Everything you need to know about 

The Young Life Church Partnership Program

Western Great Lakes Region

In a Young Life Church Partnership, a local congregation hires a Young Life trained person who spends 70% of his or her time as the church's youth director and 30% of his or her time in ministry to the community through Young Life. Church Partners participate in a training group two times a month.

YL Church Partnership Infographic [Updated Sept 2022].pdf

Church Partnerships At a Glance

Church Partnership Handbook

Download the Church Partnership Handbook

Profile of a Church Partner

The typical candidate we place into a church partnership is a college graduate with two to four years of experience as a Young Life leader. The primary calling of a church partner is ministry with young people. The partner makes a three-year commitment to the position. More than 90% of our partners over the past 14 years have completed three years or more in their position.

Competencies we look for in making placements are, is the person 1) spiritually and personally healthy, 2) relational, 3) a good communicator, 4) initiative, 5) organized and manages time well, 6) a good listener 7) a team player. We interview candidates with respect to these specific competencies.  

Church Partnership Questionnaire

For churches pursuing a formal Church Partnership, please complete the following questionnaire. 

"Being a church partner for five years, I had the honor of seeing ministry in its most complete form; where the Church accepted God's commission to move toward people in its partnership with Young Life; and Young Life embraced the benefits of the Church. God has used Young Life to forever shape my understanding of ministry in the Church."

—Jonathan Elgersma, Pastor at Faith Reformed Church in Zeeland (former Church Partner from 1993-1998)