Month: February 2022

The C in the YMCA at 2001:: the 150th Anniversary Address by Dr. Ken Gladish [retired CEO of YUSA]

This address, dealing with the history ofthe YMCA in America, was delivered at a 2001 Massachusetts Meeting of The Newcomen Society of the United States held in Boston, when Dr. Kenneth L. Gladish and Mr. John M. Ferrell were guests of honor and speakers on October 25th, 2001.

In this brief speech, Dr. Gladish provides a compelling overview of the YMCA, it’s origins, accomplishments in the United States of America, and how the Christian faith is intregal to it all.

Enjoy this friendly, informative, personal accounting of the Y in 2001; see how the C is described and embodied in the YMCA history, institution, and future.

Click here to view the entire speech

Here is the concluding paragraphs to the speech:

Herein may lie the secret ofthe association’s success and the power of its impact on rising generations of Americans, their families and their communities.

The enterprise, openness, and values of the YMCA were seeded long ago in the American Christlan conscience which gave birth to our nation’s revolution in civic association, charitable action, and moral commitment.

If the “spirit of the Lord” was upon the founding generation of the YMCA, we might well ask where it is to be found today.

And today, of course, is a different day, both for America and for the YMCA.

In a complex and increasingly diverse America, the YMCA is still called to change lives.

In this work we are compelled by faith and history, as well as experience and conviction, to affirm what we know to be true – we are called at our best to do the work we were created to complete.

Like the prophet Isaiah in the Hebrew scriptures, and Jesus of Nazareth in the Christian gospels, we will find the right “spirit” in our own work when we:

“Preach good news to the poor; Proclaim release to the captives; Seek recovery of sight to the blind; and Set at liberty those who are oppressed.”

As students of these sacred texts understand, of course, we are all in some way poor, captive, blind, and oppressed.

The reversal of these conditions and the realization of our full and blessed potential as individuals depend on the unified development of our spiritual, intellectual, and physical personalities.

This has been and must remain the work ofthe YMCA as it touches thelives of men and women, boys and girls, in the new century which lies ahead.

Gladish, p18-19
Kenneth Gladish assumed the office of Executive Director of the YMCA of the USA in February 2000, becoming the twelfth national leader of the YMCA movement.

The YMCA of the USA, the national office responsible for supporting the nation’s 2,500-plus YMCAs, celebrated its 150th anniversary year in 2001. YMCAs serve over 18 million Americans, more than half of them children, and are collectively the nation’s largest charity and community-based service organization.

Gladish accepted the position of Executive Director following six years as executive director of the Indianapolis Foundation and three years as president of the Central Indiana Community Foundation. He previously served as president and chief executive officer of the Indiana Humanities Council and director of the Indiana Donors Alliance. A YMCA member from childhood in his hometown of Northbrook, IL, he volunteered and later held his first professional position as assistant director of youth and community programs at the North Suburban YMCA. He has served on the boards of local YMCAs in Virginia and Indiana and on the national board from 1977 to 1983.

He received a bachelor’s degree from Hanover College and master’s and doctorate degrees in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia. He has taught at the college level at the University of Virginia, Butler University and Indiana University. Active in civic and professional organizations, he serves as a trustee of Hanover and is a member of the boards of American Humanics, the Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the National Assembly of non-profit agencies.

A Prayer for YMCA Leaders : when we feel lost, in error and without life

In those moments, when as a YMCA leader you feel overwhelmed, adrift, lost in your spirit, alone in your anxiety, yearning to have the lifelessness of your Y transformed into vibrant energy – this prayer of Kierkegaard is for you.

“Father in heaven, let your voice come to me, be heard by me, even though it overtake me where I live secluded and alone.

You, my Lord Jesus Christ, you who came into the world to save those who were lost, look for me even in my errors where I hide myself from you and from others; let me hear your voice, let me know and follow it.

You, O Holy Spirit, breathe for me in inexpressible sighs, bring life to me though I am a barren tree.

You who bears again to life those who are already dead, you who gives youth to the aged, create in me a new heart.

You who with motherly care protects everything in which there is a spark of life, send forth the growth that you would have for me.”

based on/adapted from “The Prayers of Kierkegaard,” no 47 by Ole Anthony

Using our YMCA Core Values to stir up our spirit and mind, to rattle us and convict us, to encourage and guide us, authenticity is more about responsible honesty than unencumbered identity-declarations, about caring for ourself and others in a mutually respectful way.

Our authenticity ought to stimulate not just boundaries on who we think we are, but humility about who we really are, which includes the darkness alongside the light, the good and evil intertwined within us, the beautiful and ugly that is us.

In the YMCA our leadership is often defined by our character, our programs are successful when stories emerge of how the character-building emphasis worked; as my friend Dave at the Parkview Family YMCA quips: “transformed people transform people.”

Spiritual authenticity is more than just declaring what you believe about spirituality and expecting respect for it, it’s actually being honest and responsible for your own spirit, it’s health, and how it is doing in reality, in real life.

It’s about taking responsibility for the health of your spirit and doing the work so that it grows in its capacity to care for all in a mutually respectful way.

Authentic spirituality which doesn’t expand in its capacity to love is just a clanging gong or clashing symbols out of tune with reality.

At the YMCA, when we are authentic about our origins, about our motivations for why we got started, about the foundation we build on, about the roots which nourish our growth, it also requires honesty about the failures and hurts that have come through the YMCA. not just institutionally, but personally – the Y is all about people and building a healthy spirit, mind and body for all using Christian principles in practical ways. And for all the times we get it right, someone can point to ways we didn’t.

In those moments, when as a YMCA leader you feel authentically overwhelmed, adrift, lost in your spirit, alone in your anxiety, yearning to have the lifelessness of your Y transformed into vibrant energy – this prayer of Kierkegaard is for you.

He was writing in Denmark around the time George Williams was launching the Y.M.C.A. in England, and though his writings weren’t that popular when the Paris Basis was being crafted, Kierkegaard was “discovered” after the horrific tumult of the Great War, which was a shining moment for the Y, but also a dying of the world’s hope for peace in the world.

The Holocaust, the Atomic Bomb, the Cold War, global terrorism, genocides – this reality of YMCA members around the world ought to still way heavy on all Y members – in solidarity – and in accord with the prayer of Jesus in John 17:21 “that they all may be one.”

This means not just in our salvation and reconciliation but also in our empathy and practical actions of love.

And in that suffering is when we too often (if we quit avoiding this stark and disturbing reality) feel lost, in error, and without life. This is why the writings of Kierkegaard and his prayers continue to be sought out, for he seeks to get at the real, our actual lived existence, us, me, I – known and loved by God.

Maybe everything is fine for you in your life and family, your YMCA branch members and staff; but if we were going to be authentic, it’s not all we hope and pray for…yet; in the meantime keep honestly praying to the Lord, in humility and openness, like this prayer of Kierkegaard:

“Father in heaven, let your voice come to me, be heard by me, even though it overtake me where I live secluded and alone.

You, my Lord Jesus Christ, you who came into the world to save those who were lost, look for me even in my errors where I hide myself from you and from others; let me hear your voice, let me know and follow it.

You, O Holy Spirit, breathe for me in inexpressible sighs, bring life to me though I am a barren tree.

You who bears again to life those who are already dead, you who gives youth to the aged, create in me a new heart.

You who with motherly care protects everything in which there is a spark of life, send forth the growth that you would have for me.”

based on/adapted from “The Prayers of Kierkegaard,” no 47 by Ole Anthony

May the Grace and Peace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Don’t Weary, Be Hoping

A devotion for all who are weary, who still strive to love, care and serve as the hands and heart of Jesus; and a message for our YMCA Childcare Services leaders who show up morning and afternoon to build character and a hoping spirit in our young school-age students.

First: thank you.

Thanks for your servant-leadership to our students and their families each morning and afternoon.

To all who invest in the spirit, mind and body of our school-age children and youth: thank you.

The following is a morning devotion written for our YMCA of Greater Fort Wayne Childcare Services Staff to start off their half-day training event.

May it be an encouragement for all who care for and serve children in our schools; even though it is a bleak winter and everyone feels stretched too far – don’t weary, be hoping.

This morning as I read through the Hebrew Scriptures and the prophet Isaiah (40:27:31) – and as I reflected on the challenging situations of our childcare leaders, Bobby McFerrin and his catchy tune got stuck in my head: Don’t Worry, Be Happy.

I wondered what it would be like to mash the two lyrics together: Don’t Weary, Be Hoping.

What do you think?

For me it grounded the chirpy sweet song in the promises of The LORD, the everlasting God, Creator of the Heavens and the Earth – who sees you in your weariness, sees you caring for children, sees you striving to do good, and reminds us: the weary who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.

Now that the song is stuck in your head, and as you read slowly through the poetic promise of God, if you were going to be vulnerable for a moment: what’s been making you weary?

And what would it look like for you to trust the Lord with it, to turn the complaint into hopeful expectation?

As one who cares for children, even when you’re weary, the words of Jesus can be a comfort and inspiration, helping you transform that complaint into a hopeful expectation.

And in particular his perspective on the young ones in our midst (the ones who can make us weary and cause much complaining):

Jesus has a unique take on being with children: we ought to become more like them.

Taking Jesus’ instructions to heart, for you: in their best moments, what is it about the children in your care that you want to imitate more?

As leaders we can’t escape from the complaints people make about us, and we’ll always be tempted to complain about others; but: what would we tell kids in our care if they were complaining a little too much?

As leaders, our work is about influence and responsibility, sacrifice and perseverance; but it’s also about love, joy, peace, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness – and it’s this fruit of the Spirit that we can learn from the little children.

When you reflect on the love, joy and peace that Jesus brings to the little children in his care – and that can include you – how might that begin to transform the weariness you carry in your spirit, mind and body?

Thank you for loving, caring and serving the children and youth in your midst, thank you for your leadership and influence, your sacrifices and perseverance – especially in these wearisome times.

Thank you for being there for them, for showing up, for your humility and vulnerability, your listening ear and playful spirit; and may the Lord continually renew your strength, all you who remember: don’t weary, be hoping.

Apply today for YMCA Child Care Services before-after school: www.fwymca.org/jobs