“Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.” Ephesians 5:1-2 NKJV
At the Youth for Christ International 1973 Mid-Winter Convention in Portland, Oregon, Jay Kesler was elected president, and the determine was made that no local ministries should own property or buildings.
Meeting in Jim Harris’ room from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, several of us prayed together who led ministries with buildings and property, asking God for guidance.
These and others in similar circumstances were invited to meet again in Evansville. As we prayed, we decided to meet again the following month somewhere in the east – either Harrisburg, Pennsylvania or Bath, New York. But when we informed Al Metsker, director of Kansas City Youth for Christ, by phone, he responded that if we would hold our next meeting back in Evansville, he would come and invite others.
When we reconvened, the decision was made to organize under the name “Youth Evangelism Association,” and Al invited us to meet at Kansas City YFC’s Circle C Ranch on Memorial Day weekend to pray together and continue seeking God’s will.
Five of us formed the founding board of directors: Vic Eliason, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Jim Harris, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania; Al Metsker, Kansas City; Dick Snavely, Bath, New York; and myself (serving as organizing chairman).
Vic Eliason invited us to meet again Labor Day weekend in Milwaukee, and volunteered to contact a Christian attorney to help us quickly obtain tax exempt status. The five co-founders met there, along with several other local directors from across America. Youth Evangelism Association became an official not-for-profit corporation and tax exempt organization.
Tri-State Youth for Christ (now TTT Christian Youth Ministries) hosted the first Youth Evangelism Association national convention in 1974 at the Evansville Executive Inn.
October 1974, Al Metsker invited me to speak at Kansas City Youth for Christ. We talked about the history of Youth Evangelism Association and the upcoming convention to be in Orlando, Florida, which was to include a day at Disney World.
Meanwhile, TTT Christian Youth Ministries acquired the 30 acres surrounding the house where TTT began, and prepared to construct the TTT Christian communication center.
Four years later, in November 1978, Al Metsker came to TTT and spoke at the dedication of the new TTT Christian communication center.
TTT Saturday nights continue at 7:27 PM every week at the Christian communication center, and now also online.
As we continue going Together Toward Tomorrow, the thrust October 31 is to “Take up the whole armor of God” – Ephesians 6:13 NKJV – “Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”
The next “Super Saturday” is to be November 7. It is to be “South of the Border” night with free nachos for all who attend in person. TTT sponsors Motorcycle Sunday school Missions in Brazil, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
A team of three (who were with us for TTT’s 60th birthday in February) are in Indonesia now – Linda Aronson, Kathy Vanderpool, and Barb Paisley. We plan to present a report from them.
And the next Leading Youth Saturday is to be November 14, 3 PM through TTT Saturday night. Registration is free to participate in evangelism training for students (ages 10-19) and adult youth workers. Registration deadline is 5 PM Thursday, November 12.
The need is to train truth-telling connectors to work with local Bible-believing congregations toward the vision: Every youth, before turning 20, to hear the Gospel with an invitation to “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.“
Earl Radmacher wrote: “Believers are to follow the example of God’s actions. He loved us when we were still His enemies. As imitators, believers should demonstrate that type of self-sacrificial love.”
“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.” Romans 5:8-10 NKJV
Radmacher explained: “God loves us just the way we are, but He loves us too much to leave us the way we are.”
You can walk in love as Christ loved us. Will you?