Pre-Work
Ministry Support
It’s that time of year again - when the i100 gathers in person for a week of joy, connection, and learning! This year, we’re kicking off our annual gathering in Hong Kong, and our focus will be on Ministry Support.
To make the most of our time together, we’re asking everyone to come prepared. Please complete the following pre-work before arriving:
1.) Complete the Datawise Annual Survey
You will receive this survey via email on September 15. Please take time to complete it before the gathering.
2.) Watch
Watch this short video featuring Sarah Lopez from Young Life Mexico as she shares about Trellis.
3.) Read and Reflect
Read the Health and Value statements for each Ministry Support function:
Finance
- Finance supports the YL MMVN value of Stewardship - Observing the highest standards of stewardship of all the resources placed in our trust.
- Finance facilitates strategy, planning, performance monitoring, cost control, risk management, stakeholder communication and compliance/reporting.
- A healthy finance function operates with approaches all of the above with a “kingdom mindset”, following the footsteps and teaching of Jesus.
LEgal
Value of Legal Services: The Legal Services team provides advice and counsel for the mission of Young Life. We equip and empower ministry leaders to make informed decisions. We are a proactive ministry partner, here to support and guide as we all keep our eyes on Jesus and reaching kids with the gospel.
- A local ministry possesses healthy functionality on legal matters when…
- Staff and leaders have deep relationships with Jesus and healthy relationships with one another.
- Essential right to operate requirements are met, with appropriate support for future maintenance and anticipated growth.
- Internal YL policies are known, agreed, taught, and followed.
- Field leadership has proactive engagement, established trust, and communication with the Legal Services team.
Human REsources
Value: HR (Human Resources) is a section of our ministry that partners with you to enable our people and organization to be the best forms of themselves.
- Proactively develop, mentor and coach staff/volunteers to meet the needs of the mission today with a pipeline of developing talent available for the future.
Health: Healthy HR works with supervisors and leaders to
- Partner with the mission to best position and encourage volunteers and staff as it tracks and honors faithful service
- Encourage robust and healthy employment throughout the life cycle: hire well, reward well, and prepare for people to leave staff well.
- Leverage systems to encourage good supervision and protect the mission with policies and trainings
- Help us leverage our vast global diversity and learn to respect and value all people.
- Make sure that we are connecting local work with legal obligations to people and to the organization, and help avoid complicated situations or assist when they arise
OPERATIONS
Value:
- Operations is part of the trellis that supports the growth and vitality of Young Life’s ministry. (We help keep the fruit from falling to the ground).
- Provides logistics, systems, and resource management that create space for relational ministry to thrive.
- Ensures staff and volunteers are freed from operational distractions to focus on reaching adolescents.
- Partners closely with Field Leadership to ensure ministry can scale with clarity, consistency, and support.
- Owns, manages, and executes on the processes and structures required to support a growing and evolving mission.
- Though often behind the scenes, Operations is essential to ministry effectiveness and sustainability.
What Healthy Operations Looks like?
People-Centered Systems and Processes
- Operations designs systems and workflows with care and intentionality, always aiming to serve people first.
- Processes are clear, collaborative, and simple—reducing friction and complexity while promoting clarity and shared goals.
- This enables staff and volunteers to focus on ministry more effectively, with fewer operational distractions.
Strategic Stewardship and Communication
- Healthy Operations wisely manage time, finances, personnel, and materials—aligning all resources with mission and long-term strategy.
- Clear and consistent communication across functions and regions fosters trust, strengthens collaboration, and ensures informed decision-making.
- Operational stewardship creates sustainable impact and keeps the organization aligned and united.
Adaptable Infrastructure and Data Excellence
- Operations builds stable systems with defined roles, while continuously improving and adapting to new needs and challenges.
- Innovation and flexibility are encouraged to support the evolving mission.
- Strong data management ensures ministry-critical information is collected, transferred, and used with integrity—fueling insight-driven leadership and accountability.
Take a few moments to reflect on the following:
- In which areas do you feel your ministry is healthy and strong?
- Where is there room for improvement?
- Based on the video from from Sarah, how do you think Trellis work can actually bear fruit?
- What is one specific challenge related to Ministry Support that you’d like to bring to the gathering in Hong Kong? Discuss this with your supervisor before you arrive.
Then share your thoughts by completing this short survey:
4.) Explore Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a vibrant city with a rich history and cultural depth. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the context:
We will also be joined by a guest speaker from Hong Kong — Jackie Pullinger — a beautiful example of incarnational ministry.
5.) Prepare your heart
Traveling across the globe in October is a gift — but we know it’s also tiring and costly. Leaving family and ministry behind is not easy. As you prepare for Hong Kong, take some time to pray and ask God to prepare your heart for our time together.
We can’t wait to see you soon!
