Adult Volunteer/Staff

Program Policies

To maximize our witness and the effectiveness of the program, we ask that you honor and uphold the following policies. While some of the following behaviors in and of themselves may not be sinful, we ask that you limit your freedoms for the sake of the Gospel and the program. As a volunteer, we ask that you affirm and enforce these policies.

• Respect and cooperate with all adult volunteers, church leaders, and program staff with a godly attitude.
• Participants under 18 years old (or less than 1 year out of high school) may not leave the conference location unless given permission by their church leader and a member of the Life Training Staff.
• Honor the curfew. All on-campus participants must be in their room with lights out at midnight unless participating in an activity approved by program staff.
• Adult Volunteers will be responsible for keeping track of their students and communicating their compliance with LT Staff.
• No one of the opposite sex in gender-specific areas at any time, except for activities sponsored by a church or program leader.
• There is no place for physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of any kind during any part of the conference, nor harassment, intimidation, bullying, or sexual grooming. Life Training staff will report to law enforcement all reasonable suspicions of child abuse and other criminal activity as required by local law and will cooperate with law enforcement investigations.
• Life Training screens all adult staff and volunteers, via criminal background checks and pastoral discretion. Because academic researchers have found that youth-serving organizations need to guard against abuse by individuals who have no prior record of conviction, be aware that screening alone could be insufficient.
• All Life Training participants (including adult volunteers and staff) must have pastoral approval before attending the conference.
• Share space and responsibilities in the meeting and housing locations and respect everyone. Hazing, physically or verbally abusive behavior, and attitudes that do not build up the group will not be tolerated. We expect everyone not only to get along with each other, but also to honor God in their interactions with each other, in their conversations, and in their activities. In light of this, we encourage each church to communicate godly expectations for modesty and appropriate dress, and we expect their attendees to abide by those expectations.
• No drinking alcohol, use of tobacco products or illegal drugs. No fireworks. (We ask parents and volunteers who use tobacco to abstain when they are around the students and locations of program activities.)
• Students may not skip meetings or scheduled events without the specific permission of their church leader.
• Behave in a respectful, courteous, and honoring way as an ambassador of Christ and guest in the conference meeting and housing locations.
• For these days, we ask students (generally) to minimize use of social media and other electronic distractions and focus on the work God is doing in our lives. We encourage adult volunteers to do the same when feasible.
• Avoid inappropriate activities and unsafe environments. Students should avoid tattoo or piercing parlors and never go anywhere with any stranger for any period of time for any reason. We encourage adult volunteers to keep close communication with church leaders to facilitate safety as well.
• You will build strong friendships, but this is not a time to seek romantic relationships. For safety, never separate from the group with anyone of the opposite sex (who is not related to you). We encourage adult volunteers not to spend any time alone with an unrelated student of either sex. (Having an extra student or adult increases both adult and student safety.)
• If any participant of Life Training is unable to abide by these policies, their church leaders will be consulted and will, with guidance from the Life Training staff, determine if that individual can continue to participate in the conference.

Please talk to your sponsoring church’s leaders if you need clarification on any of these policies or possible exceptions to a policy.

Adult Volunteer Responsibilities and Expectations

I understand that as an adult volunteer, I am under the direction of my church and the Life Training staff. I must be actively engaged in the spiritual mentoring and discipleship of the students under my leadership. Secondly, I must enforce all Life Training policies and expectations. I take full responsibility for the actions, safety and well being of all the students under the age of 18 or less than one year out of high school residing under my leadership. My responsibilities include but are not limited to the following:

• Stay with and lead the students under my leadership in the housing area and during program and church activities.
• Promote ‘open-heart’, practical life-changing discussions with students, one-on-one and in small group setting. Act as a spiritual catalyst by leading formal and informal discussions with students.
• Model a genuine, authentic relationship with Christ and encourage full participation in all activities and meetings.
• Develop team unity within the group. Attend any required Adult Volunteer meetings.
• Lead the students to help with assigned meal duties and keep the facilities in order (especially the housing location).
• Enforce upright conduct and behavior of students and myself.
• Lead out at prayer, evangelism, service, devotional, and discussion times. Coordinate my students’ participation in scheduled program activities.
• Report to Life Training Staff any reasonable suspicion of abuse or any other criminal activity.

I realize that Life Training is a Christian training program for high school students, college students and parents desiring to follow Jesus Christ and to do His will. Therefore, I agree to the following guidelines.

1. I must be a born again Christian, desiring to complete a challenging and intense spiritual training program designed to prepare me, my family and the participants for which I am responsible with convictions and skills for life.
2. I must have a desire and willingness to communicate my faith with others and demonstrate a teachable, cooperative spirit.
3. I must comply with, affirm and enforce the Program Policies above.
4. I must report to my sponsoring church staff or the Life Training staff any situations with students or others that I am not equipped to handle. This is especially true of students revealing drug-related incidents, discussions of suicide, rape, abuse, or any other serious trauma. This is also very true of program violations (especially safety violations) by either students or adults.

One of the goals of Life Training is to train students to initiate worship themselves whether through prayer, fellowship, service, evangelism, or private/corporate devotion. As an adult volunteer, I understand that I must actively encourage and train students under my leadership to initiate worship throughout the Life Training conference, especially during any Church Initiative times.

General Release

Should this application be accepted, I agree that I will be bound by the policies of my sponsoring church (listed above), Blacksburg Ablaze of Blacksburg, VA, and this year’s Life Training program.

I certify that my participation in this year’s Life Training Program, contingent upon acceptance, will be voluntary. I understand that this participation in a weeklong program carries risks inherent both to such programs and its activities and to the location of the program. I release and hold harmless my sponsoring church, Blacksburg Ablaze of Blacksburg, VA, host church(es), their boards of directors, trustees, employees, agents, affiliates, volunteers, students and associated churches from any liability for loss, injury, or damages to my person or property which may result from my participation.

Medical Release and Permission

To attempt to minimize potential illness, testing will be available as needed if symptoms or exposure arises. It is also highly recommended that if you plan to participate in Life Training and you are experiencing any illness or symptoms of an illness ahead of time, you consider testing and potential quarantine.

1. Anyone who tests positive at Life Training may be asked to quarantine or return home per the discretion of the Life Training Health Director.
2. To protect all Life Training participants from potential illness, everyone who attends Life Training will be asked to wear a mask and gloves when handling food,
3. To protect all Life Training participants from potential illness, everyone who attends Life Training will be asked to use hand sanitizer between meals and will be expected to keep up good hygiene throughout the conference. Each Life Training participant will also be asked to help ensure that all spaces are kept clean and sanitized.
4. Life Training will have masks, hand soap, hand sanitizer, sterilizing wipes, basic first aid equipment, and COVID testing available for use at any time during the conference.
5. The Life Training staff and adult volunteers will be frequently wiping down high contact points to help prevent potential illness, specifically in and around the kitchen or areas where food is prepared and/or consumed.
6. If a participant of the Life Training conference tests positive for COVID-19 or another illness, they will be asked to quarantine in a designated location.
7. If a participant of the Life Training conference is exposed to COVID-19 or another illness, but they do not test positive, the Life Training Health Director, and the individual’s church leaders will be consulted to determine if a quarantine is necessary and for how long.
8. In case of an illness, any Life Training Participant in need of medical care will be brought to Immediate Medical Care - 9770 Old Baymeadows Road #115, Jacksonville, FL 32246 or CareSpot Urgent Care - Jacksonville Arlington Cesery 1021 Cesery Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32211, unless otherwise requested.
9. In case of a medical emergency any Life Training Participant in need of medical care will be brought to HCA Florida Memorial Hospital - 3625 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32216 or Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside Hospital - 4201 Belfort Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32216 unless otherwise requested

In the case of illness or injury sustained at this year’s Life Training program or en route to or from it, if I am not capable of granting permission for my child’s care, I hereby give my consent to the leaders of my sponsoring church and/or the Life Training program to seek any necessary medical treatment as deemed necessary by any duly licensed physician / practitioner, required for the relief of pain and to preserve life and health. I herewith authorize emergency medical / surgical treatment at said physician’s office or a licensed medical hospital.

I give my permission to Blacksburg Ablaze of Blacksburg, VA and all photographers or videographers authorized by the Life Training staff to use photos, audio/video recordings, and quotations of my child for promotional and other uses.

I understand that this conference is neither supported, controlled, nor supervised by the host church(es) but rather is under the sole sponsorship of Blacksburg Ablaze of Blacksburg, VA.

Minor/Student

Program Policies

To maximize our witness and the effectiveness of the program, we ask that you honor and uphold the following policies. While some of the following behaviors in and of themselves may not be sinful, we ask that you limit your freedoms for the sake of the Gospel and the program. As a volunteer, we ask that you affirm and enforce these policies.

• Respect and cooperate with all adult volunteers, church leaders, and program staff with a godly attitude.
• Participants under 18 years old (or less than 1 year out of high school) may not leave the conference location unless given permission by their church leader and a member of the Life Training Staff.
• Honor the curfew. All on-campus participants must be in their room with lights out at midnight unless participating in an activity approved by program staff.
• Adult Volunteers will be responsible for keeping track of their students and communicating their compliance with LT Staff.
• No one of the opposite sex in gender-specific areas at any time, except for activities sponsored by a church or program leader.
• There is no place for physical, sexual, or emotional abuse of any kind during any part of the conference, nor harassment, intimidation, bullying, or sexual grooming. Life Training staff will report to law enforcement all reasonable suspicions of child abuse and other criminal activity as required by local law and will cooperate with law enforcement investigations.
• Life Training screens all adult staff and volunteers, via criminal background checks and pastoral discretion. Because academic researchers have found that youth-serving organizations need to guard against abuse by individuals who have no prior record of conviction, be aware that screening alone could be insufficient.
• All Life Training participants (including adult volunteers and staff) must have pastoral approval before attending the conference.
• Share space and responsibilities in the meeting and housing locations and respect everyone. Hazing, physically or verbally abusive behavior, and attitudes that do not build up the group will not be tolerated. We expect everyone not only to get along with each other, but also to honor God in their interactions with each other, in their conversations, and in their activities. In light of this, we encourage each church to communicate godly expectations for modesty and appropriate dress, and we expect their attendees to abide by those expectations.
• No drinking alcohol, use of tobacco products or illegal drugs. No fireworks. (We ask parents and volunteers who use tobacco to abstain when they are around the students and locations of program activities.)
• Students may not skip meetings or scheduled events without the specific permission of their church leader.
• Behave in a respectful, courteous, and honoring way as an ambassador of Christ and guest in the conference meeting and housing locations.
• For these days, we ask students (generally) to minimize use of social media and other electronic distractions and focus on the work God is doing in our lives. We encourage adult volunteers to do the same when feasible.
• Avoid inappropriate activities and unsafe environments. Students should avoid tattoo or piercing parlors and never go anywhere with any stranger for any period of time for any reason. We encourage adult volunteers to keep close communication with church leaders to facilitate safety as well.
• You will build strong friendships, but this is not a time to seek romantic relationships. For safety, never separate from the group with anyone of the opposite sex (who is not related to you). We encourage adult volunteers not to spend any time alone with an unrelated student of either sex. (Having an extra student or adult increases both adult and student safety.)
• If any participant of Life Training is unable to abide by these policies, their church leaders will be consulted and will, with guidance from the Life Training staff, determine if that individual can continue to participate in the conference.

Please talk to your sponsoring church’s leaders if you need clarification on any of these policies or possible exceptions to a policy.

Participant Expectations

The participant must realize that Life Training is a Christian training program for high school and college students desiring to follow Jesus Christ and do His will. Therefore, please use the following guidelines when considering attending.

1. Regular Track: Participant must be entering at least 9th grade by this fall (and under the age of 21). Exceptions must be approved by the Life Training Director or Assistant Director.
2. Participant must claim the Christian life, desiring to complete a challenging and intense spiritual training program designed to prepare them with convictions and skills for life.
3. Participants must have a desire and willingness to communicate their faith with others.
4. Participants must demonstrate a teachable, cooperative spirit.
5. Participants must be willing to abide cheerfully with all program rules & policies.
6. Participants must be prepared to participate in all scheduled activities, which may include but are not limited to:
   • daily initiative and servant evangelism training
   • extended worship, prayer and Bible study (personal & corporate)
   • shared responsibility for meals, clean up, and program events
   • curfew and lights out schedule with limited free time
   • daily teaching, training & discussion in small & large groups
   • interaction on personal character areas with other Christians in group and one-on-one discussions
7. Although we plan for plenty of fellowship and fun, the participant must realize that Life Training is a spiritual and life training program, not simply a fun retreat away from home.

Your registration indicates that you agree to abide by all program policies and participant expectations. Failure to do so may result in calling your parents and/or being terminated from the program. (Unfortunately, we cannot provide refunds, and travel back home will have to be at your own expense).

General Release

Should this application be accepted, I agree that I will be bound by the policies of my sponsoring church (listed above), Blacksburg Ablaze of Blacksburg, VA, and this year’s Life Training program.

I certify that my participation in this year’s Life Training Program, contingent upon acceptance, will be voluntary. I understand that this participation in a weeklong program carries risks inherent both to such programs and its activities and to the location of the program. I release and hold harmless my sponsoring church, Blacksburg Ablaze of Blacksburg, VA, host church(es), their boards of directors, trustees, employees, agents, affiliates, volunteers, students and associated churches from any liability for loss, injury, or damages to my person or property which may result from my participation.

I further agree that I will be under the responsibility and supervision of my sponsoring church, not the Life Training staff. I also understand that, if I am a minor as defined by Life Training (under 18 years old or less than one year out of high school), I must have an adult chaperone to attend this year’s Life Training Program. If I am unable to find an approved adult volunteer, I give the Life Training staff and/or sponsoring church leaders permission to assign a chaperone.

Medical Release and Permission

To attempt to minimize potential illness, testing will be available as needed if symptoms or exposure arises. It is also highly recommended that if you plan to participate in Life Training and you are experiencing any illness or symptoms of an illness ahead of time, you consider testing and potential quarantine.

1. Anyone who tests positive at Life Training may be asked to quarantine or return home per the discretion of the Life Training Health Director.
2. To protect all Life Training participants from potential illness, everyone who attends Life Training will be asked to wear a mask and gloves when handling food,
3. To protect all Life Training participants from potential illness, everyone who attends Life Training will be asked to use hand sanitizer between meals and will be expected to keep up good hygiene throughout the conference. Each Life Training participant will also be asked to help ensure that all spaces are kept clean and sanitized.
4. Life Training will have masks, hand soap, hand sanitizer, sterilizing wipes, basic first aid equipment, and COVID testing available for use at any time during the conference.
5. The Life Training staff and adult volunteers will be frequently wiping down high contact points to help prevent potential illness, specifically in and around the kitchen or areas where food is prepared and/or consumed.
6. If a participant of the Life Training conference tests positive for COVID-19 or another illness, they will be asked to quarantine in a designated location.
7. If a participant of the Life Training conference is exposed to COVID-19 or another illness, but they do not test positive, the Life Training Health Director, and the individual’s church leaders will be consulted to determine if a quarantine is necessary and for how long.
8. In case of an illness, any Life Training Participant in need of medical care will be brought to Immediate Medical Care - 9770 Old Baymeadows Road #115, Jacksonville, FL 32246 or CareSpot Urgent Care - Jacksonville Arlington Cesery 1021 Cesery Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32211, unless otherwise requested.
9. In case of a medical emergency any Life Training Participant in need of medical care will be brought to HCA Florida Memorial Hospital - 3625 University Blvd S, Jacksonville, FL 32216 or Ascension St. Vincent’s Southside Hospital - 4201 Belfort Rd, Jacksonville, FL 32216 unless otherwise requested

In the case of illness or injury sustained at this year’s Life Training program or en route to or from it, if I am not capable of granting permission for my child’s care, I hereby give my consent to the leaders of my sponsoring church and/or the Life Training program to seek any necessary medical treatment as deemed necessary by any duly licensed physician / practitioner, required for the relief of pain and to preserve life and health. I herewith authorize emergency medical / surgical treatment at said physician’s office or a licensed medical hospital.

I give my permission to Blacksburg Ablaze of Blacksburg, VA and all photographers or videographers authorized by the Life Training staff to use photos, audio/video recordings, and quotations of my child for promotional and other uses.

I understand that this conference is neither supported, controlled, nor supervised by the host church(es) but rather is under the sole sponsorship of Blacksburg Ablaze of Blacksburg, VA.

If you are a minor, an email with details about the conference will be sent to your parent/guardian. Permission to attend the conference is based on your parent/guardian responding to the email and speaking with your church’s registration coordinator. Please encourage your parent/guardian to read and respond to the email as soon as possible