Kingdom Worker Connection

Transcription

1 Kingdom Worker Connection DECEMBER 2018 A PU BLICATION OF THE MINISTRY OF CHR IST IN YOU TH

2 2 STAFF LIST CIY PRESIDENT ANDY HANSEN EDITOR CHRIS ROBERTS ASSISTANT EDITOR AUDREY WUNDERLICH STAFF WRITER BECCA HAINES ART DIRECTOR AUSTIN EIDSON CONTRIBUTING WRITERS/DESIGNERS/PHOTOGRAPHERS CRAIG DAVENPORT, MATT FOREMAN, MARK NEUENSCHWANDER, MARK RANKIN, ELLEN SMITH COVER PHOTO BY AUDREY WUNDERLICH SUBSCRIPTIONS P.O. BOX B JOPLIN, MO (888) 765-4CIY To be added to the CIY mailing list, or to receive the Kingdom Worker Connection via , please contact marketing@ciy.com KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

3 3 KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION CONTENTS STAFF LIST 2 PRESIDENT S LETTER ANDY HANSEN 4 A 50th ANNIVERSARY STORY 6 OVERCOMING OBSTACLES SUPERSTART 8 BECOMING A NINJA WARRIOR 12 UNDERSTANDING THE CHAOS OF JR. HIGH THINGS YOU DIDN T KNOW ABOUT KJ GOD-SIZED DREAMS 20 MISSIONS IS A LIFESTYLE ENGAGE 26 STANDING FOR JESUS MOVE 30 STORIES FROM THE ROAD ENGAGE 32 SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT 33 FINAL THOUGHTS SCOTT WALKER 34 CIY PROGRAMS 35 CHRIST IN YOUTH

4 4 PRESIDENT S LETTER You are very important to Christ In Youth. As president, I want to let you in on five important facts about CIY. 1. God continues to show His favor in the events, trips and resources CIY is providing in its partnership with the local church. This past summer more than 46,000 young people and their adult leaders attended 58 MOVE high school weeks or MIX junior high events, and hundreds more went on an Engage mission trip. Of those, 2,500 made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord (many baptized in pools, fountains or creeks at the campuses) and nearly 2,000 declared their commitment to serve in vocational ministry. On top of that, thousands of preteens and junior high students this fall were at a SuperStart or Believe event. In total, nearly 80,000 young people participated in a CIY event or trip in CIY has expanded and is an official charity in Ireland and a MOVE event for the Republic of Ireland is scheduled for A MOVE event is also launching in Calgary, Canada in Andy Hansen PRESIDENT CHRIST IN YOUTH KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

5 5 Gary and Becky Arthur Faust join hundreds of others at the 50th Anniversary Celebration in August, committing to support CIY over the next three years during its Multiply Campaign. The campaign seeks to raise $6 million to go toward expansion of events, construction of a new film studio and training center, and an upgrade of equipment that will help the ministry create resources that can reach young people in all corners of the world in new and creative ways. 2. CIY is prayerfully preparing to grow in influence to as many as 100,000 young people every year by With approval from CIY s Board of Trustees, we borrowed funds to gain equipment to expand and add 20 new events over the course of a three-year period. If CIY can launch these events and grow to 1,000 attendees at each event, the result would be 20,000 additional young people being discipled and called to a life of Kingdom work. This means that over the course of the decade of 2020 to 2030, CIY could minister to more than 1 million students. 3. CIY is taking exciting steps toward being a leader in communicating to young people digitally. Studies show that today s youth spend at least four hours a day on their cell phones. This is a screen generation. CIY has the capacity to send daily age-intentional material directly to students via their phones visual/digital information that they can easily forward to their friends. This means we can influence them for Christ at events where flag in the sand decisions are made, and then continue to call, inspire and challenge them beyond the events through the most popular medium that they carry everywhere. To create the content that could reach millions of students worldwide, CIY is working toward building an adequate video studio with specialized equipment. 4. CIY needs your prayers and sacrificial gifts to make the above ministry goals a reality. To accomplish these tasks, CIY launched the Multiply campaign. The need is $1.5 million for equipment to expand events, $2.5 million for the video production and educational complex and $2 million for specialized equipment. God has already provided nearly $1 million toward that campaign. My prayer is that with your generous response, as well as from several churches and major donors, the Mulitply campaign will have raised more than $2 million before the end of Additional individual and church considerations in 2019, as well as three major fundraising events, have the potential to complete the goal of the Multiply campaign. Every gift is valuable. My personal appeal is for your consideration of a sacrificial gift one time or over a three-year period. Enclosed is a response card and envelope. It would be wonderful to receive this before the end of the year. Please, prayerfully consider and respond. 5. CIY continues to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a ministry. An historic and epic celebration took place on Aug. 30. This event was videoed, and you can enjoy it by going to CIY s YouTube channel AEffect. Pop some popcorn, then be inspired by the celebration that took place. Rejoice with us as to what the Lord will do in the next 50 years of vision for the ministry of CIY. Finally Thank you for choosing to be a significant participant in this ministry with your prayers, promotion and provision. Together, we listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit and boldly move forward into a dynamic and ever-expanding year of ministry in 2019! CHRIST IN YOUTH

6 JOIN THE PARADE CIY Trustee Jeff Walling uses opportune moment to emphasize the importance of joining the parade of witnesses that speak to the glory of Jesus 6 STORY BY CHRIS ROBERTS Jeff Walling is a professional speaker and storyteller who has been leading young people to Jesus from the stages of CIY events for more than 30 years. He has taught more lessons and preached more sermons at CIY events than probably any two other speakers combined. He has become well known for his whimsical wisecracks, unexpected turns of phrase, and heartfelt stories that make a beeline to Jesus. Thousands of young people have heard him present the Gospel message over the years... and one of them was Lance Stockton. In the late 1990s, Stockton was a young high school boy who had a hard time focusing on preachers. He didn t grow up in the Church, and didn t have a strong understanding of the Bible or the Gospel message. In fact, had it not been for a friend inviting him to a CIY summer conference, he never would have found himself sitting in a row of other high school freshmen listening to a message from Jeff Walling. As Stockton tells it, in that moment he heard the Gospel message in a way he d never heard it before and that weekend rocked his world. He found himself captivated by Walling s words, and sucked into the stories that he was weaving. At the end of the sermon, when Walling challenged students to accept Jesus for the first time and be baptized, Stockton had no doubts about the decision he needed to make. He gave his life to Christ that night and returned to his church after that event and was baptized. He never met Walling at that event. He never got to shake the man s hand or say, Thank you. In fact, he never considered it a possibility that he could say thank you to the man who would have such an impact on his life. What he did do was commit himself to vocational ministry. He dove into the Word, went to Bible college and eventually became a youth minister. Fast-foward 16 years and Stockton again found himself at a CIY event sitting in a row of young boys about to go into high school. And on the stage was the very same Jeff Walling, who was sharing the Gospel message. He started to get into the presentation of the Gospel and it was like I d seen a ghost, Stockton said. I had heard that before. I looked up and I couldn t get my eyes off him. It was like he and I were sitting in that room together, just the two of us again. The deja vu moment was even more profound because sitting next to him were some young boys that Stockton had been praying for the past few months. He wanted desperately for them to choose Christ and to pursue a life of Kingdom work. At the end of the message, just as Walling had done in 1999, he challenged the young people in the audience to accept Jesus for the first time and be baptized. One of boys sitting next to Stockton Sean Vitalis responded to that call and rose from his seat. He joined hundreds of others in symbolically walking through a door that had been set up outside the main venue by the MIX team as a way for young people to respond to the Gospel message. Like Stockton, Vitalis never thought he d have the opportunity to thank Walling for the impact he left on his life. But in early 2018, both Stockton and Vitalis got the opportunity to do just that. While filming a short video for the 50th anniversary celebration, Walling was surprised mid-sentence when out walked Stockton and Vitalis to give him a heartfelt, face-to-face Thank you. After tears and hugs were shared, Walling took the opportunity to impress upon the two younger men the eternal implications of what had transpired between all of them. There were people you guys don t know youth leaders and speakers who did that for me, Walling said. Any good thing you got out of this, is just this huge parade of people telling Jesus story. You guys are part of a wonderful parade that goes all the way back to the Apostles. And it s an honor for me to join you guys in that same parade. I look forward to seeing what God is going to do in your ministries, and in CIY in these next 50 years. As CIY s 50th anniversary comes to a close, the year of Thanks has been filled with some incredible stories and memories. But the overwhelming sentiment shared by all of us is the one that Walling so aptly pointed out the work is not done. The harvest is still plentiful. And the Gospel still needs to be shared with millions more young people around the world. So let s join the parade. KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

7 7 Celebrating and encouraging Kingdom work kw-hub.com/stories CHRIST IN YOUTH

8 Jesus is the way That idea is illustrated through a powerful moment on stage as the Durham family shows preteen students that Jesus provides us the strength we need to overcome the obstacles in our lives; especially those that keep us from God. This illustration shows that Jesus sacrifice on the cross is the bridge we need to get back to God.

9 9 OVERCOMING OBSTACLES American Ninja Warrior Emily Durham joins SuperStart team to teach preteens how to overcome the obstacles that get in the way of sharing stories STORY BY BECCA HAINES PHOTOS BY MATT FOREMAN & AUDREY WUNDERLICH Emily Durham was just 13 years old when she followed her big brother to competitively wakeboard in Florida setting her life on a trajectory that would eventually enable her to share her faith in God to thousands of young people through American Ninja Warrior. Durham, now a wife and mother of two, joined this year s SuperStart team to minister to preteens across the U.S. by demonstrating her skills on an onstage ninja course. Patrick Snow, CIY s senior director of weekend events, said Durham s impressive abilities engage the preteen audience, but her evident, steadfast faith is what guides them to Jesus. She first used her influential voice for God when she was turning heads as a 14-year-old wakeboard champion in Orlando, Florida and a magazine featured her in the cover story. Today, Snow said she continues to use the platforms she s been given, and that s something all preteens can learn from. Emily was a young person in a brand-new sport, Snow said. She was getting sponsorships and the scene was party-style, but she didn t partake in any of it which is absolutely amazing. She still holds to all of that very strongly today. That s the kind of person I want to put in front of preteens. I want them to see somebody who has done some awesome things but says that s not the most awesome thing in life. If there s a hero for them to get to know, it s that type of person. (Continued on next page) CHRIST IN YOUTH

10 10 Not only did Durham advance in the sport of wakeboarding, she dominated it. She won gold at the Gravity Games in 2002 and 2003, and silver at the X-Games in 1999 and 2001 in women s wakeboarding. She took first place at the Wakeboard World Championship, the Vans Triple Crown, U.S. Masters and the Pro Wakeboard Tour all in She won the U.S. Masters again in 2002 as well as the Malibu Open, and the Pro Wakeboard Tour again in Today the 34-year-old athlete credits much of her success to her older brother, Bart Copeland. Anything my big brother would tell me, I was all about it, Durham said. Bart was so cool in my mind and he was a huge part of me getting into wakeboarding and American Ninja Warrior, too. He was doing it before I was, so he was the reason I got into it. I continue to follow my brother, and it s got me to where I am today. All of us Bart, my older sister, Tammie, our parents and I are all serving the Lord in our own ways and it s really cool. Durham said those early years of choosing to walk with Christ in the wakeboarding world oftentimes left her lonely, but God redeemed that. The Lord found a way to connect Emily at her home in Denver, Colorado to a companion attending East Texas Baptist University. Kevin Durham said he first saw Emily on the cover of a magazine. While earning his degree he was a wakeboard instructor in Texas, and vividly remembers turning the magazine around to show his boss with the remark: I m going to marry this girl. It just so happened that a friend of Emily s was attending the same university. A simple conversation over lunch eventually led the friend to connect the two wakeboard enthusiasts. I ve always been her biggest fan I even had a shirt that said it, Kevin Durham said. Emily is amazing. It s neat to be married to someone who God has put on a platform and nothing in her life has changed. She hasn t become someone different. God used that magazine article in not only my faith but also in my marriage, Emily Durham said. Kevin had dredlocks, piercings and a heart for the Lord. We met in October and were married by July. God brought him along in a time when I was feeling weary I see that now. To have a partner was a huge encouragement to me. We then competed in wakeboarding together. All it took was a little nudge from her brother a few years later for the Durhams to try out American Ninja Warrior. Emily competed professionally for 16 years and has just finished her fourth season on the show. Kevin has served as an obstacle course tester in three locations where his wife has competed never failing to cheer her on alongside their children: Hope, 8, and Noah, 4. I didn t have a huge master plan to do Ninja Warrior, Emily KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

11 11 said. Kevin has been very supportive and he enjoys doing it with me, and so do the kids. It s a fun family thing to do together. I tell people it s a hobby, but honestly it s cool to have this platform God s given me. Ninja Warrior is so relevant to kids these days. In wakeboarding I won a lot of achievements that I worked really, really hard for and yet with Ninja Warrior I haven t won anything amazing. In my mind I haven t met my goals of winning, but kids don t care because it s so relevant. I go open-handed to the Lord with it and tell Him I m going to turn it back to Him and let Him use it. I ve had the opportunity to minister to literally thousands of kids using Ninja Warrior that s the coolest thing because it s something I least expected. Yet God is using it and that s what He ll do with anything if you just hand it over to Him. That s why He gives us our abilities to use for His glory. I also love to empower other women especially moms, she said. I feel like moms can lose their identity easily when their lives revolve around their kids activities. Sometimes you lose your God is using (our story), and that s what He ll do with anything if you just hand it over to Him. That s why He gives us our abilities to use for His glory. joy or hobbies. For me, I feel like God taught me a lot in the time between wakeboarding and Ninja Warrior. Finding that outlet has been important for me. I hope I can encourage moms to take care of themselves, and that it s OK to find something you enjoy and do it. I also see the weight of being a Godly parent because my parents had such a huge impact on me. It s a part of our daily lives. Everything can come from that Biblical perspective. It s very foundational. My advice to parents out there would be to pray. It really works. Emily said she hopes to continue American Ninja Warrior for some more years, and then the next chapter of her life will involve her husband s ministry, This Is My Story, and whatever the next unexpected challenge God will bring. God created me with an athletic ability and a competitive drive that s what keeps me ticking, she said. Maybe rowing. I don t know. I ve never rowed but I never did Ninja Warrior either. Who knows? I know there will be something else. CHRIST IN YOUTH

12 12 Emily Durham is an American Ninja Warrior athlete who has joined the SuperStart tour alongside her family: husband, Kevin, daughter, Hope, and son, Noah. The family helps to share the Gospel message, while also giving tips for overcoming the obstacles of sharing testimonies. KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

13 13 BECOMING A NINJA WARRIOR SuperStart s Emily Durham discusses her daily routine, which always starts with God S T O R Y B Y B E C C A H A I N E S P H OTO S B Y C R A I G DA V E N P O R T & A U D R E Y W U N D E R L I C H Emily Durham is an American Ninja Warrior who s daily training goes far beyond the physical demands. While on this year s SuperStart tour, she s helping preteens understand what it takes to compete at the highest level. She s sharing with young people the exercises she does, food she eats and mental hurdles she overcomes every day to push past her fears. (My day) starts with worship music in the morning before I do anything else, she said. I invite the Holy Spirit in before reading the Word, then sometimes I journal about what s on my heart. It s helpful to go back and read those things God has answered. I need that time in the morning because it changes who I am, how I parent, how I see my day and how I can pour out into (my family). If I m getting poured into, I can pour into them. It s amazing how prayer makes things better, and sometimes those spontaneous moments are the sweetest because it s not just is essential. After that, there are some things that she does consistently in order to stay in shape and make sure she remains grounded in faith through all her endeavors. For starters, she has Warrior should do regularly to stay in shape. 1. Hanging from a bar. It s a great way to build strength. It work yourself up to a minute. 2. Pull-ups. I m always doing pull-ups at some point during my day, and there are all kinds of variations you can do with how you position your hands. 3. Leg movements. I do squats or lunges because it s important to strengthen your legs to get up the wall. 4. Rope climbing. day. 5. Weight training. She also has to eat the right foods to stay in shape and give her the energy she needs to do some extreme stunts like running and jumping up a huge wall. 1. Fruits & Vegetables important for nutrients 2. Proteins rebuilds muscle 3. Water stay hydrated 4. Electrolytes when depleted 5. Vitamin supplements because it s hard to get all you need from your food 6. Cookies! it s OK to have that occasional cookie Even with proper nutrition, exercise and training, Durham said she still has nerves and fears that sometimes feel like they re helping preteens overcome the fears that keep them from sharing their stories, and Durham said there are a handful of things that she does to help herself overcome her own fears and they start by remembering Isaiah 41:10, which says: Don t be afraid, for I am with you. Don t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strenghten you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. 1. I trust that there have been those who have come before me and done it. Seeing somebody else do it before me or listening to an expert trusting another person s word has helped me a lot. It s the same with my faith. I trust somebody coming alongside and saying, I ve been through that. 2. I have to trust myself. I remember my training and my strength, and trust that I ve practiced enough to conquer the obstacles. 3. I trust God. Whatever that feeling is like whether it s going to get through it. And ultimately I know and trust the fact that I m not alone. CHRIST IN YOUTH

14 Revenant Worship has joined Believe for the fall/spring tour to lead junior high students in times of worship. 14

15 15 UNDERSTANDING THE CHAOS OF JUNIOR HIGH CIY utilizes junior high ministry experts, nationally known worship leaders and cutting-edge resources to intentionally connect with junior high students STORY BY BECCA HAINES PHOTOS BY CRAIG DAVENPORT CIY s events, trips and resources are age-specific, with programming that is intentionally created with language and topics that hit right at the heart of young acts of Kingdom work. Believe, for instance, is partnering with some amazing junior high ministry experts for its 2018/19 tour from rapper KJ-52, to illusionist Zak Mirzadeh, to the fast-rising worship collective Revenant Worship. And joining those incredible ministry partners are Kurt Johnston and Justin Herman with the Controlled Chaos Junior High Ministry Podcast. CIY believes the Controlled Chaos podcast is one of the best podcasts out there for youth ministers, said Eryn Aubey, CIY s senior director of customer development. It focuses solely on junior high, which aligns with the values and beliefs of our Believe and MIX programs. All our programs are age-intentional, with the understanding that there are big differences between junior high and high school students. Controlled Chaos specifically offers commentary from some of the greatest people out there right now in junior high ministry, and we are proud to partner with the podcast and encourage youth ministers to listen to it to glean new ideas and important knowledge for their ministries. Herman said the weekly podcast began in February as a fun project with his mentor and junior high ministry CIY does great things for junior high ministry and I ve seen up close that they care. That s who I want to partner with someone who really cares and considers what works in this phase of kids lives. veteran, Kurt Johnston, who wholeheartedly agreed to name the new podcast after his first book that was published in 2001 in order to create a supportive network for junior high youth workers. CIY does great things for junior high ministry and I ve seen up close that they care, Herman said. That s who I want to partner with someone who really cares and considers what works in this phase of kids lives. They understand the digital space with youth and how to leverage it the right way that connects with them. They also love youth workers. The Controlled Chaos podcast is full of conversations, advice, ideas and glimpses into the hearts of junior high youth workers. At the mic is Herman, a native of Buffalo, New York and current junior high pastor at Sandals Church in Irvine, California; and Johnston, the student pastor at Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California. Together Johnston and Herman have hosted many special guests on the podcast such as Andy Stanley, founder of North Point Ministries and published several books. The latest book is a revised version of Controlled Chaos: Making Sense of Junior High Ministry, which was published in October. These publications are available on Amazon.com and YouthCartel.com. (Continued on next page) CHRIST IN YOUTH

16 16 This is an updated and expanded version of the book that came out 17 years ago, Johnston said. So many of the principles of the book are timeless. The world around junior highers changes, but who they are and the age intentionality doesn t. One of the bigger changes in the book is the emphasis on the partnership with parents. It s been an educational 17 years for the Church to realize healthy parents help raise healthy kids. It s not the Church s job to disciple kids it s mom and dad. The book provides insight into the trenches of junior high ministry from Johnston s perspective not only as a youth worker, but as a parent. He said he hopes it will help youth leaders continue the conversation on how to connect students to Christ, how to set parents up to win and how to encourage churches to establish well-defined missions and strategies. ABOVE: Justin Herman with Controlled Chaos Podcast interviews Believe speaker Jeff Walling. BELOW: Students attending a Believe conference in Dallas, TX, worship during one of the main sessions led by the Revenant Worship band. I think what sets this book apart from others is that it s been tested over the course of a decade and it still works, Herman said. It s not a fad of youth ministry it s classic, quality, tested youth ministry philosophy. It s relatable, practical and you can have conversations around it. There are questions in the back of every chapter, and I really like that. The Controlled Chaos team is looking to the future with a new blog and other new resources for junior high ministers across the world. Herman said he is excited for the youth ministry that s happening around the world especially after hearing podcast feedback from listeners in 38 countries. I don t know what s going to be next, but I do know that we re going to keep going more resourcing, more coaching and more training, Herman said. And if it were to all end tomorrow, Kurt and I would still do the podcast. It was the generosity and validation of others that helped move the podcast forward. A lot of youth workers want to develop as leaders, and the most important things I pray for them are discernment and wisdom. For volunteers, I pray for their perspective on the long view. When they re feeling hopeless, I hope they can take a step back and think about this stage of life and know they re making a difference. Find the Controlled Chaos podcast at controlledchaospodcast.com. KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

17 17 A LOOK AT CONVERSATIONS Students connect during pilot year for Convos in small group time STORY BY BECCA HAINES AEffect CIY s division dedicated to creating digital resources that help spark conversations has created a new tool to help youth leaders avoid awkward silences and guide students into taking ownership of small group time. Believe and SuperStart attendees are trying out a new web-based app called Convos. The app serves as a platform on mobile devices that utilizes video content, questions, polls and other interactive elements designed to be passed around a circle of students. Eric Epperson, senior director of AEffect, said this development comes from the effort to merge four factors that can turn a good conversation into a great conversation: information, experience, wisdom and presence. A phone can tell you anything you want to know, but a phone can t replace human connection or experience, Epperson said. We re using the phone as a bridge not a wall and do what it was originally intended to do, which is to connect people. Convos takes the pressure off the youth leader to pull the conversation out of thin air and keeps him or her from filling the void with words because no one likes silence and instead puts a small screen in the middle of the circle. They can just push play and follow along. We want people to have great conversations because those are the building blocks of discipleship. Patrick Snow, senior director of weekend events, said Convos plays into a young demographic with exciting potential for students to grow and mature in their faith. Convos works well for preteens because they re all about coming into ownership of their faith at this point in their lives, Snow said. That s what you want to see as a youth pastor. Because of the interactive nature of the app, the students will get to lead the question or conversation, and it helps build that ownership and teaches them this is what small group is all about. It s not just you sitting there listening. A small group is people talking about what God is doing in their lives there s active participation from everybody. And Convos allows that. Believe Program Director Mike Branton said he has seen first-hand some of the best responses from junior high students when there s a tangible connection to Biblical messages. All of these tangible items we give students cross over into their small group conversations, Branton said. In the past we ve given them packets or games on the topics. It s time for us to jump into the digital world and begin utilizing that in a tangible way with things they already have in their hands. We can show students how to use their phones in a way that s not distracting but helpful. Convos gives junior high students that buy-in. Jennifer Sommers, a youth worker with Fort Worth (TX) First Church of the Nazarene, said the new digital tool was an enhancement to their small group time at Believe. We loved how interactive it was, she said. We got some good conversations from the kids when we got to the meat of the questions. The games were fun, and our group of six was the perfect size for that experience. The bold question, Tell me how you know you re a child of God, was a big moment. Finding out where they were in their faith from all of them was great. Then we as youth leaders went around and answered the question. For them to hear that was really neat. The goal is to strengthen relationships, and this was a great step in that direction. Looking to the future, Epperson said Convos has the potential to sustain an ongoing library of conversation topics from which anyone can facilitate discussions and fun interaction. This endeavor falls in line with CIY s history of pioneering new avenues to connect with the next generation in order to amplify Christ s call on students lives to be Kingdom workers. Small group conversations aren t necessarily about what you know, but more what you think and feel, Epperson said. Something powerful happens when you have less phones than people all of a sudden it s a shared experience, not an isolating one. If you watch young people, there are usually several people around one phone. Convos is just another platform another stage we can use to call students to Kingdom work. To try Convos, (Continued please visit on ciy.com/convos. next page) CHRIST IN YOUTH

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19 THINGS YOU DIDN T KNOW ABOUT KJ-52 STORY BY BECCA HAINES PHOTO CRAIG DAVENPORT KJ-52 was born Jonah Sorrentino in Miami, Florida. He entered the hip-hop world in the early 2000s and has made appearances with several mainstream Christian bands such as Newsboys, Toby Mac and Jeremy Camp, while receiving many awards for his music even earning a team spot in the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest freestyle rap of all time (12 hours and two minutes). Junior high students are having a blast with him on this year s Believe tour. Not only does he bring a high-energy presence to worship on stage, he also takes time between main sessions to hang out with kids and even play some games. He s a man with a deep connection to God and a great story and he s full of hidden secrets. Here are 5.2 things you didn t know about KJ-52: 1. He s pursuing a ministry degree. Between shows, tours and recording sessions, KJ is pursuing a degree in church ministry. He s only six courses away from completing his degree. In fact, by the time you read this he may have already graduated from West Coast Bible College in Dallas, Texas. 2. He takes his music to juvenile detention centers. He has plans to do a Christmas tour at some of the 20 detention centers in Florida. 3. He s making a Christmas album and getting ready to write a book. KJ said he s eager to show people a new kind of Christmas music that still brings glory and honor to Jesus and the story of his birth and his gift of salvation to the world. As for his book he said it will be filled with crazy stories from his life. 4. He loves street art. KJ has messed around with art forever, albeit not professionally. He said hip-hop re-contextualized art for him and over the past couple of years he s taken it more seriously. One of the detention centers even commissioned him to create some art for one of their walls. 5. He loves exercise. Not only does KJ set a high standard for himself as a performer, he also likes to challenge himself physically. He said he pushes himself off-stage because he knows it will benefit what he does on stage. 5.2 He s totally a family man. KJ is married, and he and his wife have three boys ages 11, 7 and 3. He calls them his little wolf children. CHRIST IN YOUTH

20 GOD-SIZED DREAMS STORY BY AUDREY WUNDERLICH PHOTOS BY MARK NEUENSCHWANDER KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

21 What one man dared to dream 50 years ago continues to grow into the next 50 years. As CIY s celebration of its 50th anniversary comes to a close, its leaders look to the next 50 years with hope and more God-sized dreams. (Continued on next page) Jayson French recieves prayer from CIY s board of trustees and former presidents in the moments following the CHRIST IN YOUTH announcement that he will be the organization s sixth president beginning Sept. 1, 2019.

22 22 Andy Hansen, CIY president, gives a keynote address during the 50th anniversary celebration on Aug. 30. In his message Hansen emphasized the many ways God has been faithful to CIY over the years, and how he expects the same for the future. Praise to Him who specializes in the impossible is a statement that was heard multiple times on Aug. 30, 2018 as friends and staff of Christ In Youth gathered to celebrate 50 years of Kingdom work. The evening was filled with a beautiful balance of looking back on all God has accomplished through the ministry of CIY and looking forward to what God will continue to do. God has gone before us for 50 years, and He will go before us again, said Executive Vice President Jayson French from stage just moments after it was announced to the public that he would carry on the torch as CIY s next president starting in September Andy Hansen, CIY s current president and a member of the ministry for more than 33 years, will step down as president in September 2019 but remain on staff full-time to continue to help with fundraising and partner development. One member of the audience was Bob Stacy, CIY s founding president. He and his wife Nell sat at a table at the very front of the auditorium, and they watched along with hundreds of others as CIY celebrated the rich history of the ministry alongside future dreams of what God could do in the next 50 years. Stacy is a man who has displayed an obedience to God s dreams for an entire lifetime, and as such he immediately recognized that the opportunities French was presenting were ones that echoed the sentiments once given by himself 50 years earlier. I thought that God could do the impossible, so I never put a limit on it, Stacy said during an interview on the day of the 50th anniversary celebration. To be honest, I thought that it would grow and grow and grow, and that God could do more than I could imagine or think. I still believe that. God is the giver of big dreams it s something we see all KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

23 23 Jeff Walling challenges partners of CIY to plant some shade trees a metaphor for laying a foundation for future generations by partnering with the ministry of CIY today through prayer, promotion and provision. throughout Scripture. From the dreams of Joseph to someday save his family, to the shepherd boy David dreaming what his life as king could look like, to Jesus in His humanity looking toward the future restoration He would bring in His resurrection. For hundreds of years God has been speaking in dreams, supporting dreams and using dreams as tools to further His Kingdom. CIY has certainly been on the receiving end on some God-sized dreams. Most recently those dreams include international expansion to Ireland, Canada, India and beyond. They include additional events with annual attendees in the hundreds of thousands. They include new endeavors on the digital front with aims at ministering to young people every day, no matter where they are in the world. But as Stacy said, we fully expect that it will grow and grow and grow and that God will do more than we could ever imagine or think. CIY has reached more than 1 million people over the past 50 years how many more millions will the ministry reach over the next 50 years? The dreams God has planted in the hearts of those who support CIY are big, audacious and sometimes scary. Dreams rarely come to fulfillment without obstacles, which can oftentimes feel impossible to overcome. Stacy was no stranger to this, as the first years of the ministry of CIY held some impossible obstacles that couldn t be overcome without the mercy and power of Christ. At times, we prayed for $1,500 to meet bills, he said. We would need something by the 15th of the month and I d get the staff (Continued on next page) CHRIST IN YOUTH

24 24 together and we d pray, God, by the 15th of the month, please. And you know, I remember often that God sent that somehow. I d go to the post office to get the mail and on the way to the office, I d be opening envelopes and looking at the checks. And I remember one time when I got back (to the office), I had somebody go to a calculator and add it up because I thought that it was just right. I said, You know, I think we have enough, plus stamp money, to send the bills in. They added it up and it was so. Things like that happened continually. So, God just blessed and blessed to the point where I cried at times. Although I believe He does the impossible, at times all of us say, I can t believe He did that! Impossible obstacles are just opportunities for God to show Himself faithful which He does, time and time again. Having dreams and having obstacles are the very tools used in God-sized dreams, because they require faith in God s power and complete obedience to Him. French didn t shy away from the obstacles that are in the way of CIY s big dreams. As he confidently laid a charge before those in the audience that monumental evening, he unashamedly asked everyone to join in the cause to support the ministry in sacrificial ways so as to realize those God-sized dreams. To achieve some of those dreams will mean major donations of prayer, promotions and financial provision. It would be easy to look at those seemingly insurmountable mountains and say, Let s try to accomplish something a little more realistic. But realistic isn t how God operates. He specializes in the impossible. And so as French challenged the audience that evening to be obedient to the dreams God has planted before the ministry, a renewed excitement for what dreams God has for CIY began to burst forth. Those efforts will be rooted in some boundary stones that French said will never be removed from CIY s ministry. As CIY moves into the next 50 years of ministry, there are a few things that will remain the same. French specifically referenced the fact that CIY has always been rooted in the Gospel, and that will never change. Anchoring our dreams in the Gospel allows those dreams to be bigger than ourselves even bigger than this lifetime because no matter the dream, there is one main point: Jesus. French also emphasized Let them know that they have the Imago Dei (image of God) stamped on their very hearts. And let them know that the Church still matters it is God s answer to a broken world. that students are made for Kingdom work. We are not saved by anything but grace, but we recognize that God gives us each unique skills, talents and abilities and then invites us to use them for His Kingdom. We believe that God is doing things in advance for preteens, for junior high kids, for high school kids, and we want to be there to be a part of that moment when he prepares them for Kingdom work. And through all that, French said, we will continue to have an attachment to the local church. The commitment to the local church is not a new concept for anyone who is familiar with CIY, and the roots of such a posture goes back to the beginning days of the ministry. When CIY began in the 60s, it was a hard time for youth and a hard time for the Church because so many leaders were saying, Christ, but not the church, Stacy said. I thought to myself, Christ would be very displeased with such. And so, I began to emphasize the Book and the faithfulness to His Church. That s what youth first learned from us: the Book and go home and be faithful in His Church. By the grace, and to the glory of God, CIY has been a tool that has reached 1 million people over 50 years, with thousands of lives changed all over the world... all because a man took his dream, rooted it in the Gospel, believed people were made for Kingdom work and attached his dream to serving the Church. Despite the many often impossible obstacles of that dream, God turned human limits into a ministry that has grown to encompass the entire globe. In the closing statement of French s charge, he reminded that when we have Jesus, we have light. And because of that light, we have dreams that can be used to impact the world. It s not the size of the light that matters, it s your willingness to let it shine, he said. Your willingness to get out of your comfort zone. Your willingness to move into dark places. Your willingness to lift up this call to Kingdom work. It will be rooted in the Gospel. Let them know they have the Imago Dei (image of God) stamped on their very hearts. And let them know that the Church still matters it is God s answer to a broken world. We will not stop shining. May you continue to shine and continue to make your dreams God-sized. And as you do, may you continue to praise Him who specializes in the impossible. KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

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26 Lindsey Brown sits with a Cambodian child while at one of Rapha House s Kids Clubs during an Engage trip this summer. 26

27 27 MISSIONS IS A LIFESTYLE Emphasis on Seven Mission Principles helps young people embrace lifestyle of missions STORY BY BRAD WARREN This is the first in a seven-part series that will examine CIY Engage s Seven Mission Principles, which are taught to every student who joins Engage for an international mission trip. The principles are: Missions is a Lifestyle, Observation Before Interpretation, Church Matters, Cultures are Beautiful and Broken, Do Things With not For People, God is Already Working, and Poverty is Everywhere. Glorious sports moments often involve a player with the ball in his or her possession: Michael Jordan s dunk from the free throw line at the 1988 Dunk Contest; Doug Flutie hitting Gerard Phelan on a Hail Mary pass to give Boston College a win over Miami in 1984; Brandi Chastain s go-ahead penalty kick to give the U.S. Women s Soccer Team the World Cup title over China in 1999; and the list goes on. The best players want the ball and a chance to create exciting moments. But anyone who has ever played a team sport is probably familiar with an axiom that I love to use when coaching soccer: What you do when you don t have the ball is as important as what you do when you have the ball. Many high school and college students view an international mission trip as their spiritual moment with the ball, so to speak. Their trip is the apex of months or years of hard work fundraising, researching and preparing for their trip. It s a high point in their faith, and a moment that they often view as the pinnacle of their experience as a Christian teenager. It s a rare moment in their faith journey when a high concentration of their friends and loved ones want to hear their stories, see their pictures and relive their experiences with them. It s a moment when people are paying attention, and it is worthy of the excitement that it usually garners. But what you do when you don t have the ball is as important as what you do when you have it. The metaphor works with the idea of missions, as well. Missions is not a moment, a trip, a week or a project. Missions is a lifestyle. In July, I co-led a team of 19 people from Willowdale Chapel in the Philadelphia area on an Engage trip to the Dominican Republic. A Dominican woman named Cristhianne Corporan picked us up from the airport with her son, Caleb, and we were off. For seven days we were engaged in non-stop worship, discipleship, work and fun. Cris was by our side through it all. She stayed in the same house as us, she went to all the places we went, and she did all the things we did. It didn t take us long to realize what Cris was sacrificing to be with us. She lived with her mom and her two adult children, all of whom she was giving up time with for us. She was forsaking the comfort of her own home to sleep on bunk beds in a house with more than 20 other people. She was waking up early and going to bed late to make sure that our every need was met. And, she was doing all of this to serve as a powerful voice challenging our team to pray, to stay in tune with the Spirit, and to selflessly serve others. Engage s mission partners in the Dominican Republic are El Circulo Church and International Justice Mission. Throughout the course of the trip, we learned about all of the ways that each of those organizations is ministering to the people of the Dominican Republic. It took our team a while to figure out how Cris fit into the picture. The natural assumption would have been that she was a staff member at El Circulo Church, given her level of involvement and her ability to give up a week of her time to be with our team. I think that s what most of our teammates thought, albeit mistakenly. I ll never forget the looks on their faces when my co-leader, Morgan, told them that Cris was actually volunteering her time to be with us that week. They were in disbelief that she (Continued on next page) CHRIST IN YOUTH

28 28 would be willing and able to give up an entire week of her time to live 10 minutes from the comfort of her own home and hang out with 21 strangers from the U.S. Cris is a teacher by trade, and she also works part-time as a remote receptionist for a doctor in Puerto Rico. As far as the organizational structure of El Circulo Church is concerned, she is just another church member. But her service to Jesus through El Circulo and the sacrifices that she makes to that end are invaluable. The thing that I most want our Dominican Republic teams to know about Cris Corporan is that when we leave, nothing changes. She is still living every day looking for ways to be part of what God is doing all around her. She is still making a profound impact on her community through the way that she loves God, loves people and serves the Church. Cris didn t go anywhere to be on mission. She didn t leave her home, or build a house, or learn a new language, or fundraise. She is on mission in her own back yard. Every day, Cris is living out what it means to be a Kingdom worker. That s why Engage trips are so important. Engage trips don t only give students the opportunity to do Kingdom work for one week in another country, they train students for a life of Kingdom work. On our trips, we expose teams to people like Cris, living and serving all over the world, to show them that they have the ability and opportunity to go back home and daily live out the calling that Christ has placed on their lives to be Kingdom workers. Missions is not just going to the Dominican Republic and hanging out with Cris for a week. Missions is also what you do when you get home. Brad Warren, program administrator with CIY s Engage team, has fun with some Kenyan children during a visit to the country earlier this year. Warren and the Engage team are intentional about helping young people from the U.S. interact with Kingdom workers in other countries to help them get an up-close look at what it means to embrace the idea of missions as a lifestyle. CIY S SEVEN MISSION PRINCIPLES: 1. Missions is a Lifestyle 2. Cultures are Beautiful and Broken 3. Church Matters 4. Poverty is Everywhere 5. Observation Before Interpretation 6. Do things WITH, not FOR People 7. God is already working KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

29 29 explore the WORlD Learn about new cultures Train for a life of Kingdom work applications now being accepted for 2019 trips ciy.com/engage CHRIST IN YOUTH

30 30 STANDING FOR JESUS God finds a way for student with disability to stand for Kingdom worker decision STORY B BY ryce Wright is a high schooler with spina bifida a condition that has hindered his spinal cord development since birth. But he doesn t let his wheelchair keep him from standing for Jesus. BECCA HAINES among the 116 high school students were Kelly who once again picked up Wright from his wheelchair, but this time so that they could stand together and answer God s call on their lives. It was such an awesome moment, Kelly said. We had the idea that we were going to stand, but we didn t know how it was going Wright is a sophomore at Maize South High School in Wichita, to work out. The moment came they made the call and I leaned Kansas, and attends Pathway Church. His best friend, Anders Kelly, is a fellow sophomore at the high school. The two connected down and said, I m going to just pick you up so people can see we mean this, and he hugged onto me. We cried and prayed just last summer at MOVE noting their relationship got a jumpstart thanking God for this week. from inspiring speakers and heartfelt videos about showing kindness to others. Kelly said he suspected MOVE Program Coordinator Caleb Wright was lonely before their friendship DeRoin got to know countless students took off seemingly isolated from many from the 34-city tour last summer, but he functions due to his wheelchair Wright said he distinctly remembers Wright and said his friend was right. We had the idea that we were the specific moment when he looked up going to stand, but we didn t from the stage into the balcony and saw I wasn t as close to anyone before Anders, the silhouetted friends standing for their Wright said. It really meant something know how it was going to Savior. when he started showing up and we work out... I leaned down started to really trust each other. Throughout the week, I had seen Bryce and said, I m going to just confined to a wheelchair, but he always The friends started going to high school pick you up... seemed to be having a phenomenal football games together, playing video experience and expressed the best attitude games, sitting next to each other in church and outlook, DeRoin said. That student and participating more in youth group. was helped by another student to stand up Wright said a defining moment in this to answer God s call to vocational ministry. Emotion rushed over blossoming friendship happened last fall when their youth group me and I had to leave the room. What a beautiful image of love, wanted to conquer a corn maze together. Kelly and Wright found and what a beautiful image of Kingdom work above all else. themselves not only lost, but stuck. The maze was muddy, and my wheelchair was getting stuck quite a bit, Wright said. The rest of the group made it out but Anders, me and two other people were very lost. We wanted to get out of there so Anders picked me up out my wheelchair and carried me! It was a long ways, too. That really built our friendship because I felt like I could trust him. Wright and Kelly returned to MOVE this summer in Lincoln, Nebraska, where they learned even more about each other including personal struggles with sin. As that bond strengthened, they decided to form an alliance to face those battles together. At the end of the week when the MOVE team invited students to stand to declare their commitments to vocational ministry, Wright and Kelly said there s no doubt that God brought them together and they have seen Him move so powerfully in their friendship that they re willing to base their futures on it and boldly share their testimonies with others. I want to show people that no matter what condition you re in, you can pursue whatever you want, Wright said. I ve been called to share my story. I feel if there s an obstacle, you shouldn t let it stop you. I feel the Holy Spirit has led me to a new path for my life and there s more steps I need to make in my faith from people I hang out with and the things I do. Anders isn t like a friend anymore I would say we re brothers. It s beyond a friendship now. KINGDOM WORKER CONNECTION

31 31 TO BE CONTINUED REGISTER AT CIY.COM/MOVE CHRIST IN YOUTH

32 32 STORIES FROM THE ROAD Engage is continuing to train students for a life of Kingdom work by leading trips to countries all over the world. Young people on these trips go through training that includes Engage s Seven Mission Principles. The following are testimonies from Kingdom workers who have traveled with Engage and participated in the training. KYLEE HAUXWELL, 18 (KENYA) Playing with these children was an amazing experience, but what was even better was getting to share God s love with these children When the children just wanted to hold our hands or talk, they really just wanted someone to show them love. Showing love to these children was super easy, but it was very hard to say goodbye. None of us wanted to leave. JAKE BERGLIN, 19 (NORTHERN IRELAND) When I went to Northern Ireland this past summer I was able to realize just how God uses His people in the world. Working with the local kids made me see just how broken yet beautiful the world is. God uses us and those around us to reach those in the broken parts and add to the beauty that already exists. CARRIE LARGEN, 23 (DOMINICAN REPUBLIC) I am amazed how God can use a mission trip before and after the flights. I was able to discuss my purpose for the trip with multiple individuals before I left and had conversations about faith that normally wouldn t have come up afterward. The most important aspect of the trip was God giving me a heart that was willing to say, I will go. MIA BUCKLEY, 16 (NORTHERN IRELAND) We got to know each other in such a close environment where we were growing, learning and seeing the Lord work in our lives as well as others every day all day. We honestly became like a family. They are the only ones on the planet who experienced that with me. When we re together it s like no time has passed. When I went to a reunion after the trip I was expecting it to be awkward, but honestly it was like we had never left Ireland. Each one of them is truly a blessing in my life, and I can t imagine not having met them. TO READ MORE STORIES OF KINGDOM WORKERS TRAVELING INTERNATIONALLY WITH CIY, PLEASE VISIT KW-HUB.COM KINGDOM WORKER HUB

33 33 SOCIAL MEDIA SPOTLIGHT Stories of God s amazing work in the lives of so many Kingdom workers all over the world can be found in different places throughout social media. Below is just a small sampling of #kingdomworkers embracing Christ s call on their lives. A moment in CIY history. I am who YOU say I am! We pray for PEACE TO BE CONTINUED! Embarking on 50 more years of #kingdomwork Share YOUR story! This is not your average rabbit... Real MVP s: Adult Leaders! Did you see us surprise Jeff? Go to our FB... and grab some tissues! CHRIST IN YOUTH

34 34 CHOOSE NOW There s no better time than the present to partner with CIY A friend recently asked me a question that caught me off guard: Why do we keep procrastinating when we know it causes us so much anxiety? That thought has been rattling around in my head ever since, and I can t help but think about the many ways we procrastinate. There are all kinds of reasons from disorganization, to lack of motivation, to over-filled schedules and more. All of us can probably admit that we don t like procrastinating and that we want to do something to change that repeating pattern. I ve decided to adopt the mindset of Choose now. We truly only have a short time on this earth to make a difference, and if we put things off then we re wasting the gift of time that God has given us. No matter what it is I need or want to do, there s no better time than the present. Some of you might be thinking that s impractical, but since I ve embraced this motto I ve discovered that it really takes me less time than I think it does to accomplish the little tasks in front of me, and when I do those things as soon as they re presented to me it definitely helps me to have more peace of mind. What does any of this have to do with CIY and the opportunities that are currently presented before the ministry? Quite a lot. CIY is at a unique moment in history. All year long we ve been celebrating the ministry s 50th anniversary, and some amazing stories have been shared along Scott Walker SENIOR DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT CHRIST IN YOUTH I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE TO CIY S MULTIPLY CAMPAIGN: _ I would like to give a one-time $50 gift. _ I would like to give a one-time $500 gift. _ I would like to give a one-time gift of. _ I would like to give a monthly gift of throughout PLEASE CONTACT ME TO DISCUSS MORE GIVING AND PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES WITH CIY. NAME ADDRESS CITY, STATE, ZIP /PHONE the way. But coupled with those stories have been incredible opportunities for the future. Specifically, CIY s Multiply campaign which seeks to raise $6 million over three years will answer one of the biggest charges God has placed before us. With those funds we can expand to more events globally, build a new film studio and training center, and purchase equipment to create the kinds of resources that connect so well with young people today. To reach that goal, however, we need your help. All year we ve asked you to partner with us in three very specific ways: prayer, promotion and provision. Why wait until later to help us with those three things? There s no better time than the moment in front of you. Choose now to pray for this organization and the many young people it reaches every year. Choose now to promote its events, mission trips and resources to someone who needs to be connected. And choose now to provide financially for the ministry in whatever way you re able to. The end of the year is the perfect time to give a financial gift to CIY. Not only does it help the ministry at a critical time of the year, but it also gives you the opportunity to claim that gift as a tax deduction on your upcoming tax statement. Please don t wait. Please choose now to pray, promote and provide for CIY. Scott Walker is the senior director of development for Christ In Youth. To find out more about ministry partnerships, contact Scott at scott.walker@ciy.com. KINGDOM WORKER HUB

35 CIY coordinates and produces programs, events and trips for students in grades four through college throughout the U.S. and the world, and develops resources that benefit the local church. CIY amplifies Christ s call on students lives to be Kingdom workers. For more information, visit ciy.com. A two-day interactive weekend event designed specifically for preteens (4-6 grades), engaging their growing minds and teaching them more about the Bible. ciy.com/superstart ST. LOUIS, MO ATLANTA, GA BLOOMINGTON, IL CONTACT: Logan Sperry logan.sperry@ciy.com PHOENIZ, AZ LOUISVILLE, KY ORLANDO, FL DALLAS, TX HOUSTON, TX TULSA, OK INDIANAPOLIS, IN CHICAGO, IL CINCINNATI, OH Believe is a high-energy weekend event for Jr. high students only, packed with powerful worship and teaching from God s Word. ciy.com/believe DALLAS, TX IRVINE, CA PORTLAND, OR CONTACT: Juan Fallas juan.fallas@ciy.com TULSA, OK LOUISVILLE, KY CINCINNATI, OH KISSIMMEE, FL SPRINGFIELD, IL ATLANTA, GA KANSAS CITY, MO ABDERSON, IN HOLLAND, MI Engage offers mission trips that train students to engage other cultures of the world for the Kingdom of God. ciy.com/engage CONTACT: engage@ciy.com NORTHERN IRELAND DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PUERTO RICO CAMBODIA HAITI KENYA POLAND HONDURAS A five-day summer program for high school students to experience God, including daily devotions, dynamic worship, community discipleship and Biblical teaching. ciy.com/move MISSOURI CALIFORNIA TENNESSEE OHIO MARYLAND IRELAND CONTACT: Joel Yates joel.yates@ciy.com MASSACHUSETTS ALABAMA MICHIGAN FLORIDA COLORADO INDIANA NEBRASKA ILLINOIS TEXAS OREGON ARKANSAS CANADA A four-day summer conference for middle school students (6-8 grades) designed to address the unique spiritual, cognitive and developmental needs of that age group. ciy.com/mix CONTACT: Titus Weece titus.weece@ciy.com CALIFORNIA MISSOURI INDIANA TEXAS ILLINOIS OKLAHOMA OHIO TENNESSEE FLORIDA KENTUCKY PENNSYLVANIA MICHIGAN NEW MEXICO WASHINGTON

36 Find us Search for The CIY Community A Student Ministry Group on Facebook and join in