The ministry of the Young Ladies Christian Fellowship as we know it began back in January 1991, with cousins Melissa Brink and Gretchen Glaser (then 6 and 7 years old). Their brothers had a “club” for boys that they called the “Tardogs” (patterned after the Sugar Creek Gang), so the girls decided they should have their own girls’ club, too! Since both Melissa and Gretchen really liked cats, they decided upon the name “Purry Kittens.”
The PK’s proudly celebrated their “fifth anniversary” in 1996 with 20 members. They had secret languages, club songs–and of course, a newsletter, called “P.K. News.” Soon Gretchen started a separate newsletter for younger girls”Kitties Korner” and one for teen girls called “The P31″–plus a book review newsletter called “Wonderful Books for Girls.”
In June of 1997, with thirty members to its name, the “club” underwent some major changes–it got a new name, new look, new focus, and new all-in-one newsletter, edited by Gretchen: “The YLCF Newsletter.”
In 1998, the YLCF went online. By spring of 1999, the YLCF Journal had grown to 28 pages published quarterly. In September 2003, the thirty-second and final issue of the YLCF Journal was printed. But the blog took over where the YLCF Journal left off.
As Gretchen was preparing to transition into married life at the end of 2005, she left her friend Natalie Nyquist, by then a longtime YLCF contributor, to continue the ministry. Natalie brought new life and quality to the YLCF, bringing in a group of writers in the form of the YLCF Team. Cheerful reflections, thought-provoking commentary, and daily interaction with other young ladies on the blog continued the trademark of YLCF.
In 2008, Natalie felt it time to hand the ministry back over to Gretchen’s management. Gretchen asked longtime YLCF team members Lanier Ivester and Ashleigh Baker to join her as they formed the YLCF board of directors.
2009 brought YLCF a new logo and the team a renewed passion for their mission of providing encouragement and fellowship for women young and old. 
January 2011 found YLCF celebrating 20 years of ministry, with a new set of logos and the same commitment to ministry. Throughout 2011, YLCF bid adieu to some of its board members, while watching God continue to grow and strengthen the YLCF Team.
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