Spain

About Youth for Christ Spain

Youth for Christ began in Spain in 1948 right after the Beatenburg World Congress. It thrived on big rallies for several years but later fell on hard times due to lack of leadership. Mark and Stephanie Dodrill were married in 1977 and later went to Spain as missionaries in 1982. Later Mark took time out to get his Masters degree from Fuller Theological Seminary and then his doctorate from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. When they returned to Spain, they were the only staff left. But through much hard work as National Director the ministry began to thrive.

In Spain we mobilize leaders to reach youth for Christ and train other leaders to do the same. In 2019, we were in weekly contact with 270 youth of different ages in the variety of programs at three ministry sites. In addition, we operated eight weekend retreats and six summer camps. We reached another 130 leaders annually through a variety of leadership training activities, including our own biblical and theological seminary, government certified youth counselors’, activities directors’ training, and specific ministry skills training events in different areas of the country. In addition to this ministry in Spain, we have been pioneering work in Bulgaria which has an unusual model of youth teams who plant churches. More than 60 churches have been planted over the last decade through that work.

During COVID much of this direct ministry had to be converted to online formats, but it has really given us a vision for developing leadership training courses and curriculum material resources available in digital format both within Spain and around the entire Spanish-speaking world.

Youth for Christ is ministering to Spain’s youth through:

• camps
• concerts
• sports events
• leadership training
• publications