YoungLives Handbook - Flipbook - Page 22
3. Communicate regularly. Start to collect contact information for those people who express interest
in getting involved. This is a great time to come up with a communication plan for community
agencies, potential and current volunteers, and donors. A monthly email newsletter with updates and
pictures is a great way to keep people in the loop and keep excitement growing about your new
ministry.
4. Host informational meetings. Host informational meetings in a home or church for people who
express interest. This should include an overview of the vision of Young Life and YoungLives, your
vision for and the need for Young Life and YoungLives in your community, the importance of
volunteers, and descriptions of the ways people can get involved. If possible, have an existing staff or
volunteer share her story about how being involved has had an impact on her life.
5. Invite potential volunteers to observe. Invite those who are interested in becoming involved to
observe the ministry first hand — whether through club, Campaigners, committee or mentor meetings.
They may agree to bring a meal to club and discover that YoungLives is a place where they want to
keep serving.
6. Interview those who are ready to commit. Take time to sit down with anyone who is considering
becoming a mentor or committee member. Ask enough questions to be comfortable with the person’s
personal conduct and ethics, faith, testimony, family, work, other commitments, church involvement,
strengths and interests, and why the person wants to be involved. Listen to the responses. Answer
concerns about time commitment, what parts of town ministry will be in, meeting with adolescent
parents, and any questions they may have.
As you get to know potential volunteers, watch for areas of their lives that might be an obstacle in ministry.
Help guide them toward the volunteer positions that would be the best fit for them. If you do not think the
person would be a good fit for a role on the committee or working directly with adolescent parents, be
prepared to guide them toward a different position, such as craft helper, childcare volunteer, or meal provider.
If there is concern around their attitude, beliefs or background, consult with someone else for additional
counsel and wisdom before suggesting this person shouldn’t be involved at this time. It is much easier to let
people go before they begin than after they have started serving and potentially have issues. It is vital to be up
front and honest in the recruiting process.
Contact the Young Life Human Resources Department to find out current volunteer onboarding practices. The
mentor covenant (if the area or coordinator chooses to use it) upcoming mission-wide trainings and events,
along regional or local trainings, are also tools to help with orientation. When you are ready to invite someone
onto the team, give the person a specific role. Volunteers who don’t engage in activity outside of meetings or
take ownership of the mission do not feel as valuable.
God can use anyone who has a heart for adolescent parents and loves Him and seeks His will for his or her life
as a YoungLives volunteer. A healthy YoungLives team will have volunteers from varied backgrounds and
different life stages, from college students to empty nesters. Don’t assume that being a mother or father,
being married or being a certain age or race is a required qualification for volunteering.
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