YLA Overview
Overview
Youth Ministry involves dealing continually with dramatic change. Caring for 6-30 year-olds, assisting them on their journey to the discovery of Salvation and Service, is a demanding task, calling endlessly upon your energy, time and love. Like anything else, to be truly effective, you need good training and education. This Youth Leadership Award Booklet (YLA Booklet) exists to help map out your training. By following your own track, you will be equipped with the latest tools in all areas of youth ministry. In turn, we hope to see you teach these same modules at a training event in the near future.
There are three levels, with the recommendation that you complete them in sequential order. Some of the modules can be completed at home or at church; others require attendance at specific away-training sessions.
Each section can only be signed by the course instructor or by special arrangement with the Conference Youth Department. The final certificate for each level can only be signed by the current SEC Youth Directors.
Level 1 – Basic Staff Training
Level 1 is the Basic Staff Training course. It will help you be a good team member and is an essential step towards healthy, balanced leadership. There are two areas of focus: Pathfinders and Teens/Youth (see Progress Chart). You will notice the overlap between the two tracks which means you can achieve track three, Combined Level 1, with only a few extra requirements. This course takes approximately 10 hours of seminar time taught at YLC 2 (Youth Leadership Conference 2).
Level 2 – Youth/Teens Leadership Training
Level 2 is the recommended course for local church leaders. If you want to lead a club or AYS Department in your church, this is an important level to have achieved. There is some overlap between the two areas: Pathfinders and Teens/Youth. Each course takes approximately 30 hours of seminar time taught at YLC 3 & 4. This level also requires work outside of the training days such as “Assist in the planning and operation of at least three events within a six month period, sponsored by the committee of which you are a member.” (Pg 15, Youth Leadership Award, Ed. 2) For more information on requirements please see the YLA Booklet.
Level 3 – Youth/Teen Specialist
Level 3 is the recommended course to qualify you to apply for membership in any of the Conference Youth Ministries Advisories. We would like to see all Area Coordinators in each ministry achieving or working towards Level 3. There are numerous options, some of which are nationally recognised and accredited. This is a developing course and will require participants to complete Level 2 before beginning. Anyone planning to take the Level 3 course will need to contact the Youth Department before commencement.
Extra Training/Bolt On’s
Extra Training or Bolt On’s that you maybe interested in will also be offered throughout the year either by your local church or Conference which you can record in your YLA Booklet. Some of these bolt on’s will be required by a member within each Youth Team in the local church. For example, if at a youth social food will be served, someone in the team must have their Food Handling and Hygiene Certification from either the conference or a recognised course. You do not need to have Bolt On’s to complete the levels.
Progress Chart
There are three possible tracks as illustrated below and mentioned above. Each area has its own concentration, however we recommend the third track which is a combination of both main areas at each level. We hope that this will encourage mutual respect and flexibility in resources and volunteers.
YLA Booklet
There are two ways in which you can get a booklet, either download it online (after Thursday 20th January 2011) or fill in the contact form below and we will send you a copy.
FAQ
Is there a time limit to completing the levels?
There is no time limit to complete a level. The higher the level the longer it will take to complete.
I missed one of the conference run seminars, will I be able to catch it up at another time?
At worst you will have to wait until the following year when the course is run again however if there is a training day created for an area that is too far away or have a large number of participants that can’t make it to the YLC’s in London, you can join these seminars. If you would like to find out if there are any seminars where you could catch up, please check the YLC events pages.
I live to far away from London to attend YLC’s 1 to 4 but would still like to be trained, what can I do?
Firstly contact your regional co-ordinator or federation president to tell them of your interest. When there is enough interest within an area the conference will hold a YLC in that area. To find out what region you are in or who is your co-ordinator please click here.
If you have any further questions please post them below and we will add the answers to the list.
