Who We Are.
Lifehouse is an immersive 14 week gap-year program operated by Greater Vancouver Youth Unlimited. Here, you will thrive in an authentic community, mentored by leaders whose example you can follow as they follow Jesus.
Lifehouse is a place to ask your tough questions about the Bible and what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life. And it gives you space to practice what you’re learning in an atmosphere of acceptance, adventure, prayer and wonder. Your time at Lifehouse will launch you into the adult world with confidence, competence and a faith that lasts.
What You Will Do.
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Live in a safe space. The “House” address of Lifehouse is still to be determined but we are looking at some excellent options and won’t settle for anything less than amazing.
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Be part of a community. Work, laugh and pray together, be authentic, tell your story, receive encouragement and challenge, invest in one another.
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Get a tutorial on life. Learn to make meals, bake bread, change the oil in a car, manage a credit card, build a campfire, and much more that people expect you to know but don’t show you how.
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Learn about the faith walk. People who have walked with Jesus over time will come and lead discussions about God, spiritual practices, the Bible, leadership, helping others and taking care of the things God has entrusted to you.
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Meet people to look up to. We want to put you alongside the kind of people whose example is worth following and who will walk with you toward being the person you want to be.
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Have hands-on experiences. Put into practice what you are learning as you make a difference in the world around you.
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Go on adventures. BC is a playground: hiking, watersports, exploring the city, finding out-of-the-way places - all with a great new set of friends.
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Be welcomed and appreciated. We will love and accept you just as you are, and also love you too much to leave you there. Expect change!
Who Should Apply?
Lifehouse is looking for students between the ages of 17 and 21 who have:
A faith in Jesus
An explorer’s heart
A desire to make a difference
A craving for community
Dates and Cost
Lifehouse will offer 2 programs a year. Students arrive on Tuesday September 7th for the fall term and conclude on Saturday, December 18th, 2021. Students can then decide whether to do a second term from March to June, 2022.
The cost is $3500 per 14 week session, which covers accommodation, meals, classes and activities. Students will want to have an additional small amount for personal needs. Lifehouse staff fundraise to cover their own salaries, which keeps program costs down. Your fees simply pay for your expenses.
What if I can’t afford it?
Program fees can be fundraised through a personal network of people who choose to stand with you. The person who has referred you to this program can help with that! Donations are tax-deductible with charitable donation receipts issued at the end of the year. Students who are engaging in fundraising are also eligible to apply for a needs-based bursary, to help you with tuition after a fundraising plan is in place and in motion. Talk to us about the possibilities. If Lifehouse is a fit for you, we will do what we can to help make it affordable!
FAQ's
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COMMUNICATING TRUTH TO YOUTHThe ability to communicate well is essential for youth work. This course will introduce you to communication that is relevant and genuine, and invites youth to realize how God’s story is intersecting with their story. We’ll practice recognizing and creating teachable moments in the everyday “stuff” of life, as well as the skills of intentionally introducing life changing truth by walking through the doors youth are offering to us.
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EVANGELISM AND SOUL CAREEvangelism is defined by the dictionary as an earnest effort for the spread of the Gospel. At times it seems that the effectiveness of evangelism has been judged by the amount of effort, rather than the amount of love that motivates the effort. But souls are not meant to be “won”; souls are meant to be loved. This course seeks to introduce students to the heart of God for those who don’t know Him yet, and looks at practical ways of introducing His heart to this generation.
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FOUNDATIONS FOR YOUTH OUTREACHThe motivation for youth outreach is established in God’s passion for reaching out to the world through the incarnation of Jesus. In doing so, God showed us the value of “being present” and coming alongside others in the middle of their difficulties. In this course we will follow that model as we explore who young people are and what matters to them, allowing us to step with them into the issues of their lives with compassion and understanding. You will be introduced to the roles and relationships of the different participants and programs in community youth work, as well as the opportunities for involvement in this sphere. We will also explore who we are as youth workers, understanding that often impact comes not through what we know but who we are in the lives of young people.
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MINISTRY AND SPIRITUALITYIndividuals involved in ministry are often faced with the challenge of holding onto a false spirituality based on doing for God rather than being. An understanding of our spirituality as something that comes from God, rather than something we make happen by keeping busy, can help us to focus on clearing space for God to work, rather than simply working for God. In this course we will take a look at the way spirituality is lived out by being introduced to the spiritual journeys of a variety of guest presenters who are involved in ministry at different levels. Engaging both discussion and practice, you will have the chance to apply classroom concepts to your personal spiritual walk and ministry. Through days of silence, journaling, spiritual mentoring, and a solo retreat, we create a space for students to experience being with God, and then we leave the results up to him.
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PEOPLE HELPING SKILLSIn this course we will work toward learning and using skills for helping others through life’s difficulties and frustrations. Developing listening and supporting skills will not only allow us to be truly helpful to teens, but also to the friends and family around us. The ability to create an environment around people that invites and encourages growth in them, can open up the way for God to move in both their lives and ours.
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PROGRAM DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENTThis course is highly experiential and takes the student on a guided practical journey through the conception, implementation and evaluation of creative and effective programs and events for youth. Working in teams and individually, students are given the opportunity to walk through each part of the program design process in a variety of settings, with ongoing feedback, instruction and support. From running mission trips to events to classes and out trips – you will walk away from this course with increased competence and confidence, as well as a greater understanding of the framework and skills necessary for developing and running programs that make a difference for youth.
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POVERTY, JUSTICE AND YOUTH ENGAGEMENT"In the desire to be helpful to those deemed “in need”, the Christian community has sometimes been guilty of hurting the very ones they have come to serve. A thoughtful approach to social justice involvement can open the way for engagement based on the recognition that both parties possess needs and assets to bring to the experience, allowing for the goal of mutual transformation. Through this course the students will be invited to explore new ways of thinking and acting justly in everyday life as well as in the presence of material poverty. They will also have the opportunity to form a philosophy of social justice engagement and then pass that philosophy on to teens who are exploring this idea for themselves.
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YOUTH ISSUESThe word “vulnerable” means that a youth is in need of special care, support and attention. In this course, we will take a look at a collection of issues that vulnerable youth face - such as homelessness, addictions, anxiety, self harm and mental illness - and find starting places for understanding and responding to each of them. You will be introduced to youth work practitioners, who work with these youth issues in the field, and learn from them. In the end, our hope is that you will walk away with a measure of confidence in approaching youth work in the community and competence in making an impact there as well.
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YOUTH WORK PRACTICUMOver the eight month course the student will put in a total of 360 hours at their ministry placement. This opportunity for hands-on learning will allow students to observe and practice youth work skills, under the supervision of veteran youth workers. Each placement will have a ministry mentor that will meet weekly with the student to offer feedback and guidance. There will be a midterm and final evaluation with the student, their ministry mentor and the program director.
Lifehouse Student Application
