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After a decade of visionary leadership, Cindy McGarvie has announced her departure as National Director of Youth for Christ (YFC) Australia. She is officially stepping down this month, exactly ten years after she first took the helm in June 2015.

A tireless advocate for gospel-centred youth ministry, McGarvie’s tenure has left a deep-rooted mark on both YFC and the broader Christian landscape in Australia.

Celebrating Ten Years of Leadership

“It has been 10 wonderful years,” McGarvie said in an open letter announcing her decision. “I have always intended to step down at my 10-year mark, as I firmly believe in passing the baton to the next generation. However, I do not plan to retire just yet.”

McGarvie confirmed she will continue her work as a speaker and author, communicating biblical truth “on critical issues impacting the church.”

“I will also remain connected to the ministry of YFC, which is so needed in our nation”, she added.

Author and Speaker

Cindy is perhaps best known not for her behind-the-scenes leadership of YFC, but for the many times she has addressed audiences on topics challenging today’s Australian Church.

Under McGarvie’s leadership, YFC Australia has championed bold initiatives addressing contemporary cultural issues, which resulted in Cindy writing several books.

Lost Boys, likely her furthest-reaching work, tackles confronting issues particularly impacting young men. Complex topics includes suicide, depression and anxiety, porn addiction, fatherlessness, identity and feminisation of young males.

The book – along with her seminars communicating its life-changing material – has been widely praised.

Paul Bedwell, who currently serves with YFC, was particularly moved by one of McGarvie’s presentations. “Before I had met Cindy”, he told The Daily Declaration, “I heard her presentation on Lost Boys.”

“Halfway through her talk about the issues facing young men, I had to go outside and weep. I knew only too well that what she was saying was true and that these issues had been killing the spirits of so many young men.”

Lost Boys was published in February 2020 and was followed by a 40-day prayer campaign. The Canberra Declaration supported the initiative, publishing six weekly devotions encouraging people to pray for a shift amongst Australia’s young men.

Speaking with The Daily Declaration, Warwick Marsh from the Dads4Kids Fatherhood Foundation described Lost Boys as “a standout resource for those who want to understand the problems the modern male faces.”

“It is especially relevant to our time and exposes the enormous problem of fatherlessness in our society.”

Leadership in a Challenging Contemporary Context

Marsh described Cindy as “an amazing woman of God” and “utterly extraordinary in every respect.” He continued,

“Above all, Cindy knows who has the answer to the problems our society is besieged with – Jesus. That explains why she has given her life for the sake of the gospel.”

Ask any Christian worker in a youth/young adults setting, and they will readily tell you the younger demographics present challenges not for the faint of heart. Unless you’re willing to settle for the status quo, it will never be easy to actively pursue change for the glory of Christ and the benefit of those you serve.

The Apostle Paul describes exactly this difficulty in seeing people grow in Christ. In Colossians 1:28-29 he explains,

“We proclaim him [Jesus], warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labour for this, striving with his strength that works powerfully in me.”

It was McGarvie’s tenacity in seeking to raise up the next generation of disciples that first impressed Bedwell.

“I was deeply impacted by Cindy’s courage, integrity, and faithfulness in accurately identifying the cultural trends harming young people, then going after them aggressively”, Bedwell shared.

That impact was indeed profound, as Paul left his career as a medical doctor to take on a missionary role with YFC. Now, that impression is set to increase even further.

Transition and Transference

Bedwell is set to take over the reins from McGarvie. Writing earlier this year, Cindy explained that “Last year, the YFC National Board undertook a thorough search and prayerful selection process and has chosen Paul Bedwell as the incoming National Director.”

During the past few months, Paul has worked alongside Cindy to grow into his new leadership responsibilities.

While Warwick Marsh expressed disappointment that Cindy’s time in leadership has drawn to a close, he also applauded the appointment of Dr Paul Bedwell as McGarvie’s successor. “I could not think of a better man. Paul, like Cindy, has an extraordinary level of practical wisdom and profound spiritual insight,” he said.

“Paul has a deep love and trust in Jesus. Youth for Christ will be in good hands and continue under the lordship of Jesus Christ. This is good news for Australia.”

Incoming National Director, Paul Bedwell, with Cindy McGarvie. Image: YFC Australia.

Grateful for the Past and Looking to the Future

During this transition period, YFC Australia remains steadfast in its mission to reach young people with the gospel and equip them for peer-to-peer evangelism and discipleship.

“Throughout this change, and with your help,” McGarvie affirmed, “we are continuing full steam ahead with the ministry.”

Discipling the next generation is mission-critical if the Australian church wishes to continue a strong gospel witness moving forward.

For Cindy’s many years of dedicated work, the Canberra Declaration team would like to publicly thank her and wish her well for her future endeavours. Her reward is in heaven (Matthew 5:12).

Kurt Mahlburg, a former youth and young adults pastor, admired McGarvie’s long-standing leadership, telling The Daily Declaration,

“Cindy has led Youth for Christ from strength to strength. Her love for Jesus and her heart for people – especially young men – to know and follow Him have left an amazing legacy. Thank you, Lord, for leaders like Cindy!”

In 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13 the Apostle Paul writes,

“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to give recognition to those who labour among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you, and to regard them very highly in love because of their work.”

If you have a message of thanks for Cindy, please leave it in the comments below and give public recognition to “an amazing woman of God” who has laboured diligently.

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Image via Cindy McGarvie/Facebook.