away from our sin and to live in order to please Him and not ourselves. It doesn t mean that we have to be perfect, but that we want to try our best to please Christ. As a person believes and repents, he passes across the bridge. He begins a relationship with God and starts to experience a new and eternal life. On the basis of what I have just explained, what must a person do to have a relationship with God and eternal life? (If he does not say believe and repent and understand what that means, go back and explain it until it is clear.) If you were to place yourself on the bridge, where would you be? Are you far off to the leftfar away from God or close to the bridge and eager to learn more about God? What two things does a person have to do to cross over the bridge in order to begin a relationship with God and have eternal life? Is there any reason why you should not repent and believe right now and begin to experience a close relationship with God and eternal life? 29

30 SECTION 6 CAMPING

31 Young Life Camping Camping All Young Life weekend and summer camps are leader-centered. All the pieces work together so that the leader can share the gospel effectively and develop good relationships with their kids. The leader is set up to be the primary proclaimer of the gospel. Camp Sell Getting kids to camp is a spiritual adventure. Getting kids to camp is everyone s job. Develop a prayer strategy. Decide to go to camp. It is hard to get kids to camp if you re not going. Let them know you want them to come with you. Have a plan for how you are going to get kids signed up. Start with the kids who you know are going and then work on harder kids. It is important to get a deposit. When a kid signs up, see if they have friends they would like to get to go with them. Communicate with parents. Sell camp in club often. Start as soon as you have dates. Develop a camp run on. Let them know everything at camp will be great - the food, the people, the activities. Continually update who is going that is the thing kids want to know. Plan fundraisers. We don t want money to stop a kid from going, and many kids will need financial help. Keep asking kids until they say No. Pray that God shows you when to back off and when to be persistent. Don t be discouraged when kids say No. Keep in mind how camp will bless them. Be prepared to help with common problems - money, parents, job, vacation. Always have camp information with you or in your car when you are around kids. Stay in contact with kids who are signed up. The Schedule Remember to tell them only what they need to know about the schedule. Leave them wondering and wanting more. Let them know early in the week that you will tell them what they need to know. Keeping the element of surprise makes the every day exciting. The start of the week is very active and the content is not as personally challenging. It is more related to who Jesus is and what we believe in our heads about him. As the week progresses, it gets more personal talking about sin, the cross, and our response. So there is less activity and more time for good one-on-one conversations. You should never complain in front of your kids. It only takes a little negative talk to overcome positive energy. Remember that camp staff and other leaders are doing their best. Think of your kid s perspective, not comparisons with what you ve seen before. Cabin Discipline When choosing between friendship and respect, go for respect. Once kids are in the cabin for the night it is your job to keep them there. If you let your kids out, you make it difficult for every other leader at camp. Try to make it fun to be together in the cabin. You should make sure all your kids are at every meal, event, and club. Head leaders are there to help you, not to do your job. 31

32 Camping Be sensitive to your noise level and to what is happening in other cabins around yours. We are a community. Take leadership to get kids to sleep. If they are tired it is tough for them to understand and pay attention to the gospel. Don t allow practical jokes. They always demand retaliation and usually get out of control as the week progresses. Cabin Times A major responsibility of a leader at a Young Life camp is to run a cabin time for their kids. The purpose of the cabin time is to get kids talking so they can process the message. Cabin time also helps a leader understand what kids are thinking. It is also a chance for kids to begin to share their lives with each other. You are the key person, who makes sure that the message being proclaimed up front, is reaching your kids. The purpose of cabin time is to get kids talking. You start and guide the conversation and then listen carefully. Often it is helpful to start cabin time with a non-threatening question everyone can answer. Encourage everyone to share, but don t force them to share. Each day in the leader meeting the speaker will preview their talk and give some suggestions for cabin time questions. Listen carefully during the talk and pray that God will use cabin time to open kids up. Set some basic guidelines the first night: Have them sit in a circle on the floor so you can make eye contact with everyone. Tell them this has the potential to be the best part of camp if they will be open and let friendships deepen. Let them know that only one person speaks at a time, Don t allow negative humor and teasing. They kill openness. I like to let them know of some of my rules for camp: Be at meetings, meals and in the cabin on time. Tell them you don t want to be a policeman, but, if forced to, you will. Have them agree that what they say will be confidential. You will only talk to others if it has to do with their safety. Try not to let the group stray off the subject. If you sense someone is asking a significant question, discuss it, answer it briefly and come back on the subject. Tell them you will talk further after cabin time. Sometimes questions (i.e. what about people who have never heard about Christ? ) are a smoke screen to avoid the personal implications of the gospel. If you don t have an answer, don t fake it: Kids will appreciate your honesty. Camp staff can help with answers. One-On-One Meetings You are expected talk to every kid in your cabin one-on-one about the gospel. This is your job. At some point in the week (usually Day 4 or 5), tell your kids that you are going to meet with everyone individually. You want to get a chance to know them and then to hear how they are processing the message. Almost every kid will want to talk. You should not try to talk kids into responding to Christ. Only God can change a heart. We don t beg kids or cheapen the gospel to get a positive response. Your job is to do all you can do to make sure they understand the gospel message and then see what God is doing in their lives. Be in prayer for your kids. 32

33 Roles of Camp Staff Camping The camp staff are there to serve you as a leader. If it would help kids, most of the camp staff available to come to help by eating a meal with your kids, playing a game, or even coming to a cabin time. Their roles are: Camp Director The person in charge who coordinates all the parts of camp. Speaker The person who will share the Gospel from up front. Program Directors The funny ones who run the events at camp. Your job is provide floor leadership Head Leaders They are available to help you with any problem. They also will help with any discipline problems. Work Crew The high school students who serve at camp. They witness through service. Summer Staff The college students who run the rides and retail at camp. Property Staff The people who work behind the scenes to make the property excellent. Campaigners at Camp Campaigner kids can be helpful with kids in the cabin if we teach them ways that God can use them to minister to their friends. Camp is a great chance to teach them about ministry Ask them to be pace setters, helping you get the group together for events and cabin times. Tell them to let their friends do most of the talking. Give them a signal for when you want them to answer. Ask them to help you by listening closely to what their friends are saying and also by silently praying during the time. Get feedback from them about what they see happening with their friends. Encourage Campaigners to join you for a quiet time in the morning. Read Scripture, pray with them, and give them a vision for ministry with their friends. Common Objections Kids often have significant questions. Here are a couple objections that you should be prepared to answer: What about those who haven t heard - Rom 1:20, Rom 2:14-15, II Pet 3:9 What about other religions John 14:6, Acts 4:12, I John 5:12 Why does God allow suffering James 1:13, Luke 6:45 I need to know more first I Cor 2:14 I have to know I am going to follow through on the commitment II Cor 5:17, Gal 5:16 Camp Follow Up The Great Commission (Mt. 28:19,20) is to make disciples (followers), not just converts (onetime experience). Our goal should be to present every man complete in Christ. (Col 1:28). We are kid s first contact with the Christian world. Their impression of who God is and what the Christian life is like will be influenced directly by us. We need to have a vision for the new Christian s life and what they can become in Christ As soon as a kid makes a decision to follow Christ, discipleship starts. Encourage them to have 33

34 a quiet time with you the next day. Make sure they get a Bible. Pray with them. Encourage them to tell one friend about their decision to follow Christ. It makes them act on their commitment, making it real back home. Have a plan before camp and set up a time to get together, usually a camp reunion, within the first days after you get home. Tell them about Campaigners. Call them and make sure they will come to the first meeting. Encourage Campaigners kids to help by adopting a new Christian. Make sure you follow up with kids who didn t make a commitment at camp. Continue to pray for them and talk to them about Christ. 34

35 SECTION 7 YOUNG LIFE VALUES 35

36 YOUNG LIFE MISSION STATEMENT Young Life Vision YOUNG LIFE Young Life is a world-class organization for adolescents. Out staff and volunteers enter the world of kids, focusing on what matters to them fun, adventure, friendship and a sense of significance. In doing so, we earn the privilege of talking to them about something that we believe matters most of all the truth about God and His love for them. OUR VISION Every adolescent will have the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ and follow Him. OUR MISSION Introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. WE ACCOMPLISH OUR MISSION BY Praying for kids. Going where kids are. Building personal relationships with them. Winning the right to be heard. Providing experiences that are fun, adventurous and life-changing. Inviting them to personally respond to the Good News. Loving them regardless of their responses. Nurturing kids so they might grow in their love for Christ and the knowledge of God s Word and become people who can share their faith with others. Helping young people develop the skills, assets and attitudes to reach their full Godgiven potential. Encouraging kids to live connected to the Body of Christ by being an active member of a local congregation. Working with a team of like-minded individuals volunteer leaders, committee members, donors and staff. OUR VALUES Living according to and communicating the whole Gospel of Jesus Christ. Carrying out our mission under the authority of Scripture and relying on the Holy Spirit to empower our ministry. Encouraging the welfare and spiritual health of those who do this ministry, so that they may minister out of a consistent and growing relationship with Christ and His followers. Researching and developing innovative approaches to reaching uncommitted, disinterested kids around the world. Welcoming all those whom God calls to our mission men and women of all races, staff and volunteers who are linked to the common purpose of introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ. Observing the highest standards of stewardship of all the resources placed in our trust. 36

37 YOUNG LIFE S STATEMENT OF FAITH Young Life Vision Preamble All those who participate in the ongoing work and witness of the Campaign shall be in sympathy with its central purpose of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In order to qualify for office, members of the Board of Directors, members of the regular and volunteer Staff and professors at the Young Life Institute shall subscribe to the following articles of faith: Article I The Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments being given by divine inspiration, are the Word of God, the final and supreme authority in all matters of faith and conduct. Article II In the Scriptures, God reveals himself as the living and true God, Creator of all things. Perfect in love and righteousness in all His ways, this one God exists eternally as a Trinity of persons: the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Article III God made man in His image that He might have fellowship with him. Being estranged from God by his disobedience, sinful man is incapable of a right relationship to God apart from divine grace. Article IV The only Mediator between God and man is Jesus Christ our Lord, God s eternal Son, who as man fully shared and fulfilled our humanity in a life of perfect obedience. Article V By His death in our place, Jesus revealed the divine love and upheld divine justice, removing our guilt and reconciling us to God. Having risen bodily from the dead and ascended into heaven, He rules as Lord over all and interceded for us as our great high priest. Article VI The Holy Spirit, through the proclamation of the gospel, renews our hearts, persuading us to repent of our sins and confess Jesus as Lord. By the same Spirit we are led to trust in divine mercy, whereby we are forgiven all our sins, justified by faith through the merit of Christ our Savior, adopted into God s family as his children and enabled so to live in the world that men may see our good works and glorify our Father who is in heaven. Article VII God by his word and Spirit calls sinful men into the fellowship of Christ s body. Thus he creates the one holy, catholic and apostolic church, united in the bonds of love, endowed with the gifts of the Spirit and summoned by Christ to preach the gospel and to administer the sacraments, to relieve human need and to strive for social justice. Article VIII God s redemptive purpose will be consummated by the return of Christ to raise the dead, judge all men and establish his glorious kingdom. Those who are apart from Christ shall be eternally separated from God s presence, but the righteous shall live and reign with him forever. 37

38 Young Life Vision ARIZONA REGIONAL VALUES 1) We passionately love God 2) We have a heart for the lost 3) We highly value our partners 4) We are a loving and welcoming community 5) We are intentionally multi-cultural 6) We develop effective kingdom leaders 38

39 YOUNG LIFE HISTORY Young Life Vision Young Life is a group of adults who love Jesus with their whole hearts and want to introduce kids to their best friend. So they go where kids are, win the right to be heard and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with them Jim Rayburn born 1931 Rayburn graduates from Kansas State University with a degree in Engineering 1932 Rayburn marries Maxine Stanley Rayburn is hired by the Presbyterian Board of National Missions in New Mexico (and parts of Arizona). Clara Frasher starts a group to pray for teenagers attending Gainesville High School in Texas 1936 Rayburn begins at Dallas Theological Seminary 1938 Rayburn begins working as an assistant youth minister for Clyde Kennedy at a church in Gainesville. He encourages Rayburn to work with the students who do not go to church 1939 Rayburn starts an outreach starting a chapter of the Miracle Book Club. Meeting after school, he started with 3 kids and in 9 months it grew to Rayburn changes the time and location from after school to early evening in the homes of students, growing to 170 by the end of the year. Rayburn graduates from seminary and changes the name to Young Life. He runs tent meetings led by students that attract people. Rayburn speaks at the seminary chapel and recruits 65 students to be leaders. He decides it is best to demonstrate love, kindness and friendship to people before confronting them with the issue of their salvation Young Life files papers to become a formal ministry Young Life Campaign, with 5 staff. As staff increase Rayburn began to send them all over the United States to start Young Life Add Sewell discovers the key to going deep with kids spending time with them on their turf. Young Life begins to focus on the development of volunteer leader, starting at Wheaton College Young Life s first camp, Star Ranch in Colorado Springs is started. This is followed by Silver Cliff Ranch in 1949, Frontier Ranch in 1951 and Malibu Club in Bill Starr develops the first Young Life Committee Young Life started international work in France. The Young Life Institute is founded to provide graduate level education to the 38 men and 18 women on staff Harv Oostdyk, Bill Milliken, and George Sheffer start Young Life s outreach in urban communities 1970 Jim Rayburn dies of cancer 1980 s Young Life starts WyldLife for middle school students and Capernaum for special needs students s Young Life starts YoungLives for teen moms s Young Life starts Young Life College Today Young Life is active in over 100 countries and operates 33 properties. Young Life continues with the same vision: that every kid might have the opportunity to hear about Jesus. 39

40 SECTION 8 VOLUNTEER LEADERSHIP 40

41 Leadership Our Audience: Adolescent Characteristics A time of turmoil, disorganization and discomfort Moving from being a child to an adult Preoccupied with their bodily changes Compare themselves to their peers and to adults Inconsistent behavior is the norm during adolescence Academic development is secondary to physical development Generally adolescence starts around 12 and can last until 25 Psychological Tasks of Adolescence Separation from parents and other adults Less involved with family Critical of parents reluctant to accept adult advice No longer compliant behavior becomes secretive Establish their self-identity Spends much time with peer group on phone, social media Fashion dictated by culture Experiments developing sexual identity clothes as an expression Begin the process of life choices What Adolescents Need Most Help to find the meaning of life More time and involvement from adults More constructive opportunities to experiment with life (a need for adventure) More opportunities for moral development More help in developing social competence From Adolescent Peer Pressure: US Department of Health and Human Services Cultural Religious Beliefs of Adolescents: Moralistic Therapeutic Deism A God exists who created and orders the world and watches over human life on Earth. God wants people to good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions. The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about one s self God does not need to be particularly involved in one s life except when He is needed to resolve a problem Good people go to heaven when they die. 41

42 VOLUNTEER LEADER JOB DESCRIPTION Leadership Purpose: A Young Life leader is part of a group of people committed to the idea of winning a hearing with kids for the greatest story ever told. Key Relationships: Will have personal friendships with high school kids. Will see kids (focus is on kids of your same gender) from the school you are assigned as your mission field. Supervised by the club Senior Leader. Will work closely with a volunteer leadership team. Responsibilities: Contact - One general and one personal contact time with kids outside of meetings per week. Club - Regularly attend and participate in weekly club meetings. Campaigners - Lead or participate in a Campaigners group. Discipleship Chose at least one kid up to three to personally disciple. Camps - Be available for weekend and summer camps. Leadership - Attend all leadership and team meetings. Qualifications: A growing relationship with Jesus Christ. Ability and desire to communicate with teenagers. Willingness to be trained. Involved in a local church. Commitment to healthy relationship on the team. Willingness to make a year commitment to ministry. Subscribe to the articles of faith and adhere to the policies and covenant Weekly Time Commitment: 10 to 13 hours per week Breakdown: Contact 4-6 hours per week Club. 3 hours per week Campaigners 2 hours per week Leadership.. 6 hours per month This is a significant commitment and will require intentional prioritization and planning. Training and Support Provided: You will be trained by both your area director and your team coordinator You will have regular fellowship with area and team leaders. You will be challenged to grow spiritually. 42

43 Ten Commitments of a Young Life Leader Leadership I. I will win the personal allegiance of every kid in my club to the Lord and Master by spending time with them, talking, and prayer. I will expect a decision on the part of each one, and I will make sure that their decision is based on facts. No kids will I ever give up on as unreachable. II. I will not think my work is over when a kid has made their decision for Christ. I will help them to realize how necessary daily Bible reading and prayer are. I will also put helpful books in their hands and will encourage them to unite with God s people. I will show them the importance of ministry. III. I will see that they find a definite place in some specified task. I will do all I can to help every kid become an out-and-out aggressive Christian, for God has a place for each one to serve. IV. I will bring Christianity out of the unreal world into the everyday life. I will show Campaigners the practical things they should be doing as Christians. The needs of the world comfort for the stranger, food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, are judgementday tests of genuine Christianity. (Mt. 25). V. I will seek to help each one discover the will of God, because the Master can use every talent. I will try to see in them what God sees. Michelangelo saw the face of an angel in a discarded stone. Christ saw a writer in a tax gatherer, a preacher in a fisherman, a world evangelist in a murderer. He takes foolish things and the weak and despised to work His purposes. VI. I will instill a divine discontent into the mind of everyone who can do more than he is doing, not by telling them the pettiness of their life, but by giving them a vision of great things to be done enthusiastically, and passionately. VII. I will make it easy for anyone to come to me with the deepest experiences of their inner life, not by urging but by sympathy and understanding. I will never let anyone think I am disappointed in them. In all this, I will stay close until they are established, remaining at all times accessible to them. VIII. I will keep the cross of Christ central in the Christian life. It is great to be out where the fight is strong, to be where the heaviest of troops belong and to fight there for God and man. IX. I will pray as I have never prayed before for wisdom and power, believing God s promise that if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask, and it shall be given to him (Jas.1:5) X. I will spend and be spent in this battle. I will not seek rest and ease. I will not think that freshness of face holds beauty in comparison with the glory of heaven. I will seek fellowship with the man of sorrows acquainted with grief (Isa. 53:3), as He walks through this stricken world. I will not fail Him. - Adapted from Henrietta Mears 43

44 WHAT BEING IN YOUNG LIFE MINISTRY OUGHT TO DO FOR YOU It ought to be so unreachably big that you can only see it through the eyes of Christ by faith. It ought to be harder than you can handle on your own so as to make you more dependent on God. It ought to give you enough disappointments to make you humble and break your spiritual pride. It ought to be difficult enough to make you weep for others that you might become more compassionate. It ought to have enough demanding, insensitive, ungrateful people in it to teach you to love like Jesus loves. It ought to have enough impossible, insurmountable obstacles in it to teach you the goodness and power of God. It ought to teach you how to love when you re tired, give when you re spent and pray when you re weary. It ought to teach you how to turn your mourning into dancing, your sadness into joy and your sorrow into laughter. It ought to teach you the power and truth of God s word, the strength of His voice and the might of His commands. It ought to teach you to love the only One worthy of all our love; the One who became poor that we might become right; the One who became sin that we might become righteousness of God. A true ministry is the ministry that helps you become: more like Jesus Christ more in love with God more in love with people. 44

45 TRAINER S APPENDIX 45