Our

Mission

Core

Approach

Beliefs

Mission

We call youth to Christ and into a life of Kingdom Work through His Church.

Core

Rooted in the Gospel.

Made for Kingdom Work.

Connected to the Church.

Approach

We tell compelling stories.

We create inspiring experiences.

We pay attention to details.

We steward what God gives.

We take care of our people.

Mission

We call youth to Christ and into a life of Kingdom Work through His Church.

Core

Rooted in the Gospel.

Made for Kingdom Work.

Connected to the Church.

Approach

We tell compelling stories.

We create inspiring experiences.

We pay attention to details.

We steward what God gives.

We take care of our people.

The Trinity

We believe in one God who eternally exists in three equal persons – Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth, who is infinite in power and wisdom, perfect in holiness, and overflowing with love and grace.

Hard to Place
Praying group image

1968

CIY founded by OCC professor Bob Stacy

Praying group image

1969

First CIY Summer Conference

1984

First National Youth Leaders Convention

Praying group image

1985

First youth mission trip to Haiti, CIY Missions is born

"I thought that God could do the impossible, so I never put a limit on it."

Bob Stacy

Founder of CIY

Praying group image

1990s

CIY Summer Conference expands across the United States

Praying group image

1997

CIY launches Jr. High weekend event Believe

1997

CIY creates the Discipleship program

Praying group image

2005

CIY launches SuperStart, the first nationally touring event for preteens

Praying group image

2008

Renewed vision and rebrand

Praying group image

2010

CIY Missions becomes CIY Engage

Praying group image

2011

CIY showcases its first feature-length documentary

Praying group image

2012

CIY launches middle school summer conference MIX

Praying group image

2018

CIY celebrates 50 years in ministry

Praying group image

2018

CIY opens a new office in Ireland

Praying group image

2019

Leadership change

2020

Kingdom Work Never Stops

Praying group image

2022

CIY has the biggest summer ever

Praying group image

2022

CIY purchases studio space from GNPI

Looking Forward

For decades, CIY has partnered with churches to call young people to Christ and into lives of Kingdom Work. And the work is just getting started. Through European expansion (more events coming soon) and an investment in emerging technology (how will VR and AI change youth ministry), CIY continues to explore ways to serve the Church.

1

2

9

0

0

1

6

2

8

9

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

0

Meet The Christ In Youth Team

Bio Coming Soon!

STAFF

  • All
  • Leadership
  • MOVE
  • MIX
  • SuperStart
  • Engage
  • Europe
  • Development
  • Church Relations
  • Content Creation
  • Production
  • Business Strategies
Alex Christian

Alex Christian

Production Launch Content Lead

Allison Kooser

Allison Kooser

Event Experience Professional

Amanda Hedger

Amanda Hedger

Accounts Payable Coordinator

Amy Penn

Amy Penn

Creative Programmer

Andy Funes

Andy Funes

Large Church Experience Professional

Andy Hansen

Andy Hansen

Senior Relationship Officer

Anna Phillips

Anna Phillips

Strategic Partnerships Officer

Ashley Bozarth

Ashley Bozarth

Event Experience Professional

Austin Marple

Austin Marple

Contracts & Logistics Manager

Avery Oldfield

Avery Oldfield

Event Experience Professional

Becky Birkholz

Becky Birkholz

Business Strategies Professional

Ben Hedger

Ben Hedger

Property Manager

Ben Platt

Ben Platt

Director of Business Strategies

Brad Warren

Brad Warren

Church Relations Manager

Brandon Unrein

Brandon Unrein

Production Administrator

Brian Sitton

Brian Sitton

Director of Digital Programming

Brittany Shoemake

Brittany Shoemake

Director of Engage

Caleb DeRoin

Caleb DeRoin

Director of MIX

Cam Levin

Cam Levin

Production Resident

Carmen Walker

Carmen Walker

Accountant

Carson Beck

Carson Beck

Warehouse Department Head

Chelsea Jones

Chelsea Jones

Event Experience Manager

Chloe Davenport

Chloe Davenport

Development Specialist

Claire Morrell

Claire Morrell

Youth Leader Experience Coordinator

Conner McKenzie

Conner McKenzie

Youth Minister Advocate

Curtis Sleme

Curtis Sleme

Production Lighting Department Lead

Diana Martin

Diana Martin

Production Operations, Logistics Lead

Ellen Smith

Ellen Smith

Head of Design

Eric Epperson

Eric Epperson

Vice President of Story

Gabriella Brownlee

Gabriella Brownlee

Youth Leader Experience Coordinator

Grant Nelson

Grant Nelson

Youth Leader Experience Coordinator

Haley Harris

Haley Harris

Event Experience Professional

Helen Warnock

Helen Warnock

Deputy Director of Europe

Jalen Romero

Jalen Romero

Digital Sales & Marketing Professional

Jason Dean

Jason Dean

IT Director

Jason Miller

Jason Miller

Senior Director of Production

Jasper Rutherford

Jasper Rutherford

European Director

Jayson French

Jayson French

President

Jeff Birkholz

Jeff Birkholz

Youth Minister Advocate

Jennifer Deardorff

Jennifer Deardorff

Vice President of Culture

Joel Yates

Joel Yates

Youth Minister Advocate

John Luzadder

John Luzadder

Vice President of Experience

Josh Klesner

Josh Klesner

Production Video Department Lead

Katelyn Adams

Katelyn Adams

Director of Digital Products

Kayden Woolever

Kayden Woolever

Youth Leader Experience Coordinator

Kevin Behnke

Kevin Behnke

Production Operations Team Lead

Kinzlea Smith

Kinzlea Smith

Youth Leader Experience Coordinator

Korey Klein

Korey Klein

Director of SuperStart

Lane Moss

Lane Moss

Director of MOVE

Lauren Bryan

Lauren Bryan

Creative Producer

Levi Greer

Levi Greer

Project Manager

Liz Morgan

Liz Morgan

Program Administrator

Logan Sperry

Logan Sperry

Church Relations Manager

Maddy Hay

Maddy Hay

Church Relations Project Manager

Madison Hoagland

Madison Hoagland

Social Media Coordinator

Madison Miller

Madison Miller

Summer Events Operations Professional

Mallory Jenkins

Mallory Jenkins

Creative Programmer

Mark Hand

Mark Hand

Vice President of Business Strategies

Martha Getz

Martha Getz

Event Experience Manager

Matt Foreman

Matt Foreman

Production Launch Team Lead

Matthew Harris

Matthew Harris

Graphic Designer

MD Neely

MD Neely

Film Team Lead

Michael Hester

Michael Hester

Production Audio Department Lead

Mike Smith

Mike Smith

Production Fabrication

Mikey Sackrider

Mikey Sackrider

Creative Programmer

Nate Karnes

Nate Karnes

Director of MOVE Programming

Padon Murdock

Padon Murdock

3D Designer

Patrick Snow

Patrick Snow

Vice President of Content Creation

Preston Stanley

Preston Stanley

Creative Programmer

Riley Mitchell

Riley Mitchell

Production Resident

Rob Watson

Rob Watson

Creative Programmer

Ryan Claborn

Ryan Claborn

Vice President of Operations

Shawna Miller

Shawna Miller

Event Planning Manager

Shayla Blair

Shayla Blair

Event Experience Professional

Sonja Tapper

Sonja Tapper

Development Manager

Sullivan Smith

Sullivan Smith

Creative Programmer - Recreation

Tatianna Tolliver

Tatianna Tolliver

Graphic Designer

Terry Ohmart

Terry Ohmart

Film Producer

Titus Weece

Titus Weece

Church Relations Director

Trevor Kaufman

Trevor Kaufman

Film Producer

Tyler Davison

Tyler Davison

Business Strategies Professional

Valen Pray

Valen Pray

Production Gear and Project Manager

Join The Team

  • Job Openings

    Filmmaker

    Full Time

    Salary + Benefits

    Joplin, MO

    Purpose: To collaborate with the Programming and Story teams of Christ In Youth to bring films to life.

    Learn More

    To apply, email your resume to ciyhr@ciy.com.

  • Job Openings

    Senior Development Officer

    Full Time

    Salary + Benefits

    Joplin, MO

    Purpose: To lead the strategy and execution of CIY’s fundraising efforts. SDO will primarily be tasked with creating a culture of philanthropy in CIY’s network through the development of relationships with donors, churches, and foundations.

    Learn More

    To apply, email your resume to ciyhr@ciy.com.

  • Internships

    CIY MIX

    Summer Event Staff

    internship

    paid

    Joplin, MO

    Some summer internships consist of making copies, getting coffee for the supervisors, and filing documents under fluorescent lights from 8-5. This is not one of those internships.

    Learn More

  • Internships

    CIY MIX Band

    Summer Event Staff

    internship

    paid

    Joplin, MO

    Some summer internships consist of making copies, getting coffee for the supervisors, and filing documents under fluorescent lights from 8-5. This is not one of those internships.

    Learn More

  • Internships

    CIY MOVE

    Summer Event Staff

    internship

    paid

    Joplin, MO

    Some summer internships consist of making copies, getting coffee for the supervisors, and filing documents under fluorescent lights from 8-5. This is not one of those internships.

    Learn More

  • Internships

    CIY Production

    Summer Event Staff

    internship

    paid

    Joplin, MO

    Our summer production teams are responsible for carrying out the vision of our programming team in a manner that is uniform across all tours.

    Learn More

  • Internships

    CIY SuperStart

    Event Staff

    internship

    paid

    Joplin, MO

    SuperStart could not happen without the servant hearts and giftedness of our Event Staff. They play a critical role in helping us accomplish our mission by planning, preparing, and facilitating SuperStart events.

    Staffing for the 2025 tour is full, check back later for information on 2026.