Friends Into Serving Him

Friends Into Serving Him Guidelines

Friends Into Serving Him is the Teen Division of Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), officially brought into existence at the 2005 LWML Convention in Tampa, Florida.

What is needed to form a Friends Into Serving Him group

• A young woman age 21 or older (or group of young women) who is interested in working with teen women.
• Teen women through age 17 who are interested in growing in their relationship with their LORD and in showing His love to others through service activities.
• A current LWML society or individual LWML member who is willing to sponsor the new Friends Into Serving Him group.
• A Registration Form, proof of background checks on adult mentors, and other forms as may be required by district and/or national LWML.
• A Bible

Becoming a Group

• When a woman or group of women desire to bring a Friends Into Serving Him group into existence, they should first seek the sponsorship of a local LWML society or LWML individual member ("Sponsor").
• Sponsor will provide a group Registration Form which should be completed and returned to the Sponsor. The Sponsor will keep a copy of the form and will forward the original to the district LWML officer, as determined by the district , for record-keeping purposes.
• Background checks must be run on each adult who will be in a mentor position with the group. Paperwork must be kept by the Sponsor of the group.
• Sponsor will maintain a copy of LWML's Policy on Sexual Misconduct with group records and act according to policy protocol in the event of an incident.
• Forms listed above may be obtained from the LWML Office or downloaded and printed from the Teen Resources section of the LWML web site (www.lwml.org)

Meetings

• The structure of each group and how, when , and where it meets is decided upon by its members.
• It is encouraged that meetings and events be decided upon and run by the teen members and that adult women act in roles of chaperones and mentors.
• Adult mentors must be present at each Friends Into Serving Him meeting or sponsored activity.
• Permission slips/medical authorizations for each teen member should be kept on file in case of emergency or in the event it is necessary to contact a parent.

Membership

• The materials and items available for Friends Into Serving Him are geared toward the 14-17 year old female. Individual groups may establish their own guidelines on the specific ages within their group up thru age 17.
• When a young woman reaches the age of 18, she is no longer eligible to be a teen Friends Into Serving Him member but would become a member of the LWML.

Finances

• Since LWML mission grants and programs are supported by voluntary offerings obtained through the Mite Box, it is encouraged that Friends Into Serving Him Mite Cans be used by members. Mites collected will be forwarded to the district LWML by the group's Sponsor.
• Societies may otherwise choose their own methods of raising funds, keeping in mind that the purpose of Friends Into Serving Him is that of service to others.
• Finances may be kept with those of the sponsoring LWML society as a sub-account or a separate checking or savings account set up specifically for the group. To set up an account with a financial institution, please contact your district treasurer to obtain your district's Tax Identification Number which is necessary to open the account