Becoming a member of our Mission Staff is a major commitment that requires a lot of discernment. Here are a few questions we usually get as folks have begun that process.

Do I get paid?

The short answer is yes. However a major piece of this will come from the fundraising you do prior to beginning your time of service with us. Don’t worry though, God moves powerfully through the work of fundraising and we will provide plenty of resources, training, and support throughout the process

How long is the commitment?

We ask our Mission Staffers to make a ‘soft’ commitment of two years. What we mean by this is upon applying, we ask for it to be discerned as if a two-year commitment was being made. In the late winter of your first year, you and our staff will take some time to seek the Lord’s will and see if He is leading you to finalize your commitment for year two.

Is there training?

Prior to beginning our programs, Mission Staff undergo a two-week intensive to cover all aspects of life and service here at YWD. Throughout the year, we continue to provide training sessions and individual mentoring to ensure your continued growth as a member of our team.

Where will I live?

After a commitment to serving with us is made, our staff will work with you to find safe and affordable housing in our community. Whether this is rooming with a current member of our staff or a family in our network, or finding an apartment or intentional living situation, we will do all we can to find something that works for you.

What will I be doing?

Mission Staffers are full-fledged members of the team. These means you will gain experience tutoring our youth, leading arts engagement activities, facilitating small-groups, connecting youth to community resources, speaking in front of groups, and planning and executing multi-scale events. However the work isn’t always glamorous, and can often include neighborhood clean-ups and facilities maintenance. In short, expect to be doing a little bit of everything.

What does the schedule look like?

Working with school-aged youth means work late most weeknights and spending time with our kids on the weekends. However, we firmly believe human beings are made for more than service, so we do all we can to ensure our staff each maintain a healthy work/life balance.