The History of Youth For Christ
Youth for Christ has a distinctive history of youth evangelism — from wartime rallies in the 1940s to a movement that today reaches young people in cities and communities across Canada, including here in Saskatoon.
Archival photos from the Youth For Christ movement
Wartime Rallies
Youth for Christ has a distinctive history of youth evangelism. In the early 1940s, during the Second World War, many young men — mostly ministers and evangelists — held large rallies across Canada, England and the United States.
A National Movement
As the hunger for God’s Word grew, it became evident that someone needed to coordinate this movement: providing leadership, developing strategy, and coordinating speakers, musicians and locations. Beginning in dozens of cities at the end of the war, YFC quickly organized into a national movement — and Billy Graham became its first full-time staff member.
Rapid Growth
YFC grew rapidly during this decade and spun off several other organizations, including the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, World Vision International, Greater Europe Mission, Overseas Crusades, and Gospel Films. It was during this era that the famous YFC rallies took place, drawing thousands of youth, young adults and middle-aged people out on Saturday nights to hear well-known preachers, movie stars and musicians.
A Focus on Teenagers
YFC turned its focus to teenagers. In Canada, the organization launched Bible clubs, created Lifeline (a ministry to teens in trouble with the law), ran teen talent contests, started Bible quiz games, sent Teen Teams overseas, and used camping trips to spread the gospel.
Reaching the Unchurched
YFC recognized that teenagers — and the programs meant to reach them — needed to change. Chapters began sharing more material with one another and developed better training strategies for staff. Youth for Christ also refocused its energy on unchurched teenagers, reaching and discipling them with personal attention.
A New Generation of Leadership
The late 1970s saw the high-energy leadership of Brian Stiller as President. His leadership placed a new emphasis on recruiting and training young men and women to develop excellence in ministry leadership. This period also brought a renewed commitment to the local church, including a special effort to reach the general public through TV specials.
Whatever It Takes
These two decades were defined by a strong sense of vision and a “whatever it takes” philosophy in reaching Canada’s unreached youth. Junior Varsity launched to reach junior-high students, and street-level outreach began ministering to kids struggling at home, school or on the streets — largely through the drop-in centres that continue to emerge across Canada today. Large evangelistic events such as Christian concerts saw a resurgence, and music and drama teams made a comeback, with around seven Chapters using this form of ministry regularly. Project Serve, a combined evangelism-and-work-project ministry to developing countries, grew rapidly, sending teams of teens and adults to serve abroad.
Ministries That Grew From This Movement
Across the country, YFC Chapters have grown these shared ministries in their own communities.
Many of these same ministries continue today in YFC Saskatoon’s own programs — drop-in centres like The Zone and Gateway Youth, teen mom support through Stepping Stones, and sports outreach through YFCHL and Disorganized Sports.
Be Part of the Next Chapter
This story continues today through the young people, volunteers and donors who make YFC Saskatoon possible.