Since 1968
The history of Christ In Youth
Christ In Youth (CIY) was founded in 1968 by Ozark Bible College professor Bob Stacy, with a vision to share the Gospel with young people in a way that was contemporary and culturally relevant. Since then, God has called over one million students to be Kingdom Workers through CIY events, trips, and resources.
See where it all started“I thought that God could do the impossible, so I never put a limit on it.”
From one lawn in 1969 to summers full of students
CIY’s first summer conference gathered students on the grass in front of a small outdoor stage. More than 55 years later, CIY keeps breaking attendance records every summer. Drag the slider to compare.
CIY timeline, 1968 to today
Showing all 18 milestones
Bob Stacy founds CIY
Christ In Youth was founded in 1968 by Ozark Bible College professor Bob Stacy. His vision was to create a place where the Gospel could be presented to young people in a way that was contemporary and culturally relevant. CIY started with volunteer college students leading rallies and high school assemblies through drama, music, and dynamic speaking.
Bob Stacy and the early CIY team, 1968 The first CIY Summer Conference
One year after its founding, CIY hosts its first summer conference, the event that would later become MOVE.
The first CIY summer conference, 1969 The first National Youth Leaders Convention
As CIY’s knowledge of youth ministry grew, it began creating tools for youth leaders to go along with its conferences and events. In 1984, CIY hosted the first National Youth Leaders Convention.
CIY Missions is born with a trip to Haiti
CIY leads its first youth mission trip, to Haiti, and CIY Missions begins.
CIY’s first mission team to Haiti, 1985 Summer Conference expands across the United States
Throughout the 1990s, CIY gained a reputation as a cutting-edge youth ministry, leading in worship styles, video and multimedia, resource materials, youth mission experiences, and hosting programs on college campuses.
1992 Summer Conference: Party! Believe launches for junior high students
CIY launches Believe, a weekend event for junior high students.
The first Believe flyer, 1997 The Discipleship program begins
CIY creates the Discipleship program to encourage students and teach them how to have an intimate, personal relationship with Christ.
SuperStart launches for preteens
CIY launches SuperStart, the first nationally touring event for preteens.
SuperStart’s Sticky Situations stage 40 years, a renewed vision, and MOVE
In 2008, CIY celebrated 40 years in ministry, rebranded its logo, and established a new vision and mission: “Amplifying Christ’s call to be Kingdom Workers through events, trips, and resources.” Summer Conference was rebranded as MOVE.
CIY’s 2008 logo CIY Missions becomes CIY Engage
CIY Missions was rebranded as CIY Engage, opening the door to more trips and service projects.
Students serving on a CIY Engage project CIY’s first feature-length documentary
CIY showcased its first feature-length documentary, Love Costs Every Thing, an official selection in two international film festivals. It followed with Becoming Sons and Daughters, which won an award at the San Diego Christian Film Festival. CIY has kept producing award-winning short films and documentaries, most recently winning multiple film festival awards for Nozomi.
Love Costs Every Thing, CIY’s first feature-length documentary MIX launches for middle schoolers
CIY launches MIX, a summer conference for middle school students.
Rec time at MIX 50 years in ministry
CIY celebrated 50 years of God calling over one million students to be Kingdom Workers. The logo was rebranded to honor a rich history and focus on the future. A vertical shape portrays heaven to earth, and a subtle arrow shows movement, which is what Kingdom Workers are called to do.
CIY’s 50th anniversary logo, 2018 A new office in Ireland
CIY opens its first office in Ireland.
CIY in Ireland Jayson French becomes president
After nearly two decades in the role, Andy Hansen stepped down as president of CIY, and Jayson French took the helm.
Praying over CIY’s new president, 2019 Kingdom Work never stops
In March 2020, the COVID pandemic shut down the SuperStart and Believe tours. For the first time in over 50 years, CIY held no events that summer. But Kingdom Work didn’t stop. Churches and donors gave critical financial support that helped CIY through the pause, and the CIY creative team launched /AT events: digital, flexible events in a box that youth leaders could use safely anytime, anywhere for socially distanced summer experiences.
A studio of our own
Good News Production International (GNPI) sold its studio facilities to CIY, supporting local media creation while GNPI continues expanding its media teams around the world. The 18,000-square-foot building lets CIY create more video content for events and digital platforms.
CIY and GNPI, 2022 Reimagining Ministry for Gen Alpha, with Barna
Barna, in partnership with Christ In Youth, surveyed 1,500 U.S. teens ages 13–18 to understand what’s shaping faith in this generation. The research goes beyond attendance numbers to ask a harder question: what does it take for faith to take root? The findings are published in Reimagining Ministry for Gen Alpha: Six Pathways to Disciple Teens in an Uncertain World, the first volume of an activation project from Barna and Christ In Youth.
Reimagining Ministry for Gen Alpha, Vol. 1
And the work is just getting started.
Looking forward
Calling the next generation to Kingdom Work
For decades, CIY has partnered with churches to call young people to Christ and into lives of Kingdom Work. We continue to break attendance records every summer, and the work is just getting started. Through expansion in Europe, with more events coming soon, and investment in emerging technology like VR and AI, CIY keeps exploring new ways to serve the Church.
