About Us
OUR STORY 1/5
ABOUT US
Since 1944, we’ve had an unwavering commitment to meet 11-19 year-olds at pivotal moments and introduce them to the hope of Christ. From holding rallies with Billy Graham in the 40’s, to entering campuses to reach students in the 60’s, to now empowering community leaders to build meaningful relationships with young people everywhere—it’s our aim to walk with young people through their story, and to be the friend and mentor that we’ve longed for ourselves.
Unwavering Commitment
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.
PURPOSE 2/5
ABOUT US
A GENERATION UNDER PRESSURE
Students today are growing up in a world shaped by pressure, distraction, and uncertainty. From academic expectations to social challenges and questions of identity, many are carrying more than they are equipped to handle alone. What they need most are consistent relationships with adults who see them, know them, and care enough to walk alongside them.
What would it look like for the Church to be the one showing up in these moments?
If the Church is going to show up in the everyday lives of students, it has to start in the places they already are—public schools.
Students spend most of their time at school. It is where they build friendships, carry pressure, and move through the rhythms of everyday life. For many, it is the most consistent environment they are part of.
Because of that, schools create a natural setting for relationships to form over time. When caring adults show up regularly, trust begins to grow. Those relationships open the door for conversations about life, identity, and faith.
79%
OF STUDENTS SAY THEY TRUST ADULTS WHO ARE HONEST AND AUTHENTIC
65%
SAY THEY WANT MORE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS WITH ADULTS OUTSIDE THEIR FAMILY
75%
OF STUDENTS ARE OPEN TO CONVERSATIONS ABOUT FAITH
THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH
The Church has always carried a responsibility to care for the next generation. There is a deep desire in many churches to reach students, to walk with them, and to help them make sense of life and faith.
At the same time, many students will never walk into a church building on their own. Their lives are already full, and their questions are being formed in the spaces they move through every day.
When the Church steps into those spaces through relationships, something meaningful begins to take shape. Students are seen. Trust is built. Conversations open over time. As those relationships grow, they begin to create a natural connection back to the local church, where students and families can step into community and be discipled into a life with Christ.
THE GAP 3/5
ABOUT US
TWO WORLDS, RARELY CONNECTED
Public schools are more open than many people realize. Administrators and educators are often looking for trusted partners who will support students and serve the broader school community. When that trust is built over time, meaningful opportunities begin to take shape.
At the same time, many churches carry a genuine desire to reach the next generation. They want to invest in students, build relationships, and help them grow in faith. Yet with so many responsibilities already in front of them, it can be difficult to know how to step into the everyday lives of students in a consistent and meaningful way.
These two realities exist side by side. Schools are open. Churches are willing. But there is rarely a clear or natural pathway connecting them.
OUR ROLE
ABOUT US
BRIDGING THE GAP
For decades, Youth for Christ has been building relationships within public schools across Metro Atlanta. By showing up with a posture of service—supporting students, encouraging educators, and contributing to the broader school community—trust has been established over time. That trust creates space for consistent presence and meaningful relationships with students and families.
At the same time, we come alongside local churches to help them step into that space with clarity and confidence. Rather than adding another program to manage, we provide pathways that integrate naturally into the life of the church and create meaningful opportunities to engage students and families.
In this way, Youth for Christ serves as a bridge—helping connect churches with students and families through relationships that begin in schools and grow into deeper community and discipleship within the local church.
OUR TEAM
ABOUT US
Mike McAuliff
Executive Director
Brian Pettigrew
Ministry Director
Emily McAuliff
Executive Assistant
Kris Anderson
Site Leader
Dan Wonneberger
Site Leader
Logan Hull
Site Leader
Jonathan Lodge
Site Leader