Young Life in West Feliciana Parish is looking for an area director, with Young Life experience, to join a dynamic, thriving local team that leads kids to Jesus, speaking the gospel in ways they can hear it. Our committee wants to do our best to create a clear path for your role to focus on ministry development with kids as much as possible. The area is strong financially and the area director will partner with an engaged and supportive local committee and committed volunteer leaders. Currently there is an active WyldLife ministry for the middle school and Young Life for the high school. The right candidate will have a heart for Jesus Christ, kids and an eagerness to jump in and join the local team to reach every kind of kid in West Feliciana parish.

Our town (hopefully soon to be your town) is Louisiana's version of the quintessential small town - with many kind and caring people who love the Lord and support a healthy ministry. Amidst excellent outdoor opportunities to fit nearly every interest, it is as great of a place to raise kids and a family as exists - with a public school system that sometimes ranks first in the state but always in the top three each year. Most of our parish sends all their kids to the same school. It makes for incredible diversity and unity. We have much more work to do, and we hope to find someone who wants to serve alongside us.

Responsibilities

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 God’s 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.

· Ensure that all Young Life ministry in the area, is designed and carried out with a dependence on prayer that takes place out of the overflow of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

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

· Partner with Regional director and Committee to cast vision for reaching “every kid” within the defined area.

· Develop consistent gatherings with committee, leaders and staff to build unity and provide vision and direction.

· Create a spiritual leadership plan for volunteer leaders, staff and committee members in the area.

· 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.

· Provide quality summer staff, work crew and adult guests for summer camps.

· Model excellence in contact work, club, Campaigners and camping to other leaders.

· Train leaders, team leaders and committee how to work effectively in teams and develop a yearly ministry strategy.

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

· Provide leadership to committee in finding partners to own the area vision and budget.

· Develop and lead the area’s fundraising strategy and ensure excellence in communication to donors.

· Raise the necessary funds to carry out the ministry vision for the local area, keeping the area consistently in surplus (goal is a one-month cash reserve minimum).

· Build the Young Life brand via public relations as an excellent tool for working with youth in the area.

· Coordinate and conduct quality events which reflect Young Life’s capacity to impact kids and warrant the investment of a participant’s personal and corporate resources.

Direct Ministry — “Proclaiming and modeling” includes contact work, club, Campaigners and camp.

· Actively engage in all three levels of contact work.

· Lead or co-lead a model Young Life club; lead/supervise an effective Campaigner ministry with excellence.

· Observe and evaluate each of the schools/ministries in the local area on a yearly basis.

· Develop and implement ongoing plans to maximize Gospel proclamation through camping opportunities.

· Serve on a summer assignment at a Young Life property, other Young Life camp or in another position each summer.

· 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.

· Accept both short and long-term assignments of projects.

Training:

· Participation in missionwide staff conference every four years.

· Participation in additional training or experiences if deemed necessary

· Attend regional training as directed by the regional director.

· Pursue continuing educational opportunities including graduate degrees.

· Participate in programs designed for personal spiritual maturity or personal enrichment.

· Pursue seminars designed to enhance professional skills.

Education:

· College degree preferred

Qualifications:

· Must have completed Core Training —Phase One.

· Proven leadership skills.

· Proven relational skills with both kids and adults.

· A call to reach kids with the Gospel.

· Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.

· Ability to maintain confidentiality.