Hitting Stride

Well, by now you should be well underway with the program. I trust that all is well and the initial bugs and jitters have been worked out and you're now a well oiled mentoring machine. If not, please don't hesitate to ask for some guidance and help.

YAC is constantly looking for ways to tweak and improve the program, so as you have ideas, please pass them on to us.

Be aware too, that coming up in a couple of months it will be time to complete and send in your mid-point evaluations (which are located in the mentor's manual). Please make it a point to do this and get it back to us, as this will be a very important tool for us in improving the program overall.

Also, if you would, we'd like to have an idea of which churches are participating this year and how many participants you have in the program. We don't need names of the participants or anything like that; we just need locations and numbers. You can either email that information in to YAC or you can post a comment here with that information.

Know that the work you are doing with students in not for nothing, but you are playing a key role in helping to shape a better tomorrow. Continue to press forward and know you're not alone and that you're doing an amazing work for the Kingdom.

~YAC
(Ryan Smith)

"River Running" Confusion

This post will seek to address several reoccurring questions about the River Running training curriculum that is to be used as part of SALT1.

1. Yes, you will need vol. 1 & 2 in order to complete this first year of the program.

2. Prior to this year River Running (R.R.) was one whole book, not two separate volumes. As such, the SALT manual was created using the single R.R. book, which now makes the page numbers listed in the month to month assignment section of SALT1 incorrect. Most simply you will begin September using R.R. vol. 1 Run 1 and advance one Run (lesson) each month till the end of the program.

3. It is not necessary that the mentors have the R.R. Leader's Guide. The only difference between the Leader's Guide and the Student Guide is the Leader's Guide has group activities suggested for each lesson. Since you are not doing this as a group, these activities many times do not apply. I would advise that the SALT Point Person have a copy of the R.R. Leader's Guide, making note of any activities they think might be appropriate and then share that information with the mentors.

4. Yes, there are several options for ordering the material, all of which have different price options. Shop around and go with the company you like best.

I hope this information helps, and that you are well on your way to a successful year of SALT.

~YAC
(Ryan Smith)

Please Be Aware

It was recently brought to our attention that on page 18 of the manual it states that YAC is to have the final say as to whether accept or reject a student's application. This is incorrect, the SALT Point Person has the final say and YAC is simply here as a guide/help if we are so needed. Sorry if this has created any confusion along the way as you've planned and prepared.

Secondly, we realize it may be costly and time consuming to print the entire manual for your mentors, please feel free to only print the portions that would be most helpful to them. It would be a good idea to have at least one complete copy on hand for fast reference.

We pray all is coming together well for you as you work to get the SALT program up and running for your group, please let us know how we can be of help to you.

~YAC
(Ryan Smith)

It's the Final Countdown

It's getting close, September that is and the start of the SALT program. At this point in the process you likely have had contact with students that are interested in the program. You should be collecting applications at this time, reviewing them and then making follow up contact with students. Once you know which students will be participating this year, begin to contact potential mentors and lock them in. If possible, I'd suggest setting up a mentor meeting/training afternoon the very first part of September (at the latest). I'd also suggest encouraging students and mentors to conduct their September meeting toward the end of the month. This way you have a chance to contact everyone, order training materials, conduct meetings/training, and get the program off on the right foot. However, students and mentors can choose to meet any time in September and as many times in September as they might like (as well as in the months following). Remember, if at any time you have any questions, please feel free to contact any of the YAC members, we're happy to help!

~YAC
(Ryan Smith)

I don't know who to ask to mentor!

Let's be honest, it can down right difficult to recruit within the church, especially when the job at hand requires any sort of teaching. The fact of the matter is, the strength of the SALT program rests largely on the shoulders of the mentors. The brave men and women who take up the challenge to come along side a teen for 10 months and love on them.

The best mentors however, may not be the people who readily come to mind. Allow me to offer to you a group of individuals that most every church has, that I believe can make for some of your best mentors.

They are called by a variety of different names; senior saints, gray hairs, old folks, or grandma/grandpa. Whatever title they go by, the truth is, here lies a valuable resource that often times can easily be overlooked. What's so special about this section of our congregations that they would make for great mentors? Well, a couple of thoughts come to mind. The most obvious is that they've lived life, a lot of it in some cases. At the heart of mentoring is the desire to pass on what we've learned to the younger generations. Who better to do this than our older individuals? Not only do they bring a wealth of life experience to the table, but many times they bring the grandma/pa spirit; simply put, they know how to spoil. What teenager wouldn't enjoy this? They have time. Often retired, this group of people has the time necessary to do the work of a mentor. The list really goes on and on.

I would encourage you, as you hunt for mentors, to not overlook those of the gray hair persuasion within your congregation. I think you may be surprised at what they can offer you and your students if given the opportunity to serve as a mentor.

~YAC
(Ryan Smith)

It's Go Time!

Churches, SALT Point Persons, Students...

Now that August is upon us it's definitely time to be thinking seriously about starting up a SALT program within your church/group. Remember that come September the program has begun and it's important to get off to a great start.

The first step in this process is to spread the word; both to students and adults (that could serve as mentors). Once the word is out, it's key to make available the student application, as well as set a date to have the form turned back in. Honestly, at this point in the process it's all about communication with students and mentors alike.

I know it might seem a bit overwhelming, but all the information you need is contained within the manual each church received via conference/mail. Spend a bit of time looking it over and you should be well on your way to getting your SALT program up and running. If after you spent some time with the SALT manual, you still have questions, please don't hesitate to contact us (YAC). Remember, we're here to help and assist you in this new endeavor.

We'll be praying for you all.

~YAC
(Ryan Smith)

Training Materials

Within each level of the SALT program both students and mentors are expected to have their own personal copy of the training material. Acquisition of the material is flexible; students and mentors may choose to purchase their own or churches may choose to subsidize the total cost or partial cost of the materials.

As you may imagine, there are many places in which these training materials can be purchased. In an attempt to help make this easy for individuals and churches alike, we've provide several links to sites that do carry one or more of the necessary training materials. In no way does YAC or the Brethren Church endorse any of these sites more than another, they've simply been provided for your purchasing convince. Please feel free to purchase your materials anywhere you like. Don't forget that many times you can buy direct from our ministry partners as well.

If you find yourself having trouble finding/obtaining the necessary training material, please contact any of the YAC members, as we're here to assist you in this process any way we can.

The training material for the SALT1 program are as follows:

• River Running Leadership In Motion Vol. 1 & 2 (by LeaderTreks)
• Help I'm a Student Leader (by Doug Fields)

The training material for the SALT2 pilot program are as follows:

• The Message Remix 2.0 (by Peterson)

The training material for the SALT3 pilot program are as follows:

• Avalanche Unstoppable Leadership Vol. 1 & 2 (by LeaderTreks)
• Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts (by LeaderTrecks)
  

~YAC
(Ryan Smith)

Welcome

Welcome to the SALT Shaker, the new online home for all things related to the National BYIC SALT Program. As this new program launches this September, we invite you to comment* about your experience, share thoughts, ask questions, whatever is on your mind as it relates to the program. You'll find posts related to the program, tips for mentors and so much more. Please take a moment to visit our partner sites as well; their links are located toward the bottom of the page.

This site is maintained by YAC, and we hope it will become a valuable resource for all involved with the SALT program. Please feel free to email us at any time, for any reason.

Whether you're a student, mentor, point person or guest, thanks for stopping by. We hope you find this site useful during your time in the SALT program.

~YAC
(Ryan Smith)

* All comments must first be approved by YAC before appearing on the site. You do not have to be a member of Blogger to leave a comment; leaving comments is open to anyone, at any time.