Our History

In 1944 Billy Graham and Torrey Johnson held a Youth for Christ rally in Chicago. The ministry of YFC spread like wildfire across the US. As YFC was forming into an international organization, Portland was one of the founding chapters. The founding motto of YFC is as true today as is it was when it was coined "Anchored to the Rock and geared to the times." YFC has never veered from its commitment to bring the good news of Jesus Christ to lost and hurting young people. Portland has been a pioneer in ministry throughout its history. We were working with troubled teens before the national movement had embraced that kind of work. Now, in 2011 with 210,000 young people in the tri-county area, Portland YFC has a broad and diverse ministry across our community.