As YL Capernaum Grows

As Capernaum continues to grow, our leadership team thought that it may be helpful to compile some of the results of that movement into one document. The gift of this post is that it shows us so many of the places that we get to celebrate as a mission! New kids, more kids, kids experiencing being valued and honored, kids meeting Jesus, kids growing in their faith, kids having options for camping experiences, more training and more awareness that we are better together! Join us in taking some time to celebrate as you read, praising God for all that He’s doing with our friends and our ministries!

We also hope that as you read this, it will draw you to pray for the specific ways that your ministry can continue to grow and develop to best serve adolescents with disabilities in your area!

Please note that these are not policies and really anything new, but instead a clear picture of the movement and growth within Capernaum. If you have any questions or would like to talk about anything in further depth, please contact your divisional coordinator.

As Young Life Capernaum has grown over the years we have clarified our focus in the following ways:

• We are a ministry for and with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

• If a student has a physical disability, we are glad to and prepared to consult with staff about accessibility challenges. However, if a student is mainstreamed at school and can follow the verbal proclamation message as given in club, then s/he belongs at a traditional YL club with her/his peers if that’s where s/he would choose to be.

•                We are a ministry for and with adolescents, primarily ages 14 - 22, although growing in numbers of WyldLife and YL College age students.

•                Our WyldLife and YL College age students with disabilities primarily participate alongside their peers in the WyldLife or YL College club that meets in their local area/school.

•                We support and affirm both Capernaum clubs and camps where high school students with and without identified disabilities enjoy YL in an environment that is tailor made for students with disabilities and traditional YL clubs and camps where students with disabilities are invited and included in the YL club or camp that meets for their school. In both “Capernaum” YL clubs and traditional “inclusion” YL clubs, our expectation is that there are specific adult leaders and high school buddies who are trained and available to meet any special needs that may arise in the planning or executing of the YL club or camp activities.

•                At the end of their high school years, our Capernaum friends graduate from Capernaum into an age appropriate young adult ministry, preferably hosted by a local church where our friends and their families have the opportunity to become part ofthe life of the church. Every YL area that has YL Capernaum needs to be developing thattransition plan just like they are working on how to transition their Campaigners into churches.

•                We have a small number of Beyond Capernaum ministries across the country for Capernaum Alumni ages 23-26. These are ministries to help ease our friends into thetransition into the church.

•                Every area that has YL Capernaum also needs to be developing a camping progression strategy. Because our Capernaum friends may be in high school for 8 years, each area needs to develop a plan that includes opportunities beyond YL outreach camp to help our friends grow in their faith. Some ideas include: Day Camp, Mission Trips, YL Expeditions,YoungLives childcare, work crew, and work weeks at camps.

•                If a student’s primary diagnosis is a mental health diagnosis, then they are not a Capernaum kid. We are not trained to care properly for students whose primary diagnosis is a mental health diagnosis. Students with IDD (Intellectual and DevelopmentalDisabilities) are one of the most vulnerable populations when it comes to abuse, so we must draw some boundaries here for safety.

•                Our preference when hiring a staff person to lead Capernaum is that the AD hires a YL staff associate who will focus on Capernaum in the local area. This staff associate should receive all the training and encouragement that all YL staff receive, plus the added layer of Capernaum training. This staff associate is growing into the Capernaum expert in their area, starting multiple clubs until every teenager with a disability in that area has had the opportunity to hear about and experience God’s love.