Leaders' Handbook 2014 Young Life COV P.O. Box 4600 Carlsbad, CA 92018 Phone (760) 845-9735 www.cov.younglife.org - Area Website http://staff.younglife.org - Staff Resources
2014 Team Leaders Ministry Name Email Address Phone Young Life O Side Jonna Clark akhick8@gmail.com 760.678.8162 Wyldlife O Side Gaby Munuz gabymunoz2011@gmail.com 760.672.9841 Young Life O side Vaa Wong ftvwong@yahoo.com 760.696.6338 Capernaum Matt Anderson matt@sdcapernaum.org 760.685.5345 Wyldlife Carlsbad Scott Rubin svrubin@gmail.com 760.845.9735 Young Life Carlsbad Makoto Houck makotohouck@gmail.com 760.576.1686 Young Lives Sophia Young sophia.young1977@yahoo.com 949.379.0582 Important Contacts Area Director Scott Rubin svrubin@gmail.com 760.845.9735 Committee Chair Glenn Speirs g.speirs@yahoo.com 760.458.7833 Area Administrator Lisa Zickafoose rosefrog@ymail.com 619.261.3408 Young Life 24- Hour Accident / Incident / Emergency In the event of an accident, incident or emergency in in which medical or lawa enforcement assistance is required to prevent the the loss of life or to resolve an unstable or threatening condition in which persons or property appear to be at great rish of injury or damage: 1. Call 9-1- 1 then call 1(800) 999-8661 for the Young Life Help Line
New Leader Screening and Process Young Life requires all volunteers to complete the Young Life Background Check as well as the Faith and Conduct Policy. Both of these will be completed by going to the Young Life Staff Resources site http://staff.younglife.org You will be emailed your user name and passcode to access the site. New Leaders will also be requred to complete the following: Leadership Covenant Leader Application Personal Reference Interview with Young Life Staff person Leaders may not have contact with students until all screening is completed. Driving For Young Life Safe driving is a high priority to Young Life. We are committed to ensuring that kids are driven to Young Life functions by qualified drivers with safe driving records. Never drive with kids in the back of open vehicles, on car hoods with kids putting any part of their body outside of the vehicle. Never text or talk on the phone while driving a vehicle Kids should always be properly seatbelted when in a YL Leader s vehicle Never let under age kids drive a vehicle. Avoid load music, eating or other distractions while driving. Avoid driving alone in a car with a student of the opposite sex as well as kids of the same sex. All drivers must be at least 19 years old and have had their license for a minimum of two years. Eighteen- year- olds may only drive for WyldLife and must have had their license for a minimum of two years. An additional form (YL- 1735) must be signed by a parent of both the 18- year- old driver and the passenger. Anyone under 18 may not drive on behalf of Young Life. In order to drive for Young Life, you must complete EACH of these four steps. 1. View the "Driving with Excellence" Safe Driving Video every time you renew your application. 2. Review the Driver Requirements and Vehicle Maintenance Policy in the Young Life Safety Manual. 3. Complete the elearning Defensive Driving Course every time you renew your application. 4. Complete the Driver Questionnaire Application; submit a release form (required) if your license is from these states: AK, DE, DC, HI, NH, PA and WA.
Leadership Training and Area Leadership New Leaders are required to particiapte in our New Leader Orientation and Young Life 101. Leaders are also required to participate in monthly Area Leadership Meetings designed to give leaders continued training and provide a sense of community and support for other ministry teammates. These are always fun and encouraging events that you will not want to miss. Expectations of Volunteer Commitments 1. Commitment to Personal Spiritual Maturity a. Atteding a local church b. Personal spiritual disciplines 2. Commitment to Staff Support, team work and team unity a. Quickly Resolve Conflicts b. Support other volunteers and YL Staff c. Acceptane and nurturing of new staff 3. Commitment to Consistency a. Attendance at programs that you have committed to b. Attendance at Monthly Area Leadership meetings c. Quality communication d. Being on time for activities e. Planning ahead to participate in camps and activities 4. Commitment to Relational Ministry a. Every student counts b. Every student is included, know, greeted, cared for c. Love in action goes to their world. 5. Commitment to Young Life s purposes, values and programs
Use of Social Media, Text Messaging, etc Social media and texting are a big part of communicating with Young Life students. Extreme care should be taken whenever communicating via text, email or social media as a leader. Follow these guidelines whenever communicating or using social media in Young Life: Avoid posting pictures of students on Facebook, Snap Chat, Instagram or similar platforms. Avoid taking or posing in pictures or videos that in anyway may seem questionable. Avoid excessive taggin of photos on Facebook or other similar sites. Never post personal information of students including phone numbers, home address, birthday, etc Avoid long conversations with students via text message. Keep message content informational in nature. Avoid group texts to large groups of students Avoid texting or contacting kids at odd hours in the morning or evening. Whenever possible limit communication with students of the opposite sex. Never post or send messages that in any way communicate sexual, racial or other discriminatory content. Avoid getting involved in confrontations in any socail media forum. If you receive an inappropriate message report it to the Young life Area Director immediately. Facebook pages or other social media accounts should not be set- up without the permission of the Young Life Area Director. Electronic Contact with Wyldlife students should be very limited and via parents when possible. Contact Work Contact work is a significant part of being a Young Life leader. Going where we can see and be seen by students, having more personal contact with kids outside of club or campaigners are important. Good judgment should be used when reaching out to students. The following guidelines are helpful in maintaining appropriateness when doing contact work. Contact work should always be guy leader to guy student and girl leader to girl student. Remember that kids often can feel powerless when approached by an adult. Always give kids power in contact work situations. For example: asking a student for their phone number creates a powerless situation for kids. Use alternative methods of gathering a students personal contact information in order to keep them informed about Young Life events. For example: a sign up sheet or club card offers the kids an option to give their information without it being uncomfortable. They also have an out if not interested. Invitations should always be given carefully and offer students and out. Contact work should be done with groups in public settings like a football game, etc Avoid pursing individual kids who you do not have an established relationship with. Contact work for kids we have relationships with should be by their invitation. It may be good to let kids know that you would like to come see their play, or watch their game and to invite you if they want you to come. Contact work with new students should be through students we have established relationships with.
Camps Camp is a major part of the Young Life ministry. Leaders are encouraged to make every effort to attend weekend and summer camp. Attendance at camp for a leader is based participation in the ministry and recuitment of kids to camp. Leaders are expected to build a personal ministry with a group of students throughout the year and will lead their group at camp. At times there may be a need for additional leaders a camp. Camp costs there is a cost associated with every person who attends camp including leaders. We encourage every leader to participate in the funding of their own camp costs. Assitance will be given to any leader that is unable to fully cover their camp costs. Training all leaders who attend camp will be required to participate in pre- camp training. 2014-2015 Calendar of Major Events September 7 - Area Leadership September 26-28 - Leadership Weekend at Thousand Pines October 4 Young Life CELEBRATION at Daybreak Church October 24-26 Young Life Campaigner Weekend at Oakbridge November Area Leadership November 21-23 Wyldlife Outreach Weekend at Oakbridge (Oceanside Club) December Leader/ Committee Christmas Party December 12-14 Young Life Outreach Weekend at Oakbridge January Area Leadership January Young Life Outreach Weekend at Oakbridge February 20-22 Wyldlife Outreach Weekend at Oakbridge (Carlsbad Club) March 20 22 Leadership Retreat at Lake Arrowhead May TBD Area Leadership End of Year Party July 6-10 Wyldlife Camp July 19-26 Young Life Camp at Lost Canyon
Young Life COV Leader Covenant The following guidelines are intended to serve as the minimum standards for Young Life leaders. By establishing these expectations, we hope to protect the heart of each leader as well as the heart of this ministry to kids. In Christ we are given freedom to live a full life and that is our hope for each of you! As followers of Christ and Young Life leaders, we must live to Christ s standards as well as accepting the standards that come along with being in a leadership position. This covenant is in place not to be legalistic, but to help you reach your full potential as a leader! Spirituality (2 Peter 3:18) Vibrant personal faith 1. As a Young Life leader I will strive towards growth in the grace and knowledge of the Lord and His Word. Quiet times, church attendance and prayer should be a consistent part of a leader s life in order to promote spiritual growth. We want you to be filled so you may pour out Christ s love to others! Relationships (Timothy 3:1-4) Around Young Life kids 2. As a Young Life leader I will not date or have a romantic relationship with anyone who would or could be a student in my ministry circle. 3. As a Young Life leader I will avoid any situation where I am alone with a student of the opposite gender. Leaders are in position of authority over those they are ministering to and as such must understand appropriate boundaries and respect the trust parents and the community has put into this position of leadership. Leaders must understand that younger kids will always look up to them, and may even desire deeper relationships with a leader that maybe unhealthy and inappropriate. Leaders who find themselves in significant conversation with a kid of the opposite gender must immediately seek out another leader of the appropriate gender. Living with the Opposite Sex 4. As a Young Life leader I will not live with someone of the opposite gender (unless as a married couple or married couple renting space in their home). The very public nature of being in leadership requires us to be aware that even if someone is not in a romantic or sexual relationship, the chance of actual or perceived inappropriateness requires a unique standard when it comes to housing situations with someone of the opposite gender. Physical and Moral Purity (Ephesians 5:18, 1 Corinthians 6: 12-20) Sexual Purity 5. As a Young Life leader I will not be in a sexual relationship with anyone outside of marriage. 6. As a Young Life leader I will not view pornography. Sexual misconduct is a sin that has impacted many in ministry, and every leader must strive to have people surrounding them that will help insure proper and healthy relationships.
Drugs and Alcohol 7. As a Young Life leader I will not consume alcohol unless I am of legal drinking age, and even then will be responsible by being aware of who is watching me, not drink where Yong Life kids may be present, and understand that drunkenness is not acceptable behavior. 8. As a Young Life leader I will not possess or consume illegal drugs. Drug and alcohol abuse is not only harmful to the ministry, it is harmful to the health and welfare of the individual and everyone they are in contact with. Our desire is to encourage professional help for those who are addicted to any such substance and be helpful in the recovery process, but must ask that individuals step away from leadership as this healing occurs. Responsibility (Ephesians 5:15) Driving 7. As a Young Life leader I will not drive kids unless I have been approved as a driver by Young Life. When driving with kids, I will make sure seat belts are worn, one person per seatbelt, and will observe posted speed limits and other traffic laws. Driving with kids is a significant responsibility and leaders must exercise care to stay focused on the task of safe driving as their first priority. No exceptions! Internet and Electronic Communication 8. As a Young Life leader I will insure that my Facebook, Instagram or any other website listing reflects positively on the Young Life ministry I represent. These sites are now available to high school and middle school students, employers and parents. Remember that jokes can be misunderstood as truth when someone doesn t know you personally. Be aware of the image portrayed by you through this medium. As a Young Life Leader I will insure that all electronic communication with students will be appropriate and follow the guidelines given during leadership orientation. As followers of Christ, and because we represent HIM to a community and the world, we need to be responsible with our decisions. If we choose to be leaders, we are also choosing to be viewed, and in turn live up to higher standards. Our behavior reflects the integrity of the ministry. It is necessary to have discipline in this regard when we are working with middle and high school students in a community. YL leaders must inform their Team Leader or Area Director if they have questions, concerns, or are unable to fulfill elements of the covenant. I (print name) agree to abide by these expectations. I agree to be mutually accountable to God, my team, and the staff of Young Life to uphold this covenant in Christian community. (signature) (date) Leadership Covenant revised September 2014