Dynamic Youth Ministries 
The information in this column was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 9/27/2021. To update the information in this column, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
Summary
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Dynamic Youth Ministries ("DYM") is an organization that brings children and youth into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. Out of DYM flows the following ministries:
- Calvinist Cadet Corps
Providing Christian men with a structure, program, and materials that are uniquely designed to help boys grow spiritually in all areas of life--devotional, mental, and social.
- GEMS Girls' Clubs
A mid-week club program designed to bring girls into a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Partnering with churches, GEMS Girls' Clubs provides the program, curriculum, training, and supplies necessary to help women in the church be successful at: leading girls to make a decision for Christ, mentoring girls, and helping girls grow in Christian character and their service to the Lord.
- The Esther School
The Esther School is a Christian day school in an underserved region of Zambia. Opened in the fall of 2012, the school equips children to serve God, their families, and their communities to their fullest potential.
- Thereforego Ministries
ThereforeGo Ministries helps churches challenge youth and emerging adults to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and transform this world for Him.
Contact information
Mailing address:
Dynamic Youth Ministries
1333 Alger SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49507
Website: www.dynamicyouthministries.org
Phone: (616) 241-5616
Email: gordon@dynamicyouthministries.org
Organization details
EIN: 381367098
CEO/President: Rick Zomer
Chairman: Brian Bierenga
Board size: 10
Founder:
Ruling year: 1949
Tax deductible: Yes
Fiscal year end: 02/28
Member of ECFA: Yes
Member of ECFA since: 2000
Purpose
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Dynamic Youth Ministries ("DYM") is an organization that brings children and youth into a dynamic relationship with Jesus Christ. Out of DYM flows the following ministries:
- Calvinist Cadet Corps
Providing Christian men with a structure, program, and materials that are uniquely designed to help boys grow spiritually in all areas of life--devotional, mental, and social.
- GEMS Girls' Clubs
A mid-week club program designed to bring girls into a living relationship with Jesus Christ. Partnering with churches, GEMS Girls' Clubs provides the program, curriculum, training, and supplies necessary to help women in the church be successful at: leading girls to make a decision for Christ, mentoring girls, and helping girls grow in Christian character and their service to the Lord.
- Youth Unlimited Helping churches challenge youth to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and transform their world for Him.
Mission statement
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GEMS Girl Club uses the following to express its mission:
- In partnership with churches, to teach girls about the Savior and to model a dynamic faith walk for them.
- To provide biblically based, culturally relevant, age appropriate curriculum for girls in first through eighth/ninth grades.
- To train and encourage women to serve as effective club leaders to all girls.
- To promote the organization and growth of clubs internationally.
Youth Unlimited uses the following to express its mission:
Youth Unlimited is a Christ-centered youth ministry that supports over 500 churches across the United States and Canada. Our mission commits us to assist youth ministry efforts in the local church to effectively reach junior high (early teen) and senior high youth with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
To equip churches to help bring girls into a living, growing relationship with Jesus Christ.
The methodology used to fulfill our mission includes:
Statement of faith
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GEMS Girl Club uses the following to express its Statement of Faith:
- We believe the Bible to be the infallibly inspired Word of God.
- We believe in one God, eternally existing in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Genesis 1:1,2; John 1:1-5,14).
- We believe that God created all things from nothing. He created men and women in His image and without sin (Genesis 1:27).
- We believe that man rebelled against God and sinned. Therefore all humans are sinners (Romans 3:23)
- We believe that Jesus Christ was begotten by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, and is truly God and truly man (Luke 1:35).
- We believe that Jesus died on a cross to pay the price of our sins. Those who accept Him as Savior are justified by His blood (Isaiah 53:5 and Romans 5:8,9).
- We believe that Jesus arose bodily from the grave and returned to heaven where He is our High Priest (1 Corinthians 15:3,4; Hebrews 4:14-16).
- We believe that the Holy Spirit bestows the gift of faith whereby mankind is born again in Christ and becomes a child of God (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:16,17).
- We believe that the Holy Spirit abides with and comforts us until Christ's return (John 14:16).
- We believe that when Jesus returns from heaven all will be raised - those who believe will have eternal life in Him; those who do not believe will be eternally condemned (John 5:28,29).
Transparency grade
A
To understand our transparency grade, click here.
Financial efficiency ratings
Sector: Evangelism
| Category | Rating | Overall rank | Sector rank |
| Overall efficiency rating | | 280 of 999 | 11 of 45 |
| Fund acquisition rating | | 272 of 1001 | 12 of 45 |
| Resource allocation rating | | 407 of 1001 | 15 of 45 |
| Asset utilization rating | | 472 of 999 | 19 of 45 |
Financial ratios
| Funding ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Return on fundraising efforts Return on fundraising efforts = Fundraising expense / Total contributions | 6% | 1% | 2% | 2% | 2% | 2% |
Fundraising cost ratio Fundraising cost ratio = Fundraising expense / Total revenue | 5% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Contributions reliance Contributions reliance = Total contributions / Total revenue | 96% | 51% | 46% | 50% | 42% | 32% |
Fundraising expense ratio Fundraising expense ratio = Fundraising expense / Total expenses | 5% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% | 1% |
Other revenue reliance Other revenue reliance = Total other revenue / Total revenue | 4% | 49% | 54% | 50% | 58% | 68% |
| Operating ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Program expense ratio Program expense ratio = Program services / Total expenses | 82% | 85% | 88% | 88% | 87% | 89% |
Spending ratio Spending ratio = Total expenses / Total revenue | 94% | 90% | 91% | 89% | 99% | 101% |
Program output ratio Program output ratio = Program services / Total revenue | 77% | 76% | 79% | 78% | 86% | 90% |
Savings ratio Savings ratio = Surplus (deficit) / Total revenue | 6% | 10% | 9% | 11% | 1% | -1% |
Reserve accumulation rate Reserve accumulation rate = Surplus (deficit) / Net assets | 8% | 15% | 17% | 21% | 2% | -3% |
General and admin ratio General and admin ratio = Management and general expense / Total expenses | 11% | 14% | 12% | 11% | 12% | 10% |
| Investing ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total asset turnover Total asset turnover = Total expenses / Total assets | 1.16 | 1.22 | 1.46 | 1.56 | 1.99 | 2.36 |
Degree of long-term investment Degree of long-term investment = Total assets / Total current assets | 1.51 | 1.08 | 1.03 | 1.04 | 1.11 | 1.13 |
Current asset turnover Current asset turnover = Total expenses / Total current assets | 2.14 | 1.32 | 1.51 | 1.62 | 2.21 | 2.66 |
| Liquidity ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Current ratio Current ratio = Total current assets / Total current liabilities | 6.60 | 12.81 | 10.17 | 9.91 | 6.67 | 7.71 |
Current liabilities ratio Current liabilities ratio = Total current liabilities / Total current assets | 0.14 | 0.08 | 0.10 | 0.10 | 0.15 | 0.13 |
Liquid reserve level Liquid reserve level = (Total current assets - Total current liabilities) / (Total expenses / 12) | 3.94 | 8.39 | 7.16 | 6.67 | 4.61 | 3.92 |
| Solvency ratios | Sector median | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Liabilities ratio Liabilities ratio = Total liabilities / Total assets | 16% | 7% | 10% | 10% | 13% | 12% |
Debt ratio Debt ratio = Debt / Total assets | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% | 0% |
Reserve coverage ratio Reserve coverage ratio = Net assets / Total expenses | 70% | 76% | 62% | 58% | 43% | 37% |
Financials
| Balance sheet | |||||
| Assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Cash | $2,012,674 | $1,866,130 | $1,164,165 | $839,896 | $506,193 |
| Receivables, inventories, prepaids | $660,367 | $566,086 | $841,167 | $703,008 | $942,407 |
| Short-term investments | $56,638 | $62,427 | $68,587 | $45,943 | $45,943 |
| Other current assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total current assets | $2,729,679 | $2,494,643 | $2,073,919 | $1,588,847 | $1,494,543 |
| Long-term investments | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Fixed assets | $205,944 | $73,577 | $73,242 | $174,458 | $189,160 |
| Other long-term assets | $5,789 | $5,534 | $5,007 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term assets | $211,733 | $79,111 | $78,249 | $174,458 | $189,160 |
| Total assets | $2,941,412 | $2,573,754 | $2,152,168 | $1,763,305 | $1,683,703 |
| Liabilities | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Payables and accrued expenses | $46,921 | $22,489 | $14,316 | $20,797 | $22,305 |
| Other current liabilities | $166,214 | $222,705 | $194,859 | $217,236 | $171,439 |
| Total current liabilities | $213,135 | $245,194 | $209,175 | $238,033 | $193,744 |
| Debt | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Due to (from) affiliates | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Other long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total long-term liabilities | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total liabilities | $213,135 | $245,194 | $209,175 | $238,033 | $193,744 |
| Net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Without donor restrictions | $2,052,020 | $1,776,949 | $1,280,349 | $1,108,490 | $1,124,917 |
| With donor restrictions | $676,257 | $551,611 | $662,644 | $416,782 | $365,042 |
| Net assets | $2,728,277 | $2,328,560 | $1,942,993 | $1,525,272 | $1,489,959 |
| Revenues and expenses | |||||
| Revenue | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Total contributions | $2,046,934 | $1,902,275 | $1,904,231 | $1,495,744 | $1,245,644 |
| Program service revenue | $1,860,614 | $2,174,756 | $1,846,980 | $1,983,455 | $2,610,992 |
| Membership dues | $60,986 | $60,899 | $59,180 | $63,354 | $62,908 |
| Investment income | $31,721 | $17,893 | ($39,604) | $6,163 | $10,535 |
| Other revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total other revenue | $1,953,321 | $2,253,548 | $1,866,556 | $2,052,972 | $2,684,435 |
| Total revenue | $4,000,255 | $4,155,823 | $3,770,787 | $3,548,716 | $3,930,079 |
| Expenses | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Program services | $3,052,226 | $3,303,562 | $2,950,108 | $3,046,836 | $3,536,589 |
| Management and general | $518,312 | $436,694 | $372,958 | $436,567 | $414,997 |
| Fundraising | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 | $30,000 |
| Total expenses | $3,600,538 | $3,770,256 | $3,353,066 | $3,513,403 | $3,981,586 |
| Change in net assets | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
| Surplus (deficit) | $399,717 | $385,567 | $417,721 | $35,313 | ($51,507) |
| Other changes in net assets | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 |
| Total change in net assets | $399,717 | $385,567 | $417,721 | $35,313 | ($51,507) |
Compensation
Compensation data for this ministry has not been collected.
Response from ministry
No response has been provided by this ministry.
The information below was provided to MinistryWatch by the ministry itself. It was last updated 9/27/2021. To update the information below, please email: info@ministrywatch.com
History
CALVINIST CADET CORPS
Cadeting is an outgrowth of a boy's organization known as the "Christian Boy's Club League." This group took the initiative to promote a program of activities and skills which were appealing to boys.
- October 16, 1952 - The Calvnist Cadet Corps officially began when the first constitutional revision was made to the constitution first written on September 11, 1950.
- November, 1955 - The first Clarion, a magazine for counselors still published today, was published.
- September, 1958 - Jake Heerema was hired as the first executive director.
- December, 1958 - The first issue of Crusader, the magazine for Cadets still published today, was published.
- April, 1960 - The first Cadet counselors' convention was held in Cicero, Illinois.
- August, 1961 - Mart Keuning becomes the Cadets' next executive director.
- 1966 - The Calvinist Cadet Corps becomes a division of United Calvinist Youth
- July, 1966 - The first international camporee was held near Denver, Colorado (approx. 300 in attendance)
- August, 1969 - Mike McGervey was hired as the next executive director
- June, 1977 - Dave Koetje becomes the next executive director
- July, 1983 - Dick Broene, the current executive director, is hired
GEMS Girls' Clubs
- January, 1958 - A committee was appointed to prepare a program and constitution for a girls' club movement. Calvinettes was born!
- January, 1960 - L. Barb Vredevoogd appointed first director
- July, 1965 - Shirley Lautenback appointed Calvinette director
- 1966 - The Calvinettes becomes a civision of United Calvinist Youth
- February, 1969 - Cecilia Mereness was introduced as the new part-time director
- July, 1970 - The first Counselors' Convention held in Niagara Falls, Ontario
- September, 1970 - The first issue of Touch published
- March, 1976 - Jo Ilbrink appointed as full-time executive director
- March, 1995 - Jan Boone, the current executive director, begins her tenure
- November, 1995 - GEMS Girls' Clubs chosen as the new program name for the Calvinette ministry.
Youth Unlimited
- September, 1919 - Young Men's Federation (AFRYMS) founded
- December, 1920 - The first Convention - 26 societies present
- May, 1932 - Young Women's Federation (AFRYWS) organized
- August, 1938 - Richard Postma becomes part-time director
- December 1955 - Merger of Young Men's and Young Women's Federations ratified.
- August, 1959 - First co-ed Convention in Edmonton, Alberta
- August, 1960 - First Summer Worship in Missions (SWIM) - Salt Lake City
- October, 1962 - James Lont becomes YCF director
- September, 1966 - YCF, Calvinettes and Calvinist Cadet Corps merge to form United Calvinist Youth
- March, 1980 - Robert Hough becomes YCF's third director
- Summer, 1989 - Brian Bosscher is hired as executive director
- 1989 - SERVE begins with 3 sites
- 1994 - Youth Unlimited is chosen as the new name for the Young Calvnist Federation
- June, 2000 - Barry Foster, the current executive director, is hired
- Summer, 2001 - Encounters replaces SWIM as YU's long-term missions program