Lutheran Teen Mission

New Jersey District
Lutheran Women’s Missionary League

NJ panorama


Friends Into Serving Him® Procedures for Starting a New Group Friends Into Serving Him® was officially recognized as part of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) at the 2005 LWML Convention in Tampa, Florida, to identify teen groups. Friends Into Serving Him® is a registered trademark by the LWML. In order for a group to use the name and logo they must be registered with LWML. The process for registering a teen group is a three-step process: 1. The sponsoring society or individual sends the Letter of Intent form to their LWML district president. 2. The LWML district president files a Friends Into Serving Him® Registration form (website link to form) on behalf of the teen group with the Chairman of the Friends Into Serving Him® Task Force. 3. Once the form is received, the Friends Chairman sends a welcome letter to the Teen leader and organizes contact information for future communication. Teen groups may have a name that does not include LWML or Friends Into Serving Him®, but in order to be classified as a Friends Into Serving Him® group, registering is a requirement. LWML persons using either the phrase Friends into Serving Him® or the logo word mark should be certain that the ® symbol appears with it. Please do not use FISH when referring to our teen groups as that copyright name belongs to another Christian organization. Requirements to form a group • Teen women through the age of 17 who are interested in growing in their relationship with their Lord through Bible studies, prayer, fellowship and service • A current LWML society or individual LWML member, age 21 or older, who is willing to sponsor (mentor) the group • A signed photo release form on file for all teen members We recommend the sponsor (mentor) check with her local congregation regarding the policy on background checks, sexual misconduct, and any forms required by the congregation. Friends into Serving Him - Guidelines Membership • The materials and items available for Friends Into Serving Him® are appropriate for the 14-17 year old female. Individual groups may establish age guidelines for their group through the age of 17. • At the age of 18, a young woman is no longer eligible to be a member of Friends Into Serving Him®. She may continue her membership in LWML through a society or individual membership provided she is a communicant member of an LCMS congregation. High School seniors who began the school year at age 17 may continue membership until high school graduation. For more information visit the www.lwml.org or contact your District LWML.
Meetings/Activities • The structure of each group and how, when, and where the group meets is decided by its teen members with the approval of the sponsor (mentor). • Group organization and activities should be consistent with the purposes and practices of the LWML. • The adult sponsor (mentor) or an approved substitute must be present at each meeting or sponsored activity. • We recommend that permission slips/medical authorizations for each teen member be kept on file in case of an emergency or in the event it is necessary to contact a parent/guardian.
Finances • LWML mission grants and programs are supported by voluntary offerings obtained through the LWML Mite Box. Teen members are encouraged to use the Friends Into Serving Him® Teen Mite Wraps available from the Teen Leaders page of the LWML website or the LWML Mite Box is available through the local society. • Groups may otherwise choose their own methods of raising funds, keeping in mind that the primary purpose of Friends Into Serving Him® is service to others. • A checking or savings account may be set up as a sub-account with the sponsoring LWML society or, if the sponsor is an individual, as a separate account using the LWML district’s tax identification number which can be obtained from the LWML district treasurer.