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About the YLC: Our Birth
A
burning desire to help youth leaders and student
groups is what led Todd and Julie Stiles to officially
begin the Youth Leader Connection in 1996. However,
long before the concept was fleshed out with a name,
the Stiles were not only building strong youth groups
in Georgia and Iowa but were investing in other
leaders, teaching and training them how to think
strategically about students and youth work.
As
the interest grew, Todd began to write and publish
weekly and monthly tips for youth leaders, as well as
conduct seminars in various states, expanding his role
as a trainer of other leaders. Items such as Strategy,
the YLC's newsletter, and LeadershipLINK, the
e-mail tip sheet, became staples with many leaders,
both growing in their circulation. Within a short time
it became clear that in order for this venture to
become more than a backyard operation, additional
funds and time were needed.
Consequently,
Todd organized a Board of Directors to raise and
oversee revenue for the YLC, as well as to provide
general direction and insight for the ministry's
growth. Sure enough, the growth continued. Of course,
this entire time Todd was ministering as Pastor to
Students at the 1200-member Grace Church in Des
Moines, Iowa. Sensing little by little that God was
leading him and his wife to devote their full
attention to the growth and ministry of the YLC, Todd
made preparations for a smooth transition at Grace and
for adequate donor support to underwrite the
ever-growing Youth Leader Connection, the official
non-profit and faith-supported organization resulting
from Todd's years of vision and work.
"Churches
can make all the difference! Yet, there are over 350,000
churches in America with a regular attendance of less
than 200, and a large percentage of these struggle in
reaching teens and training them to live as disciples
for Christ. No wonder we're losing the battle for this
generation - the main lighthouse is growing dim!
Believe it or not, it's this type of church that dots
the landscape of America, and if we're going to see
significant improvement in youth ministry in the
hundreds of rural towns and cities across our country,
the obvious requirement is equipping the adult
volunteer with the tools for momentum," Todd
says. "And we intend, Lord willing, to use every
ounce of energy and every resource available to
network with those who love students, helping them
reach this generation for Christ!"
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Our
Vision, Mission, and Motto
The
YLC vision? To glorify God by becoming a team of
committed believers ministering within our giftedness
for the purpose of helping congregations build solid
leadership teams and effective ministry structures
with and for students.
The
YLC mission? To help churches and youth leaders get
their youth groups started and growing.
The
YLC motto? “Get plugged in!”
Our
Core Beliefs - We believe:
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1.
the Bible is the inspired, infallible Word of
God, and the final authority in all matters of
faith and conduct (2 Timothy 3:16-17).
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2.
in the Genesis account of creation (Genesis
1:1).
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3.
in one God, eternally existent in three
persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit (Matthew
28:19).
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4.
in Jesus Christ, His deity, virgin birth,
sinless life, vicarious death, burial and
bodily resurrection, His ascension to the
right hand of the Father and His personal
future return in power and glory (John 1:1;
Matthew 1:23; 2 Corinthians 5:21; 1
Corinthians 15:3-4; Acts 1:9, 11).
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5.
in the sinfulness of man and the gift of
salvation by grace through faith in Christ who
shed His blood which makes believers eternally
secure in Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-25;
8:38-39).
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6.
that the Holy Spirit indwells and enables the
Christian to live a godly life (John 14:28).
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7.
in the resurrection of the dead: the believer
to life everlasting and the unbeliever to the
resurrection of judgment (John 5:28-29).
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8.
in the church as the body of Christ, which is
composed of all believers who have accepted
Christ as Savior (1 Corinthians 12:12-13).
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