Youth for Christ History Mission

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Youth for ChristHistoryMission Structure
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Early History of YFC

• Began by God
• Started simultaneously in different places
• New York - 1930s
• Detroit - 1930sCanada - 1930s
• Indianapolis - 1943
• Chicago - 1944
• Australia - 1940s (unknown to USA movement)

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Characteristics of the Early YFC Movement

• Emphasis on Prayer
• Torrey Johnson Quote from 1944 book on starting
  YFC in a new town The first, second and third
  things to do in getting started are, in order of
  importance
• 1. Pray
• 2. Pray
• 3. Pray

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• Pull for Souls
• Johnson quote 1944 The Unifying factor of the
  entire movement, however, is the pull for souls.
  Every one of these groups is out for the
  salvation of the thousands who are tagged with
  the the dreadful work delinquency .
• Faith and risk
• Early leaders booked large auditoriums with huge
  expenses, and took the financial risk personally
• Keep it on a miracle basis

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• Definitely a movement - not an organization
• Johnson quote One Doubts that there ever will
  be a highly complex, nationally organized Youth
  For Christ. Who knows?
• Worldwide Vision

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Early Similarity of methods in early Rallies

• A Cooperative Approach
• Testimonies
• Radio Broadcast in Connection with the Rally -
  Internet today?
• Good Music - the Best Available
• A definite Gospel Invitation

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Official Beginnings of YFC

• Preliminary Committee set up in November 1944
• YFCI was officially incorporated in 1945
• Torrey Johnson was elected first President
• Billy Graham was hired as first full-time staff
  worker

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Early leaders of YFC

• Torrey Johnson 1945 - 1948
• Bob Cook 1948 1957
• Ted Engstrom 1957 - 1963
• Kelly Bihl 1963 - 1965
• Sam Wolgemuth 1965 - 1973

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1968 - The International Council of Youth for
Christ

• Historic Conference in Jamaica
• 16 Nations
• Formed a truly International body
• (YFCI no longer a USA organization)
• General Assembly with 2 votes per country
• Incorporated in Geneva, Switzerland
• Office opened in Geneva
• Office later moved to Singapore
• Office eventually moved to Denver, Colorado

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YFCI Leaders 1968 to 1996

• Sam Wolgemuth
• Jim Groen
• Jim Wilson as General Director
• Gerry Gallimore (First non-American President.)
• Sam Sherrard

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Organizational Development Study

• Two-year study
• Brought recommendations for significant
  organizational change
• Federalist Structure
• Adopted by the General Assembly in 1996

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Crisis of 1998 - 1999

• Financial Crisis
• Relational Crisis within the movement
• Lack of trust
• Near Death experience for YFCI
• Board appoints Jean-Jacques Weiler as acting
  President
• JJW identifies our primary problem as a spiritual
  problem. Prov. 2427

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Revival and Restoration

• Prayer Conference in Germany, April 2000
• 3 days of fasting and prayer
• 40 leaders from around the world
• Spiritual breakthrough during communion on final
  day of the conference
• God convicted leaders of building their own
  kingdoms, and of injuring people in the name of
  ministry - reconciliation sought
• General Assembly 2000 - JJW chosen as President -
  a time of healing

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Revival and Restoration

• Valance Covenant 2001
• Make prayer and the word of God our foundation
• Yield personal rights for the sake of the whole
• Shift from mistrust to trust
• Forbid the past to dictate the future
• View every part of the body as significant
• Change our language of negativism to one of
  faith
• Foster a generous spirit and give sacrificially
• Embrace principles of federalism, though in
  reality a theocracy (interdependence)

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Revival and Restoration

• Budapest 2002
• Foundation of a Global Ministry Plan determined
• Global Ministry Plan approved by General Assembly
  in 2003
• Areas of restored focus (Our First Love)
• Word of God and Prayer as foundation
• Evangelism and Discipleship
• Pioneering spirit
• Give the ministry back to young people

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Youth for Christ Today

• David Wraight, President since 2005
• YFC Ministry in 109 Countries
• Over 40,000 Full-time, Part-time and Volunteer
  staff

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Our Mission

• 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 a local church.
• This is the DNA of Youth for Christ
• Our Mission guides us like the earths magnetic
  poles, showing us true north

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Our Vision

• As part of the body of Christ, to see that every
  young person in every people group in every
  nation has the opportunity to make an informed
  decision to be a follower of Jesus Christ and
  become part of a local church.
• Our vision gives us a clear picture of our ideal
  future.
• Without our Mission and Vision statements it
  would be easy to get pulled off course by
  diverting our time and resources to addressing
  good projects, that may not be Gods projects
  for us.

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Our Strategic Focus

• YFC reaches young people everywhere, working
  together with the local church and other
  likeminded partners to raise up lifelong
  followers of Jesus who lead by their godliness in
  lifestyle, devotion to the Word of God and
  prayer, passion for sharing the love of Christ
  and commitment to social involvement.
• Our Strategic Focus helps us live out our Mission
  and Vision.

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Youth for Christ
YFCI General Assembly Board of Trustees Office
of the International President World Leadership
Team
David Wraight International President/CEO Denver,
CO
Youth for Christ International
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YFCI Area Offices
Neil OBoyle Asia-Pacific Area Director Thailand
Asia Pacific
David Wraight International President/CEO Denver,
CO
YFCI
Americas
Europe/MENA
Africa
Geordon Rendle Americas Area Director Argentina
John Duncan Europe/MENA Area Director N. Ireland
Hilary Lewis-Nicol Africa Area Director Ghana
4 Area Offices
Youth for Christ International
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Regional Offices
Neil OBoyle Asia-Pacific Area Director Thailand
Central Asia
East Asia
David Wraight International President/CEO
South Asia
S.E. Asia
Pacific Region
Asia Pacific
Western Europe
Central Europe
Latin America
Caribbean
YFCI
Americas
EMENA
Eastern Europe
North America
MENA
Island Nations
Africa
Southern Europe
Eastern Africa
Francophone
West Africa
Geordon Rendle Americas Area Director Argentina
Southern
John Duncan Europe/MENA Area Director N. Ireland
Hilary Lewis-Nicol Africa Area Director Ghana
Youth for Christ International
4 Area Offices
19 Regional Offices
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National Programs
Neil OBoyle Asia-Pacific Area Director Thailand
Korea
Hong Kong
Taiwan
Central Asia
East Asia
Nepal
Sri Lanka
India
David Wraight International President/CEO
Singapore
Bangladesh
Samoa
New Zealand
Myanmar
Thailand
Fiji
Indonesia
South Asia
Australia
Bolivia
Honduras
Malaysia
Guatemala
Chile
S.E. Asia
Pacific Region
Peru
Ireland
Serbia
Croatia
Colombia
Brazil
Germany
Britain
Venezuela
Asia Pacific
Hungary
Western Europe
Central Europe
Uruguay
Netherlands
Denmark
Latin America
Haiti
Cayman
Tobago
N Ireland
France
Trinidad
Barbados
Grenada
St Vincent
Poland
Caribbean
Grenada
Antigua
Jamaica
Dom. Rep.
Slovakia
YFCI
Americas
EMENA
Eastern Europe
USA
Moldova
Mexico
North America
Ukraine
Canada
MENA
Island Nations
Lebanon
Arabian Gulf
Madagascar
Africa
Mauritius
Southern Europe
Rodrigues Island
Eastern Africa
Kenya
Spain
Ethiopia
Uganda
Francophone
Benin
Burundi
Rwanda
West Africa
D.R. Congo
Senegal
Niger
Ghana
Geordon Rendle Americas Area Director Argentina
Zambia
Gambia
Cote dIvoire
Southern
Mali
Sierra Leone
Burkina Faso
Zimbabwe
Nigeria
Lesotho
Guinea Bissau
South Africa
John Duncan Europe/MENA Area Director N. Ireland
Botswana
Angola
Mozambique
Swaziland
Hilary Lewis-Nicol Africa Area Director Ghana
Youth for Christ International
4 Area Offices
82 National Programs
19 Regional Offices
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Pioneering Countries
Neil OBoyle Asia-Pacific Area Director Thailand
Korea
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Hong Kong
Kyrgyzstan
Taiwan
Central Asia
Pakistan
East Asia
Nepal
Japan
Sri Lanka
India
Philippines
David Wraight International President/CEO
Singapore
Bangladesh
Samoa
New Zealand
Myanmar
Costa Rica
Thailand
Fiji
Indonesia
South Asia
Australia
Nicaragua
Bolivia
Honduras
Malaysia
Guatemala
Finland
Argentina
Chile
S.E. Asia
Pacific Region
Peru
Ireland
Serbia
Croatia
Colombia
Cape Verde
Brazil
Germany
Britain
Venezuela
Asia Pacific
Hungary
Western Europe
Central Europe
Uruguay
Netherlands
Denmark
Latin America
Haiti
Cayman
Tobago
Undisclosed
N Ireland
France
Czech Rep.
Trinidad
Romania
Barbados
Grenada
St Vincent
Poland
Puerto Rico
Caribbean
Switzerland
Grenada
Antigua
Jamaica
Dom. Rep.
Slovakia
YFCI
Armenia
Americas
EMENA
Eastern Europe
Russia
USA
Moldova
Mexico
North America
Tunisia
Ukraine
Canada
MENA
Egypt
Italy
Cyprus
Belarus
Island Nations
Lebanon
Arabian Gulf
Madagascar
Bulgaria
Africa
Mauritius
Southern Europe
Portugal
Rodrigues Island
Eastern Africa
Kenya
Spain
Ethiopia
Uganda
Francophone
Benin
Burundi
Rwanda
West Africa
D.R. Congo
Senegal
Niger
Ghana
Geordon Rendle Americas Area Director Argentina
Tanzania
Liberia
Zambia
Gambia
Cote dIvoire
Southern
Mali
Sierra Leone
Guinea-Conakry
Burkina Faso
Zimbabwe
Nigeria
Lesotho
Malawi
Guinea Bissau
South Africa
John Duncan Europe/MENA Area Director Northern
Ireland
Botswana
Angola
Mozambique
Swaziland
Namibia
Hilary Lewis-Nicol Africa Area Director Ghana
Youth for Christ International
4 Area Offices
31 Pioneer Countries
82 National Programs
19 Regional Offices