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Volunteer Handbook

YFC reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded partners to raise up lifelong followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in lifestyle, devotion to the Word of God and prayer, passion for sharing the love of Christ, and commitment to social involvement.

“The Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”—Mark 10:45

YFC EL PASO

P.O Box 221983

El Paso, Texas 79913

Phone: 915-309-2749

Web: www.yfcep.org

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Table of Contents

Welcome Letter .................................................. 4

Who We Are……………………………………….. 5

Statement of Faith………………………………… 6

Our Ministries. .................................................... 7

Ways to Serve ................................................... 8

Campus Life……………………………..………… 9-10

Juvenile Justice Ministries………………………. 11 Policies and Procedures…………………..…..… 13

Welcome to Youth-for-Christ/El Paso

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Dear Volunteer,

You have joined an organization that shares in your desire to minister to the

youth of El Paso both in our city’s public schools and in our juvenile detention

center. Our success in achieving the goals of ministering and helping to grow

the youth in the love of Jesus Christ is due to the many volunteers who share

their time and talents with us. It is our hope that your volunteer experience

will be a rewarding and enjoyable opportunity.

The Volunteer Handbook provides answers to many of the questions you

may have about the volunteer programs we offer. It covers policies and

procedures, and our mutual responsibilities. You are responsible for reading

and understanding the Volunteer Handbook, and for adhering to the

YFC/EP’s policies and procedures. If anything is unclear, please discuss the

matter with the director of YFC/EP. The information included in the Volunteer

Handbook may change and every effort will be made to keep you informed

of any changes. The personal satisfaction gained from a job well done is one

reason many people enjoy volunteering. Ministry, witnessing, community

service, and enjoying the company of other believers in Christ are additional

benefits your involvement may bring you. The YFC/EP is dedicated to doing

its part to assure you a satisfying volunteer experience.

Sincerely,

Tara Kroeker Executive Director

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Who We Are Our Passion

At Youth For Christ, our passion is to minister in the name of Jesus. We choose to walk the very same bridge He used; the “and” bridge combining Christian service with Christ’s sacrifice.

We are liberated by His forgiveness and propelled by His love, to continually declare mercy and truth. We are ministers of His grace, on campuses and in juvenile halls… in wide open spaces and on congested street corners… to the outcasts, the transparent, the terrified.

YFC'S 5 ESSENTIALS FOR FRUITFUL AND SUSTAINABLE MINISTRY SITES:

1. Widespread Prayer We deliberately engage lots of Christians to intercede on behalf of the ministry site.

2. Loving Relationships We consistently pursue lost kids & engage them in life-long relationships with Jesus.

3. Faithful Bible Teaching We accurately handle Biblical truth, regularly coaching kids to apply it in their lives

4. Collaborative Community Strategy We intentionally work together with local churches, agencies and other partners to provide sustainable youth and family ministry.

5. Adults Who Empower We strategically develop leaders to reach young people from every people group.

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Our Statement of Faith

All YFC USA staff, volunteers and board members must affirm our Statement of Faith and exclusive claims of allegiance that Jesus Christ makes upon everyone who would follow Him as Christians. With that understanding, they agree with and adhere fo the Statement of Faith as one of Youth For Christ's leaders, entrusted to advance the YFC mission.

1. We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible,

authoritative Word of God.

2. We believe that there is one God, eternally existent in three persons:

Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

3. We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in His virgin birth, in

His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious and atoning death

through His shed blood, in His bodily resurrection, in His ascension to

the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and

glory.

4. We believe that for the salvation of lost and sinful people

regeneration by the Holy Spirit is absolutely essential.

5. We believe in the present ministry of the Holy Spirit by whose

indwelling the Christian is enabled to live a godly life.

6. We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they

that are saved unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost unto

the resurrection of damnation.

7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in Christ.

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Our Ministries

Campus Life High School and Middle School

ministry combines healthy relationships with

creative programs to help young people

make good choices, establish a solid

foundation for life, and positively impact their

schools. Like every ministry of YFC,

Campus Life seeks to engage these young

people wherever they are found as lifelong

followers of Jesus Christ.

JJM El Paso has been operating inside the

El Paso Juvenile Probation Department for

over 3 years! Every weekend we enter the

Challenge Academy and share the glorious

Gospel of grace through Jesus Christ!

Since its beginning over 400 youth have

heard the saving Gospel of Jesus with

approximately 125 decisions to receive

Him as personal Lord and Savior!

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Ways to Serve

As a Campus Volunteers, you would:

• Be the main contact between YFC and the specific campuses you are

assigned to.

• Communicate announcements, activities, and events with your

campuses to keep them in the loop with YFC.

• Make sure the campus club is running in compliance with agreements

with YFC and school officials.

• Bring to the Campus Director any needs or concerns the campus may

have and work together to address and provide for the need or

concern.

As a JJM Volunteer, you would:

• Minister to the youth of the El Paso County Juvenile Detention at least

once a month on Saturday mornings.

• Share the Word of God and teach a Bible passage and lesson.

• Help collect items for “swag” bags which cadets receive upon

completion of the Challenge Academy program.

• Be available for one-on-one follow up sessions after Saturday service.

• Bring pizza and an uplifting message each week at the alternative

schools for students desiring to grow in their faith in Christ. (Pending!)

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Campus Life in El Paso has been in existence since 2000. It started with

YFC EP partnering a couple churches in the city with different high schools

to have a weekly meeting to talk about the Bible and pray together. Currently

our Campus Life branch has grown to 61 different clubs meeting on a weekly

basis across the city in almost all public high schools and middle schools

across our region.

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Our Campus Life Clubs meet on a weekly basis at lunch time or after school,

depending on the campus. The day the club meets and the times vary but

we make sure to be faithful to attend every week to develop consistency with

the students.

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We believe that Campus Life is effective in reaching all students in their world. CL gives us strategic tools to pursue the thousands of young people in schools across El Paso and the surrounding region. We have found that by being faithful to having the club, and speaking His Word, the Lord is faithful to bring the students that need to be there.

• Weekly Club Meetings • Frequent Contacts • One-on-One Conversations • Intern program for after graduation

“YFC has taught me to appreciate life more, to not take things for

granted. To be able to be a member makes me feel like I have a

reason to live, I have a purpose, and I feel appreciated and happier

ever since joining YFC!” -member of Coronado High School YFC

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The JJM began operating in the El Paso Juvenile Detention Center, in

cooperation with Chief Juvenile Probation Officer Roger Martinez, in 2013.

The director and volunteers minister each Saturday at the Samuel F. Santana

Challenge Academy which offers an opportunity for youthful offenders to

participate in a full term, 210-day residential program, designed for 14-17

year-old males and females who have exhausted the department’s continuum

of services, and are in need of long-term behavioral modification or drug and

alcohol treatment for dependency.

“I was in prison, and you visited me.” Matthew 25:36 (NLT)

By sharing the Word of God through the Scripture and the transforming power

of a relationship with Jesus Christ, JJM strives to instill hope in those youth

trying to better their lives, find stability in the midst of difficult home lives, and

furthering their goals and ambitions by wise and thoughtful decision making.

Challenge cadets enjoy a presentation by United Dance Crew of

Arizona.

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Student Safety……………………………. Pg. 14

Interaction Guidelines…………………… Pg. 16

Ensuring Safe Environments…………… Pg. 17

Monitoring behavior……………………... Pg. 21

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior… Pg. 24

• Reporting

Leadership in Youth for Christ is an exciting and challenging opportunity to work with

kids, share the life changing message of Jesus Christ, and see Him begin to transform

their lives. With this opportunity comes a high calling to responsibility. Each of us in

leadership has a God-given responsibility for the safety of every young person,

volunteer and coworker entrusted to us. These following guidelines are offered to help

you honor this responsibility.

1 Peter 5 tells us, “be shepherds on God’s flock that is under your care, serving as

overseers… eager to serve, not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being

examples to the flock.”

We understand that we have a responsibility not only to set a Godly example to young

people, but an even higher calling because they are entrusted to us as sheep to a

shepherd.

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