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GLOBAL CITIES 2025

I thank my God through Jesus Christ for ALL OF YOU, because your faith is being reported all over the world.

— Romans 1:8

Why Global Cities?

The Apostle Paul’s vision was to reach the great cities of the world such as Rome, Corinth, Ephesus, and Philippi. Much like in Paul’s day, modern-day cities are global influencers — hubs of diversity, commerce, politics, education, media, culture, fashion.

We believe that if we reach the city, we reach the world.

And should I not have concern for the great city of Ninevah, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tell their right hand from their left—and also many animals?

— Jonah 4:11

Our Vision:

To plant and grow Young Life in 25 of the largest and most influential cities in the world by 2025.

Launched in 2018, the Global Cities Initiative partners with cities based on:

1. Population: These cities are home to millions of people. Large and growing cities are where the kids are.

2. Diversity: Every tribe and nation is represented in these cities. We have the opportunity to preach the gospel to the whole world.

3. Influence: Impact those who are impacting others.

In summary, the Global Cities Initiative aims to bring TRAINING, RESOURCES, ACCOUNTABILITY, and CONNECTION to cities.

Global Cities Cohorts

200,632

Kids Known by Name

3,300 Volunteer Leaders

404 Ministries

Europe Cohort

• Amsterdam

• Berlin

• Brussels

• London

• Moscow

• Prague

• Warsaw

31,623

Kids at Club

19,524

Kids at Campaigners

Latin America

Cohort

• Bogotá

• Buenos Aires

• Lima

• Mexico City

Key

New Cohort City Existing Cohort City

APAC Cohort

• Bangkok

• Hong Kong

• Kathmandu

• Seoul

• Singapore

• Sydney

• Tokyo

Africa Cohort

• Accra

• Addis Ababa

• Cape Town

• Dar es Salaam

• Harare

• Lagos

• Kinshasa

• Nairobi

NEW Cities

• Accra

• Bangkok

• Brussels

• Kathmandu

• Lagos

• Singapore

• Sydney

Training Cohorts

Four Cohorts Launched

• Impacting 25 cities

• Annual in-person cohort meetings

• 12 since 2021

• 300+ total Zoom calls since March 2021

• 26% overall increase reported proficiency in vision casting and planning by cohort members

Global Cities by the Numbers

Numbers are based on data collected through the end of 2025

Developed Playbook

An online training resource that includes five modules with five to six sessions each:

• Vision and Strategic Planning

• Networking and Collaboration

• Leadership Development

• Resource Development

• Direct Ministry

• Translated to Spanish and working on French translation

COACHING CALLS

• 140 one-on-one coaching calls

• 27 city leaders receiving quarterly coaching from Global Cities staff

Created Accelerator Fund, 2021

• Investment fund to provide seed funding to major cities

• All grants must be matched and ministry milestones met to release funds

• $3.1M pledged, $3.0M received, $1.8M disbursed

What’s New?

James Tang APAC Global Cities Representative

James, has been the city director for Hong Kong for five years, building a robust team of quality staff, leaders and stakeholders. James has also been a part of our North America East and our Asia cohort for the last four years. He will focus his time and attention on three very important cities — Seoul, Singapore, and Hong Kong. He will walk alongside these city directors to help them start new ministry, recruit and train volunteers, and develop a strong local support base.

Global Cities Representatives 1

Our Global Cities Representatives support the efforts of training, coaching, supporting, and resourcing of city leaders in our cohorts. We are happy to introduce two new representatives.

Mandlenkosi “Power” Ndlovu Africa Global Cities Representative

Power has been a part of the Africa cohort for close to three years. He has developed the work in Harare, Zimbabwe, growing it from zero clubs 11 years ago, to now over 60. Last year he formed one of the first and now most successful Action Teams (committees) in Africa for the city of Harare. Together, they are taking seriously the task of networking their city and raising funds locally.

Major Cities

Vision:

Major Cities aims to create growing and sustainable ministries in major U.S. cities that accelerate and drive optimization, innovation, and collaboration for the sake of reaching kids in the largest and most influential cities in the United States.

Global Cities and Major Cities Partnership: New York City and Los Angeles were given special attention when the Global Cities Initiative launched in 2018. Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Chicago were added in 2021 when the first wave of cohorts were created. Four of these cities will now serve as anchor locations for our first wave of the U.S. Major Cities Initiative. Young Life Global

Cities has begun the process of transferring resources and relationships so that we may launch strong and effectively with a solid proof of concept focused on developing communities of practice, equipping dedicated trainers, and accelerating growth through multiple resources.

Global Cities Mission

# OF CITIES

(Kids Known by Name)

Global Cities Leaders

Europe Cohort

Peter Brown

London, England

Tilli Linz Berlin, Germany

Veronika Romanik Warsaw, Poland

Glenn Cook Toronto, Canada

Allie Forsterer Prague, Czech Republic

Dylan Pierquin Brussels, Belgium

Rob Van Mourik Amsterdam/Rotterdam

APAC Cohort

James Tang Hong Kong

Edwin Sng Singapore

Michael Cruz Sydney, Australia

Chaowalit (Heart) Vechprasit Bangkok, Thailand

Paul Lama

Kathmandu, Nepal

Tae Kim

Seoul, South Korea

Karene Luk Hong Kong

Africa Cohort

Mandlenkosi (Power) Ndlovu Zimbabwe North/Harare

John-Murray Orr Harare, Zimbabwe

Jerome Byamungu Kinshasha, Congo

Natinael (Nati) Girma Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Nosiphiwo (Chleo) Mpetshwa Hlati Cape Town, S. Africa

Sintayehu Desalegn Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Lewin Butali Nairobi, Kenya

Stephen John Lagos, Nigeria

Stephen Dushie Accra, Ghana

LAC Cohort

Jorge Rojas Lima, Peru

Daniel Barrios Bogota, Colombia

Jes Arellano Mexico City, Mexico

Ashley Butler Mexico City, Mexico

Jony Hauros Buenos Aires, Argentina

Bladimir Velázquez Buenos Aires, Argentina

How We Measure Impact

Kids Known by Name

This number represents every kid a Young Life leader knows. Every kid in the world deserves to be loved and known.

Club

Teens who attend weekly events in their area where a Young Life leader shares the gospel. Club is known as “organized chaos,” full of music, laughter, games, and most importantly, a message about who Jesus is.

Camp

Teens who attend Young Life camp experience the tangible love of God through a camp that was created just for them. They share this experience with their Young Life leaders who then return back home with them as they continue in their journey of faith.

Campaigners

Teens who study the Bible in smaller groups and intentionally learn what it means to walk with Jesus.

Volunteers

Young adults who devote their time, energy, and resources to meet kids where they are. Volunteers are Christ’s love on full display.

Staff

People who have chosen to work either part time or full time in the ministry of Young Life. Young Life staff walk through life with kids, train their volunteers, are intentional with their donors, and love parents in their community well.

Latin America Cohort

• BOGOTÁ • BUENOS AIRES

• LIMA • MEXICO CITY

Impact Numbers by Cohort

KKBN

(Kids Known by Name)

CLUB CAMPAIGNERS CAMP VOLUNTEERS

CITY SPOTLIGHT

Mexico City (CDMX)

Mexico City is one of the most influential hubs in Latin America — shaping not only Mexico, but the entire region and hemisphere. The city is divided into 16 districts, and Young Life’s presence has expanded to reach six of them. By the end of 2026, we anticipate knowing more than 1,000 kids by name. Under the leadership of our passionate staff, Jess and Ashley, the volunteer base continues to grow as local leaders take ownership of the mission in their own communities across the city.

The CDMX team knows by name and remains in contact with more than 860 young people in Mexico City. Almost 100 of those kids attended camp this year!

Districts

The vision of Young Life CDMX is to share the Gospel in all 16 districts of Mexico City, raise up 16 coordinating leaders, and reach 1,600 kids known by name by the end of 2026. 7 Action Team Members

Action Team members play a vital role by contributing through prayer, ideas, fundraising, networking, encouragement, advice, and hands-on service in a variety of activities. Just a few months ago, the CDMX Action Team members and other involved adults came together as “ambassadors” to help plan and lead a citywide networking event. These leaders are shaping the kind of missional community that is essential to Young Life.

Europe Cohort

• BERLIN • BRUSSELS

• LONDON • MOSCOW

•

PRAGUE

• TORONTO • WARSAW

Impact Numbers by Cohort

KKBN

(Kids Known by Name)

CLUB

CAMPAIGNERS

CAMP VOLUNTEERS

CITY SPOTLIGHT

London

With a population of more than 9.6 million people, London stands as the ultimate global city — a place where over 300 languages are spoken and cultures from around the world converge. As a center that connects people, ideas, and economies across continents, London’s influence reaches far beyond its borders. It leads in finance and politics while thriving in culture, education, and innovation, shaping global trends and remaining deeply diverse and dynamic. Young Life London continues to build and sustain excellent, healthy ministries that are transforming the lives of thousands of young people across every borough of the city.

537

Kids Known by Name

In under five years, Young Life London has grown from a brand-new ministry with no kids known by name to, by 2025, more than 537 kids personally known, loved, and cared for by Young Life leaders and staff.

73 Campers

Over the past year, the number of kids attending London’s Young Life camps doubled! These young people experienced God’s faithfulness in ways that were both real and relevant to their everyday lives.

13 Committee Members

Young Life committee members are dedicated volunteers who give their time, connections, resources, and financial support to help the ministry thrive. We’re deeply grateful for each person contributing to the growth and success of Young Life London.

10%

Youth

Out of London’s vast population, around 10% are young people — nearly 1.5 million youth living in the city. This is one of the reasons London became one of the first cities in the Young Life Global Cities initiative. The young people of London are uniquely positioned to be globally connected, shaping their generation and those to come.

APAC Cohort

• BANGKOK • HONG KONG

• KATHMANDU • SEOUL

•

SINGAPORE

•

SYDNEY

Impact Numbers by Cohort

KKBN

(Kids Known by Name)

CLUB CAMPAIGNERS

CAMP VOLUNTEERS

CITY SPOTLIGHT

Hong Kong

Hong Kong — about 1.4 times the size of New York City — is alive with vibrant ministry activity, from contact work and clubs to Campaigners and camps. Young Life here is strengthened by a generous donor base and strong partnerships with local churches and nonprofits. The team is passionate, well-connected, and deeply invested in the community, allowing them to maintain a wide-reaching and meaningful presence across the city. With a strong reputation and a collaborative approach, the ministry continues to thrive in Hong Kong’s dynamic environment.

78+

This summer, YoungLives Hong Kong hosted a powerful camp for single moms. More than 50 volunteers came together to serve 13 moms and 15 kids, creating a space filled with laughter, community, and the love of Christ.

Deep partnerships with local churches are at the heart of Young Life Hong Kong’s sustainability. This year, leaders from 17 different churches joined camp, pouring into students and strengthening the ministry’s reach.

At summer camp, Young Life holds a special moment called “Say-So” — a time when kids can respond to the gospel. This year, 16 students, each at different points in their faith journey, said “yes” to Christ and made new commitments to follow him.

90%

Of the kids known by name in Young Life Hong Kong, over 90% of them attend club weekly to experience the love of Christ through the unique fun of Young Life. Never bore a kid with the gospel!

Africa Cohort

• ADDIS ABABA • CAPE

TOWN

• DAR ES SALAAM • HARARE

• KINSHASA • NAIROBI

Impact Numbers by Cohort KKBN

(Kids Known by Name)

CAMPAIGNERS VOLUNTEERS

CITY SPOTLIGHT

CAMPAIGNERS

Cape Town

Cape Town stands as one of Africa’s most influential and prosperous cities, recognized not only for its cultural and financial impact on the continent but also for its complex history of racial division and persistent economic inequality. Since launching in 2022, Young Life has been actively building meaningful relationships with teens and community members across the city. Today, a dynamic and growing team of staff and leaders is carrying forward a bold vision to reach and empower young people throughout Cape Town.

2021 2022 2023 2024 2025

22 Ministries

In just three years, Cape Town has grown from two to 22 open ministries. Today, these ministries reach more than 400 kids each week through club.

2X Volunteer Growth

Over the last two years, the number of volunteers in Cape Town has more than doubled, with leaders now impacting over 1,500 kids. These faithful men and women, from all walks of life, are united in their commitment to sharing the gospel with middle and high school students.

100 Campers

This past summer, Cape Town hosted a Campaigners camp with 100 kids. Cleo, Cape Town’s area director, shared that it was an unforgettable experience — filled with energy, enthusiasm, and genuine connections.

171 Campaigners

Each week, an average of 171 kids participate in Campaigners groups across the city. This ministry plays a vital role in helping young people grow in their personal faith and spiritual journey.

Thank You!

Dear friends,

This has been an amazing year. We have seen the spin off of our work in the U.S. to the Major City Initiative, led by Paul Coty and Mark Statema. They have formed two new cohorts comprised of 11 U.S. cities, mostly ones that have not been in a cohort previous to this.

We have added cities in Asia. Places like Singapore, Bangkok, Sydney, Kathmandu, along with Hong Kong and Seoul are all now a part of the Asia cohort.

We recently added Lagos, Nigeria, and Accra, Ghana in West Africa to our Africa cohort.

We have laid the ground work for new cities like Sau Paulo in Brazil as well as Paris, Rome, and Amsterdam in Europe.

We have had rich, inspiring times, filled with joy and laughter with each of these cohorts as we gathered throughout the year on Zoom and in-person. As we made visits to each of these cities over the course of the year, we spoke of you and those who support us.

This doesn’t happen without you. Thank you. You are indeed “partners with us in the Gospel” in every way, and your gifts, as Paul says to the Philippians, are a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”

(Philippians 4:18)

Thank you again for your prayers and support. It makes such a difference!

In Christ,

John Wagner