POSITION SUMMARY
The Juvenile Justice Ministry Staff Intern serves alongside East Alabama Youth for Christ staff and volunteers to build authentic, Christ-centered relationships with young people at the Mt. Meigs Campus. This internship provides hands-on ministry experience working with youth in the juvenile justice system through consistent presence, relationship building, small groups, Bible studies, mentoring, and Gospel-centered conversations. The intern will learn and practice Youth for Christ's relational ministry model while developing skills in youth ministry, leadership, volunteer engagement, and juvenile justice ministry.
The ideal candidate is spiritually mature, dependable, teachable, relational, and passionate about reaching young people who may feel forgotten, overlooked, or disconnected from positive adult relationships.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Participate consistently in scheduled ministry programming at a DYS Facility.
- Build appropriate, authentic relationships with youth through regular interaction and follow-up.
- Assist in planning and leading Bible studies, small groups, activities, games, and relationship-building opportunities.
- Share the Gospel and help young people understand what it means to begin and grow in a relationship with Jesus Christ.
- Practice Youth for Christ's 3Story® approach by learning to connect my story, their story, and God's story in natural conversations.
- Meet individually with youth when permitted and appropriate within facility and EAYFC guidelines.
- Assist with mentoring and discipleship opportunities for youth.
- Help recruit, encourage, communicate with, and serve alongside JJM volunteers.
- Participate in team meetings, ministry planning, training, and debriefing.
- Build positive working relationships with Mt. Meigs staff and other community partners.
- Accurately record required ministry activity and Relational Ministry Actions (RMAs) within 24 hours.
- Follow all EAYFC, Youth for Christ, and facility policies regarding safety, confidentiality, boundaries, communication, and prohibited items.
- Immediately report safety concerns or incidents according to EAYFC procedures.
- Perform other ministry-related duties as assigned by the JJM Director or Executive Director.
INTERNSHIP DEVELOPMENT
The JJM Staff Intern will receive opportunities to develop skills in:
- Relational youth ministry
- Juvenile justice ministry
- Biblical teaching and small-group leadership
- Gospel conversations and discipleship
- Mentoring high-risk youth
- Trauma-informed relationship building
- Volunteer leadership and development
- Ministry planning and evaluation
- Professional communication
- Teamwork and nonprofit ministry leadership
QUALIFICATIONS
The ideal candidate will:
- Have a growing personal relationship with Jesus Christ and demonstrate Christian character consistent with the mission and values of East Alabama Youth for Christ.
- Be actively involved in a local church.
- Have a heart for young people, particularly youth involved in the juvenile justice system.
- Demonstrate integrity, humility, flexibility, initiative, and dependability.
- Be comfortable building relationships with young people from diverse backgrounds and life experiences.
- Be willing to listen, learn, receive feedback, and grow.
- Communicate effectively with youth, volunteers, staff, and facility personnel.
- Maintain appropriate confidentiality and professional boundaries.
- Be able to work independently while remaining accountable to ministry leadership.
- Successfully complete required background checks, screening, facility clearance, and training.
- Previous youth ministry, mentoring, education, social work, counseling, criminal justice, or nonprofit experience is helpful but not required.
TRAINING REQUIREMENTS
The intern will be expected to complete all required EAYFC and Youth for Christ training, including:
- Youth for Christ onboarding and required Trailhead training
- Juvenile Justice Ministry training
- 3Story® training
- Child protection and safety training
- Mt. Meigs facility orientation and requirements
- Any additional training required by East Alabama Youth for Christ or the facility
MINISTRY EXPECTATIONS
Because relationships are at the heart of Juvenile Justice Ministry, consistency matters. The intern is expected to show up faithfully, communicate promptly, follow through on commitments, and intentionally pursue relationships with youth. The goal is not simply to help run programs, but to become a consistent, trusted adult who walks alongside young people and creates opportunities for authentic Christ-sharing relationships.
SUCCESS IN THIS ROLE
A successful JJM Staff Intern will demonstrate:
Presence: Consistently showing up and being available to youth.
Relationships: Intentionally developing authentic, appropriate relationships with young people.
Gospel Engagement: Growing in the ability to naturally communicate the Gospel and connect God's story with a young person's story.
Leadership: Taking increasing responsibility for activities, small groups, Bible studies, and ministry programming.
Teamwork: Supporting staff and volunteers while contributing positively to the JJM team.
Accountability: Completing training, documentation, communication, and assigned responsibilities on time.
Growth: Demonstrating increasing maturity, ministry competence, initiative, and leadership throughout the internship.
Position Requirements
Knowledge & Skills
- Embraces the vision, mission and Statement of Faith of YFC
- Understands YFC’s 5 Essentials and leads through this model
- Self-Motivator
- Strong moral character and of good repute
- Connect well with youth
- Well-spoken in front of youth and adults
- Manage a team of diverse volunteers
- Honors and pursues diversity of gifts, cultures and ethnicities
- Excellent oral, written, interpersonal and presentation skills
- Able to prioritize and manage multiple responsibilities
- Good relationship building skills with adults and young people
- Perseverance through opposition and obstacles
Our cultural attributes are not about competency. It is an obedience to the call of Christ on our lives. YFC believes that spiritually healthy adults fosters healthy relationships with our kids. We place a heavy commitment and emphasis on developing and equipping a Christ-centered life marked by Enduring Humility, Relentless Trust, Joyful Camaraderie, Courageous Faithfulness and Kingdom Inspired Diversity. Willing to demonstrate and/or possesses the following:
- Ability to humbly serve and honor others even in difficult situations with prayer, consistency, transparency, and resilience. (Enduring Humility)
- Demonstrates proper reliance on God, others, and self through generous giving of time and skills, by collaboratively incorporating others’ ideas, welcoming candid input, recognizing others’ need for grace and extending forgiveness and empathy. (Relentless Trust)
- Prioritizes others’ needs for a missional outcome, characterized by joy, with active listening and problem-solving skills, while encouraging and empowering fellow believers. (Joyful Camaraderie)
- Trusts God with new approaches and changes, and communicates needs and limits with emotional intelligence, while seeking confidence and wisdom in Christ. (Courageous Faithfulness)
- Seeks authentic Christ-Centered relationships with people of various backgrounds, fosters an inviting environment and empowers historically marginalized groups and indigenous populations (within the local context), through active listening, inclusion, advocacy for those who are vulnerable and respect of others’ experiences. (Kingdom Inspired Diversity)
REQUIRED CREDENTIALS & EDUCATION
- High school diploma or GED required.
- Must be at least 18 years of age.
- Demonstrated personal relationship with Jesus Christ and commitment to growing in Christian faith and character.
- Active involvement in a local church.
- Ability to affirm and support the mission, values, and ministry philosophy of East Alabama Youth for Christ.
- Ability to successfully complete all required background checks, screenings, and Mt. Meigs facility clearance requirements.
- Valid driver's license and reliable transportation.
- Willingness to complete all required Youth for Christ, Juvenile Justice Ministry, safety, and facility-specific training.
- Ability to maintain confidentiality and appropriate professional and ministry boundaries.
PREFERRED EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE
- Currently pursuing or having completed an associate's or bachelor's degree in Youth Ministry, Christian Ministry, Biblical Studies, Social Work, Human Services, Psychology, Counseling, Criminal Justice, Education, or a related field.
- Previous experience working or volunteering with teenagers.
- Experience with at-risk, justice-involved, underserved, or vulnerable youth is strongly preferred.
- Previous ministry, mentoring, discipleship, coaching, teaching, or small-group leadership experience.
- Experience working in a juvenile justice, residential, school, church, nonprofit, or community-based setting is a plus.
- Equivalent combinations of education, ministry experience, volunteer service, and relevant life experience will be considered.
Fundraising Responsibilities
All YFC employees are expected to regularly and actively participate in faithful activities that advance the stewardship functions of YFC USA. These activities will include—but are not limited to— extending invitations to fund raising events, recruiting personal circle of influence/YFC donor contacts, sending letters, handwritten notes, personal calls, and personally ministering to donor contacts
EEO Statement
Youth For Christ (YFC) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, marital status, or other unlawful discriminatory characteristics in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
YFC is classified as an Association of Churches and as such our hiring practices reflect that designation. As a religious nonprofit organization, YFC incorporates within each leader role, the requirement to model, teach, share and live the faith. The relationship between YFC’s mission and each of its leaders is its lifeblood and as such does at all times and in all instances reserve the right to make employment decisions based upon a person’s religious beliefs, personal character and lifestyle consistent with our understanding of the Bible or with our overall goals and requirements for Christian ministry.
We seek to create a workplace that is intentional about Kingdom Inspired Diversity. Our commitment to our employees extends to their opportunities for growth, development, promotion, training and compensation.
We will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to the organization.