South Bend Young Life - Director/Staff Associate

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Job Specific Working Conditions:

Young Life a global ecumenical organization that points adolescents to Jesus Christ is looking for a full-time staff member to direct ministry to students in the Penn Harris Madison (PHM) School Cooperation located in Granger Mishawaka and South Bend Indiana. The essential focus is continuing and developing ministry to students at Discovery Middle School which is one of three middle schools that feed into Penn High School one of the largest high schools in Indiana. A secondary focus is developing ministry at Penn High School. Other supplemental opportunities such as hiring/overseeing additional staff/geography starting new ministries and advancing to new levels of leadership will be granted in ways commensurate with the experience capacity and vision of the staff person. This position is open to both early-career candidates (Staff Associates) and senior-level candidates (Area Director Metro Director Associate Regional Director)

The staff person will lead spiritually pursue and invest in relationships and develop a flagship Young Life program at Discovery Middle School - all while being part of an existing Young Life community that includes a healthy donor base multiple staff members 40 volunteer leaders (both college students and older) and a college ministry centered at the University of Notre Dame.

Developing an excellent Young Life program serving all Penn-Harris-Madison schools is a significant opportunity to both impact students and advance strategic initiatives throughout the geographic region. Penn-Harris-Madison is one of the largest (4000 high school 1000 at each of 3 middle schools) most-resourced highest-achieving (academics and co-curriculars/athletics) and diverse school districts in Indiana.

The unique combination of multiple layers of support (through an established Young Life community) and opportunities for growth (personally and professionally) makes this a great position for someone seeking to both a) lead collaboratively b) expand influence and advance in leadership.

Responsibilities:

• Grow and lead spiritually as an intentional disciple of Jesus and faithful member of the Church

• Model/development/oversee ministry to middle school and high school students that centers on an incarnational/relational/inclusive approach in evangelization/outreach formation/discipleship and community engagement/service

• Develop and implement a vision to engage every student in the Penn-Harris-Madison district beginning with Discovery Middle school and consider how this vision could lead to programs at other schools

• Grow and direct a team of diverse staff (interns part-time full-time) and volunteer leaders who work directly with students

• Pursue and build friendships of accompaniment with students by going where they are at school and in the community

• Plan and execute dynamic Young Life venues for middle and high school students (outreach Club meetings discipleship/Campaigners/Bible Studies etc.) that scale impact by growing relationships building momentum and empowering student ownership.

• Utilize Young Life camps; lead annual winter weekend trip and annual summer trip explore complementary camp options and leverage service opportunities like Work Crew (students serving at YL camp)

• Organize and empower a team of local adults who pray for the ministry care for staff and leaders advocate for YL within the community and offer financial and logistical support

• Build ecumenical friendships and collaboration with local churches/parishes and community organizations

• Raise funds from existing personal network to supplement area-wide fundraising

• Serve on the area-wide leadership team working closely with teammates to support each other and achieve mutual goals

Qualifications:

• 4-Year college degree

• Growing faith in Jesus Christ and desire to help others enjoy the same

• Preferred candidates will have an established record of spiritual leadership that includes at least one of the following:

  • 3 years of experience as a Young Life volunteer leader and/or staff

  • 3 years of experience as a member of the Penn-Harris-Madison community

  • 3 years of experience leading ministry to middle school or high school students

• Compelling passion to serve students from various backgrounds including those with little or no church/faith experience.

• History of building teams of people from diverse backgrounds of race ethnicity spirituality (or lack thereof) and denomination

• Self-starting drive and eager-to-learn attitude that propels curiosity-into-action ongoing improvement personal growth and professional development

Benefits:

• Salary commensurate with experience

• 401(k) options including employer-matching funds

• Full medical benefits

• Flexible paid time off

• Ongoing mentoring education training and professional development

Notes:

Young Life is a world-class organization focusing on introducing adolescents to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. Young Life exists in 100 countries and is operationalized by 5000 staff 80000 volunteers and 220000 donors who contribute $400 million annually.

Ministry Functions:
Spiritual Development Following Jesus includes prayer and spiritual disciplines fellowship growth and health and church relationships.

• Develop a yearly personal growth plan that fosters a vibrant spiritual life including time for solitude retreat reflection prayer and a sincere commitment to understanding Gods Word.
• Seek and maintain relationships and disciplines in the context of active participation in a church community.
• Actively participate in the spiritual life of the Young Life community.
• Lead teams and individuals in spiritual development.

Leadership Development Equipping leaders committee and staff includes key volunteer care recruiting team building and training supervision and vision casting.

• Meet with your volunteer leaders and area leadership on a regular basis.

• Learn to recruit and train new leaders to build a leadership team that reflects the community.
• Model excellence in contact work club Campaigners and camping to other leaders.
• Assist in training leaders team leaders and committee how to work effectively in teams and develop a yearly ministry strategy.

• Recruit and train new staff and leaders to build leadership teams that reflect the community.

• Supervise develop and evaluate area staff providing resources and experiences needed to implement the vision.

Resource Development Fueling the ministry includes events major donor care public relations (branding) and TDS team.

• Raise financial support as directed and maintain good donor care practices.
• Communicate ministry updates and progress to personal donor partners.
• Observe and learn to network and develop strategic relationships with key adults in the community including: principals pastors parents potential committee members as assigned by the area director.
• Learn to plan and execute area fundraising events under the direction of an area supervisor and committee.
• Attend committee and adult functions and assist in implementing TDS in the area as assigned.

Direct Ministry Proclaiming and modeling includes contact work club Campaigners and camp.

• Actively engage in all three levels of contact work.
• Lead a team to plan and conduct a new or existing Young Life club and Campaigners/discipleship ministry with excellence.
• Lead a team to implement a summer and school-season camping strategy for a ministry.
• Serve on a summer assignment at a Young Life camp each year.
• Observe and learn strategies of additional club ministries including special ministry clubs clubs in schools with special needs and more.

Ministry Support Taking care of business includes accounting administration communication (internal) data management and strategic plan.

• Adhere to all Young Life policies and procedures and maintain professionalism concerning office hours dress conduct and time management.
• Manage finances with stewardship accountability and transparency using the mission-wide applications.
• Maintain accurate information on kids leaders and donors for area records.
• Provide clear prompt appropriate and professional communication to everyone involved in ministry.
• Set yearly strategic ministry plan and initiatives to reach every kid; review them on a regular basis.
• Probable work on personal leadership development in areas of strength deficiencies or needs in preparation for area director or next position.
• Perform other duties as assigned and congruent with gifts experience and area needs.

Training:

• Core Training Phase One (New Staff Training Leadership I Leadership II Apologetics and one Winter Training course are to be completed in the first two years.
• Training may be supervised by a regional director regional trainer or area to develop personal spiritual maturity and enhance personal character.
• May include regional training meetings and ministry skills training assigned by the area director.

Education:

• College degree preferred.

Qualifications Required for the Job:
Experience in direct ministry.

• Proven relational skills with both kids and adults.
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Work Conditions:

• Includes the extremes of a camp including: heat/cold dirt long hours and the physical demands of hiking horseback riding boating and more. Staff person must be able to handle these conditions.