Heritage Christian Area Director

Young Life•Indianapolis, IN

About The Position

The Heritage Young Life Committee is hiring a full time Area Director to launch their newly formed area. Above all, the Committee desires someone with a deep personal faith in Jesus who is a self starter and is excited about building a ministry from the ground up and rallying adults, students, and volunteers in the community. As a small tight-knit Christian school (K-12), the staff person should be secure in their own faith, capable of embodying the Gospel in a way that moves head knowledge to the heart, and deeply believe that there are students at Christian schools who don’t believe in Jesus and need to experience the Gospel through a relationship with a Young Life leader. This staff person will be leading a devoted Committee with a solid financial base, and a small team of volunteer leaders. The committee hopes to start Young Life at Heritage and then expand into WyldLife. There is already a group of students meeting regularly about Young Life starting at Heritage and the first camp trip is set for June of 2026. Lastly, in order to effectively engage in ministry, this person will need to live locally in Indianapolis or the surrounding metro area. Area Director I Summary: Through spiritual leadership and proper management, lead in developing a team in the area to carry out Young Life’s mission of introducing kids to Jesus Christ and helping them grow in their faith. Ministry Functions: 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 the TDS team and 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. 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 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. Perform other duties as assigned and congruent with gifts, experience and area needs. Accept both short and long-term assignments of projects.

Requirements

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.

Nice To Haves

College degree preferred

Responsibilities

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.
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.
Provide leadership to the TDS team and 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.
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.
Perform other duties as assigned and congruent with gifts, experience and area needs.
Accept both short and long-term assignments of projects.