The application deadline is May 15, 2026
If you have a heart for ministry and want to team up with other young people to reach the children in your community, then CYIA is for you!
Just think, this summer you can:
- Gain experience for ministry in your own local church, school or future vocation
- Reach the children of Montana with the Gospel
- See your faith and vision grow deeper
- Build new friendships that will last a lifetime
- Grow in communication, teamwork, endurance, responsibility, and self-confidence
Christian Youth in Action® (CYIA™) begins with a two-week-long discipleship and ministry-focused training that prepares teens for a summer full of ministry to Montana’s children.
CYIA training will take place at Heritage Christian School in Bozeman, MT on June 14-27, 2026.
CYIA is for teens between the ages of 12 – 17.
(You must turn 12 by January 1, 2026 to attend.)
The registration fee to attend CYIA is $350. This goes towards paying for your ministry kit & team t-shirts that you’ll use during summer ministry, and your room and board for the two weeks of ministry training. This is due at the beginning of CYIA training. We know that covering this cost can seem overwhelming, but we’ve never had a teen who wanted to attend CYIA be unable to come because of the cost. For this reason, CEF of Montana offers several resources to help teens raise the funds needed to cover their registration fees. For more information and help, we encourage you to reach out to office@cefofmontana.com
CYIA training prepares teens, who attend, to teach and lead 3-day VBS(s) across the state of Montana. If you decide to attend CYIA, you will be asked to choose 4 weeks, where you commit to being a part of a CEF of Montana team that will put on a VBS. CEF of Montana partners with local churches to put on these VBS programs during the weeks of June 28-July 30, 2026.
A typical week leading a VBS begins on the Sunday before the VBS begins.This is when the team travels to the location that the VBS is being held and meets with the church volunteers. (Every person over the age of 18 from the church who participates in the VBS is background checked by CEF of Montana. For more information on how we protect teens during a VBS please email office@cefofmontana.com). After the VBS concludes on Wednesday evening, you and your team will return home. If the location of the VBS is further away, your team may return home on Thursday morning.
CYIA concludes at the Billings Fair (August 7-15, 2026), where CEF of Montana shares the gospel through face painting with thousands of children. Teens are encouraged to sign up for a shift at the fair—more information will be available in May 2026.
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