Hello Regional Directors & Admins!

It is that time of year again, we are looking for your nominations for specific pipeline cohorts for the 2026-2027 cohort experiences.

Area & Ministry Director School 2, Centurion, Associate Regional Director School, Legacy Leaders, and Proclamation Project were specifically designed out of needs expressed by Field Leadership to provide development, support, and encouragement to your leaders. We heard from you last year that you would prefer these opportunities bundled together so that you could consider nominations strategically with your teams.

In the email below, you will see some ways to both spiritually and organizationally discern these nominations. As your Divisional Learning Manager, I am available to answer any questions that you may have along the way. Please have your nominations submitted by Friday, April 24th.

We truly appreciate your active part in helping us invest and provide the next level of encouragement and leadership to our staff as they help us fulfill the mission of YL. Thanks for your thoughtfulness around this process. We welcome your input and feedback along the way!

WHAT IS THE TRAINING ROLE RECOMMENDATIONS? 

We are looking for individuals who have proven leadership skills and who are willing to serve in different roles, along with Learning and Leadership, for example, New Staff Training (NST) Small Group Leader, Area & Ministry Director School (AMDS) Cohort Coach, and Theology learning courses like New Testament Intro (NT) Teacher Assistant.

Please let us know if there is anyone in your Region that would be a great fit to lead in these areas. We recommend that participants have 5+ years of Young Life Experiences, and a hospitable spirit, who are eager to encourage newer staff. Roles available:

WHAT IS THE PROCLAMATION PROJECT?  

The Proclamation Project is designed to equip Young Life staff to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that is theologically sound, culturally compelling, and relationally engaging. Staff will learn foundations, skills, and practicals that will help them grow in their own proclamation of the Gospel and help them train their volunteers. It includes in-person training designed around workshops and small group learning, followed by monthly cohorts to apply the learning in real time. Details and Learning Objectives can be found below.

Learning Topics Included:

Area Track | Participants will focus on developing their own proclamation and the proclamation of their leaders in the local area. The area track will also prepare staff to become future fall weekend and summer camp speakers.

Summer Track | Participants who will have a speaking assignment during Summer 2027, who have not previously attended the proclamation project.

MISSIONWIDE COHORT BREAKDOWN 

Due to the weather cancellation of the 2026 Proclamation Project, participants who were nominated and registered for the 2025-2026 Proclamation Project, but we were unable to complete the experience, have a reserved spot in the 2027 Proclamation Project. Additional nominations for the 2026-2027 cycle are needed as described below.

WHAT IS CENTURION? 

The Centurion Project is a personal and ministry development program targeted to high Performing Area or Focus Ministry Directors. Participants in the Centurion Project discover their individual talents and gifts, gain practical skills and research as they learn and apply organizational leadership principles to lead and strategically grow their area ministry in excellence, engage around best practices in community with others within the cohort, and develop strategies to create spaces of belonging within their ministry context as they build capacity. Selections for Centurion ought to be recognized as high performing staff, serving as Area or Focus Ministry Directors or above, that have demonstrated excellent area leadership and area ministry within their Regions as acknowledged by the Regional Director and Senior Vice President.

We ask that each Division nominate a minimum of four Candidates to participate in the Mission-Wide Cohort.

Participants will focus on building the following six-core behavioral competencies:

Note: Acceptance in the program is an acknowledgment of availability for calendar dates Nomination does not guarantee acceptance.

MISSIONWIDE BREAKDOWN 

WHAT IS AREA & MINISTRY DIRECTOR SCHOOL 2? 

Area & Ministry Director School Training is a great opportunity for young Area Directors who have been on staff for four years or more, and who have attended AMDS1, to receive additional training and coaching by senior staff in their Divisions. By creating divisional cohorts of 12-18 people that meet three times throughout the year, we are able to provide tools and coaching in a way that allows for them to grow and succeed in their role, which allows for them to implement critical initiatives that they have developed.

Learning Topics Included:

Note: Acceptance in the program is acknowledgment of availability for calendar dates Nomination does not guarantee acceptance.

MISSIONWIDE COHORT BREAKDOWN 

WHAT IS ASSOCIATE REGIONAL DIRECTOR SCHOOL? 

The Associate Regional Director School (ARD School) is designed for new Associate Regional Directors seeking training for their role. This is not a nomination-based process; rather, we are gathering interest from those who would like their staff to participate.

Note: In order for a cohort to be formed, we must have a minimum of 10 ARDs expressing interest in the training in order for it to be offered. Once a cohort is able to be formed, we will notify the individuals Direct Supervisor of the Cohort's Registration Availability.

WHAT IS LEGACY LEADER? 

Legacy Leader is a cohort-style training for potential and advanced-level leaders. Participants are trained toward the organizational and individual capacity of leadership. The suggested participant is someone who has shown consistent evidence of excellence in the five core functions, recruits, develops, and leads diverse teams, and exhibits evidence of learning and growth. We expect that the people nominated are the staff you have a clear vision toward advancement, so much so that you would invest in them both with your time and your finances as they grow as leaders. The estimated cost is $3,500.

Learning Topics Include: