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| About 4.12 | Barnabas Ministry | Benefits of 4.12 |
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About the 4.12 Leadership Training Program
What is the 4.12 LTP?
The 4.12 Leadership Training Program (LTP) is a discipleship program designed to help 8th-12th graders mature spiritually into the future leaders of the Church. The program is based on 1 Timothy 4:12, which reads: "Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity."
Christian leaders are, in reality, servants. We emphasize serving others out of the overflow of our heart. We provide opportunities for training as leaders and accountability for spiritual growth.
Teens enter the 4.12 LTP as a leader in training (LIT). This begins a year-long training process. Participants meet several times during the year for intensive training on developing their relationships with God and ministering to others. LITs are also asked to attend a retreat for spiritual and physical refreshment; attend a teen missions conference; complete 6 Bible study lessons on basic Christian life foundations; and be involved in serving.
Graduates of the LIT program are eligible to become junior leaders and be involved in the ministry opportunities listed below. Junior leaders are encouraged to prayerfully set their own spiritual plan each year. The plan includes: 1) how they will have daily time with God; 2) how they will serve (minister) God to others; 3) how they will be involved in missions (spreading the Word); 4) setting aside time for spiritual and physical enrichment and refreshment.
Joy El Ministries strives to keep participants accountable to their plan through the Barnabas ministry. Additional training is provided through each ministry opportunity.
There is a cost to be involved in the Leadership Training Program. For information on joining, contact info@joyel.org.
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Who Can Be Involved
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Ministry Opportunities
- Junior Leader at Camp Joy El
Junior leaders serve as staff for retreats and summer camp. JLers are trained to lead group activities, ministry to all ages, and most
importantly serve others as Christ did. They have a big impact on the campers. They are a vital part of communicating God’s love to all guests at Camp Joy El.
- Guest Group Servers
Many opportunities exist for service to the variety of churches and ministries that utilize Camp Joy El for their retreat or camp. Servers are involved primarily in the Dining Hall; however, other aspects of ministry service are included.
Our Barnabas Ministry is a mentoring ministry of the 4.12 Leadership Training Program at Camp Joy El. The Barnabas ministry involves adults who have a desire to serve God and minister to young teens. Barnabas mentors regularly contact and connect with the leaders-in-training and junior leaders in our ministry for discipleship, accountability and fellowship. They have the privilege and the opportunity to pour all God has put in them into the life of a teen.
Hebrews 10:24-25 is our theme verse, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another -- and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
Each student enrolled in Joy El’s 4.12 Leadership Training Program commits to the pursuit of knowing and sharing Christ in several ways. Part of their commitment involves Bible reading, Scripture memorization, attending training sessions, serving others, etc. We also ask each student to recruit a local mentor from within his/her church. We realize that we can provide a wonderful program for students who want to grow, but each student could benefit so much more from having a spiritual and personal coach walking alongside him/her in this journey of faith.
Barnabas mentors get to know their 4.12 students individually. They learn to recognize the strengths 
and weaknesses of their student. Mentors get to watch their student grow spiritually and hears what God is teaching him/her. Mentors take the 4.12 program's general requirements and help their student see the relevance to his/her life.
Our desire is for these relationships to transcend the Joy El connection and impact churches as well, encouraging others as they see the Titus 2:4-8 mandate to teach the younger generation demonstrated in real life.
For more information on how to get teens from your church involved in 4.12 and the Barnabas ministry, please contact us at info@joyel.org.
To print a brochure to share with a student or potential mentor, click here: Mentor info; Student info.
Our 4.12 Leadership Training Program is especially designed for youth between 8th and 12th grades. Though our 4.12 teens serve as counselors for camps and retreats, the program focuses on providing them with training to serve wherever God places them. Through Bible lessons, service 
opportunities, and accountability measures, the 4.12 program helps students to mature spiritually.
The program specifically addresses these issues in a young person’s life:
- Biblical worldview—Processing and assessing current cultural life from a biblical perspective- an absolute “must” for the serious trainee of Christ.
- Spiritual disciplines—Learning to nurture and guard his/her own spiritual life through biblical disciplines of Bible reading, Bible memorization, prayer, evangelism, etc. for life-long spiritual health and growth.
- Personal accountability—Choosing to be honest, transparent, and confessional with God and another person as the mark of a sincere and committed disciple and worthy leader.
- Leadership development—Learning what leadership is and isn’t, and developing the servant-leader mentality through a close look at Christ and other biblical models.
- Leadership practicum—Seeking and accepting servant roles in a variety of practical situations, inside and outside the program, as valuable preparation for life-long leadership.
Testimonials from 4.12 Students
Here’s what students are saying about the 4.12 Leadership Training Program …
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"The 4.12 program has been such a challenging, eye-opening, and life-giving experience for me. I never expected coming into it to have my faith taken out, analyzed, turned around, shaped, and put back together in such a beautiful way. I have been faced with accountability like I don't find anywhere else, and I have been continually encouraged by the people I am glad to call my "camp friends." As I'm making decisions and getting ready to leave for college, I am so excited to take the things I've learned here and start applying them to what's ahead of me." |
- "Being in the Leadership Training Program these past few years has really helped facilitate the spiritual growth in my life. My relationship with God has grown so much and the program has really discipled me in my faith and given me a desire to disciple others. As a result of being in the program, I have learned a lot about leadership, which is something I was sorely lacking in before. I've also learned a lot through spiritual disciplines and I am applying them to my life. I can honestly say that God has used the LTP to change my life, grow my relationship with Him and has set the stage for what God will do next, and is even now doing in my life."
- "The four years I've spent in the 4.12 program have been a great part of my spiritual growth throughout high school. Through the 4.12 program, I have had a great opportunity to learn from God's Word. I also had the opportunity to make amazing Christian friends and to grow close to others who are striving to please God. I definitely formed friendships that will last a lifetime. The full-time staff at Joy El have always been there when I had questions or if I just needed help with something. Through being a counselor, I have loved seeing campers start a relationship with Christ and grow closer to Him. My favorite part of working at Joy El has been the several hours spent in the kitchen making memories that will last a lifetime. Overall, the experience I had through the 4.12 program has been great and has definitely helped in my walk with God."
- “The 4.12 LTP has been a tool for my spiritual growth. I feel that without it, I wouldn’t have grown and progressed so much in my walk with the Lord over the past four years. The people within the program are so encouraging and loving, helping me to feel confident and to want more spiritually. The LTP has compelled me to not sit and be idle but to pursue God and witness for him. Though I struggle, this program gets me back on track.”
- “The LTP has helped me more than I can express with words. Because of this program, I now have a relationship with Christ. I rely on God, have love for others and have a servant’s heart. The program has encouraged me to have daily devotions. Without this program, I would not be the same person, and I thank God for the program and the opportunity for me to participate.”
- “I have learned so much through this program about God, others and myself. I have learned some leadership techniques that will not only help me here but will help me along for the rest of my life. I have learned to deal with other people, situations and the importance of fellowship. But most importantly, I have learned that my life is a spiritual journey and I have to encourage it every day by reading my Bible and praying.”
- “This program has been a huge part of my life! It’s taught me responsibility, respect, love, servanthood and much more. But the greatest change it’s made in my life is in my heart. Since I began the program, my spiritual growth has been amazing. I know I wouldn’t be this close to God if I wasn’t here today. It’s been challenging and I’ve made great godly friends who can encourage me in my walk with God. I recommend this program to anyone who desperately wants to seek God!”
- “The 4.12 LTP is an amazing thing. It has helped me in so many ways. I have grown closer to God and learned who he is. I always knew he was powerful, but until you work at camp, you don’t often realize it. The way God organizes everything perfectly is amazing to see. Another thing that has helped me is the amazing community that we enjoy. It’s the way the Christian community is supposed to be. We all get along (for the most part) and have an awesome time together. God is amazing in how he brought us all together. I would strongly, strongly recommend anyone who can to get involved with the Leadership Training Program.”
- “The LTP has helped me in many ways. First, it has encouraged me to constantly be in the Word of God. The memorization of scripture is so important. So it has helped me in my own spiritual life. The program has also given me opportunities to use my gifts. I have been taught how they should be used. The LTP has helped me learn what it means to be a leader. It has helped me learn that I need to be an example for my campers and others in my life.”
Students, parents and Barnabas mentors involved in the 4.12 Program will find program resources and forms here: Resources.
Or, go to 4.12 Leadership Training on the main menu to find 4.12 Resources in the drop down menu.