About Us
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OUR PURPOSE
We are a voluntary and organic movement of YMCA leaders, staff and volunteers, dedicated to preserving, fostering, and advancing the Christian Purpose of the YMCA movement at the local, regional, national, and international level.
OUR PRACTICE
We empower, encourage, and equip YMCA staff and volunteers to fulfill our Christian Purpose by developing strategies that influence the movement through literature, conferences, workshops, and networking.
OUR PRINCIPLES
We believe God loves all people
We believe in Jesus Christ and His Teachings
We believe in the Bible
Letter from the Executive Director
The Young Men’s Christian Association has a rich heritage and storied history that has prevailed through the decades. Along with 11 of his peers, George Williams, a young dry goods clerk set into motion that which Mission Focus endeavors to continue, with the same Christ centered foundation, well into the 21st century. Our YMCA forefathers dared to dream, dared to trust God, and dared to risk being used by the Holy Spirit. They formed a movement that impacts 124 countries and touches over 45 million YMCA members around the world annually. Should we not desire to be counted amongst the ranks of the faithful, dare to dream of life change for men, women, boys and girls, and in the process honor the cross as YMCA professionals and volunteers?
We, Mission Focus, choose to join the ranks of thousands of men and women who faithfully served Christ through the YMCA as well as those who remain true to the Mission Statement crafted at the first World Conference in Paris in 1855. The statement known as the Paris Basis was once again reaffirmed by the 6th World Council of YMCA’s in 1973:
Paris Basis
“The Young Men’s Christian Associations seek to unite those young men who, regarding Jesus Christ as their God and Savior, according to the Holy Scriptures, desire to be his disciples in their faith and in their life, and to associate their efforts for the extension of his Kingdom amongst young men.”
“Any differences of opinion on other subjects, however important in themselves, shall not interfere with the harmonious relations of the Constituent Members and Associates of the World Alliance.”
Countless YMCA staff and volunteers remain dedicated to our Christian core and as recently as 1998 the World Council of YMCA’s once again reaffirmed that stance:
Challenge 21
“Whilst the Paris Basis remains the foundation statement of the mission of the YMCA, ‘Challenge 21’ is its 21st century expression. ‘Challenge 21’ commits YMCAs to take up challenges that are socially relevant for the 21st century.
Affirming the Paris Basis adopted in 1855 as the ongoing foundation statement of the mission of the YMCA, at the threshold of the third millennium we declare that the YMCA is a world-wide Christian, ecumenical, voluntary movement for women and men with special emphasis on and the genuine involvement of young people and that it seeks to share the Christian ideal of building a human community of justice with love, peace and reconciliation for the fullness of life for all creation.” (Adopted at the 14th World Council of YMCAs, Frechen, Germany, 1998)
The YMCA is alive, active, and able to lead. We have opportunity today, just as our predecessors did in their era, to testify to Christ’s life changing message of love and model His teachings through gracious acts of kindness and mercy. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20) still calls out for those who desire to serve their neighbor. Our current Purpose, as set forth in Article 1, Section 2 of the National Constitution of the YMCA of the USA, affirms this reality:
“The Young Men’s Christian Association we regard in its essential genius a worldwide fellowship united by a common loyalty to Jesus Christ for the purpose of developing a Christian personality and building a Christian society.” (Constitution of the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America, Page 2, Purpose)
Additionally, our National Constitution sets forth as our second of eight stated Goals that we, as YMCA staff and volunteers, endeavor:
“To develop a faith for daily living based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ, that they may thereby be helped in achieving their highest potential as children of God.” (Constitution of the National Council of Young Men’s Christian Associations of the United States of America, Page 1, Goals)
A common loyalty to Jesus Christ, the purpose of developing a Christian personality, and a faith for daily living based upon the teachings of Jesus Christ – an eternal high calling worthy of our utmost attention.
As we look at the precedence set forth by those who have gone before us and observe the work of our peers around the world, our work becomes more than a neighborhood effort, but an opportunity to bring hope to the masses – one person at a time.
Our time is now, our possibility great, and our capacity global. Through mission based trainings, workshops, retreats, partnerships, supporting YMCA of the USA and the World Alliance of YMCA’s, Mission Focus calls you to join with the thousands of staff and volunteers across the United States, and around the world, to preserve the heritage of the YMCA begun in 1844.
Humbly,
Jay W. Lippy
Executive Director
Mission Focus