It’s time for an adventure as God uses your unique gifts to spread the Gospel.
We are looking for LCMS young adults (18–26) who are Christ-focused, motivated, ready to learn and eager to serve. We have partners across the country that need your skills, experiences and gifts to help expand their capacity to share the Gospel.
You will grow in a community of faith and service through long-term, full-time service in urban ministry settings. You will be given training, support and mentorship along the way.
There are two options to serve:
- 10 weeks in the summer
- 10 months as a gap year
Through the Lutheran Young Adult Corps, The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod provides a supportive, life-changing program for young people to gain valuable experience while deepening their faith and sharing Jesus through acts of mercy.
Program overview
Who should think about joining Lutheran Young Adult Corps?
We only have three absolute requirements for application. You must be:
- Between 18 and 26 years old during your service
- A high school graduate (or equivalent)
- A member in good standing of an LCMS congregation
We are looking for young people who are Christ-centered, mature and self-motivated, and who have a heart of service.
Applicants should want to grow as a part of a community, be flexible and open to new experiences, have a good sense of humor, and be physically able to take on service and live independently.
We want young people who are looking to learn and develop new skills in faith formation, community outreach and leadership.
If you have a skill, we can use it. The application process helps us to find your gifts, skills and experience so that we can tailor your placement to where you will both grow and be successful.
What do Corps participants do?
Each gap-year participant serves a unique role with our Community Partners.
Participants serve full-time with LCMS congregations, campus ministries or Recognized Service Organizations in New Orleans, Milwaukee and St. Louis. Some serve in a single location; others work part-time with two or more Community Partners.
Our service opportunities change from cycle to cycle, but we tend to have similar types of service. Most of our Community Partners ask for participants who will serve in these four areas:
- Work with children and youth, especially in after-school programs and congregational ministries.
- Assist in outreach work to those on the margins, including immigrants, refugees and the homeless.
- Help facilitate service work for other individuals or groups.
- Perform administrative work, including helping with communications, fundraising and other behind-the-scenes work.
Occasionally, we have applicants that have special skills or are seeking a particular type of experience. In those cases, we are happy to speak with our many partners to see if we can design an opportunity that uses those gifts and abilities.
Most Corps participants are the only person serving a particular Community Partner, although two participants work together on occasion.
The volunteer service allows Community Partners to expand Christ-centered ministry on very tight budgets.
What does it cost?
Participants in the Summer Program (10 weeks) only need to pay for the cost of travel to and from their service sites.
Participants in the Gap Year Program (10 months) are responsible for:
- Travel to St. Louis for training in August
- $1,000 participant fee, which can be fundraised
- Any travel home during your service
What about college? Is this just for future church workers?
The Lutheran Young Adult Corps program is for any young adult who wants to share their gifts and passions with ministries that could use them in powerful ways.
We accept young adults with a variety of current and future vocations. Many times placements can be personally tailored to use gifts and skills in new and special ways.
The American Gap Association found that 90 percent of participants who take a structured gap year return to school within a year, and participants are more likely to graduate on time and with a higher grade-point average.
We have partnered with Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Concordia University, Nebraska (Seward, Neb.); and Concordia University Wisconsin to qualify our 10-month participants for a $1,000 scholarship after their service.
The universities will also hold acceptance and financial aid packages, and they can potentially provide course credit for participating in the 10-month program.
These Concordia Universities have graciously worked with us and our participants to encourage service before or during their university experience.
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Applications being accepted
Summer 2020 and Gap Year 2020-21
The Lutheran Young Adult Corps is accepting applications for summer 2020 and the 2020-21 gap year.
- Priority placement deadline — Apply by Dec. 31, 2019, and you will receive notification of placement acceptance or wait-list status by mid-February 2020.
- Preferred placement deadline — Apply by March 16, 2020, and you will receive notification of placement acceptance or wait-list status by mid-April 2020.
Applications are open until placements are full or six weeks before the start of each term.
How to apply:
1. Download the application.
2. Complete the form in Adobe and print it.
3. Sign the application, scan it, and upload form*.
4. We will contact your references and set up a video interview with our staff.
5. We will send you a link for a background check and a theological assessment.
6. You are ready for acceptance and placement!
Apply for Lutheran Young Adult Corps
* If you have trouble uploading the application form, please email it to yacorps@lcms.org or mail it to:
Julianna Shults
Program Manager, Lutheran Young Adult Corps
1333 S. Kirkwood
St. Louis, MO 63122
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Support the Corps
This is great, but I’m too old! How can I help?
Share this information with young adults who might be good candidates. Most of our participants joined us because someone they trusted encouraged them to consider this long-term service opportunity.
This program is free to summer participants and only $1,000 for gap-year participants.
Community Partners contribute toward operating this program, but our doors remain open because of generous donors.
Please prayerfully consider a small donation to help us keep costs low or free to our young adults and the urban ministries they serve.
View brochure Sponsor a participant
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Community Partners
Community Partners are LCMS churches, LCMS campus ministries, Recognized Service Organizations, and community organizations where Lutheran Youth Adult Corps participants serve.
View application information
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Frequently Asked Questions
- Who should think about joining Lutheran Young Adult Corps?
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Who should think about joining Lutheran Young Adult Corps?
We only have three absolute requirements for application. You must be:
- Between 18 and 26 years old during your service
- A high school graduate (or equivalent)
- A member in good standing of an LCMS congregation
We are looking for young people who are Christ-centered, mature and self-motivated, and who have a heart of service.
Applicants should want to grow as a part of a community, be flexible and open to new experiences, have a good sense of humor, and be physically able to take on service and live independently. We want young people who are looking to learn and develop new skills in faith formation, community outreach and leadership.
If you have a skill, we can use it! The application process helps us to find your gifts, skills and experience so that we can tailor your placement to where you will both grow and be successful.
Download all FAQs >>
- Where will I live?
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Where will I live?
Corps participants live independently in housing unique to each city. Each spot is chosen to be close to service sites and accessible by public transport.
We want each house to foster a supportive, faith-filled community and help everyone embrace simple living.
Some locations are parsonages, others are apartments, still others are host homes. As much as possible, participants in a city live together, though genders are separate.
Download all FAQs >>
- Will I get paid for my service with Lutheran Young Adult Corps?
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Will I get paid for my service with Lutheran Young Adult Corps?
Yes, we provide a modest per diem to cover the cost of your food, transportation and basic personal needs. The amount is based on placement location but is typically around $500 a month.
The program provides housing and utilities.
Download all FAQs >>
- What kind of service will I be doing?
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What kind of service will I be doing?
It depends on your placement! Every Community Partner writes a unique position description for their participant. In general, our participants work with at-risk children (such as in after school programs), campus ministry, volunteer management, marginalized populations like the homeless, immigrants and refugees, or communications. The interview process allows us to hear what you want to do, and to place you based on your skill set, passions and the needs of the Community Partners.
Because we want participants to focus on their volunteer service and their community, we do not allow them to have a part-time job or to take classes while serving.
Download all FAQs >>
- Will I get vacation time?
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Will I get vacation time?
Participants in the Summer Program (10 weeks) get vacation at the discretion of their Community Partners. Participants in the Gap Year Program (10 months) get a minimum of 10 working days of vacation per year.
Download all FAQs >>
- Will I have a hard time getting into college or finding a job afterwards?
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Will I have a hard time getting into college or finding a job afterwards?
Every situation is unique. Lutheran Young Adult Corps cannot guarantee participants will receive college acceptance or job placement at the end of their service. However, research shows that participating in programs like Lutheran Young Adult Corps can be beneficial in both of those areas.
The Princeton Review says, “Admissions counselors at professional schools tell us that taking time off from school is rarely a disadvantage for an applicant. In fact, they often choose the student who took a year off and is ready to become fully engaged in school over the one who has been on autopilot and will burn out in a few months.”
Putting a program like Lutheran Young Adult Corps on a resume demonstrates to future employers a commitment to community, an excellent work ethic, a willingness to work cooperatively and the energy to explore new opportunities.
We have partnered with Concordia University, Ann Arbor, Mich.; Concordia University, Nebraska (Seward, Neb.); and Concordia University Wisconsin to qualify our 10-month participants for a $1,000 scholarship after their service.
The universities will also hold acceptance and financial aid packages, and they can potentially provide course credit for participating in the 10-month program.
These Concordia Universities have graciously worked with us and our participants to encourage service before or during their university experience.
Download all FAQs >>
- What should I think about before applying?
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What should I think about before applying?
Full-time service is an immersive, demanding experience. Lutheran Young Adult Corps is not for everyone.
If you are merely looking for something to do or want to postpone finding a job or going to college, you might want to consider other opportunities.
If you are telling yourself you can shorten your commitment if things get difficult, you may not be prepared for the experiences that God will provide for you to show who He is what He is doing in these communities.
Lutheran Young Adult Corps might be right for you if your motivation is to live out your faith by serving others around you.
The program will provide you with what you need while encouraging your growth and independence. We will surround you with awesome people and mentors.
This kind of service work can be mentally and emotionally challenging. Make sure you can navigate sharing a house, money management, your service schedule and self-care.
Please consider your own coping skills and ability to use available resources and support to manage challenging experiences.
Discuss your decision with people you trust, including your parents, pastors and other church workers. Ask them to pray with you and help you discern if Lutheran Young Adult Corps is right for you.
Download all FAQs >>
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Contact us
Contact Julianna Shults, program manager of the Lutheran Young Adult Corps.
Considering joining the Lutheran Young Adult Corps?
Know a young adult who might be interested in joining the Corps?
Want to receive email updates every other month?
Connect with the Corps
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