J2A Training

Training for the Journey to Adulthood (J2A) Youth program are our most popular events...so our calendars fill up up quickly. If you have a specific weekend or event where you'd like to offer J2A training, call us right away and get time reserved with your favorite trainer.
 
What can your trainer do?
  • Get new J2A leaders trained
  • Energize & fortify current leaders
  • Share practical tips
  • Help you learn about authentic youth ministry
  • Speak at regional or diocesan events
  • Work with a youth search committee
  • Help troubleshoot & brainstorm new ideas
  • and so much MORE!
For more information or to schedule a consultation,
fill out the Request a Consultant Form.
 
What happens?
J2A trainings can be custom designed for your situation. You can do a Saturday training with just your own youth leaders or open it up to neighboring congregations (or even travelers from afar). You can add a Friday night (often with parents or parents and teens) or add a Sunday morning (sermon and/or adult forum to engage the whole congregation). The main training component can be either at the basic level or more advanced. If you are just starting J2A or have lots of new leaders, the basic introduction is probably what you will want. If you've been doing the program for some time, the advanced training will help your leaders engage the program at a deeper level.
 
Your trainer can also design a program to address any questions or problems you have or provide skill training in areas you feel a need. Your trainer can also help you incorporate programs like Making it Real and Relevant (available at a discount for J2A members) to enhance your J2A program. When you schedule a training, you will have an opportunity to talk with your trainer in advance and decide on a plan that best fits your situation.
 
What are the costs?
Depending on the flight expense for the trainer, the Saturday J2A training events usually run the hosting parish(es) about $1500.  The training fee is only $975, but you add to that one night in a hotel and a flight for the trainer, and that amount varies greatly from state-to-state. If you choose to add something like a Sunday sermon or adult ed, for example, those fees would be negotiated separately with your trainer.
 
Where can I find funding?
If you are interested in hosting a regional J2A training event, the first place you should look for funding is through your diocesan office.  They know that leadership events are an important investment for the diocese, as they help fortify not only the local Youth Ministry programs, but also build camp, Happening, and other diocesan youth initiatives.  You might also ask your Provincial CE and Youth networks for additional funding.
 
If the costs are still not covered, your next step would be to contact three or four neighboring parishes, and ask them if they are interested in co-hosting the event.  They would be required to donate no less than $100 towards the cost of the event, hopefully $200, and help with the marketing and publicity.  If they agree to co-host around $200, you could tell them that their adults can come for free.
 
Many congregations choose to have private training. The costs are still the same, but more time is spent exploring the specific challenges and opportunities in their parish. We look at the space, talk about their calendars and adult volunteers, consider their unique marketing practices, and identify parent leaders to help gather parents for support.  
 
Some hosts will charge participants a nominal fee, say, $20, to cover materials, security, and lunch. Some places will use the participant's fees to help cover some of the cost of the event, and will charge $40 - $50 per person.  Some parishes have groups (men's group, gardener's club) who use this as a way to show their support, and provide for hospitality needs and lunch.
 
For more information or to schedule a consultation
fill out the Request a Consultant Form.
 
Here's what one DRE said about their training session:

Last night, a number of us gathered in the third floor conference room for a Journey to Adulthood training session with a remarkable woman named Heidi Clark from Leader Resources.  Heidi has done these training sessions for 15 years.  She is smart.  She is funny.  She is savvy.  She is cool.  I loved hearing what she had to say.  And, I am so grateful that she was able to fit us in right before our Rite 13 and J2A programs (for our 6th – 12th graders) kick off.  The Journey to Adulthood program is a rich, marvelous, spiritual and relevant program.  I am so impressed with it and with the adults who have stepped up to lead it or to be liaisons for us.

Harriet Roberts,
Director of Christian Education
Grace/St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Memphis, TN