The Ozark-Bayou Region is looking for a candidate with Young Life experience who is a strategic thinker with an entrepreneurial spirit to join the area director, associate area director, committee, and leaders in Houma, La.

Houma, one hour from New Orleans, is located in Terrebonne Parish. Its population is 35,000 people and is in the heart of the Bayou communities of Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes with a combined population of more than 215,000. It is a wonderful community in Louisiana's Bayou Country with a rich Cajun culture known for festivals, food, and family. It's a hometown Southern community with many opportunities to hunt and fish, as well as easy access to all that a big city offers with such close proximity to New Orleans.

There is a strong and engaged committee with a devoted community that is eager to grow the existing Young Life presence.

Terrebonne Parish, with more than 12,000 middle school and high school students, is an important area for reaching kids in Southeast Louisiana. Nicholls State University is 20 minutes away in nearby Thibodaux with more than 6,000 university students. Houma is a strategic area for reaching kids in the Bayou communities of Terrebonne and Lafourche Parishes.

Responsibilities

While implementing the necessary actions in his or her area to carry out Young Life’s mission of introducing kids to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith, participate in a customized training program to become an area director while holding area 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.

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.

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, and 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 missionwide 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 a yearly strategic ministry plan and initiatives to reach every kid; review on a regular basis.

• Probable work on personal leadership development in areas of strength, deficiencies, or needs in preparation for the 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.

Qualifications:

• Experience in direct ministry.

• Proven relational skills with both kids and adults.

• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills.

• Ability to maintain confidentiality.

Benefits:

• ?Medical, dental, and vision coverage (at no cost to you).

• Paid vacation and sick leave.

• 401(k) matching plan (up to four percent).??

• Health club benefit.