Youth for Christ to be 'Young Faith'
Published: Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, March 5, 2008 1:28 PM CST
Updated: Wednesday, March 5, 2008 1:28 PM CST
Youth for Christ in the Parkland will start operating its services under the name “Young Faith in Christ”, or simply “Young Faith”.
The new name has the same abbreviation of YFC, which is an indication that not much, if anything, will change on a local level, explains local director Marco van Raalten.
What began in November of 1998 as a program affiliated with Youth for Christ USA has grown in the past 10 years to reach 500-600 kids a week through various ministries across the region. In the past 60 years the mother organization “Youth for Christ USA’ has served as an incubator of new initiatives. Examples are the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, World Vision, and individuals like Ravi Zacharias and others.
As Youth for Christ in the Parkland grew it developed its own unique characteristics such as the work at the Farmington Skate Park and the Network of Youth Pastors and Churches. The local organization also found increased community support as it became more and more imbedded in the community. Gary Romine, Board Chairman of YFC, says that given these conditions it seemed a natural step for the board of YFC to decide to operate under a new umbrella.
The move will also allow the local organization to significantly increase its investment in the local community, as more than 10 percent of the annual budget is now freed up for local services. “Young Faith” continues a positive and cooperative relationship with Youth for Christ USA, and is very appreciative of the national organization and it’s mission. Young Faith will keep the same statement of faith, board of directors, staff, vision and mission statement.
The name Young Faith in Christ also describes the organization well. “Young” obviously pictures the focus of the organization: young people. The ‘faith’ word underscores the principle that the organization’s focus on a change of a heart lies at the core of her efforts.
Executive Director Marco van Raalten says work can be done through various projects, but only a change in the heart of a teenager carries the long term change that will empower today’s teens to be tomorrow’s leaders. The word ‘faith’ also describes YFC effort to be active in the community as a faith based organization by being a valuable partner with schools, social agencies, churches and other organizations for the betterment of our communities.
The ‘in Christ’ part describes a commitment to remain faithful to it’s roots in Youth for Christ. Billy Graham as Youth for Christ’s first full time employee in the ‘40’s did a great job in pointing people to the person of Jesus Christ. Young Faith’s message in that regard will not change, the director assures.
The organization will have two ministry components: Young Faith on Campus; focusing on the work at area schools and Young Faith in the Community; focusing on her role with teen parents, the skate park and other community events. YFC is very appreciative to the Parkland Community for her support these past ten years and hopes to be able to continue to serve our communities in the years to come.
YFC board members are Gary Romine (chairman), Karen Adams (secretary), Scott Williams (treasurer), Bill Giessing, Anton Beffa, Lennie Fincher, Rannie Gustafson, Bill Younker and Fred Yates. YFC staff members are Barbara Hargiss, Randy Rains and Marco van Raalten. Ministry volunteers are Rick Augustine, Joshua Kennon, Robert Pierce, Pam Kennedy, Renee Mc Minn and Katie Hahn.
YFC works weekly with about 500-650 kids in her various programs. Campus Club meetings are held at Farmington High and Middle School, North County High School and Central Middle School. The clubs are student led and sponsored by a teacher.
The YFC Teen Parents ministry connects adults with 60 pregnant girls and teenage parents in programs designed to help them make good choices and establish a solid foundation, not only in their lives, but also in the lives of their babies.
The City of Farmington and YFC partner in work at the Farmington Skate Park. Each week an average of 1,000 young people visit the Park. A weekly 30 minute Bible Study at the park on Tuesday Night draws 15-30 kids.
Over 50 area churches participate in the ‘Youth Ministries Network.” These churches unite to reach every teenager in the Parkland area with events like the week-long Youth Fest, National Youth Service Day, See You After the Pole Rally and other events like the upcoming mental health awareness campaign in May. In 2007 10,000 people participated in these events.
A weekly program at the Farmington Children’s Home serves about 15 kids.
As for how YFC came to be in the Parkland area, Dr. Anton Beffa, an eye surgeon from Indiana, and his wife Jane moved to Farmington in the mid 90’s and were instrumental in starting Youth for Christ. Dr. Beffa had been a board member of a local Youth for Christ Chapter in Indiana, and had the vision to start Youth for Christ in Farmington for the Parkland area. A local board was formed, and Youth for Christ was incorporated in November 1998 with the State of Missouri. The chapter was also known as Youth for Christ in the Parkland, since the chapter was located in the “Parkland area” in South East Missouri.
Bret Burgess was hired as their first executive Director in 2000 and services to young people began in the Farmington High School through students meeting in small groups and through a monthly meeting called :”Campus Life” . Students also went on a summer trip to a conference called DCLA. About 20 kids participated in the weekly small groups, and about 40-50 attended the larger Campus Life meetings. Burgess resigned in April 2001, yet has continued his involvement in YFC as a ministry partner until today.
In September 2001 Marco van Raalten was hired as executive director. A network with local youth ministers called the “Youth Ministries Network” was formed in which a growing number of youth pastors had the opportunity to connect to receive encouragement, training and the opportunity to partner together to reach their community. Several large community outreaches like the “See You After the Pole Rally” and outreaches through school assemblies and youth rallies were initiated that continue to this day.
The number of participants in youth rallies grew from several hundred in 2003 to the current 10,000 that attend these large events each year. Work on school campuses through the Campus Life program grew to include Fredericktown High School, Arcadia Valley High and Middle School, Farmington High and Middle School, North County High School and Central Middle School. Throughout the years the attendance at the Campus Life meetings grew from 40-50 kids at a monthly meeting to 500-650 kids who participate in our programs each week.
Youth for Christ also started operating a program called “Youth Guidance” to help teens in residential facilities through a weekly program at the Farmington Children’s Home in 2003. About 10-25 kids participate each week, and in 2006 a mentoring program was added to these services. In 2005 Mr. Gary Romine became chairman of the Board of YFC.
In 2001 the city of Farmington met with the board of Youth for Christ about partnering in managing a 26,000 square foot outdoor skate park, and renovated an existing building adjacent to the park to be used for youth mentoring purposes. Youth First Corporate was incorporated with the State Of Missouri in April 2002 as a subsidiary to Youth for Christ, with the intention to facilitate relationships with community partners like the city of Farmington, state government and other public and private entities.
Youth First Corporate existence provided proof of Youth for Christ’s intention to be a valid social partner, as expressed in the mission statement for the Farmington Skate Park as written in 2001:”to provide a welcoming, safe, fun and encouraging atmosphere for youth, where they are accepted and mentored in order to become a positive influence in their communities”.
Over 85 percent of the funding for all of YFC’s programs is provided through contributions of individuals, local corporations and churches. Tax credits are issued as incentives for these donors. Less than five percent of the annual budget comes in through grants with United Way and the Blessing Fund. The annual Golf Tournament brings in about five percent of the current annual budget.
The new name has the same abbreviation of YFC, which is an indication that not much, if anything, will change on a local level, explains local director Marco van Raalten.
What began in November of 1998 as a program affiliated with Youth for Christ USA has grown in the past 10 years to reach 500-600 kids a week through various ministries across the region. In the past 60 years the mother organization “Youth for Christ USA’ has served as an incubator of new initiatives. Examples are the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, World Vision, and individuals like Ravi Zacharias and others.
As Youth for Christ in the Parkland grew it developed its own unique characteristics such as the work at the Farmington Skate Park and the Network of Youth Pastors and Churches. The local organization also found increased community support as it became more and more imbedded in the community. Gary Romine, Board Chairman of YFC, says that given these conditions it seemed a natural step for the board of YFC to decide to operate under a new umbrella.
The move will also allow the local organization to significantly increase its investment in the local community, as more than 10 percent of the annual budget is now freed up for local services. “Young Faith” continues a positive and cooperative relationship with Youth for Christ USA, and is very appreciative of the national organization and it’s mission. Young Faith will keep the same statement of faith, board of directors, staff, vision and mission statement.
The name Young Faith in Christ also describes the organization well. “Young” obviously pictures the focus of the organization: young people. The ‘faith’ word underscores the principle that the organization’s focus on a change of a heart lies at the core of her efforts.
Executive Director Marco van Raalten says work can be done through various projects, but only a change in the heart of a teenager carries the long term change that will empower today’s teens to be tomorrow’s leaders. The word ‘faith’ also describes YFC effort to be active in the community as a faith based organization by being a valuable partner with schools, social agencies, churches and other organizations for the betterment of our communities.
The ‘in Christ’ part describes a commitment to remain faithful to it’s roots in Youth for Christ. Billy Graham as Youth for Christ’s first full time employee in the ‘40’s did a great job in pointing people to the person of Jesus Christ. Young Faith’s message in that regard will not change, the director assures.
The organization will have two ministry components: Young Faith on Campus; focusing on the work at area schools and Young Faith in the Community; focusing on her role with teen parents, the skate park and other community events. YFC is very appreciative to the Parkland Community for her support these past ten years and hopes to be able to continue to serve our communities in the years to come.
YFC board members are Gary Romine (chairman), Karen Adams (secretary), Scott Williams (treasurer), Bill Giessing, Anton Beffa, Lennie Fincher, Rannie Gustafson, Bill Younker and Fred Yates. YFC staff members are Barbara Hargiss, Randy Rains and Marco van Raalten. Ministry volunteers are Rick Augustine, Joshua Kennon, Robert Pierce, Pam Kennedy, Renee Mc Minn and Katie Hahn.
YFC works weekly with about 500-650 kids in her various programs. Campus Club meetings are held at Farmington High and Middle School, North County High School and Central Middle School. The clubs are student led and sponsored by a teacher.
The YFC Teen Parents ministry connects adults with 60 pregnant girls and teenage parents in programs designed to help them make good choices and establish a solid foundation, not only in their lives, but also in the lives of their babies.
The City of Farmington and YFC partner in work at the Farmington Skate Park. Each week an average of 1,000 young people visit the Park. A weekly 30 minute Bible Study at the park on Tuesday Night draws 15-30 kids.
Over 50 area churches participate in the ‘Youth Ministries Network.” These churches unite to reach every teenager in the Parkland area with events like the week-long Youth Fest, National Youth Service Day, See You After the Pole Rally and other events like the upcoming mental health awareness campaign in May. In 2007 10,000 people participated in these events.
A weekly program at the Farmington Children’s Home serves about 15 kids.
As for how YFC came to be in the Parkland area, Dr. Anton Beffa, an eye surgeon from Indiana, and his wife Jane moved to Farmington in the mid 90’s and were instrumental in starting Youth for Christ. Dr. Beffa had been a board member of a local Youth for Christ Chapter in Indiana, and had the vision to start Youth for Christ in Farmington for the Parkland area. A local board was formed, and Youth for Christ was incorporated in November 1998 with the State of Missouri. The chapter was also known as Youth for Christ in the Parkland, since the chapter was located in the “Parkland area” in South East Missouri.
Bret Burgess was hired as their first executive Director in 2000 and services to young people began in the Farmington High School through students meeting in small groups and through a monthly meeting called :”Campus Life” . Students also went on a summer trip to a conference called DCLA. About 20 kids participated in the weekly small groups, and about 40-50 attended the larger Campus Life meetings. Burgess resigned in April 2001, yet has continued his involvement in YFC as a ministry partner until today.
In September 2001 Marco van Raalten was hired as executive director. A network with local youth ministers called the “Youth Ministries Network” was formed in which a growing number of youth pastors had the opportunity to connect to receive encouragement, training and the opportunity to partner together to reach their community. Several large community outreaches like the “See You After the Pole Rally” and outreaches through school assemblies and youth rallies were initiated that continue to this day.
The number of participants in youth rallies grew from several hundred in 2003 to the current 10,000 that attend these large events each year. Work on school campuses through the Campus Life program grew to include Fredericktown High School, Arcadia Valley High and Middle School, Farmington High and Middle School, North County High School and Central Middle School. Throughout the years the attendance at the Campus Life meetings grew from 40-50 kids at a monthly meeting to 500-650 kids who participate in our programs each week.
Youth for Christ also started operating a program called “Youth Guidance” to help teens in residential facilities through a weekly program at the Farmington Children’s Home in 2003. About 10-25 kids participate each week, and in 2006 a mentoring program was added to these services. In 2005 Mr. Gary Romine became chairman of the Board of YFC.
In 2001 the city of Farmington met with the board of Youth for Christ about partnering in managing a 26,000 square foot outdoor skate park, and renovated an existing building adjacent to the park to be used for youth mentoring purposes. Youth First Corporate was incorporated with the State Of Missouri in April 2002 as a subsidiary to Youth for Christ, with the intention to facilitate relationships with community partners like the city of Farmington, state government and other public and private entities.
Youth First Corporate existence provided proof of Youth for Christ’s intention to be a valid social partner, as expressed in the mission statement for the Farmington Skate Park as written in 2001:”to provide a welcoming, safe, fun and encouraging atmosphere for youth, where they are accepted and mentored in order to become a positive influence in their communities”.
Over 85 percent of the funding for all of YFC’s programs is provided through contributions of individuals, local corporations and churches. Tax credits are issued as incentives for these donors. Less than five percent of the annual budget comes in through grants with United Way and the Blessing Fund. The annual Golf Tournament brings in about five percent of the current annual budget.
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