CYIA
Christian Youth in Action® is exactly what it says—Christian youth actively involved in making a difference in the lives of America’s 50 million unchurched children! Youth can make a difference in the lives of these children by serving as a summer missionary with CEF. CYIA is a program designed to train you and a team of other young people in effective and engaging ways to teach children about God. This summer you could: Reach boys and girls with the Gospel, see your faith and vision grow deeper, build new friendships that will last a lifetime, grow in communication, teamwork, endurance, responsibility, and self-confidence, and gain great experience for ministry.
How It Works
Specialized training is provided each summer for two weeks. The summer begins with a week of training with other youth from all around New York State at Camp Good News in Afton, NY. Young people ages twelve and up attend this training and learn how to share the gospel using the wordless book. Summer Missionaries are then divided into two tracks. The “Missions Track” starts you off learning how to lead songs, review games, teach memory verses, and tell a missionary story. The “Bible Lesson Track” takes you a step further and shows you how to do all of that but also teach a Bible Lesson rather than the missionary story. This training equips you to share the Good News of Jesus Christ in 5-Day Clubs®, neighborhood Good News Clubs®, Vacation Bible Schools, camps and fairs– or anywhere else children gather.
You will put this training to use in 5-Day Clubs throughout the summer. A 5-Day Club is usually a one to one and a half hour program held in homes, apartment complexes, day care centers, YMCA’s, churches, or anywhere else they will have us around the area. Each day the children hear a Bible story and continued missionary story, along with learning a Bible verse, singing songs, and playing review games and active games. Usually there are 2-4 clubs per week.
The children’s lives are not the only ones changed as a result of this training and ministry opportunity. Your life will be changed too! The greatest thing is you will have the chance to see children come to know Christ as Savior and you will gain valuable training and ministry experience. Being a summer missionary is a great experience! You will have the opportunity to make an eternal difference in the lives of children in your area and will be impacted as a result. View other missionaries testimonies to hear about the awesome experiences they have had.
Want more information?
Check out the various ways to get more information on CYIA or contact us!
Download the CYIA Brochure
Watch the CYIA Video
Definitely interested? Apply!
Are you a CYIA Parent?
We try to make the CYIA process as simple as possible for parents of summer missionaries. If your teen is a current summer missionary, we have created a page with helps for you.