MTA Frequently Asked Questions

The only age requirement is that a participant be at least 20 years old and a high school graduate. Typically, participants are 20-30 years old. The average age is around 22. Many participants are college graduates or those who are taking time off of college to participate in the academy.

Each participant must also attend the Discipleship Training Academy as a pre-requisite for the Mission Training Academy. This will ensure that all participants will enter with the basic Christian formation needed to continue on into mission training.

The application deadline for MTA '07 is May 1, 2007. If the deadline has past, please contact the Youth Arise staff to see if there are any additional spots available. We have set the deadline at this interval before the program starts in order to give the participants the necessary amount of time to raise the financial support necessary to participate in the academy.

No. The rigorous weekly schedule of YANA requires a full-time commitment. Several weeks of the academy is spent serving on mission, therefore it would not be possible to maintain a work or school schedule, even part-time, while maintaining your commitment to the academy.

The dates for the 2007 MTA are September 1, 2007 – May 16, 2008. A participant of YANA '07 could move in anytime after August 19th. If it would need to be any earlier (a week or so), then contact one of the staff members to handle this situation.

No, not necessarily. Yet, if you have a car, and you have the financial resources to pay for insurance and gas, you would be encouraged to bring it. A car can be very useful for someone, particularly on free evenings and days off. Transportation will be provided by Youth Arise to and from the events and trips that are an official part of the academy.

Youth Arise desires to meet each participant where they are and then challenge them to go deeper and deeper in their relationship with God. Daily mass is a part of the weekly schedule and when the community gathers for common prayer it consists of praise and worship, liturgy of the hours, the rosary, the divine mercy chaplet, and other types of prayer.

The staff of Youth Arise also holds to the conviction that the power and the gifts of the Holy Spirit are alive and well in the Church, and that the exercise of the charismatic gifts are meant for today and not just for apostolic times. In order to maintain unity in the body, the staff of Youth Arise asks applicants to the program to remain open to the power and the presence of the Holy Spirit in their lives. This is done knowing well that it is God's gifts that we are receiving, and that the gifts will only be received when both freedom and humility are present.

Yes. These situations would be handled on a case-by-case basis. Please contact the staff with further questions regarding this matter.

Yes and yes. It has been our great fortune that our local bishop, Thomas Olmsted is very familiar with, as well as, actively supportive of this ministry. It is also the specific intention of Youth Arise to teach only those things which are precisely in line with the official teaching of the Church, as outlined in the Catholic Catechism.

The answer is yes and yes. It completely depends upon the person, their interests and goals in life, as well as the circumstantial timing surrounding the decision. At every phase in life, people have found it helpful to participate in Youth Arise. Whether it is a college graduate taking a year to serve upon graduation before beginning a career, or someone in the midst of college who senses God calling them to take time off to focus more deeply on Him. Each time period has worked well for different people.

The key is to discern God's specific call and the timing that fits best for each person. It should be noted that Youth Arise is not "anti-higher ed". Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many graduates of Youth Arise are even more energized and hold stronger education convictions after the program is completed as compared with their sentiments regarding education before the program began.

Youth Arise 2007 (which includes the Discipleship Training Academy) costs $5550.

The cost covers room and board (meals), travel expenses during the academy, books, and supplies. You will need to provide occasional spending money and personal items (toiletries, etc..) You will also need to provide for travel to and from the academies.

Yes. A good estimate would be approximately $50/month. You may want more for the three-week mission in December. Spending money often goes toward eating out, movies, souvenirs, snacks, etc. We are willing to work with participants to set up a budget to maintain their monies throughout the academy.

Yes. Upon acceptance into the academy you will be given an opportunity to write a letter requesting scholarship money. We have scholarships of $250 and $500. These scholarships are awarded based on need and clear evidence of initiative on the part of the applicant.

Yes. If you are no longer covered under your parent's policy many insurance companies have reasonable policies for individuals. If you need evidence of the academic nature of the academy, in order to remain on your parent's insurance, we would be happy to draft a letter on your behalf.

Yes. Before you begin your mission with Youth Arise, all fundraising must be complete. Each participant will have the opportunity to attend a Fundraising Seminar to effectively raise the funds before the academies begin. This is crucial to the academy in order to not accrue debt. This is also a very biblical method – to raise full support BEFORE you begin your mission.

Approximately 2/3 of this academy will be spent in Tempe, AZ, living in household and going through the typical schedule of any given week. The other 1/3 will be given to mission trips. Some of the highlights for '07 will include a weekend retreat in Flagstaff, mission to Mexico, and the three week mission, somewhere in the U.S. or overseas, in December.

See a sample weekly schedule for the most exact details in answering this question. As a general rule the breakdown is as follows. The most demanding days of the week are Monday through Thursday. Each of those days begins around 8am and often goes into the late evening, with extensive breaks during various afternoons and evenings. Friday is usually a free day. Saturday is a day focused on "household and community" and it is when Men's and Women's small groups are held, as well as the celebration of "Lord's Day" in the evening. Sunday is the Sabbath and is meant to be a day of rest, prayer, and for the celebration of the Eucharist.

Yes. Sunday through Wednesday nights the curfew is 11pm. Thursday is a free night. Friday and Saturday the curfew is at Midnight. The curfew was instituted to ensure everyone ample opportunity for sleep, as well as the chance to build relationships, specifically, with the members of your household.

Yes. While the schedule can, at times, be quite rigorous there is a suitable amount of free time built into the weekly routine. Fridays are completely free and some afternoons and evenings are free as well. These are times for each participant to use according to their own discretion and are great times to catch up with family and friends or to just take a nap, read a book, or to write a letter.

Each participant will live in either a men's or women's household. Each household is directed by a household leader and a household manager who are trained staff members of Youth Arise. The household for the men is located at the City of the Lord Community Center, whereas, the women live in a house in a neighboring subdivision.

Yes and possibly. In most cases rooms will be shared by two people. Rest assured that while you may not have as much room as you are used to, you will certainly have as much room as you need. If you have a desire to room with a particular person please notify the staff so that they may take this into consideration when roommates are assigned.

A household is an intentional Christian community. This means that each member desires to live according to a set of agreements that are designed to develop in them the traits of a disciple (one who follows Jesus). A household is a community; not just a set of room-mates. Decisions are made in order that the community may mutually grow and benefit. It will involve a simple sacrificial lifestyle that desires to put others needs ahead of one's own.

Being in a Youth Arise household includes going to mass together, praying together daily, sharing meals and chores, hanging out with each other, being quick to forgive and slow to take offense, and holding one another accountable to a lifestyle that honors and glorifies God.

A household is led by staff members of Youth Arise and these staff members have the responsibility and the authority to hold the members accountable to these agreements. It is a demanding, yet rewarding life and once you've experienced the fruit and joy of living in household, you will never imagine that there is actually a better way to live.

It all depends upon the meal and the day of the week. The majority of your meals will be eaten in your household and prepared by members of your household. Some of the meals (ie...breakfast during the week and a couple of lunches during the week, as well as many Lord's Day celebrations) will be shared as a community. A tried and true menu for "large groups" is used and the recipes are very easy to follow, and for dinner each night, a rotation will be followed for meal-prep and meal clean-up.