What is Youth for Chirst

Since 1944, Youth for Christ has had a distinctive history of youth evangelism. In the early 1940s, during World War II, many young men, mostly ministers and evangelists, were holding large rallies in Canada, England and the United States. As the hunger for God's Word grew it became evident that there needed to be someone to coordinate this movement, providing leadership, strategy, and coordinating speakers, musicians and locations.

Beginning in dozens of cities at the end of World War II, YFC quickly organized into a national movement. Billy Graham became YFC's first full-time staff member. Starting with Saturday night youth rallies in the late 1940s and early 1950s, YFC's ministry methodology turned to Bible Clubs in the late 50s and 60s. It was in this period of ministry that the concept of teen to teen evangelism was birthed. Then in the middle sixties and early seventies Campus Life and Campus Life/JV ministries to senior and junior high youth began to be the thrust of YFC ministry. Since that time there have been several ministry models that have been created. Youth Guidance became an avenue in reaching at-risk and institutionalized young people. Teen Moms developed to mentor and equip young mothers with parenting skills as well as the love of Jesus Christ. Urban Ministries reach the millions of young people in our major urban communities, partnering with the church and other organizations. Ministries are tailored to reach youth in urban, suburban, and rural settings.

YFC/USA is a chartered program of Youth for Christ International. Over 1,861 paid staff members and 16,571 volunteers serve in over 100 countries around the world. As a part of the YFC/USA commitment to serve the world, we offer Project Serve which provides overseas short-term mission opportunities. In addition, well over 100 YFC staff members from the U.S. have ministry assignments with YFC programs in other nations as part of YFC/USA's World Outreach Division.

Throughout YFC's history there has been an unwavering commitment to youth evangelism and biblical Christianity. One of YFC's slogans over the past fifty years has been "Anchored to the Rock, Geared to the Times"-the message of the gospel will never change and YFC is flexible to creatively communicate this message of hope, grace and love in the context of different cultural settings.

Campus Life 56

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Campus Life 56 offers 5th and 6th grade students students opportunities for friendship, fun, and growth. Club meetings can be a great time to meet and "hang out" with kids from school, and a chance to talk about what's important to them. Staff and adult volunteers find creative ways to build relationships and communicate the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. Staff and volunteers provide leadership that kids can rely upon, as well as, providing a positive role model.

Middle School Campus Life

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Campus Life Middle School ministry combines healthy relationships with creative programs to help young people make good choices, establish a solid foundation for life, and positively impact their schools. Like every ministry of YFC, Campus Life seeks to engage these young people wherever they are found as lifelongfollowers of Jesus Christ.

High School Campus Life

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The YFC Campus Life ministry combines healthy relationships with creative programs to help senior high young people make good choices, establish a solid foundation for life, and positively impact their schools. Like every ministry of YFC, Campus Life seeks to engage these young people wherever they are found as life-long followers of Jesus Christ. Campus Life is a place for high school students to have fun, make friends and talk about matters to other high school students. Campus Life provides a balanced approach - physical, mental, social and spiritual - to give teens the hope they need to live in a turbulent world. 

High School Life Groups

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Life Groups offer a chance for high school students and adults to live life together and grow by looking at the hard questions of life. Life Groups generally meets in homes each week after the large group time at the Union. They are built not just to be a small group, but a group that encounters life’s questions, struggles, and joys together.

Franklin County Campus Life

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Campus Life ministry combines healthy relationships with creative programs to help young people make good choices, establish a solid foundation for life, and positively impact their schools. Like every ministry of YFC, Campus Life seeks to engage these young people wherever they are found as lifelong followers of Jesus Christ.

Juvenile Justice

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YFC’s Juvenile Justice program targets building relationships and serving as positive models with institutionalized youth so as to connect them with God’s story-- the life changing message of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished through mentoring, Bible study-fellowship groups, creative chapel services, fishing contests, community service projects, and choirs during the Christmas and Easter seasons. More volunteers are needed to assist with all of these programs.