YFC—All About Staying Connected During a Pandemic
December 21, 2020
ANCHORAGE, AK.— Youth For Christ (YFC, www.yfc.net) is continuing its work during the challenging times of COVID-19, using novel methods such as outdoor gatherings, virtual meetups, and much more. YFC has kept its commitment to juvenile offenders and teens living in under-resourced families in order to truly make an impact in their lives.
Youth For Christ Alaska, located in Anchorage, has not allowed the troubling times of the pandemic to stall their mission of bringing the message of Jesus to local teens. YFC Alaska is committed to the students and has a “replace not cancel” policy when it comes to their programs and scheduled events. Throughout the year, YFC Alaska has hosted special events to celebrate their youth, and to strengthen their devotion to God.
Most notably of these special events was the Class of 2020 drive-in baccalaureate service that YFC Alaska held for graduates in the Palmer, AK area. To make this special event happen, YFC Alaska partnered with other local ministries: the Crossing Church, Alliance Christian Fellowship church, Community Covenant Church and Young Life. Held outdoors, graduates had the opportunity to gather, pray and celebrate – and even walk across a stage to the sound of applause and cars honking – all at a safe social distance and donning masks. It was a beautiful way to bless this community of teens.
In Alaska, we have been relying on Christ to provide flexibility while not becoming discouraged as we replace and not cancel our evangelistic efforts during Covid-19,” said Autumn Person and Chris Gatch, YFC Alaska program directors. “Without community support, local businesses, other youth ministries and volunteers, YFC Alaska would not have been able to replace ministry efforts to continue to reach lost 11–19-year-olds.”
In addition to the drive-in baccalaureate service, YFC Alaska has participated in virtual concerts, Giving Tuesday, Zoom clubs, and more.
Over 160 YFC chapters across the nation seek out and serve youth from all walks of life. Many teens are silently struggling through a variety of challenging issues—and now they see the living power of a loving God.
Youth For Christ staff and volunteers are encouraged by the YFC 3Story concept, which is based on the belief that kids will be reached for Christ when met at their point of need—and as workers connect their stories with Jesus’s story. The ministry efforts of Youth For Christ are changing lives, one young person at a time.
Youth For Christ’s 3Story encourages staff and volunteers to be good news while also sharing the stories of the Good News of Jesus. It involves building relationships through the ups and downs of everyday life in order to lead people to Christ. For more information, visit 3Story.org.
Nationally, Youth For Christ is telling inspiring stories through#YFCBeTheStory, an initiative to help spread the word across the nation about how YFC chapters are making a difference in their communities.
Youth For Christ has been a pillar of missional ministry since 1944, when the Rev. Billy Graham served as YFC’s first full-time staff member. Since then, Youth For Christ has continued to be both a rural and urban ministry on mission, and it is always about the message of Jesus. YFC reaches young people everywhere, working together with the local church and other like-minded 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. Youth For Christ operates in over 100 nations and has more than 160 chapters that impact communities across America.
Visit the Youth For Christ media page here. Learn more about Youth For Christ at its website, www.yfc.net, Facebook and Instagram pages, Twitter feed @yfcusa or on Vimeo.
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To interview a Youth For Christ representative, contact Media@HamiltonStrategies.com, Jeff Tolson, 610.584.1096, ext. 108, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
