Divisional Lesson: Legal 1
Health and Value:
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 reach the next kid 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 taught, known, accepted, and practiced.
- Proactive engagement, established trust, and clear communication exists with the Legal Services team
Module 1- Lesson Plan: "Healthy Legal Functionality in Ministry" - Call outline
Audience: i100 Divisional Groups
Duration: 60–75 minutes
Format: Interactive zoom call
Lesson Objectives
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
- Describe the value of Legal Services as a proactive partner in ministry and discern when to engage with the Legal Services team.
- Describe what healthy legal functionality looks like in a local ministry context.
- Reflect on their own team's current legal health and determine next steps.
Materials Needed
- Legal Health visual aid (diagram or checklist)
- Case studies/scenario handouts (proactive vs. reactive)
- Reflection worksheet or discussion guide
- I100 website outline
- Contact info or intro video from Divisional Legal Representative
Lesson Outline
1.) Welcome and Health Reminder (5 Minutes)
- Begin with a reminder that legal systems are not just about compliance—they’re about health, trust, and enabling sustainable mission.
- Quote (optional): “Healthy legal systems don’t limit ministry—they protect and multiply it.”
2.) Teaching Segment: The Value of Legal Services (2 minutes)
What does the Legal Team do?
- The Legal Services team provides advice and counsel to help ministry leaders make wise, informed decisions.
- Legal supports ministry's health by ensuring alignment with national laws, ministry values, and policies.
- Legal is a proactive partner, not just a crisis contact. You can always reach out to a member of the legal team directly or through legal@sc.younglife.org with any questions or things you would like to discuss.
Just like you, “We keep our eyes on Jesus and on reaching the next kid.”
3.) What Does Healthy Legal Functionality Look Like? (10 minutes)
Walk participants through this framework for legal health in a local ministry:
4.) MEet your divisional Legal Representatives
- Divisions you work with: EURO, Eurasia, APAC, India
- YL experience/history: I used to sneak into YL when I was not even old enough to attend. I was a volunteer leader and on student staff in college, and have been on staff since 2013. My husband has been on YL staff for 27 years.
- Where you live: Franklin, TN
- Fun fact: Before I was part of the legal team, I was the YL APAC Operations Director and lived in Singapore for seven years before accidentally moving back to the US during Covid.
- Divisions you work with: Africa West and the USA
- I have worked for YL for 2 years, served on work crew for Learning and Leadership and will be serving on the Global board for YoungLives
- I reside in Sandy Springs, Ga
- If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be a stressed-out event planner.
- Divisions you work with: LAC, Africa, and Europe.
- YL experience/history: First YL camp in 1996. Volunteering ever since.
- Where you live: San Jose, Costa Rica.
- Fun fact: In YL, I have a twin brother from another mother. Guess who?
- Divisions you work with: All divisions, but primarily YL Africa
- YL experience/history: I was a Young Life kid, volunteer, and field staff, and now I currently work in Mission Services.
- Where you live: Colorado Springs, Colorado
- If I weren’t a lawyer, I would work on a cattle ranch.
5.) Case Studies: Proactive vs. Reactive Legal Engagement (15–20 minutes)
Scenario 1 – Proactive
Field leadership is preparing to launch ministry in a “new” country. Before starting, the Regional Director connected with Legal Services to understand legal registration, child protection laws, and employment guidelines. In collaboration with their SVP and Ops Director, they add the new country as a divisional legal priority for a new legal entity. While the Regional Director was initially disappointed that the country was placed as third on the divisional priority list, this created realistic expectations on timing. Legal Services was able to locate trusted local counsel that has the needed expertise and that the local staff felt comfortable working with on legal matters. During the research phase for the new entity, local counsel discovered that an old existing Young Life entity was still active. However, that type of entity was not legally able to operate a Young Life ministry. The Legal Services team worked with local counsel to establish a new entity and dissolve the old entity. The new entity has a board that meets regularly and is legally compliant. The new entity also operates in compliance with employment and child protection laws. The entity has been in existence for over five years and the number of staff, volunteers and kids known by name has increased exponentially. Some of the local laws have changed over the years, but the local team works with Legal Services to make sure they stay updated on new requirements that affect the ministry.
GROUP DISCUSSION
- What went well?
- How did this protect and empower the ministry?
- What was the role of trust?
Scenario 2 – Reactive
A Young Life ministry launches on Malta, primarily through a local church where the pastor’s wife was a Young Life leader in her home country. The Regional Director is able to visit in person early on and train several new volunteer leaders. The pastor assures the Regional Director that no legal registration is needed and contracts are not common in the local culture. The Regional Director does not verify this information with anyone else. The new Young Life ministry grows quickly, with new volunteers and clubs being added every month. Within two years, an annual ministry budget of $45,000 USD per year is approved, and the pastor’s daughter has been hired as YL staff – receiving monthly payments with nothing in writing. Unfortunately, six months later, the pastor is accused of wrongdoing in his church, and there is a growing conflict between the pastor and the members of the church elder board. The Regional Director flies to Malta, where she learns that while the staff member was engaged in some legitimate ministry, the accounting records do not show where YL funds were spent, some parents begin pulling their teenagers from YL activities, and a local attorney advises that if YL applies for a legal entity it will be denied because of the time operating without a registration.
GROUP DISCUSSION
- What was missing?
- How could this situation have been avoided?
- What would be your next step?
Debrief: Highlight the cost of reactive engagement vs. the benefits of proactive partnership.
6.) Reflection Activity: “Where Are We Now?” (10 minutes)
Legal Health Self-Check:
- Are we legally registered?
- Are we in compliance with applicable laws?
- Are we following Young Life policies?
- Do our leaders know when and how to call Legal Services?
Prompt discussion in geographic teams or small groups:
- Where are we strong?
- What are 1–2 areas that need attention?
- What action or support is needed?
7.) Call to Action & Prayer (5 minutes)
- Prompt: “What one thing can we do this month to strengthen our legal health?”
- Encourage team communication and connection with the legal representative.
- Close in prayer, thanking God for the systems that protect His mission and asking for wisdom in navigating legal matters.
