Among our nation’s youth are some 300,000 American teenagers, the sons and daughters of our armed forces career professionals, scattered among overseas bases and installations in the U.S.
Military teens are frequently uprooted from familiar settings and replanted in a foreign country with language, culture and customs they don’t understand. When “dad” or “mom” is called to places such as Iraq or Afghanistan, they must leave their family for a time, creating in effect, single parent homes. It is estimated that less than 2% of military teens are exposed to anything having to do with God in any given week.
Obviously, there is a great need to reach these young people, to build meaningful relationships with them and to communicate the love of Jesus Christ in understandable terms. That is the purpose of Military Community Youth Ministries (MCYM).
MCYM combines the efforts of Young Life and Youth for Christ to reach teens of U.S. military personnel around the world. Club Beyond“ is the name used by MCYM to identify its ministry with military teens worldwide. Club Beyond“ is sponsored by military chaplains as a part of the overall Command Religious Program at a military installation. In addition, to weekly Club meetings, Club Beyond“ also has retreats, special activity nights, lock-ins, ski trips, summer camps, work service projects and Bible Studies. MCYM staff seek to meet teens where they’re at, offer them support, encouragement and celebrate life with them.