Youth for Christ movement comes to Clear Lake

(Above) Kevin Hook (right) has been named the Clear Lake campus director.  Pictured with Hook is NIYFC Executive Director Derek Jacobson.  -Reporter photo

The Youth for Christ movement in North Iowa will soon have an active Clear Lake chapter.

Kevin Hook has been named as Clear Lake campus life (middle and high school) director for the organization, which traces its roots to 1944 and Billy Graham.  North Iowa Youth for Christ, based in Mason City, was established in 1987 by a group of parents and church leaders concerned about local teens. Since then, NIYFC has worked with thousands of young people from communities across 10 counties in North Iowa.

Hook is one of those teens who was drawn into the program as a teen living in Mason City.

“Through Youth for Christ I found those who cared and invested in my life,” said Hook.  “It has truly made a difference in my life.”

Hook, along with NIYFC Executive Director Derek Jacobson, stress that the program’s primary mission is to meet kids outside the walls of a church, with the goal of helping them find a church home with the blessing of their parents.

““We do a lot of programs, but programs are not the focus,” continued Hook.  “It’s more about relationship building. We are trying to line-up positive adult mentors to provide authentic relationships with kids.”

Those interested in Youth for Christ will gather weekly for a “club” meeting.  The meeting is open to all and is topical in nature.

Adult volunteers with the organization are also committed to spending time with students outside the club setting, perhaps at a sporting event, or over coffee.

Hook attributes the YFC movement for making a difference in his life and he is excited to share the message with others, who like him were in need of positive adult contact in their teens.  Jacobson was leading the YFC effort in Mason City when Hook was a high school freshman and gave the organization a chance.  After high school, he attended Bible college in Minneapolis, earning a degree in youth development.  He sees the chance to return home to North Iowa and become involved with YFC here as coming full circle.

And for Jacobson, the opportunity to bring Hook into the organization is a blessing.  It created the perfect opportunity to

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stablish a Clear Lake presence.

Clear Creek Elementary School Principal Sally Duesenberg and local business woman Jan Lovell were already familiar with the YFC program and had been encouraging Jacobson to bring the program here.  Lovell and her husband, Tom, are even providing the organization with space at CL Tel to base their early efforts.

“Kids have so many pressures these days.  Because of its focus on developing healthy and caring relationships, YFC can provide a light of hope for young people to make positive choices,” said Jan Lovell.  “Sally, who has done so much for children all of her adult life, and I attended a YFC fundraiser and it became clear that YFC needed to be in Clear Lake, as well.  With YFC’s leadership and the collaboration of churches, individuals, schools, businesses and others, we’re all so grateful that it will be making that positive difference.”

“Students need adults who care in their lives and studies show that those who do have a greater chance for success,” said Jacobson.

Duesenberg said she first learned about Youth for Christ when invited by the Lovells to attend a YFC Comedy Cafe’ at NIACC two years ago.

“ Jan and I were especially touched by the students who shared the impact YFC had on them,” said said.  “YFC gave them a support system and relationships with other students who could help them make positive connections and choices for themselves. As I listened, I thought about our kids and families in Clear Lake and the needs in our own community.  YFC is about building relationships with kids.   We are excited to see that nearly one and one-half years YFC is getting closer to launching in Clear Lake.”

Hook began his new position in August and in addition to raising funds for the program and making volunteer contacts, he has been volunteering his time in Clear Lake schools, using his musical background to help in the middle school music program, along with volunteering in the lunchroom as a monitor.

“I’ve just been trying to get to know some of the kids and meet school administrators.  We are all doing our best to serve students in whatever ways we can,” said Hook.

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