Who Is Discipling Teenagers Now? Ministries using parents, coaches, mentors, evangelism training, and digital resources to help teenagers build a faith meant to last.

At MinistryWatch, our mission is to help Christians become more faithful, generous, and effective stewards of the resources God has entrusted to them. It’s why we advocate for transparency, accountability, and efficiency in Christian ministries. Because of that, we cover a lot of stories we’d rather not have to — stories of waste, fraud, and abuse.

But that’s not the whole picture. This column exists to amplify ministries doing excellent work — to spotlight ministries making a difference in their own communities and around the world.

The United Nations observes International Youth Day on August 12. This year’s theme is “Different Contexts, Common Aspirations.” For churches and Christian ministries, one common concern is who (or what) is forming teenagers during years when beliefs, habits, and loyalties are taking shape.

This week’s Ministries Making a Difference looks at organizations approaching youth discipleship through parents, coaches, evangelism training, and long-term mentoring.

Axis

In its Parent’s Guide to 2026, Axis walks parents through the music, movies, gaming, slang, social habits, and other influences shaping teenagers this year. Axis produces The Culture Translator, Parent Guides, videos, podcasts, and Conversation Kits on subjects ranging from smartphones and sexuality to mental health and popular entertainment. Its weekly Culture Translator is designed to help adults understand what teenagers are encountering and then talk about those influences from a biblical worldview.

The ministry’s mission is to build lifelong faith “one conversation at a time,” placing parents and other caring adults in the discipleship role rather than replacing them. Axis has a 1-Star Financial Efficiency Rating, a C Transparency Grade, and a Donor Confidence Score of 40 in the MinistryWatch database.

Upward Sports

This summer, Upward Sports has been urging parents to move from spectators to participants in ministry. The South Carolina ministry partners with churches to run basketball, soccer, volleyball, flag football, baseball, softball, and other sports programs. Coaches receive practice plans that include devotions, giving adults repeated contact with players over a six- to 12-week season rather than a one-night outreach event.

Upward says it has supported more than 5,300 churches and 50,000 leagues, camps, and clinics since 1995, serving more than 7 million participants and their families. Upward Sports has an A Transparency Grade and a Donor Confidence Score of 80 in the MinistryWatch database.

 

Last month, high school students gathered in Colorado for Dare 2 Share’s Lead THE Cause intensive. The July 6-11 event sold out, with students spending the week praying for friends, learning to explain the Gospel, practicing spiritual conversations, and planning how to reach people back home.

Dare 2 Share trains youth leaders to make evangelism part of discipleship. Students are encouraged to pray for unreached friends, initiate Gospel conversations, and eventually help other believers do the same. The next Day of Global Youth Evangelism is scheduled for November 14, when participating churches will train and send teenagers into their own communities.

Dare 2 Share has a 2-Star Financial Efficiency Rating, an A Transparency Grade, and a Donor Confidence Score of 80 in the MinistryWatch database.

Youth for Christ

When a teenager named Ava arrived at a Youth for Christ (YFC) camp after a month-long inpatient stay, leaders knew little about her except a history marked by loss and instability. According to YFC, she became a Christian at camp and returned home wanting to connect with a local church and the ministry’s City Life program.

Youth for Christ USA has more than 140 chapters, staff and volunteers who meet teenagers on campuses, in neighborhoods, juvenile facilities, and other settings, and emphasizes sustained relationships rather than a single encounter. YFC’s latest impact report said 9,144 young people were engaged in ongoing discipleship during fiscal 2025, up 30% from the previous year, while 6,888 were connected to Christian fellowship.

Youth for Christ USA has a 3-Star Financial Efficiency Rating, an A Transparency Grade, and a Donor Confidence Score of 95 in the MinistryWatch database.

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