Christ In Youth

What Christ In Youth does

Christ In Youth (CIY), founded in 1968 in Joplin, Missouri by Ozark Bible College Professor Bob Stacy, is a nonprofit religious organization that designs and operates event-driven youth ministry programming on behalf of local churches. Its core product is a portfolio of age-targeted events: SuperStart weekend events for preteens (4th-6th grade), MIX four-day summer conferences for middle schoolers, MOVE five-day summer conferences for high schoolers, Engage international mission trips, and youth-minister-focused retreats (Wilderness and YMS). In 2025, these programs collectively delivered 100+ events across 58 cities and 7 countries, reaching 86,000+ people and recording 58,000+ faith decisions.

The technology surface supporting these programs includes event registration via the CampDoc platform, the Follow Through discipleship mobile app (launched 2023), the Convos small-group conversation app, the Beyond the Event podcast, and an in-house film/video production capability anchored by an 18,000-square-foot studio acquired from Good News Production International (GNPI) in 2022. Distribution is anchored by direct church partnerships (870+ churches participating in MOVE, 600+ in SuperStart, 450+ in MIX in 2025), venue host partnerships with Christian colleges (Hope, Wheaton, Biola), and a tiered College Partner sponsorship program (Basic free through Premium $10,000 annual) connecting Christian universities to student recruitment at MOVE events.

Revenue mechanics blend event registration fees, individual and church donations, the College Partner sponsorship program, Engage trip fees, and merchandise/digital resource sales through store.ciy.com. CIY is headquartered in Joplin, MO with a European regional office opened in Dublin, Ireland in 2018; leadership transitioned from Andy Hansen to Jayson French as President in 2019, with a VP-led operating team covering Culture, Experience, Content Creation, Story, Operations, and Business Strategies. As a Missouri-incorporated nonprofit, the organization has no external investors, no parent company, and no public financials.

Name

Christ In Youth

Legal name

Christ In Youth, Inc.

Website

https://ciy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Christ In Youth is a Joplin, Missouri-based nonprofit that designs and operates youth ministry events — including SuperStart, MIX, MOVE, Engage, and youth-minister retreats — on behalf of more than 870 partner churches, reaching 86,000+ students annually across the United States and Europe.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Ministry Event Services

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Faith-Based Education & Formation (Seminaries, Religious Schools, Catechesis) (BPAGAJAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Faith-Based & Mission Service Programs (EDAIAGAI), Ministerial Training Institutes (Clergy Formation) (EDAHAKAE), Leadership, Debate & Model UN Camps (EDAMALAK)

Keywords

• Youth ministry events
• Church event programs
• Discipleship resources
• Youth group conferences
• Faith-based mission trips

Headquarters

HQ city

Joplin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Churches pay registration fees for students attending CIY events (SuperStart, MIX, MOVE, Engage). Individual event pricing varies by program.
2. Donations and Charitable Giving: Individual and church donors support CIY's mission through general donations, designated giving for specific initiatives, and capacity expansion funding.
3. College Partner Program: Christian colleges and universities pay tiered sponsorship packages (Basic free to Premium $10,000) for recruitment access at MOVE events.
4. Store/Merchandise: Digital resources and merchandise sold through store.ciy.com including curriculum materials, promotional items, and resources for youth ministries.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Christ In Youth (CIY) operates turnkey youth ministry events and produces supporting digital resources for Christian churches. Core offerings include age-segmented event programs (SuperStart for preteens, MIX for middle schoolers, MOVE for high schoolers), cross-cultural mission trips via Engage, and youth minister retreats (Wilderness and YMS). Supplemental products include the Follow Through discipleship app, Convos small group app, the Beyond the Event podcast, and award-winning documentary films, all distributed through church partnerships and direct registration.

Product overview

Christ In Youth (CIY) is a faith-based youth ministry organization offering a portfolio of event programs, digital tools, and resources. The core offerings include SuperStart (preteen weekend events), MIX (middle school 4-day camps), MOVE (high school 5-day camps), Engage (international mission trips), Wilderness (youth minister retreats), and YMS (Youth Ministry Summit). Supporting the programs are digital products including the Follow Through App (free discipleship tool), Convos (small group conversation app), the Beyond the Event Podcast, and CIY Films (documentary series). CIY also operates a Summer Event Staff internship program and a College Ministry Partnership program. The organization hosts over 100 events annually serving over 86,000 people across the United States and internationally.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SuperStart: A high-energy weekend event for preteens (4th-6th grade) designed to help them grow in faith, build friendships, and understand their identity in Christ.
• MIX
• MOVE
• Engage
• Wilderness
• Youth Ministry Summit (YMS)
• Beyond the Event
• Convos
• Follow Through
• CIY Films

Products and services

• SuperStart A high-energy weekend event for preteens (4th-6th grade) designed to help students grow in faith, build friendships, and understand their identity in Christ. Held in winter/spring at multiple US locations.
• MIX A 4-day summer event for middle school students blending energetic fun and encountering God through programming, worship, and small groups.
• MOVE A 5-day summer event for high school students designed to help them know Jesus better, deepen their faith, and discover their role in God's Kingdom.
• Engage Cross-cultural mission trips for high school and college-age students to international locations including Spain, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Poland, Honduras, Ecuador, and the Dominican Republic.
• Wilderness A 5-day retreat in the Rocky Mountains for youth ministers to discuss life and ministry, spiritual disciplines, and listening to God's call.
• Youth Ministry Summit (YMS) A 3-day retreat on the beach (San Diego, CA) designed to help youth ministers reconnect with their passion for ministry through peer connections and practical ideas.
• Follow Through App A free mobile app that helps churches, mentors, and parents follow up with students after faith decisions through leader guides, progress tracking, and push notifications.
• Convos A mobile app providing curated conversations and scripts that empower students to lead meaningful small group faith discussions.
• Beyond the Event Podcast A youth ministry podcast presented by CIY to help maintain momentum between mountaintop experiences, featuring CIY staff and guest speakers.
• CIY Films Award-winning documentary film series (WRKR Series) portraying Kingdom Work stories addressing human trafficking, mental health, foster care, and persecution. Distributed on Vimeo and Amazon Prime.
• CIY Store Online e-commerce store offering downloadable media, curriculum, resources, and promotional materials for youth ministry.
• College Ministry Partnership Sponsorship program connecting Christian colleges and universities with MOVE events to recruit students considering higher education and ministry decisions. Tiered pricing from free Basic to $10,000 Premium.
• Summer Event Staff Internship Paid summer internship program for college-age students (19-25) who travel with CIY programs and help run events as staff.

Quantifiable outcome

• 86,000+ people served, 58,000+ life-changing decisions, 5,000+ vocational ministry decisions in 2025 alone
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• IberoAmerican Ministries (IAM)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2027Ministry partner for Ecuador mission trips. IAM provides coordination and local ministry context for CIY groups in San Jose, Ecuador.
• Team ExpansioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ministry partner for Engage Spain 2026 mission trip. Team Expansion provides local coordination and support for CIY mission groups serving in Granada, Spain.
• Revival In Our Town (RIOT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ministry partner for Northern Ireland RIOT mission trips. RIOT provides sports ministry outreach opportunities for CIY groups in Dundrum, Northern Ireland.
• Salt Factory SportscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ministry partner for Northern Ireland Salt Factory mission trips. Provides sports ministry context for CIY groups serving in Belfast, Northern Ireland.
• Proem MinistriescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ministry partner for Engage Poland 2026 mission trip. Provides local ministry coordination for CIY groups serving in Zakosciele, Poland.
• His EyescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Ministry partner for Honduras mission trips. Provides local ministry connections and support for CIY groups in Tegucigalpa, Honduras.
• El Circulo ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Local church partner for Dominican Republic mission trips. El Circulo Church hosts and coordinates CIY groups serving in Santo Domingo.
• CIY EuropecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026European office partner for Ireland MOVE (College-Age) trips. Coordinates mission experiences in Dublin, Ireland.
• Spring Canyon (Buena Vista, CO)coreOthers · 1 January 2026Venue host for CIY Wilderness retreats. Spring Canyon is a retreat facility in the Rocky Mountains used exclusively for the 5-day youth minister retreat.
• Catamaran Resort (San Diego, CA)coreOthers · 1 January 2026Official resort venue for Youth Ministry Summit. Room rate: $217/night + $15 resort fee. Located at 3999 Mission Blvd, San Diego, CA 92109.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Cru (Campus Crusade for Christ): Large interdenominational Christian ministry with global footprint focused on college students and spiritual formation. Comparable in faith-based mission, event and trip programming, content production, and donor-supported revenue model, though Cru is significantly larger and more international.

Direct peers

• Student Life: Faith-based organization producing youth ministry conferences and summer camps for church groups. Comparable in event-driven youth ministry model, church group registration model, and age-tiered programming (middle school and high school conferences).
• Adventures in Missions: Faith-based organization running short-term mission trips for youth, college-age students, and adults. Directly comparable to CIY's Engage program in mission-trip model, cross-cultural service offering, denomination-neutral evangelical base, and church-partnered recruitment.
• Young Life: Faith-based youth ministry organization running club programs, camps, and outreach events for adolescents across the US and internationally. Closely comparable in mission (calling youth to Christ), event-driven model, church partnership GTM, and multi-decade brand serving similar Christian denominations.
• WinShape Foundation: Faith-based organization operating summer camps (WinShape Camps) and college programs rooted in Christian formation for youth. Comparable in event-driven ministry model, summer-camp revenue structure, and emphasis on spiritual formation for young people.
• CentriKid (LifeWay): LifeWay-affiliated overnight summer camps for preteens and middle schoolers run through church groups. Comparable in faith-based summer camp product, church-partnership GTM, age segmentation (preteen and middle school focus), and registration-driven revenue model.
• Kanakuk Kamps: Network of Christian summer camps serving preteens through high schoolers with overnight camp experiences. Comparable as a faith-based youth event provider monetizing multi-day immersive programming, with similar age segmentation and family/church-driven customer acquisition.
• Youth for Christ USA: National faith-based organization running campus clubs, camps, and mission trips for adolescents. Comparable scope and model: church partnerships, event-driven ministry, multi-region presence, and pipeline into vocational ministry and missions.
• Fellowship of Christian Athletes: Faith-based nonprofit serving middle school, high school, and college athletes through camps, huddles, and events. Comparable youth audience, event-driven model, denominational reach, and use of high-energy programming to engage Christian teens.

Others

• DNow (Disciple Now): Weekend church-based youth retreat format commonly used by Southern Baptist churches for middle and high schoolers. Complementary rather than directly competing: many DNow weekends happen locally at host churches while CIY's MOVE/MIX operate as larger touring events, but both share the church-partnered youth ministry market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights8 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/playlist?list=PLGAPbblqUFO3Mx417wqfzfg3j8D7sHgkm
• Facebookfacebook.com/groups/ciycommunity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christ-in-youth

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Christ In Youth