About Sponsorship
Sponsorship is a living act of agape love. It is the most important gift of agape you can give on a Chrysalis weekend. While it is a tremendous responsibiltiy it is an amazing, powerful, and rejuvenating gift to God, the caterpillar, the community, the church, Chrysalis, and yourself. Sponsorship is awesome!
Good sponsorship is vital to the Chrysalis movement. It forms the support structure for the community. Sponsors make God's love real to young people and helps make Chrysalis a sacrifical act of love from start to finish. Sponsorship is a continuing and real act of agape love. It doesn't end when the weekend ends. It continues as the new butterfly goes forth in their next steps and as they become a servant and a sponsor in their own right.
The purpose of sponsorship is the same as Chrysalis to support the church and to help young people grow closer in their walk with Christ. You should NEVER sponsor someone in order to "fix" them. That is not the role of Chrysalis or sponsorship. Other mistaken reasons for sponsoring someone include to get all of your friends to go on a weekend, to have a full 36 caterpillars on a flight, or to reproduce your own Chrysalis experience. Good reasons for sponsoring someone include desires for a young person to experience the acceptance and healing power of God, to realize God loves and appreciates them, and to have a chance to dicuss with nonjudgemental Christian peers and adults the struggles and questions they have as young people.
Sponsors should prayerfully consider who they will be sponsoring and their role as that person's sponsor. Chrysalis flights are for high school and college age young adults. The minimum age for attending Chrysalis is 15 or 14 having completed their freshman year of high school. There is also a college age table on a Chrysalis flight for those aged 18-25. Those aged 18 or older are also welcome to attend a Walk To Emmaus if the sponsor feels that program would be more appropriate.
Who Should Be Sponsored?
Chrysalis is appropriate for young people who desire to grow closer in their walk with Christ. This includes youth/young adults who are already active in their churches and youth/campus groups, young people in the church who are not active in the youth group, even those who are not currently part of a church but are seeking to know Christ more fully in their lives. Youth group leaders and even mature youth or campus leaders are excellent candidates for sponsorship because Chrysalis can build upon their infectious energy and natural leadership skills to inspire them to reenergize and influence their churches and other youth/young adults. This doesn't mean that those who have fledgling faiths or are new to the church should not be sponsored. Chrysalis is for any of these people who seek to grow stronger in their faith and in their walk with Christ.
Who Should Not Be Sponsored?
Chrysalis is NOT for everyone. Even though a youth or young adult may meet the criteria above, it does not mean they have to or need to go on Chrysalis. There are many paths to Christ, Chrysalis is just one of them. Those who should not attend Chrysalis include young people with no interest in Christ or the church, youth/young adults who are not mature enough for or who would seek to disrupt the event, and youth who are undergoing crisis or trauma. People in these situations will often not benefit from the weekend because of their own troubles or inclinations and may actually become a distraction for others who are at the weekend trying to grow in their faith. Additionally, youth/young adults with religious backgrounds incompatible with Christianity and youth whose parents who do not wish their child to attend the weekend should not be sponsored. Chrysalis should never be a point of division between a young person and their family. Sponsors should also reconsider sponsoring anyone unwilling to commit to attending future Chrysalis events. Chrysalis should not be forced. A person should desire to go to Chrysalis.
Twelve Steps To Being A Good Sponsor
- Plan To Sponsor
- Plan to provide the support structure for the person you are sponsoring. Actively work with others to sponsor 1 or more youth on Chrysalis. This ensures that in their next steps they have someone to connect with and share the Chrysalis experience with.
- Pray About Sponsoring
- Pray about the young people you are considering sponsoring. Pray for guidance and discernment for yourself as a sponsor. Pray for the openness and willingness of those whom you may sponsor.
- Meet With The Candidates
- Set up an appointment to meet with the candidates to discuss the purpose and benefits of Chrysalis and what it has meant to you. Continue to meet with the candidate to talk about Chrysalis and meet with the candidates parents to inform them and allay any fears they might have. Remember, there are no secrets on Chrysalis. The only thing that remains confidential is the personal witness and conversations shared at your table.
- Extend The Invitation And Seek A Commitment
- Explain to them that Chrysalis is a gift of agape, not something they need to go to. Explain the cost and ask for a commitment from them to fill out the registration form.
- Collaborate With A Cosponsor
- Work with others, youth or adults, to cosponsor the candidate. Often good sponsorship requires more than one sponsor. First-time or inexperienced sponsors often find it beneficial to work with a more experienced sponsor.
- Make Preparation For The Young Person
- Continue to pray for the candidate and even get support from the pastor. Collect at least twelve personal agape letters from family and friends and don't forget to write one yourself. Never ask the team to deliver personal gifts from you or others to the caterpillar. Ensure that the caterpillar knows what to pack and that they are expected to stay onsite the entire weekend.
- Make Sacrifices
- Plan to take care of the caterpillar's responsibilties like feeding pets or mowing during the weekend. Consider ways to make the candidates attendance on the weekend easier or even possible. Personally transport or ensure reliable transportation to and from the event.
- Support Chrysalis During The Weekend
- Be present for Send Off/Sponsors Hour, Candlelight, and Closing. Sign up and get others to sign up on the Prayer Vigil. Make table agape for the weekend and bring food agape, especially the items you know your caterpillar enjoys. Invite parents to Send Off/Sponsors Hour or Closing if appropriate. Be sure to explain to parents the nature of Chrysalis and what to expect during these events.
- Encourage New Butterflies To Join Reunion Groups
- Reunion groups are a vital part of the new butterflies next steps. Help them find a reunion group, whether it be your own or a different one. Start one with them if need be. Be sure to take your caterpillar to Follow-Up, it is a great place to start reunion groups. Continue to support and encourage them to stay active in their reunion group.
- Take Butterflies To Hoots, Heydoyouwannas, And Banquets
- For the next couple months take new butterflies, or even old ones, to different Chrysalis events. Inform them of ways to become involved and where to get more information about upcoming events. Encourage them to support Chrysalis by attending the events and possibly even filling out a volunteer form for future service.
- Help Butterflies Keep New Commitments
- Support them in becoming a part of, or more active in, the church or youth group. Encourage and help them in their prayer and study habits. Support them in the changes and actions they feel God is calling them to make.
- Help Butterflies Sponsor Others
- Become a cosponsor with the new butterfly. Ensure that they know the responsibilties and expectations of a sponsor. Be a model sponsor for them.
While sponsorship is big responsibility, it is also a very rewarding act of love. Sponsorship is the most powerful gift of agape you can give in Chrysalis. It is truly an amazing experience.