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Youth Becoming Leaders

Program Dates: June 9-18, 2025

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Become the leader God has called you to be. Youth Becoming Leaders welcomes high school students who are devoted to Christ, hold leadership positions in their communities, excel academically, and strive to understand God’s plan for their future. During the program, students will have the opportunity to reside on the stunning campus of Asbury University. They will be accommodated in university dormitories, dine in the dining hall, study in Asbury classrooms, and access the university’s student resources. A student will experience: 

  • Immersion in a Christian community for worshipping, learning, and encountering God 
  • Theological instruction from renowned Asbury University and Seminary faculty 
  • Experiential training in spiritual disciplines 
  • Training in researching and engaging significant global issues and discerning culture 
  • Observation and training with local ministry leaders 
  • Training for community action together with a mentor from your home community** 
  • Development of a ministry project to start in their home community 
  • A life-changing institute 

Do you still have questions? Join us on November 18, 2024, from 7:30-8:30 pm EST on Zoom or February 10, 2025, from 7:30-8:30 pm EST on Zoom for a Question and Answer time! Director Caleigh Smith and Assistant Director Jenna Brock will be live to answer any questions. 

Download the YBL 2025 Flyer


How to Apply to Youth Becoming Leaders

To be accepted into Youth Becoming Leaders, applicants must meet at least the following requirements: a minimum GPA of 3.3***, demonstration of leadership in the local community, reference letters, and Scripture memorization. Students who enroll at Asbury are eligible to receive $1,000 per year ($4,000) in scholarships and three academic elective credits to be applied toward the general liberal arts degree completion.

Students are asked to complete a three-step application process by March 10, 2025 to be considered for acceptance into the program.

  1. Complete the application.
  2. Identify a mentor from your home church/community that will commit to journeying through a mentor relationship for the next year. Have this potential mentor fill out the Youth Becoming Leaders Mentor and Reference Form and submit it by March 10, 2025. **
  3. Applicants will be asked to memorize a Scripture passage – Exodus 3:1-15 – that connects with the theme of Youth Becoming Leaders. The scripture can be any translation. You will be asked to submit a video of yourself reciting the verses, and the video must be a one-shot recording (rather than multiple clips edited together).

Turn in all three application materials (online application, mentor & reference form, and video of Scripture memorization) by Wednesday, March 10, 2025.

**The Youth Becoming Leaders program provides students with a comprehensive post-program curriculum that requires them to work closely with their mentor. As part of this process, mentors are required to participate in a pre-program Zoom training session and an additional Zoom call on the final day of the residential program. During this call, students and mentors will work together to refine a ministry project the student will undertake in the following months. To assist mentors, YBL will provide a helpful mentor workbook. 

***Students who display strong leadership qualities and whose references can attest to their suitability for the program will still be considered, even if they do not meet the GPA requirement. 

Leadership Fellows

Loved YBL so much you are ready to play it back again? YBL is launching Leadership Fellows in 2025. This program is designed for students who have already attended YBL and wish to continue their leadership development.  During the program, these students will continue to gain knowledge and guidance as leaders alongside counselors and first-year YBL students. These returning students will experience:

  • Biblical and theological training related to the new 2025 theme, Known, from Exodus 3:1-15
  • Additional leadership training, particularly about how to give ministry leadership away
  • Designated leadership responsibilities during the 10 days of YBL’s residential program
  • Community with other Leadership Fellows

To apply for this opportunity, students will 1) complete the YBL application form, which includes an additional section of questions for Leadership Fellows; 2) submit the Scripture memorization video for this year’s theme verses; and 3) identify a mentor from their home church or community. (Students are more than welcome to continue working with the mentor they chose during their first year of YBL.) Students will also develop a ministry project, which can be a new component for their already existing ministry project or a new project altogether.

Accepted! Now What?

  1. Complete a short personality inventory. It will help place students into small groups and assist in leadership development. Once you submit your application information, a link to the inventory will be sent to the email address you provided. Take a screenshot of the full description and email it to Jenna Brock. (View instructions on how to take a screenshot.) Deadline: April 14, 2025. 
  2. Complete a short online pre-event assessment. This assessment will be emailed to students in late spring. Deadline: April 14, 2025.
  3. Submit payment. Deadline: April 14, 2025.
  4. Have your parent/guardian complete the required YBL Parent Permission Forms below if they have not already done so. They should have already received an email invitation to complete this form.
    • YBL Parent Permission Form This permission form is required for you to participate in the YBL program.
    • Challenge Course Permission Form A trip to the Asbury University Challenge Course is a major team-building and leadership activity included in the program and the permission form is required for you to participate in the Challenge Course.

Due Date Chart

Application
Mentor Reference
Scripture Video Submission

March 10, 2025
YBL will inform you of Acceptance Status March 21, 2025
Confirm your Participation April 1, 2025

Pre-Assessment
Personality Inventory Results
Challenge Course Permission Form
Parent Permission Form
Payment (Deposit of at least $250)

April 14, 2025

Complete and bring to AU:

  1. Project Checklist and Worksheet Form. Please schedule a time to meet with your mentor and go over the Project Checklist and Worksheet Form together before you arrive in June. Every student who participates in YBL will develop a ministry project to implement in their home community with the help of their mentor. Completion of this form will prepare you to start working on your ministry project when you arrive for YBL. We want you to be prayed up and ready to give life to your project when you get here!
  2. Read Everyday Saint: Rejecting Sin, Choosing Love by Jim Hampton, which will be referenced during your time at YBL. You will be sent this book at the mailing address you entered on your application. The deadline to have the book read is June 9, 2025. We will send a copy of this book to you by mail after May 1 and the finalization of your registration materials.
  3. Download a checklist version of the Packing List.