Company Profile
Youth For Christ
Company Overview
YFC/Winnipeg is a leader of innovation and excellence in youth evangelism. It is one of the world’s largest YFC chapters and its diverse ministries strategically reach into the various subcultures found among today’s youth. These include:
• The Centre For Youth Excellence - a architecturally stunning 53,000 sq foot facility, a place where teens find inspiration, hope and purpose.
• The Edge – an indoor skate park for skateboarders and Roller Bladers with Canada's only indoor skate bowl.
• Camp Cedarwood – a resort-like camp with an air-conditioned, 31,450 square foot lodge for teenagers.
• Samson’s Fitness Centre – a total fitness program featuring a fully equipped bodybuilding and fitness centre with gymnasium.
• Samson's Sport Leagues - a city-wide Floor Hockey League, Soccer, Volleyball, and Basketball.
• SWAT (Samson's Wilderness Adventure Teams) - an outdoor wilderness adventure ministry and mountain biking club.
• The Rock - a world-class indoor rock climbing facility and out rappelling wall.
• Turning Point – A professionally staffed counselling service providing practical hope and help for teenagers and families.
• Successful Teen Parenting – Offering support, fun and parenting skills to teenage mothers.
• Masterworks Dance Studio – a Christian school for dance - hip hop, jazz, ballet ,etc.
• Workforce – a pre-employment program for at-risk youth.
• The Atrium - an amazing youth centre in the heart of Winnipeg that combines unique opportunities, sports and video games with caring mentors.
• Rural Youth Centers – modern youth centres with a variety of recreational programs and activities in communities surrounding Winnipeg (Carman, Morden, St. Pierre, Niverville, Stonewall, Selkirk and Arborg).
Company History
Youth For Christ began as an organization in 1945, with Billy Graham being the first full-time staff member. It has grown and spread throughout the years to the point where there are 123 countries around the world in which YFC has ministry programs. Canada has 23 chapters, with Winnipeg being one of the largest programs in North America.
The Winnipeg chapter began in 1954. Its first objective was "evangelism to youth" by means of rallies, Bible clubs, Youth Guidance and other means. Today we use mostly the "other means", but back then, these programs were effective in reaching kids. If you talk to any Christian who grew up in the 50s and 60s in Winnipeg, they will tell you that Saturday night rallies were the thing, with sometimes over a thousand people attending.
In the beginning of the 1970’s, Youth For Christ/Winnipeg grew to eight full-time staff members, purchased its first office building, and a property on Echo Bay, Lake of the Woods for a specialized camping program. Rallies, Campus Life Clubs and Lifeline Programs (Youth Guidance/camping) were the three main ministry thrusts of the organization during these years.
The 80’s brought yet another phase in Youth For Christ's history. During the 80’s the total staff numbers in Winnipeg more than tripled, the budget increased five-fold, Camp Cedarwood was developed near Lac du Bonnet, and the Firehall office/ministry center was completed. More importantly, the number of effective programs and the total number of teenagers being touched by YFC increased steadily.
The 90’s ...
YFC entered the 90’s with a strong commitment to expand its outreach to outlying communities. Drop-in Centres were established in Carman, Selkirk, Morden, Niverville and St. Pierre. The adjective to describe the ministry of YFC in the 90’s was “diversity” with multiple ministry models, including a year-round indoor skateboard park for skateboarders, bikers and rollerbladers. 1994 will always be remembered as the year of the fire, when Camp Cedarwood was totally destroyed by fire. The camp was reconstructed in three phases in ‘95, ’96 and 2001, doubling its capacity from 50 to 100 campers per week.
2010 - With the generous support of the Government of Canada and the City of Winnipeg (each contributing 3.2 million), Youth For Christ Winnipeg embarked upon its largest capital campaign to date - a 13.6 million dollar facility called "A Centre For Youth Excellence."
Situated at Main Street and Higgins Avenue in Winnipeg’s inner city, The Centre for Youth Excellence is a dynamic 53,000 square foot facility designed specifically for today’s young people. Its central location provides youth from all over Winnipeg with access to a myriad of services and activities, including a world-class indoor skate park, dance studio, bouldering and climbing walls, fitness facility, billiards room, theatre, gym, a youth drop-in and counselling centre, as well as a lounge with food services and music. The Centre is staffed by caring and competent people who are committed to building a culture of trust, respect and youth empowerment.
The future…
With God’s help and direction, we seek to engage 10,000 young people annually by the year 2015 in the lifelong journey of following Christ. To do this we will:
1. Pursue young people everywhere, including the hard-to-reach.
2. Reach young people through school and community ministry sites.
3. Strategically grow ministry to additional towns and municipalities.
4. Resource churches and community leaders.
5. Multiply our efforts through strategic partnerships with churches, Christian organizations, the worldwide movement of YFC and other youth-serving organizations.
6. Mobilize and equip Christians in evangelism and discipleship to reach lost youth.
Notable Clients
Youth of all stripes aged 11 - 18, rich, poor, urban, suburban, rural, mainstream, marginalized
Benefits
Youth for Christ sees the hope and potential in every young person. We believe in people like yourself, your skills, your potential, your dreams and your purpose. At YFC, you will hone your skills, develop your potential and further discover your purpose.
* Knowledge - You will walk away with the ability to put your faith in action. We'll show you how to personally abide in Christ while ministering to the needs of others. You'll learn youth evangelism using Biblical principles within the context of current youth culture and trends.
* Skills - You will be able to take our relational ministry philosophy and put it into practice right away.
* Direction - You will gain new insight into your character and ways strengthen your competencies.
* Training – You will participate in a two-year YFC Canada LeaderShaping Internship program that will combine learning from veteran youth specialists and extensive hands-on training in ministry experience.
* Relationships – You will be drawn into and affected by deep relationships with YFC staff, young people and most importantly, God.
* Mentoring – You will provided with mentors that will speak into your life, developing you character, skills and challenging your faith and understanding.