It all started with a group of teenagers 45 Years ago

Across the nation, in the mid 70’s, groups of teenagers were becoming excited about their faith in Jesus and student-led Bible study groups were popping up across the country. The same thing was happening in Phillipsburg, Kansas where teenagers gathered for Bible study and called themselves Reach Out. Little did they know their gathering would still be impacting the lives of teenagers 45 years later in northwest Kansas and southern Nebraska.

While the Reach Out group grew, a group of young adults came alongside the teenagers to provide some support— one of those being a newlywed couple, Randy and LeAnn (White) Hunt, who had recently become excited about their own relationship with Jesus. Soon, the Hunts were given a burning desire by God to see this same thing happen all across this area of rural Kansas/ Nebraska.

After much prayer, the Hunts decided to gain some practical experience in a church setting and then went on to train at Kansas City Youth For Christ, (KCYFC) a nationally- known and growing ministry for youth.

Even though KCYFC had attempted to begin an associate ministry in Hays, Kansas, God’s plan had been different, and in 1977 God called the Hunts back to their hometown to begin an associate ministry to teenagers called Golden Plains Youth for Christ. The ministry would build off the efforts of that first Reach Out Bible study.

The first year, three Bible Clubs sprang up in the area. The official kickoff of the ministry happened in October 1977 with a Rally at the Community Building with Tom Lester, or “Ed” from the TV show Green Acres, as special guest speaker.

Realizing the benefits of not being connected with a bigger urban organization, in 1989, Golden Plains (now) Teens for Christ, became its own non-profit organization and TEENS FOR CHRIST CONNECTION would continue to be faithful to doing the little things God called them to do as they worked with the youth of the area.

The ministry’s heartbeat was for the rural teenager to come to know Jesus! Desiring to come alongside the local church, the foundation of the ministry was and still is today the weekly Connection meetings. (Earlier called Bible Clubs).

Meeting in homes, churches, and other community spots, these weekly meetings give students a chance to spend time in worship, Bible study, and fun fellowship.

The ministry started with three Bible Clubs in ’77, with over 20 clubs meeting weekly in the 80s and 90s, to currently eight communities with Connection groups. Even though the ministry adapted with the cultural and population changes in rural America, they continue to firmly hold fast to the unchanging truth of the Word of God.

The 2020 Covid Pandemic brought more unexpected changes in how weekly meetings and mission trips were handled, along with the cancellation of two weeks of camp. But with God’s help, the ministry has continued to thrive and grow.

During these past 45 years, the ministry has been blessed to serve with the leadership of four Directors. In 1986 the ministry expanded the world view of the teenager by taking students on mission trips. Sixty-two trips have taken teenagers from Mississippi to the Navaho Reservation, from Disaster Clean Up from Alabama to Illinois, to our own “neighbors” in Barber County, Kansas and Paradise, Kansas.

Groups have served alongside camp ministries from Arkansas to Alaska to many places in between. Overseas trips to Belarus, Mexico, Jamaica, Haiti, South Africa, and the Dominican Republic have also given teenagers a chance to look beyond themselves to the needs of others.

During the summer of 1985, YFC began offering summer camp to local teens offering 58 weeks of camp in the past 45 years.

Other events such as Bible quizzing, weekend leaderships, backpacking trips, rallies, overnighters, and concerts have given teenagers a place to grow their faith with the encouragement of other teenagers within 150 miles of Phillipsburg. Local service trips called SPLASH have given teens the chance to serve others in our own communities.

The ministry will celebrate with an Open House/Reunion called SHOUTOUT on October 1st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the First Assembly of God Church in Phillipsburg. This event is for everyone—alumni, supporters, and families and friends of the ministry! Come for all or part of the day.

Continue to check at their website www. tfcconnection.org or the facebook page Teens For Christ Connection for updates on the event!