During the summer of 2019 over 2,200 adults visited Young Life camps to better understand the mission of Young Life and experience changed lives. They went back home saying things like this:
“Young Life gets the mission of introducing high school kids to Jesus Christ better than anyone!”
“Thank you so much for having us. It truly allowed us to get a bigger, clearer glimpse of Young Life and its impact. As an area committee volunteer I feel like I can talk even more confidently about Young Life and why it's so critical to engage other parents.”
“We were big supporters of Young Life before, but the camp experience really solidified our support!”
So what is it about the Adult Guest Program at camp that produces this type of transformation for adults? One word – EXPOSURE! The Adult Guest Program provides an affordable tool to mission entities to invite guests to see, experience, and understand the Gospel and essence of the mission. Quickly translated – it’s an invitation to “come and see” so that adults can “go and do.”
And now to the question we’re asking about pretty much everything this summer – how do we have adult guests without camp? And WHY?
Let’s start with WHY. The health of a local area is a by-product of – you guessed it – the health of their adult ministry team. Committee, leaders, and donors serve as complementary partners and make it possible for staff to lead ministry. And yet, most areas would say that they need more adults involved in their mission community, and are constantly asking how to recruit more adults.
Let’s learn from the professional fundraisers of the world and turn to the Donor Engagement Cycle. Layman translation = turning potential donors from spectators of your work to participants. There are three crucial stages to execute before ever asking an individual for money (Shout out to Relationship Centered Engagement for more info).
RECRUIT/INSPIRE LEARN ENGAGE
RECRUIT/INSPIRE – This is your opportunity to excite folks! Provide a quick education, share stories, and communicate the importance of Young Life’s work in the local area.
LEARN – About the adult! What makes them tick; why are they interested in connecting with Young Life; what are they good at; how can they serve Young Life in a way that utilizes their gifts and brings them joy?
ENGAGE – let them serve! Engagement is the turning point in donor engagement. It takes spectators and turns them into participants, which translates to years of committed service.
Here are some ideas on HOW to implement this strategy this summer…
PRAY! For adults to join you, and with the adults who join you.
INVITE adults to be on your local camp assignment team. Let them make and serve food, set up events, hand out Bibles, etc. The #1 feedback we receive from adult guests at camp is that they wish they had been asked to DO MORE to make camp happen.
COMMISSION a Committee member to serve as the Adult Guest Host and run a mini Adult Guest Program at your events. Invite, be intentional to teach/inspire while they’re there, and follow-up to learn more about them and how they can engage.
DISCIPLE adults – have a Committee member run their own “cabin times” as your area walks through the summer, spending time in the Word, sharing the vision of the mission, and inviting them to participate.
HOST a Friendraiser with other Committee members! Think of it as a cross between a mini-Banquet and Campaigners for adults. You’re pulling back the curtain on what/how you do ministry and inviting them to be Friends of Young Life.
Then sit back and see what the Lord does. Because these are His people who He ordained to serve in this specific time. And in the same way that we think about students changing their schools, these adults were made to change their communities. We simply need to make the invitation.
I can’t wait to see how we do this – Young Life is full of innovators who refuse to quit, so please share your stories of adult engagement here. And email me (kclifford@sc.younglife.org) with questions or if you need a pep talk! Finally, if you missed it, check out these 7 tips on how to turn adults in your area from spectators to participants.
Adult Guest Host Bootcamp: Committee and Staff - join us for a Zoom Bootcamp to equip you to serve as an Adult Guest Host for your Area's 2020 camping experience, whatever that may be! July 1 or 7, 8:00pm EST. Email Kristy to register (kclifford@sc.younglife.org)
