Chaplaincy
Volunteer Chaplains: In the fall of 2000, Serve Our Youth Network began hosting volunteer chaplains at the Polk County Juvenile Detention Center and Youth Transitional Shelter. Chaplains provide one-on-one spiritual guidance to youth who request this. We encourage them to establish a regular weekly visitation time so that youth can sign up to meet with one of these volunteers.
Bible Discussion Groups: SOY was also invited to facilitate what we call Bible Discussion Groups. As the name suggests, these groups are simply weekly discussions about how the Bible intersects with everyday life. The groups are facilitated by SOY volunteer Bible Discussion Group Leaders and are voluntary for youth. These are offered at Polk County Juvenile Detention Center and Woodward Academy for all interested youth. These groups have been tremendously successful with large numbers of detained youth opting to participate.
Basic qualifications for volunteer chaplains and Bible discussion group leaders are: be at least 21-years-old, have a personal & growing relationship with Jesus Christ, listening skills, basic bible knowledge, and love kids.
Prayer Partners: Prayer Partners are volunteers who provide weekly prayer support for SOY youth, staff, volunteer and ministry needs. Specific prayer requests are sent out in email form to SOY’s Prayer Partner volunteers. We invite anyone to become involved in this ministry; prayer support from someone like you is vital to the ongoing effectiveness of this ministry.
For more information contact Shane Vander Hart.
