The vision of Youth for Christ is, in partnership with the
body of Christ, to see every young person in every people group in
every nation have the opportunity to make an informed decision to become
a follower of Jesus Christ and to become a part of a local church.
Our Mission The mission of Youth for Christ is to participate in the
body of Christ in responsible evangelism of youth, presenting them
with the person, work and teachings of Christ and discipling them
into the local church.
Our History
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 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.
