Every young person matters deeply to God

Redditch Youth for Christ was set up in 2021 by a group of Christians from across a number of churches in Redditch following the tragic deaths of two young men in the town. Ron Skelton felt called to set up a local YFC charity: Redditch Youth for Christ.

Ron Skelton, Paul Nash and Magnus Proctor worked together with local Church leaders to make the idea of RYFC become a reality.

The first Chairman of RYFC was Rev. Richard Clark, the then Vicar of St Philips Webheath. It was founded on prayer with the aim to bring the Gospel to the Young People of Redditch and to live out the motto of Redditch : Reddite Deo - Redditch for God. Rev Clark, Trustees and other believers held monthly prayer walks across the town, often starting or finishing at St Stephen’s/ Headless Cross/ Webheath.

The first Chairman of RYFC was Rev. Richard Clark, the then Vicar of St Philips Webheath. It was founded on prayer with the aim to bring the Gospel to the Young People of Redditch and to live out the motto of Redditch : Reddite Deo - Redditch for God. Rev Clark, Trustees and other believers held monthly prayer walks across the town, often starting or finishing at St Stephen’s/ Headless Cross/ Webheath.

To start with RYFC was a Trustee driven organisation. We organised a number of well attended meetings including outdoor evangelistic campaigns. The first meeting was outdoors, on a hot day in September 2021. It was held on the Orchard/Green at Headless Cross close to where the tragic murder occurred. During this first event, Pastor Derrick Morlan spoke on James 4.14. ‘You know not what shall happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.’

At the end of the service a number of young people made professions of faith. Praise God!

We appointed our first RYFC Centre Director Joe Bevan in 2022 who moved into Redditch with his wife Sophie. Joe’s commissioning service, by the YFC Director, was held at St Stephen’s.

Joe made a significant impact with the Gospel- many people of all ages made professions of faith. Joe was the catalyst for rapid Church growth particularly at the Salvation Army in the Town and the Methodist Church in Churchill. We had some excellent outreach and outdoor mission events. The Sunday afternoon service was a particular feature of RYFC. It was a focus point for young people and on occasions we had up to 70 in attendance.

The funding for the Centre Director was a struggle.  However we did experience amazing answers to prayer. When we were struggling financially we called a meeting to pray for the money to pay Joe’s salary and a cheque for just that amount was received by the end of the meeting.

It was with heavy hearts that Joe left RYFC in 2024. He pursued other ministries and is now leading a successful ministry at Studley Baptist Church and is training to become a Baptist Minister. Joe remains steadfast for the Gospel and can be found continuing the work he started with RYFC, conducting prayer walks in Redditch Town Centre (often outside St Stephen’s) and holding impromptu Gospel Meetings in Greg’s shop. On occasions whole families have come to faith in Greg’s and then have been baptised. Praise the Lord!

In 2025 we move into a new era of RYFC as we formally partner with Rev Dr Fraser Oats the Vicar and Renewal leader of St Stephens. In a short time Fraser has brought a sense of renewal and energy to RYFC.

We are excited by how God is moving in Redditch and long to see lives transformed. Thanks be to God! Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 3.6: "I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase."