Now Hiring: Committee Developer

We often say that the Committee Chair is the highest ranking volunteer in a local area while acknowledging that the majority of Committee Chairs in the US receive very little training if any at all. We have a strong conviction that the local area committee and specifically the Committee Chair is key to the sustainability of local Young Life ministry.

In an effort to give focused training to the local Committee Chair, in the past 18 months over half of the Regions in the US have engaged in a Committee Chair/Area Director summit or have participated in a training call on resourcing Committee chairs from a Regional perspective. At the end of both the Summits and training calls, the Region is given the charge to continue to own the resourcing of committee chairs from the Regional Leadership team in collaboration with the Regional Board. Where we have seen the greatest traction is when a member of the Regional Board focuses on the development of the Committee.

The  Committee Developer is a Regional Board member whose purpose is to foster shared partnership and ownership of the Health and Growth of the local Committee between the AD and Committee Chair in the Region. They help facilitate the support, training, and leadership to local committee members while working in partnership with RD, RMT, and Board. The Regional Committee Developer gives leadership and support to local Young Life Areas toward:

• Health and Growth:  Of all  5 Core function ministry essentials (Spiritual Development, Resource Development, Leadership Development, Direct Ministry, and Ministry Support)

• Strategic Plan:  Design of a yearly local strategic focus 

• Vision Case:  Funding plan, Leadership Development., Ministry Development, and Camping

The Committee Developer role works toward the delivery of the Young Life Mission within a local committee by aligning Committee purpose toward the YL Mission Vision, Values and Methods and current mission-wide priorities YL Forward as well as committing to general Regional Board expectations that include:

• Participate consistently in all Regional Board meetings as well as Regional functions as requested

• Consistent communication and alignment with Young Life National Committee office

• Cultivate healthy relationships with Regional stakeholders and donors 

• Partner with Regional Director and Regional Leadership Team

• Regular interaction with Regional Committee with emphasis to Committee Chairs

• Development of Committee role within unique ministry contexts (Multi-ethnic, small towns, YLC etc.)

• 3 Year (optional recurring) term 

To learn more about the Committee Developer role click HERE for a full job description. 

SO RETRO, IT'S CUTTING EDGE

In May we knew that gathering 400 people for our fall banquet was unlikely. Several non-profits in our community pivoted to virtual events and experienced success. Thinking this was our only option, we began planning one ourselves. We quickly realized that we are not great at virtual anything which led us to ask:  What are we good at? As co-area directors, we both had done numerous summer camp program assignments. We make people laugh by dressing up in elaborate costumes attempting to draw out child-like wonder in the process. Our events are unique because we are good at making characters come alive. 

With our strengths in view, we asked a second question:  Who do we know? As our team looked at the community, we recognized that we had a strong relationship with the owner of our local drive-in movie theater. We also knew multiple talented videographers who understand the vision of Young Life.  

As we combined our answers to those questions we uncovered an idea to make our own Young Life mockumentary and show it at the drive-in for our fall fundraiser. We rallied our staff, leaders, committee, and students to fill in the cast and crew. Weeks of pre-production, three days of filming and 200 snack bags later we premiered our film for our community. We treated the entrance like a camp welcome and had leaders distributing glow sticks, balloon animals, and playing tic tac toe on car windows. The skills we learned from camp translated to this event and we leveraged that experience to our advantage.

This is what we learned:   The laughter and whimsy of Young Life are some of our best assets.  No matter the medium, highlighting the friendships between leaders and kids is the best story we can tell our community. Folks loved sharing the ‘banquet’ experience with their kids. The community was thankful for a night that felt almost normal. We also released the movie on YouTube that night for non-local attendees. We can now use the movie indefinitely to share the vision and raise funds.  

We also discovered that the peer pressure to give around a banquet table is more powerful for potential donors than it is snacking on popcorn in the back of a hatchback. We only raised $30,000 of our $65,000 goal that evening. Strategic and consistent follow up the next week generated another $10,000. 

You don’t have to have access to a drive-in theater or be experienced in program to do something similar. The point of this article is to compel you to gather your team and ask these questions. Your next event could be uncovered by simply asking: What are we good at? Who do we know? 

Your area has a story worth telling and worth funding.  How will you tell it this year?

Written by Jodi Green (jodi.younglife34@gmail.com) & Greg Hook (greg.younglife@gmail.com)

October 2020 Committees

As we navigate ministry in this new season and in a new normal, we need to be having honest conversations about not only the overall ministry in the local area but also about the health and growth of the Committee/mission community. 

As a Committee Chair I needed a tool that would help guide my conversation with my Area Director that looked at an area Committee/Mission Community in a holistic and comprehensive approach through the lens of the five core functions of ministry: Spiritual Development, Leadership Development, Resource Development, Direct ministry, and Ministry support. 

The mid-year/end-of-year report card gives Committee Chairs and Area Directors an opportunity to give valuable and specific feedback on their Committee/Mission Community. 

Wondering how to use it? IT’S SO SIMPLE.

FOR YL STAFF:

• Click HERE for the PDF version of the mid year/end-of-year report card.

• Print it out

• Take 15 minutes and fill it out

• During your next face to face meeting with your Committee Chair compare notes, take notes, and celebrate what the Lord is doing in your local area and determine action steps moving forward.

FOR COMMITTEE CHAIRS:

• Click HERE for the PDF version of the mid year/end of year report card.

• Print it out

• Take 15 minutes and fill it out

• During your next face to face meeting with your Area Director, compare notes, take notes, and celebrate what the Lord is doing in your local area and determine action steps moving forward.

The Committee Chair and Area Director partnership is vitally important in the midst of this unique ministry season. As I sat down with my area director, this evaluation tool allowed us to celebrate, dream, and plan as we look ahead to the future impact of Young Life in our local area. It has also allowed us to shift our focus to areas of greater need and invite people into conversation aligning the needs of our area with the gift set of our Committee/Mission Community. As a Committee, we are committed to a rhythm of celebration, planning, and evaluation. We are excited to utilize this tool to identify areas of great traction and significant need in our local area and live up to YoungLife’s rhetoric of reaching every kid.

Written by:  Kimberly Silvernale & Johnell Moody

NEED $6,000 FOR YOUR LOCAL AREA? NO PROBLEM

I was an Area Director for 19 years in Ohio and I used 41 & Change in my town.  I had our committee, leaders, and champions each get one subscription for our area. Everyone did a little work with a great payoff.  We had 57 subscriptions, generating a little over $500 per month. I wasn't touching the $$$ or the coffee and it was committee led.  Plus, kids in Nicaragua got a percentage.  t was a no brainer for us and ultimately, more kids heard about Christ because of it. Over our first three years, $17,000 came into my little town from 41 & Change.

During these unprecedented times, many people are looking for creative ways to fundraise for Young Life  in their local area.  As you know, many fundraisers have been postponed or cancelled and our staff have been innovative and creative in approaching these obstacles.  With that spirit in mind, I wanted to share with our staff that 41 & Change coffee could be very instrumental in this time. 41 & Change exists only to serve Young Life and much of their product comes from La Finca, our camp in Nicaragua. Subscriptions through 41 & Change are a way for areas to raise a continual revenue stream and NOW that money can go to operating.

This is huge! During a time of uncertainty, we (committee, leaders, friends and staff) could work together and make a huge impact on our area. 

 Let me tell you how it works.  

• 41 & Change gives us a custom link and people purchase coffee from that link.  

• Each time they buy, we get a percentage of the sale.  

There are many Young Life areas who have raised $6,000 or more in a year with coffee subscriptions and their example looks like this: 50 households purchasing coffee on monthly subscriptions, averaging a $9-$10 giveback to your area would receive around $500 per month. That’s $6,000 a year!  

 There are so many great things about it. Here are a few: 

• We don’t touch the coffee or the $$$. 

• It’s grown on our Young Life Camp in Nicaragua.

• The product is great.  It ranks in the top 3% in the world.

• It’s super fresh!  They roast to order.

• It’s simple.  Share the link, tell the story and your friends and family can subscribe.

• Committee, leaders and champions of Young Life in our area can help.

• You can do this from anywhere.

• Kids will meet Jesus!  Every ounce of profit from 41 & Change goes to Young Life.

INTERESTED IN BEING IN THE FIRST EVER 41&CHANGE PILOT?

Be one of the first 15 Young Life staff or Committee to email Ben, and start a subscription (no commitment) and be a part of the first ever 41 & Change pilot that takes a disciplined approach to  launch this in their area. Just by being a part we will also send a ceramic mug, a 12 ounce bag of coffee to give away to a friend or donor, and the travel mug. A $50 value.

Written by: Ben Bonham ben@41change.com

HOW TO PREVENT A DISRUPTION TO YOUR CASH FLOW

Your golf tournament is different, your banquet is canceled, and your campaigner kids are wearing masks! How do you adapt as the fall approaches? I can’t help answer all your questions, but here’s some direction on one objective:  FUNDING!

As the typical Banquet Season approaches, you likely need to answer these questions: 

1. How do we communicate the impact of our ministry?  

2. Can we Raise funds and balance our budget?

3. Will we be able to grow our ministry and develop a missional community?

This season, your community gathering may be smaller or virtual or an online event of some kind. These  are all great methods. If you are concerned about funding and the consistency of your cash flow  this year you may want to try a GIVING CAMPAIGN. The essential difference provided by a giving campaign is the narrow focus of its intention. Meaning, the online giving campaign has a laser like focus on identifying financial partners and acquiring financial gifts. Giving campaigns  grow ministry and develop community, but those are complimentary to your funding goal.

A few On-line giving campaign TIPS- 

Tip 1:  Keep it simple. Your donors are literally burning calories as they respond to your communication; every click, every minute of video, each line of text takes energy to process. Additionally, you’re going to ask them to make a decision and follow through with an action. All of this burns actual calories… which is simply a fun way to think of this question, as you plan:  are you honoring your donor?

Tip 2: Be very specific. What are you asking for? When are you asking for it? How does the donor respond? If and when you veer away from these details, you begin to lose the likelihood of a donation. You have permission to ask for money! Don’t apologize.

Tip 3:  Don’t be afraid!  We are quite aware that 2020 has been a wild ride for all, and has been a setback for many. However, it’s not necessarily your responsibility to know whether or not your donor is willing or able to give. YOu know your context the best.  Feel free to modify your message and request as needed.  There are many ways to give. 

Tip 4:  Be consistent.  In an age of information overload, realize that your request for funding may need to be more than a one time petition. Most campaigns  have a time-period ranging from a few days to a season. Be careful of ‘donor fatigue’ but also take advantage of the opportunity to highlight several different angles of the ministry from day to day. 

Tip 5:  Be creative.  Within the YL community a ‘giving campaign’ is relatively new.  Take advantage of the chance to utilize different social media platforms and methods of delivering key elements of a fundraiser.  Humor, a financial match,the pitch, testimonies and articulating the need all can be conveyed in new and creative ways. 

Got your mind racing?  Feel free to contact me (contact info below) or take 4 minutes and 33 seconds to watch this short video to hear about some of the things we are seeing around the mission. A Giving campaign can work in any context (From Small towns to International) and can address a pressing need while setting the table for a deeper conversation about the Young Life mission and how your community can participate.                  

Written by: Blake Raney (blakeraney@gmail.com)

BOTTOM LINE... YOUR ZOOM CALL COULD BE BETTER

(Here Are 9 Zoom Upgrades)

Ask your attendees…

Q.  “Know how to download Zoom?”  ✅

Q.  “Watched the YL video tutorial to up your zoom game?”  (YL Zoom Tutorial) ✅

Q.  “Become a master of the Breakout room, reaction graphics, and polling questions?” ✅

Q.  “You can monitor the chat feature like a champ and can mute others at will?” ✅

So, you can send an invite and people attend (mostly) but the engagement seems to be...well...modest. If so, you may be ready to put some thought on how to add some Vroom to your Zoom call.  

The shear shift from attendance to participation may be harder to come by in recent weeks because of what has been commonly called ‘zoom fatigue.’  To go to the next level from participation to engagement may be even more challenging. The list below has come from over 25 Young Life US Regions as they have initiated zoom calls for their staff and volunteer Committee members. Although it is not exhaustive it may be a good place to start. Try a few of the ideas below and let us know how it goes.  

Going from...PARTICIPATION to ATTENDANCE to ENGAGEMENT

9 WAYS TO MAKE YOUR  ZOOM CALLS A ‘NOT TO BE MISSED’ EVENT

1. SET A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE not PERFECTION:  Do the first things first and put in the work to make the call excellent. Make sure you have communicated clearly and timely. The call agenda is prepared, professional, and concise. Any necessary pre/post information/work has been communicated and subject matter experts and your team are ready to go. Your work is not in vain, because good preparation fosters healthy engagement.  Bottom line:  Do your best to think through every detail.

2. MODELING:  Enthusiasm around calls that we facilitate can wane because we aren’t that excited ourselves. No one needs to spend an hour on another conference call unless it is helpful, lifegiving, and serves its designed purpose. If you are truly excited about what you are discussing, then model that engagement in your preparation and delivery. Bottom line: Convince yourself of the value of the call first. 

3. IS THIS AN EXPECTATION?: Many things are optional in YL and that may be needed. However, as you choose the ‘hills to die on’ maybe these calls are part of an expectation of ‘on boarding’ of a role. Also, allow for attendees to assign a ‘proxy’ as their representative if possible. This will help broaden ownership and provide some flexibility. Bottom line:  Establish the understanding that attendance is an expectation for all participants. 

4. CONTACT WORK:  Simply, high engagement on a regular recurring zoom call will require contact work.  People may show up once or twice out of curiosity but will stay because of the relationship.  Do some contact work (in between calls) and watch the engagement shift. There are no shortcuts. Bottom line: The content of the call will be helpful but the relationships will win them over. 

5. BROAD OWNERSHIP:  Think strategically on how you can involve others on your team. Not all will facilitate, present, or get ‘air time’ but if the ownership is wider than yourself then the engagement will grow.  Ultimately the call will be better for it and will start  to be ‘our thing’ not ‘your thing’  Bottom line:  Do it as a team

6. MAKE A DECISION:  If your calls are significant gatherings where input is requested,  decisions are made, and initiatives  launched, then you will see a noticeable up-tick in engagement. Ownership can flourish through simple methods because if the opportunity to be heard presents itself- people come running. Bottom line:  Make 1 decision or provide an avenue for input on each call you host. 

7. INCENTIVISE:  Who doesn’t love FREE stuff?? Camp Scholarship, a dinner, a prize or recognition are not just tactics for engagement, they are a way of keeping the room's attention and having some fun while doing it. Bottom line, Surprise and Spoil your attendees. It will be well worth the cost! 

8. WE COMMIT TO WHAT WE CREATE:  Glean input on topics to discuss and involve others in big and small ways. If I helped create a discussion, then I am showing up invested and engaged.  Bottom line: If you can establish that those on the call will be asked to give their own thoughts and perspective then they will be more inclined to ‘lean in’ on each call.  

9. CULTURE TAKES TIME:  Celebrate small successes and incremental movements of the needle. Oftentimes change will take time and have some bumps along the way.  Attendance may ebb and flow and some of the participants on the call may not even be aware of this new expectation.  That is ok, stay the course and don’t give up.  Bottom Line: Keep working, engaging, and staying faithful to the principles you had regarding the need for this resource and win over hearts and minds over time.  Change is slow.

Written by: Ken Tankersley

FROM ‘COME AND SEE’, TO ‘GO AND DO’ THIS SUMMER

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…

1. PRAY! For adults to join you, and with the adults who join you.

2. 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.  

3. 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. 

4. 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.  

5. 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)

THE FAITHFUL 50 CAMPAIGN

IT TAKES A COMMUNITY TO REACH A COMMUNITY

I have heard it said that “It takes a community to reach a community...and when you do EVERYONE is changed.”  With the Global disruption that we have all experienced the last few months, the need for an invested mission community and stable funding plan to make our way through this next Season is paramount.  This has been the question/conversation we have been having as a local Committee.  Question:   How do we engage more adults in the community, foster greater ownership, and partnership that will lead to everyone experiencing God’s movement while helping us reach the next school, and the next kid? 

My observation has been that perhaps all involvement in ‘mission’ begins transactionally.  A desire to help, to contribute, to support. and to foster change. All partnership in mission shifts when it becomes transformational.  When we not only see change in our world but in our own lives because we have a role to play and a niche to fill.  I think that is what Jesus  intended  in  The Greatest Commandment in the 12th  chapter of the gospel of Mark.

...Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one.  Love the Lord your God with all your HEART and with all your SOUL and with all your MIND and with all your STRENGTH.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” “Well said, teacher,” the man replied. “You are right in saying that God is one and there is no other but him. ...” When Jesus saw that he had answered wisely, he said to him, “You are not far from the kingdom of God.”     -Mark 12: 28-34

To me, it's simple.   Love GOD (vertically).  Love OTHERS (horizontally). EVERYONE changes!  For the next few months, we are trying something different  in the YL  area where I serve as Committee Chair.  We are calling it the Faithful 50 Campaign.  We are committed to finding 50 households/Individuals  that will engage with Young Life in four simple ways.  

1. PRAY:  Faithfully join our area  by being a prayer partner - Heart

2. ATTEND:  Commit to participating in a few key events in the local area each year. -Soul

3. GIVE:  Give a financial gift  monthly at a level of your choosing - Mind

4. SERVE:  Be available to serve locally in some simple tangible ways when contacted. -Strength

Essentially, we want to live out the Greatest commandment of heart, soul, mind, and strength in our local area.  Currently we have 200 potential names on our list over the coming weeks the vision of going from transaction to transformation begins!  If your area has had similar conversations and you want to be part of the conversation- email  at  Kimberly Silvernale  and we can learn from each other.  I think the greatest proof of the existence of God is a transformed life. That has always been the business of YL. In the coming months, we will give an update on the Faithful 50 campaign in an upcoming 5 for Friday. Check out this LINK to see some of the documents we are using with our community.  

If you’re interested in being part of the conversation for your own area, please reach out and let’s continue the conversation. Email me at Kimberly Silvernale.

Written by: Kimberly Silvernale

What I Wish I Knew…

When I came on as a Committee Chair, I was still learning what committee actually was. My husband and I had been leaders for a few years prior before coming on committee and the committee I joined was fairly small at first. Most of us had never been on committee, and honestly most of us had never experienced Young Life as a kid ourselves. We were all learning together! I think my learning curve could have been lower if I had known a few things and pursued them earlier on - especially when I moved into the Committee Chair role. 

IT’S A PARTNERSHIP

Sometimes it’s hard to see or experience, but I am convinced that Committee is meant to partner with the staff. As a Committee Chair, you are driving the committee ship to help foster this partnership. Often, you’re working not only to get committee to understand this, but for staff to embrace it as well. Depending on past experiences, personality, or just daily demands of the job, encouraging staff to partner in return needs to be an intentional focus. Staff are often trying to figure out what this should look like too. If you do it together, it tends to flow better. 

AGE DOESN’T MATTER

It can be intimidating to be on a committee with people of all ages, but then to step into the role of Committee Chair when others on the team are decades older? That can feel intimidating for anyone. What I’ve come to learn is that anyone is going to feel intimidated as they step into a leadership role like this. Most adults are excited to serve, but don’t want to necessarily head up the committee. Embrace the age differences in your group and continue to pursue a wide range of ages, personalities, and backgrounds. Your committee will be better for it. 

EVERYONE IS WILLING TO HELP

Literally everyone I’ve asked for insight and advice over the years. Regardless of the situation, I’ve been able to find other Area Directors, Regional Directors, and senior leaders who are not only willing to help, but EXCITED to help. I’ve done cold reach-outs to staff in other geographic areas and asked for their insights and they have all jumped at the opportunity to share. I found a great place to start is to do a quick search for “Young Life” on LinkedIn. You’ll quickly find thousands of people who are either on staff or are volunteers/committee.

YOUNG LIFE HAS RESOURCES FOR COMMITTEES

It can be hard when committees are ever-revolving and each has their own personality, but over the years, I’ve discovered a few great resources to help non-staff Young Lifers stay in the know. Many staff still forget that most committee don’t automatically get all the same info that they do internally. (Hint:  Staff, an easy thing you can do is to over-share news, updates, and resources with your committee!)

• Committee Manual:  Young Life’s breakdown of what a committee is, why it exists, and many of the foundational basics. Find it here. 

• YL Funding Help Podcast: Short podcast episodes from two Directors of Field Development who share some best practices for fundraising. See them all here.

• 5.4 Friday Monthly Emails: Written for anyone in Young Life, you can get some great encouragement, education, and ideas each month from great minds around the mission. Sign up here.

• Monday Morning Emails:  While written largely to staff, as a committee member these are a great simple way to stay up to date with some of the big things going on. Sign up here.

• Staff (And Volunteer) Resources (not just for staff):  Looking for logos and other basic info? Most committee may never need to go here, but if you need it, it’s great to check out.  Access it here.

THINK THE BEST OF PEOPLE

Inevitably, you’re going to run into awkward and hard situations. You’re a group of different personalities and many of us have opinions on how events or fundraising or leader care could look. We all have different strong points and just as obvious weak points. I’ve never seen this more clearly than in working with our committee. I’ve been humbled to learn and see people’s true heart toward ministry and realize why they operate the way they do.

One last thing-  What if we never had a Committee Chair  ‘wishing’ they had known something before enjoying the opportunity to serve in this important role. My YL Region (The Front Range Region, CO) has just drafted an ‘onboarding’ document for new Committee Chairs so they are equipped for the role and aware of the expectations. The link to the document is HERE.

Written By: Valerie Morris (valerie@tinterocreative.com)

LOOKING BACK AND LOOKING FORWARD

-Milestone Events-

“It will be told of the Lord to the coming generation. 

They will come and will declare His righteousness To a people who will be born,…” (Psalm 22:30-31)

Young Life is a forward looking, moving, and thinking ministry. That is part of our success and ability to flourish over the years. That being said, it can lead to a tendency to neglect the discipline of REMEMBER, reflect and oftentimes- CELEBRATE!  

All throughout scripture, when the people of Israel forgot to remember, they started to wander. Sometimes for 40 years. Because of that temptation, they were given the gift of seven Hebrew festivals in scripture. These celebrations  provided an opportunity to remember. For Christians, sacraments have provided the same opportunity. As a YL mission, we want to embrace the same discipline - to remember God’s power and presence in our lives and our ministry. 

Milestone events present that opportunity.  They are much more than a Banquet, Event, or Fundraiser. Over the ministry calendar, a YL Area utilizes key celebration markers to give their entire mission community a chance to look back and look forward. A chance to identify  God’s ripple effect in the Past and and acknowledge his provision in the future. 

Young Life in Greater Cincinnati just celebrated 50 Years of YL ministry. One of the guests exclaimed after the event, “Thank you for helping us experience a slice of heaven!” He had just experienced a wonderful evening of celebrating the Lord’s work in their local community and  hearing from kids, leaders and staff, and looking to the future as the vision was shared. Looking back and looking forward. Funds raised that day helped address ‘today’ needs as well as establish a financial base for the future. In addition Young Life Alumni & Friends partnered with the Young Life Foundation to secure commitments to the future financial well-being of Greater Cincinnati.  

The Lord did an amazing work through the efforts of field staff, YL Foundation staff, and Alumni & Friends staff. The connection of a milestone event with Legacy Giving is profound! The planning team for the Greater Cincy YL 50th felt that this event should be more than celebrating the past, and these expectations were greatly exceeded. The long-term impact OF LEGACY funding will grow, the ministry and its impact for decades! Additionally, the children and grandchildren of the donors will be informed of the impact of these gifts over years. Truly these gifts will ‘touch’ generations. 

It was an incredible evening reconnecting with old friends, meeting new friends, and hearing about the Young Life work. Including past, present, and future, the Legacy Giving Campaign established financial health as well as a funding plan for the future through strategic leveraged ‘match’ of $50,000 cash for every $1MM pledged.   Celebrate the past, but plan for the future! 
If you have a milestone event approaching and you’d like to learn more about connecting YL Legacy Funds to your event – OR – if you have questions about milestone events or Legacy Giving, contact Gordon Anaple, Advancement Coordinator, ganaple@sc.yougnlife.org  (513) 289-2133.  Click here to see Tom Dixon, Associate Regional Director in a follow up message to 50th Celebration attendees.

Global Committees February 2020

More than 330 million people live in the United States, but that doesn't mean the population is distributed evenly. Far from it.

Using the latest US Census data, we determined that just nine states — California, Texas, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, Georgia and Florida — account for half of the entire US population.

Read the full article HERE.

December 2019 Global Committees

A GIFT FOR YOU, YOUR SUPPORTERS & YOUR COMMUNITY:  RCE

We have all become accustomed to Taking Donors Seriously (TDS) and for 30 years it has served Young Life well. Under the guidelines of innovation and wanting to give our ministries the best opportunity to reach more kids, we have a new YL DNA approach to adult development called Relationship Centered Engagement. Relationship Centered Engagement is a transformational approach on how to develop adult relationships as compared to just raising money. Biblical truths transcend Relationship Centered Engagement and they apply to developing a new ministry, recruiting a prayer team or raising your area budget.

WHY RELATIONSHIP CENTERED ENGAGEMENT (RCE)?

• To help you reach kids in your area through engaging adults to more effectively engage the Lord, the Scriptures, and current/future generations of financial supporters.

• To develop a biblical philosophy and practice of fundraising to enhance field staff and committee engagement with local Young Life supporters.

• To develop a field-based fundraising philosophy and practice that moves toward a more practical, sustainable, and year-round fundraising method that fits within the context of the local Young Life area.

• To develop executable year-round adult engagement plans for field staff and committee to consistently engage local adults in the Young Life area.

RCE VALUES

• That we would grow in our relationship with Jesus and possess scriptural insight about how mission work is funded in the Bible.

• That we are more inclusive in the way we fundraise, meaning it makes fundraising more accessible for all staff and committee members.

• That field staff and local committee members would practice incarnational relationship development with financial supporters in the local area.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO: 

Consistent Prayer — speaking and listening to the Lord. Colossians 4:2 “Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.” 

Walking in Faith — as we fundraise. 

Valuing and stewarding relationships — that the Lord has provided (even more than money). Building one another up — and facing our fears in fundraising. 

Anchoring — our fundraising theology in the Scriptures; allowing the experience of Jesus’ mission work in the world to impact how we think about fundraising. 

Aligning — our adult engagement work more closely to our incarnational work with kids.

ENGAGEMENT LEVELS

The goal is to invite adults in our communities into deeper relationship and involvement with Young Life. We have had practical levels of involvement in our ministry with kids for years, but now we have a way to think about these levels for adults.

AWARE – adults who have no local experience, but we know “of” them in some way. We are not sure what they think of Young Life or if they have had any experience with the mission.

INTERESTED – adults who have some experience locally with Young Life but are not currently participating in a meaningful way.

INVOLVED - adults who are participating in the ministry, but there is opportunity and potential for deeper involvement in the local Young Life work.

INVESTED - adults who are significantly and consistently generous and contributing to the local Young Life work.

ADVOCATES - adults who invest and invite others in their sphere of influence to be involved in Young Life.

ENGAGEMENT CYCLE:

The Donor Engagement Cycle is a process that happens with adults in our community many times over to invite them into a deeper level of engagement.  You can also think of it as an inviting or asking cycle.

Relationship Centered Engagement is intentionally reaching out to adults in our area to invite them in more deeply to a relationship with Young Life through another caring adult. Let’s reach out!

Resources:

https://staff.younglife.org/Mission-Services/Field-Development/Pages/DonorCare/default.aspx 

November 2019 Global Committees

PUTTING ON YOUR FIRST BANQUET

Is a first-time Banquet in your Area’s plans this year? The task seems daunting. Let me be clear: it is an enormous undertaking. Note: Don’t Do This Alone! I’ve seen hundreds of Banquets over the past 25 years. One pitfall I see staff fall into is doing much of the preparation and performing on their own. By the way, nobody expects staff to. You Need A Team! (Yes, the A-Team would be preferable.)

This is where a Committee can shine. As you recruit to the Event Teams, it will help you to have clear roles within these teams. (Sponsorship, Table Host, Administration, Hospitality, Program.) There are a few roles that are entirely vital – Table Host Team Captain & Sponsorship Team Captain (I say Captain, but you might say “Chair” – But as I see it, who wants to be a Chair, when you could be a Team Captain.)

The more energy you put into the Sponsorship and Table Host Teams, the more successful your event will be. Period. The Sponsorship Team’s mission is to find funds to underwrite the event, ensuring every dollar raised that night will directly fund the Area and help reach the stated Financial Goal.

The Table Host Team is tasked with filling the seats. As a mission, we are only as good as our Volunteer Leaders and because of this, their training is of utmost importance. I believe the same about our Table Hosts. A Banquet will only be as good as our Table Hosts and their willingness to communicate and invite. We need to care for Table Hosts well. If the banquet venue is filled with people who are interested in our Mission, it will be because of great Table Hosts. Coaching this team is well-spent time and energy.

As the Committee fills the venue, the staff’s role is to provide a 1-night Young Life Camp-Like Experience for adults in attendance. The cornerstones of camp (below) are also the foundations of your Banquet. 

• Elaborate Greeting & Warm Welcome – Young Life Kids

• Real Fun & Adventure – Young Life Program

• Great Food & Music – Hire Professional Catering & Knowledgeable A/V person

• Clear Message of the Gospel – Share the Story through Speaker & Testimonies

• Simple Invitation – Concise Ask for a Clear Goal for Funds & Friends at the End of the Evening

Not your gifting? We got you! YL staff have been set apart for this very thing. (i.e. Senior Mission Specialists – Mike Ashburn, Shelley Sadler, & Kent Williams.)

I’m partnering with JC Bowman and his Small Towns team to help those planning their inaugural banquets. If you would be interested in a Zoom call to walk through your preparation with seasoned staff members, please contact JC at JBowman@smalltown.younglife.org or Kent at Kent@1161.younglife.org.

3 keys to focus on for a first-time Banquet:

• Recruit a Team of Committed Adults Who Support Your Area 

• Assign Roles, especially Team Captains. Train them, Encourage Them, Thank Them, Celebrate with Them.

• Provide a 1-night Young Life Camp-Like Experience for the Adults in attendance. 

October 2019 Global Committees

Missional Community: A Christ-centered community that exists for those outside.  

 We worship a God of community. Three in one, each expression unique, mysterious, and beautiful, working and communing together in perfect harmony. Man was made in God’s image, and from the beginning it was clear that it was not good for man to be alone. As the missional plan of God was revealed (and recorded in scriptures), it was evident that the God of community desired to fulfill His plan through community.  This community would enjoy the benefits of being “God’s people” but with the expressed purpose of sharing with those outside of the community the truth of God’s saving grace and love. The first such community was the nation of Israel and then (and now) the body of believers that share faith in the Gospel reveal this triune God.  

Two thousand years after the book of Acts was penned, God’s plan for missional communities has not changed. We know this and have experienced this in the mission of Young Life. As a missional arm of the body of Christ, our desire is to reach every adolescent with the Good News of Jesus Christ and help them grow in their faith. United as one mission around this passion and yet organized locally in thousands of missional communities around the globe, this is Young Life.  

Each community (or Young Life team) is unique, an eclectic group with diverse characteristics, but unified in their diversity. The global missional community of Young Life represents every denomination, culture, background, educational level, and socio-economic class. Every identifier that our world would use to divide is united in Young Life around the desire to share the gospel with adolescents. The body of Christ fully represented in order that anyone outside of our community might also be given an opportunity to be invited in. A truly missional community.

The blueprint is not new to the Church; it is not unique to (and was not invented by) Young Life. Healthy Young Life teams have as their primary focus - Jesus and not Young Life. These communities gather regularly to worship, pray, and open the scriptures together. There is time for fellowship -- usually around food -- intentionality in asking questions that matter, and a desire to know others as well as the courage to be known. There is laughter that unifies and lightens the mood, not the sarcastic or crude humor of the culture that tears down. There is time to linger, the opportunity to build friendships with people that you might not “choose” as your friends. There is adventure and surprises -- because Young Life people love both. There is a freedom to be who you are and, within the right context, the opportunity to share how you are struggling.  

There is also the mission. Young Life teams get to go out together. Literally, a short term mission experience happens every week. Individually scared, but scared together. Courageous together, creative together, awkward together, succeeding together, and failing together. The mission field becomes the fertile soil for the community to grow in dependence and love, for Christ and for each other. Of course the Lord doesn’t need us or these communities to accomplish His purpose with teenagers. This mission and its community are His gift to us. For this we were created. Only in missional community do we have the “life to the full” that Jesus promises; we were made for this.  

We live in a time where we are exposed to more counterfeit communities than ever before.  Hours daily are spent building a virtual community that portrays a certain image on a social media platform that perpetuates constant comparison. We work with teenagers that have a thousand “friends” and yet are more lonely than ever before. Opportunities for entertainment, activity, and productivity have never been greater, and people are overscheduled, exhausted, and alone. If true community is water, the world has never been more thirsty. A healthy missional community is literally a stream of living water.

And yet, as the mission of Young Life continues in a season of unparalleled favor, one of the threats to our current and future health is the pull away from a movement of missional communities to an organization of ministry programs. The lure of the latter is tempting as it fits nicely in the plans and strategies of man, and it might even give the impression of predictable success. One might view Young Life’s meteoric growth as a strategic cocktail of great leadership, beautiful camps, and prescribed program. That would be a mistake. The favor of the Lord on the mission of Young Life has little to do with these things. Our favor rests in an individual and corporate love for and commitment to our triune God, a desire and commitment to go together, and a passion to know every adolescent that has not personally known or experienced the goodness of these gospel truths.  

As the missional community that has experienced God’s goodness through the ministry of Young Life, let’s not lose sight of our first Love and how that first Love has been so clearly expressed. It was into a missional community that we were invited. Let us not fall into the temptation to make the programs, the properties, or the brand of Young Life into an idol or to give them too much importance. Let us be very careful to not think too highly of our creativity, humor, and courage. An arrogant community that sets itself apart from the body of Christ is not a missional community.  

Jim Rayburn is noted as saying “the best Young Life is yet to come.” The world has set the stage for this to be true. Our invitation is to missional community: life and ministry together wonderfully expressed through the ministry vehicle of Young Life. May God grace us with his favor in our communities, and may our Living God, not Young Life, get the glory.

September 2019 Global Committees

THE FIRST YOUNG LIFE LEADER MANUAL (1942)

Q.  Why should we do Young Life? 

Q.  Aren’t there other organizations out in the world sharing the gospel? 

Q.  What does healthy Young Life ministry look like? 

These were all questions that Jim Rayburn (founder of Young Life) and other staff explored in 1942 at a staff gathering. These questions are still ones we ask today in all sorts of contexts. Regardless of time passing, much of what Jim shared here is helpful for us in Young Life. It’s a good reminder to help us know our role as leaders, boards, community peers, and representatives of the ministry.

Global Committees August 2019

This should be required for EVERY Committee Member

When I was an Area Director I heard about an area that had term limits and a wait list for Committee members. I shared this at a Committee Meeting and you should have seen the bewildered looks – shock, awe, and disbelief. The conversation quickly turned to, “if only people could SEE what Young Life is doing, they’d be all in and we’d have a wait list, too.  How do we show them?”  

What if I told you that the most strategic way to build a vibrant committee, and let’s get crazy here – a WAIT LIST of potential committee members – was to do the same thing your area is already doing with kids, but with adults? TAKE THEM TO CAMP! We constantly tell kids that Young Life is something that they need to “see to understand,” and yet, we convince ourselves that describing what we do to adults will paint a full picture. Our words won’t do justice in translating the abundance, intentionality, connection, quality, sacrifice, and transformation we see at camp in the same way that being in the room for a Say So will.  

Jim Rayburn’s original vision is still the central focus of the adult guest experience: The adult guest experience is a window on the mission for adults to discover and further their understanding of the mission, both locally and mission wide.

Did you know…

• We have 15 Adult Guest lodges in the U.S.

• There are 154 Adult Guest Host openings every summer.

• Adult Guest Hosts get to reserve TWO rooms to bring their friends!

• With 918 guest rooms available in a summer, we can accommodate up to 1,836 adult guests for full week stays. 

• Between 2016-2018, on average, an individual who participated in the adult guest program increased their annual giving by 21%.

Okay great, so you’re a believer – now, what? What if your area established and implemented an Adult Guest camping strategy? Here’s a quick timeline to follow:

• September – With your Area Director, identify 2-4 people on your committee who have never been to a Young Life camp.

• December – Convince them to attend camp as adult guests and work with your Area Director to sign them up.

• Summer – While they’re at camp, encourage them to think about their prayer list, or the people in their community who should be “on this trip next summer.”

• November – Have those guests serve as Adult Guest Hosts and bring their friends next summer.

• REPEAT!

What if someone on your committee pursued adults in the same way a leader might pursue students to go to camp? With intentionality and relational connection?  Not taking NO for an answer? Looking for “key” or “strategic” guests who could impact your local ministry? Praying to “fill a cabin (or guest lodge, in this case)” starting in August? 

It’s worth the risk – chase after adults, believing that seeing hundreds of lives transformed by the gospel in a week will impact them and turn them from a participant to an influencer or vision carrier! 

By Kristy Clifford (kclifford@sc.younglife.org)

Global Committees - WHAT I HAVE LEARNED FROM OVER 400 BANQUETS

Putting on a fundraiser can be daunting, frustrating and overwhelming. Or… It can be awesome.  After speaking and singing at 400+ Young Life fundraisers I’ve seen it all.

Here’s my top 10 list, ranking what things are most important to focus on when you are striving to ‘up your fundraiser game’ (ranked from least important to most important). Drum roll, please!!!

10.  PROGRAM. Good program characters can add the YL flavor to a fundraiser, but be careful because skits and games can end up being huge ‘time suckers’ which can be counter to a tight event.  If you do it- Make it great! 

9.  FOOD. It’s important to make your fundraiser feel inviting, but don’t spend a gajillion dollars on food! Most people just want to have something good and simple. Go for elegance over extravagance.
8.  A/V. Invest in a sound system that suits the needs of the venue and hire a pro to run it. It is worth it, I promise!! If you are using videos, make sure you have the A/V person practice showing them several times over before the event. How many times have you been to a banquet where the video failed? My answer… WAY too many. 

7.  VENUE. Choose a place that facilitates great communication with your guests. Outdoor venues can be great, but they also come with the biggest risks:  uncertain weather, sound issues, etc. That is stressful!! Choose a place that is right for the size and ‘feel’ for your audience. Also, it’s often overlooked, but lighting matters! Ambiance matters! People will focus and enjoy themselves much more when you have cozy lighting with a spot lit stage. 

6.  CONNECTION TIME. YL fundraisers can be one of the greatest ways to bring a community together. Make sure you carve out time for people to mingle, laugh and connect as a community!

5.  SPEAKER. I’ve been the ‘keynote speaker’ for most of my 400 plus fundraisers, but I’ve also attended plenty of YL banquets as a guest, and I can tell you this for sure… Who you choose to speak and ask for involvement and financial support matters! A great speaker will not only engage your guests, but they will also take the opportunity to share the gospel and inspire them to get involved and give (in the form of invitation, not obligation). When you hire a ‘professional’ to cast the YL vision and ask for involvement and funding, it almost always translates into more engagement and more money pledged. That’s a fact, Jack (Just ask ‘Ash’☺)!

4.  STAFF Presentation. Other than the kids you are ministering to, who do guests want to hear from the most? YOU! They want to hear where you’ve been, where you are and where you are going so they can get a vision for what you are building in your area. ‘Area updates’ can either be a boring numbers ‘blah, blah, blah’ or an opportunity to inspire your guests with ‘God stories’ and amazing accounts of Him moving in your area!!

3.  TIMING of the Night. You may be surprised this is #3, but timing is essential! I’ve been a part of too many fundraisers that go way too long. If your guests run out of the room when your banquet is over (or even before it ends), you probably went too long and lost out on a big opportunity. You’ll know you’ve timed it right when your guests linger after the final ‘thank you’ has been said. 1.5 - 2 hours in length is the ‘sweet spot.’

2. KIDS! When people are deciding to support a ministry, they want to see who they are supporting. If you are able, do whatever you can to get kids involved. You can do this with kids welcoming guests, serving dinner, sharing individual stories at dinner tables, cardboard testimonies, etc. Also, individual kid testimonies can be the most powerful and compelling part of a fundraiser, so invest time and work into training kids on how to share their stories effectively. Kids are key!! They are only 2nd to #1 and that is….

1. JESUS. Of course I was going to say this! He is the reason you give your life to serving in this mission. Fundraisers are a unique opportunity to share Jesus with so many who may not have otherwise heard about His transforming love. You have already ‘earned the right to be heard’ with many parents and supporters because you have spent your life giving to their kiddos. Invite Jesus into every detail and the rest will follow.  

In conclusion, my biggest advice is this...  Keep. It. Simple.

Go for ‘sleek,’ avoid ‘clunky,’ and make sure Jesus is the lens through which all is  communicated. If you do that, you will have successfully ‘upped your fundraiser game’.  

Jonah Werner is an award winning musician and speaker who has played music for YL all around the world. He’s done 33 month-long YL assignments and has a deep passion for the mission. You can bring Jonah to your area fundraiser! He speaks, entertains with music and story and is a professional at asking for involvement and funding. His hope is to ‘take the work out of the fundraiser for you! Contact him at http://www.jonahwerner.com  You won’t be disappointed!!  

Also, see what other staff are saying about Jonah as a YL banquet speaker HERE.

Young Life's Impact Over 8 Decades

Recently I was at a meeting with a prospective investor to one of our Young Life camps. This person said something that many have said in a variety of ways, and we need to have an answer. Does Young Life have an impact? Do you have statistics or hard facts to back up what you say?

Historically, what I have said are these two statements:

1. 90% of all adults who profess to be followers of Christ made this decision before their 18th birthday, and this is the target audience for the Young Life mission.

2. 33% of all summer campers meet Jesus for the first time. (This is based on our own camp director reports as to how many Bibles we gave out, how many kids went on new believer walk, and those who stood at “Say-So.”)

These are true statistics I am sure, but there has been no way to “footnote” them that I know of so that we can put them in a foundation request as a statistic with a bibliography or a citation.

Young Life Forward, i.e., Newt Crenshaw our very own president, has an Executive Campaign Committee gathered around him as he leads us. They said to Newt nearly two years ago, “You know, if you could say, ‘Barna says,’ this would be very helpful in documenting what we already know: Young Life has an impact.” And so, we commissioned Barna to do just that.

Who is Barna? “Barna Group is a visionary research and resource company located in Ventura, California. Started in 1984, the firm is widely considered to be a leading research organization focused on the intersection of faith and culture.”

Young Life wanted to put into the hands of our area directors, regional directors, SVPs, and our executive campaign committees across the mission some gunpowder. We know that Young Life is making a difference, but what do donors say, staff say, alumni say, students say, as well as pastors and believers in the U.S.? We aimed to find out!

Thousands upon thousands of unique people filled out surveys, and Barna consolidated, scrubbed and did their own version of analytics on this data to come up with the following:

• 4.9 million U.S. adults participated in Young Life as students and are still practicing their faith today.

• 6% of pastors are Young Life alumni.

• 1.1 million adults CREDIT Young Life as the MAIN influence in developing their faith.

• 3.2 million adults CREDIT Young Life as ONE OF the main influences in developing their faith.

• Before participating in Young Life, 22% of our alumni say their faith was very important in their lives.

• Today, 85% of alumni say their faith is very important.

You can see for yourself, and truly, this is just a fast highlight reel to get you excited to digest this material for yourself.

We know, you know, and people out there need to know that Young Life is making a difference. This may be an entrée for you to consider serving up in some way, shape or fashion. Here are a couple of fast ideas for you to consider:

• Take the poster, digest it a bit, and send it alongside a letter from you to all of your current investors.

• Have this poster be a “placemat” at a thank-you dinner this summer, or for that matter, your fall banquet.

• Share this with your local committee and use it as a discussion starter as well as a brainstorm for how you could use this in your local area.

• Equip leaders and staff to at least have two or three notable quotes at their fingertips to be able to use.

• Share with school officials who are insiders and may find this survey helpful as well.

There are growth areas we have as a mission, and as you look at this survey you will see them. We have a lot of room for growth for sure. I will let you see these for yourself and how they might be fleshed out in your area/region.

Young Life is having an impact, and this will not be our last survey. As for now, let’s aim to use what we have until another one is completed.

Read the full summary HERE.

IT’S AMAZING WHAT CAN BE ACHIEVED IN SIX HOURS ON A SATURDAY

The Committee Chair/Area Director Regional Summit

Here is what we knew:

1. We knew the WORKING RELATIONSHIP between the committee chair and the area director was important.

2. I am not sure we ever appreciated how key THE FRIENDSHIP between those two individuals would be.

The conversation about an Area Director and Committee Chair (AD/CC) Summit really started way back in September 2018 for us. We both were in the planning stages of our largest regional times of the year; the Annual Committee/Leader Weekend was imperative to provide some solid, intentional training for all of of our local committee and volunteers. The training was always good and appreciated, but we wanted committee care to be an emphasis, and how to demonstrate that care was the challenge.

We decided that in addition to training the hundreds of committee members annually, we would FOCUS on the dozens of committee chairs with an entirely separate summit. Elevating the key role of our committee chairs across our regions became the linchpin to our vision for the Summit. The missionwide committee office shared a global vision to build relational ownership between the local area director and committee chair. Concentrating on that relationship with energy and focus tapped the much-needed expertise in the mission. When we announced our goal of an inaugural AD/CC Summit, the excitement was immediate. The themes of the relationship between committee and staff were obvious:

• Transformation rather than transaction.

• Partners more than fans.

• Joint ownership and vested interest and partnership.

• Aligning the needs of the area with the gifts of the committee.

• Shared responsibility.

We had undervalued and underappreciated the role and significance of the committee, and specifically the committee chair. That was going to change!

From that moment the prep work began for the Summit.

We benefited from some of the work the larger Young Life mission had done regarding committees, but the real game-changer was our “lead team” that involved local and regional board members. They planned, designed and led our time. It was nothing short of amazing. Step by step we had advice and direction to how the day would flow and how to really prioritize the AD/CC relationship. They were all instrumental in making the day come together.

The agenda was simple. Sample Schedule

• All areas were asked to come (committee chair and AD).

• The whole summit was six hours total (four to five discussions/trainings/conversations).

• Each person filled out an area assessment before the day (provided by YL).

• Interaction and specific training toward the CC/AD relationship.

• The time was nationally facilitated and regionally owned and taught by staff and committee.

• We highlighted healthy committee chair/AD relationships that were attainable and transparent.

While fun and engaging, it was groundbreaking to not only rally the key decision makers and our staff at the same time, but also for us as regional directors to see vision come to clarity. Even though we are in different phases in the process, we both see the landscape shifting toward more community-centric thinking and relational equity building in the local area. This is KEY.

A few stand-out highlights:

• Everyone heard from two co-committee chairs from Akron, Ohio, — Chad Crawford and Josh Stephan. They provided an honest look into how the deep-rooted community within the Akron committee had sustained them through some challenging times in the area.

• We took a different perspective of strategic planning via committee member, Dave Chalmers.

• The committee chair is the most important volunteer in the local area. We now do all we can to foster that relationship. The AD/CC Summit was the catalyst to propel us in this relational endeavor long-term.

• We heard from many that one of the main highlights was the time together traveling to the summit, conversations around a meal, knowing that there are other committee chairs “out there.”

It’s amazing to see what happens when the Young Life area “decision makers” get in a room together. Committee Chair/Area Director Summits are being scheduled (by U.S. regions) for next year. Next year there are ONLY eight total dates available! If you are interested, email the national committee office here and contact your regional office.

Have questions about what we did in Ohio? Email us!

Rich Dargenio, Regional Director — The Buckeye Region (richdargenio@gmail.com)

Chris Kessick, Regional Director — The North Coast Region (ckessick@gmail.com)

Dave Chalmers, Regional Board (chalmersdj5@gmail.com)

Todd Long, Regional Board (toddlongyl@gmail.com)

Written by: Rich Dargenio & Chris Kessick

A CAMP FOR US - MAN CAMP!

THE QUESTIONS KEPT COMING….

“Do I have the time to travel to Colorado this weekend?”

“Is this camp going to be lame?”

“Is anyone cool going?’

“Are we going to be singing “Kum-ba-yah” the whole time?”

Although these statements could be quotes from an average high school student (anywhere in the world) before they experience camp, in this case they weren’t.  Rather, they were the questions I was getting from men who were going with me to MAN CAMP at Frontier Ranch this past month. To be honest, I had some of the same questions myself!  250 Men at a YL Camp for a Weekend? I couldn’t only imagine the possibilities for something less than great.  I was a little skeptical going into that first year; I had no idea what to expect. I’ve had the privilege the last three years to attend the Young Life Man Camp at Frontier Ranch, and thankfully, none of my fears or hesitations came true. Actually, the reality was the opposite.

What DID I find? I found myself laughing, resting, being challenged, entertained, inspired, and having meaningful conversations with men that I have been friends with for years as well with others I met that weekend. My revelation was that ‘most of the men in my community are longing for deeper relationships, but they either think they are too busy to cultivate them or have no idea how to make it happen.’ Man Camp was the vehicle to help those deeper relationships flourish.  I can honestly say that each year I have gone I have returned changed! Not an easy thing to do.

I think Man Camp provides a great place for guys to begin the journey of sharing life and space with other guys. We desperately need safe, humorous, life-giving places for men to be able to be themselves, while still being called to live into all that God is calling them to be. It is so fun to watch a room full of adult men laugh, sing, listen, and truly experience Christ in such a freeing, significant way. We all know how beautiful camp is for our teenage friends.  What I’ve always believed, and have come to know, is that adult men are just as hungry and open to God as our adolescents, they just don’t have many spaces where it is provided for them. In fact, although the ages change, the questions remain the same surroundingife, and God and what life with God could look like. Get a glimpse of Man Camp by clicking this LINK.

Man Camp is an easy way to invite some guys into something more, with typical Young Life excellence, humor, and focus on Jesus. It can be a great reminder or introduction to Young Life for men in your community. EVEN BETTER, have you ever wondered how to get your COMMITTEE or a group of dads better connected to Jesus or the world of Young Life? Invite them to a weekend with you at Man Camp, and watch their love for each other and Jesus deepen! Better yet, get one of your committee guys to own Man Camp for your area and help them fill a cabin like we do our teenage friends.

They will thank you, and even if they can’t come, being invited to be involved does wonders for people.  

* BONUS!  If you want your Committee Men to go, contact (Jonathan Schultz jschultz@sc.younglife.org) and be entered into a drawing for $500 in Campership (to help keep the cost down for next year’s weekend).

Written by: Rodney Huffty (rdhuffty@gmail.com