Young Life College Staff Associate - Abilene, TX

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Job Specific Working Conditions

Do you love being with and journeying alongside college students? Do you have a passion for students during the years that greatly shape the trajectory of who they are in life? Are you passionate about what God is up to on university campuses? Are you called to pursue full-time ministry in Young Life? Abilene Christian University is a vibrant campus in Abilene, Texas. Young Life College at ACU is a ministry with the hope of building relationships with every student we meet so that all students on campus have the opportunity to meet Jesus and participate in His Kingdom here on Earth. We are looking to hire a full-time Staff Associate to train and work alongside the current area staff to reach more students and train leaders to participate in the mission of Young Life. Could this be you?!

YL College Staff Associate

Summary

Through both formal training and field ministry experience, learn to provide college and university students the opportunity to meet Jesus Christ, grow in their relationship with Him and use their talents to serve Jesus in this world.

Essential Duties

Spiritual Development — “Following Jesus” includes prayer and spiritual disciplines, fellowship, growth and health and church relationships.

• Commit to understanding God’s Word and practicing spiritual disciplines including retreat and reflection times.
• Actively participate in a church community and the spiritual life of the Young Life community.
• Assist in leading the area and individuals in spiritual development and prayer.
• Help 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.

• Cast the vision for campus ministry and maintain healthy ministry teams by recruiting, mobilizing and retaining teams of staff and volunteers.
• Recruiting
• Assist in recruiting, developing and empowering college-aged students to carry on the work of the ministry in a way that is unique to their campus yet consistent with the mission and values of Young Life.
• Mobilizing
• Assist in developing a student leadership team that creates opportunities for college-aged individuals to discover Jesus, build community and live out their faith in service.
• Retaining
• Help model excellent contact work, club, small group ministry, camping and service opportunities.
• When appropriate, help lead regular gatherings to cast vision, train and empower staff, leaders and committee to uniquely lead on their campus utilizing Young Life College’s Reach, Build, Launch strategy aligned with the mission and values of Young Life.
  
  

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

• Create a team of people for personal support through prayer and financial contribution.
• Raise financial support as directed.
• Develop relationships with key adults in the ministry community (e.g., members of local churches, professors).
• Complete Personal Stewardship e-learning course and work with trained fundraising coach as required by regional director and college/area director.
• Help conduct quality events that display Young Life College’s impact and warrant investment of resources.
• Maintain major donor relationships that provide a personal touch to each major donor multiple times annually to update, thank, and “ask” on behalf of Young Life.
  
  

Direct Ministry — “Proclaiming and discipling” includes contact work, club, Campaigners-i.e. small group ministry, camp.

• Participate in creatively planning and implementing a regular outreach meeting — Young Life College club.
• On a regular basis, meet with student leaders to provide guidance and encouragement.
• On a regular basis, pursue and meet with non-leadership students in their environments for the purpose of relational outreach ministry.
• Lead a small group.
• Prepare to lead a summer Young Life College mission trip or serve on a Young Life summer camp assignment as determined by director.
• Utilize proven Young Life College methods to carry out a plan for relational evangelism on the campus.
• Be available to serve on assignment two out of every three years as directed by the regional director or divisional office. In alignment with the Everyone on Assignment Policy, the assignment could be a three to four-week assignment in the summer or during the year, an International Assignment, a Young Life College Jump Start, serving on the Conference Planning Team or writing curriculum for Young Life College use.
  
  

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

• Help set a yearly strategic ministry plan and initiatives to reach every kid and review them on a regular basis.
• Maintain confidential systems for recording:
• Use of funds, expenditures and budget.
• Database of students and donors.
• Compliance with Young Life policies and procedures.
• Provide clear, prompt and professional communication to key volunteers, donors, staff and ministry partners.
• Maintain professional integrity in conduct and appearance, time management and administrative operations as agreed upon with supervisor.
• Accept special assignments, lead regional events and serve as a learning resource within the region, division and missionwide.
• Additional duties as determined by supervisor based on gifts, talents and passions of the individual.
  
  

Working Conditions

• May include the extremes of a camp assignment, e.g., heat/cold, dirt, long hours and the physical demands of hiking, horseback riding, boating, etc.
• May include cross-cultural experiences and possible third-world conditions. Staff person must be able to handle such conditions.
  
  

Qualifications Required For The Job

• A vital, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
• Ability and desire to minister to college-aged individuals — one-on-one and in small/large groups.
• Proven relational and communication skills with both students and adults.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Desire and proven ability to work with a team.
• Strong administrative skills, attention to detail, ability to multi-task, adapt and be flexible.
• Proficiency in Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Internet Explorer).
• A four-year college degree prior to start date.
• Prior involvement in a college ministry preferred.
  
  

Training

Missionwide Training

• Complete college-specific training administered by the Young Life College Advisory Team.
• Attend RTD training events as determined by the regional director, regional trainer and college/area director.
• Attend the annual Young Life College Summit, which includes orientation for new staff associates.
  
  

Regional Training

• Work with regional trainer to complete selections from Leadership I and II to gain theological training and learn to apply Young Life methodology to Young Life College.
• Participate in regional training events at discretion of trainer and regional director.
  
  

Personal Development and Supervision

• Meet weekly with supervisor (College/Area Director) for supervision and professional mentoring.
• Complete personality/gift inventory tool and review with supervisor.
• Work with supervisor and YLC Divisional Lead to create individualized learning program.
• Meet regularly with mentor (who is not a supervisor or co-worker) for discipleship and spiritual growth.
• Spend regular time in prayer, Scripture study, and community with other believers to promote healthy work-life balance.
• Grow in discernment of gifts, abilities and vocational calling.