Our Mission

Youth In Motion is a Christ-centered nonprofit ministry dedicated to blessing children and families in the St. Louis Metropolitan Area with opportunities to attend sporting events, performing arts, and educational experiences. Since our beginning in 2017, our desire has been to reflect the love of Jesus by opening doors for youth who might not otherwise have access to these enriching activities.

We believe that God created rest, joy, family, and community as gifts, and that healthy leisure activities can strengthen a child’s physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being. Through the kindness of our partners and supporters, we provide high-quality events that help youth step away from social media, video games, and isolating environments so they can engage in real-world experiences that inspire, uplift, and build them up in Christ.

Youth In Motion seeks to glorify God by:

• Building family unity as families share meaningful experiences together
• Strengthening self-esteem and reminding children that they matter to God
• Reducing stress through the gift of fun, joy, and positive community engagement
• Promoting cultural diversity and healthy connection in the body of Christ and the community
• Encouraging new friendships and supportive relationships
• Creating lifelong memories that affirm God’s goodness and faithfulness

Rooted in the belief that every child is made in the image of God and deserves opportunities to grow and flourish, Youth In Motion was born out of a vision to bring the community together and offer hope, care, and Christ-like compassion to underserved youth.

We serve children and families who qualify for Missouri state health insurance programs such as UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, Medicaid, or Home State Health. Youth In Motion is a 100% public charity, fully independent, and audited annually.

Our prayer is simple: that every experience provided through Youth In Motion would plant seeds of joy, hope, and faith—helping each child step into the abundant life that Christ has made possible (John 10:10).

Why We Do This

Youth In Motion exists because every child is precious to God, created in His image, and deserving of opportunities to grow, laugh, belong, and experience joy. Our passion is to serve youth who face significant challenges—physically, emotionally, and spiritually—by connecting them with uplifting experiences throughout the community.

Many of the children we serve face daily or weekly crises such as poverty, single-parent households, substance abuse in the home, poor nutrition, sleep deprivation, or mental and physical health struggles. Some have experienced trauma—whether physical, emotional, or sexual abuse—and have been referred to state agencies for support. These hardships often leave children feeling isolated, insecure, and unsure of where they fit in the world.

Because of these experiences, many of our youth struggle with:

• Lack of trust
• Low self-confidence
• Poor social skills
• Difficulty forming friendships
• Feelings of not belonging

But God specializes in restoring what is broken (Psalm 147:3), and Youth In Motion seeks to be an instrument of His healing and hope.

Through community-based leisure activities, we introduce children to spaces where they can experience joy, connection, safety, and positive role models—often for the first time.

And it works.

After attending at least five events through Youth In Motion, our recent study shows:

• 76% report doing better in social situations
• 70% report engaging in more meaningful activities
• 83% say they now have people to do enjoyable things with
• 77% feel a stronger sense of belonging in their community
• 77% are more excited about life and the activities they participate in

These numbers represent real lives being transformed through the simple, God-given gift of joy and connection.

Research supports what Scripture teaches—that God uses joy, community, and meaningful experiences to strengthen people. According to Caldwell (2010), “there is empirical evidence that leisure activities can contribute to physical, social, emotional and cognitive health through prevention, coping, and transcendence.” God designed us to thrive through healthy rest, fellowship, and recreation.

Youth In Motion is a Christ-centered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving disadvantaged youth and families in St. Charles County and the surrounding areas. Our calling is to bring hope, dignity, and opportunity to children who need to be reminded that they matter to God and they matter to us.

Please support us via Venmo — @YouthInMotionSTL using this link