Integration of Young Life College Within a Young Life Area

One of the most common structures that YLC can take is within an already established YL area. There are a few ways that this can be staffed. The Area Director can also play the role of the College Director, which would tend to be more common in start-ups in college towns. (Robyn Stutts, who leads the ministry at the University of Arkansas, has given great contributions to this article as it relates to her role as both AD and CD.) There can also be an AD and CD within the same area. (Jason Rinne at Northern Arizona University has created this kind of structure within his area. Jason is the CD and hired an AD.)

The benefits of this structure are multiple:  There can be great integration of missions within the Area. For Robyn Stutts, their Area’s vision is “to reach a decade of adolescents, age 12-22.” This allows the Area to reach college students, build them into followers of Jesus and launch them into strategic leadership opportunities within the Area.  Fundraising is done with all of the needs of the Area in mind. The unique opportunity for YLC to reach alumni of the university they serve adds a new angle to this.  One committee can oversee the entire process of support for the Area providing continuity, so long as a sub-committee focusing strongly on YLC is recruited/ identified as well.  In Jason Rinne's large Area, team meetings for every Club take place weekly, but the entire Area meets together monthly. This promotes appreciation of all of the aspects of ministry within the Area and builds community. In Robyn Stutt's smaller context, she meets weekly with all of the Area's leaders.

The challenges of this structure:  Sometimes there is a perception of the YLC team being the “favorite.” Combating “favoritism” requires the hard practice of communication and giving personal time and attention to every team and every leader.  The combination of YLC and YL makes for an elongated school year, with ministries possessing different rhythms. YLC hits the ground running in mid-August and goes through early May. YL, WL and the specialty ministries have a longer runway, heating up in early September and going through early June. Summers are different as well. The YL camping season requires much time and attention, yet in the middle of this, plans for starting YLC in the fall must get underway and there may be a YLC mission trip during the summer as well.

Key Factors in making this structure work:  Flexibility, communication and organization are crucial to help all of the ministries within the area flourish.  YLC reaches, builds and launches college students into the area, but in the great need to recruit leaders, we should not lose the priority of reaching college students for Christ.  Work smarter not harder. Empower people by encouraging volunteer team leaders to truly take ownership, set the pace and strategize. The CD and AD thus coach them, serve them, and help them to empower their teams to do the work of direct ministry.