YFC Connects with Military Children
The lives of members of the military and their families are extraordinarily difficult. There are approximately 1.2 million military children of active-duty military members worldwide. Most military families will move up to three times more than their civilian counterparts. The continual separations between parents and children and increased hazards of deployment create high anxiety in many military children’s lives. One-third of school-age military children have been reported to show psychosocial behaviors such as being anxious or worrying often.
Youth For Christ, (YFC) has been a fixture in the youth ministry community in America for the past 78 years. These statistics emphasize the importance of their Youth For Christ Military outreach. Designed to be a place for young people connected to the military to feel like they belong, YFC Military is uncovering God’s story of hope in the next generation of military-connected young people. YFC partners with local chaplains, churches, schools and other like-minded organizations to reach these youth through unconditional, authentic Christ-sharing relationships.
The Sacrifices
Maddie Spencer, YFC Military’s Ministry Director, said, “I have had to learn the normal rhythms of Permanent Change of Station (PCS) season. We would make our best efforts to say goodbye to students, but often it was easier for them to leave quietly. It was a great joy when we were able to connect students to YFC Campus Life at their new base, knowing that there would be a welcoming and familiar ministry to make their transition easier. However, often, they are left with no foothold in their new community. Unfortunately, many don’t feel understood or welcomed by civilian youth groups. After a few weeks, they stop going and lose connection to a faith strengthening group.”
Jacob Bland, president and CEO of YFC, said, “Military life requires sacrifice, and military-connected youth proudly join in their family’s tradition of sacrificing for the good of strangers. But frequent moves and living life in the absence of a deployed parent is tough. As a result, military-connected youth often feel overlooked and struggle to find where they belong. This is why YFC Military is so important for these young people. Something powerful happens when these amazing young people feel heard, seen and believe they belong.”
Several YFC Military staff members, volunteers, and youth commented on the outreach, with one sentence. “YFC was a safe place for all of us to be open and honest and share what we were going through.” Another said, ‘“Come as you are and we will show you the love of Jesus…’ It’s a value I learned through YFC.” One staff member said, “I love being able to serve kids wherever God, via the military, takes me!”
