Kingdom Worker Challenges Make

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Kingdom Worker Challenges Make"

Benjamin Butler
5 years ago
Views:

envelope containing a challenge task. The purpose of each task was to encourage students to utilize their gifts and abilities for the Kingdom by starting where they live, just as they are.

Not everyone opened an envelope, but the students who did will never be the same. Fifty different tasks were given randomly to students willing to accept the challenge.

1 4th Quarter 2009 Christ in Youth Amplifying Christ s call to be Kingdom workers by Lueda Phillips Kingdom Worker Challenges Make News Across US This summer at CIY MOVE, each student was given an envelope containing a challenge task. The purpose of each task was to encourage students to utilize their gifts and abilities for the Kingdom by starting where they live, just as they are. The challenges were big, but not impossible. By opening the envelope, students understood that they were making a commitment to complete the task inside, whatever it might be. Not everyone opened an envelope, but the students who did will never be the same. Fifty different tasks were given randomly to students willing to accept the challenge. They were asked to open the envelope with their parents, youth group, and other adults who would help encourage them on to completion. The impact of the completed challenge tasks has already been incredible! This is an excerpt from Jason s (youth minister) letter to CIY. To say the cards my students opened after Michigan 2 have challenged them would be a complete understatement. Not only have you made it easier on my student ministry department to keep the passion from MOVE real in the lives of our students but you have made the idea of living our lives as kingdom INSIDE: workers a lifetime goal to many of my students. It was so amazing to see how God worked through those envelopes. I know certain students receiving their cards was no act of chance. I knew God was at work in this but what I experienced next completely caught me off guard. I had my students get in front of the congregation the Sunday morning after we returned to explain how great their weeks went, what we talked about, what their favorite moment was, etc. Then anyone who opened an envelope shared what their challenge is for the next year. The preaching minister was so touched at the idea of our students taking on such big challenges that he gave out a challenge of his own to the adults in our congregation to step up and assist these students along the way. Praying for them, helping collect the coats, going on work days with them to help them earn the money, calling them to see how things are going, etc.etc.etc... I can t even begin to explain how those cards have impacted our church! Nearly 20,000 students and leaders representing more than 3,000 different Road Crew Amplify the Call Campaign Summer Stories for the Soul communities throughout the United States were challenged to take action in their churches and communities through the challenge cards. Stories are beginning to pop-up in newspapers and in blogs across the country. Check out the following stories online: Michael Cincinnati, OH Faith to move mountains: Eastern teen heads up massive winter coat drive gcdailyworld.com/story/ html Zavia - Oviedo, FL High school senior accepts challenge to feed local families seminolechronicle.com/vnews/display.v/ ART/2009/10/21/4adf8bc Hunger for Thanksgiving help: It s off the charts - Samaritans gather hundreds of holiday meals for needy orlandosentinel.com/news/local/osthanksgiving-girl ,0, story George IN Teen pedals across state to raise awareness archivesearch/local_story_ html Nate and Caitlin Topeka, KS Students collect coats as ministry students_collect_coats_as_ministry This newsletter printed by Pittcraft Printing, a proud supporter of Christ In Youth! See Kingdom Workers, back panel

by Andy Hansen SUMMER STORIES FOR THE SOUL! Here are two stories about how God is moving in student lives from their experiences at Christ In Youth s MOVE.

2 by Andy Hansen SUMMER STORIES FOR THE SOUL! Here are two stories about how God is moving in student lives from their experiences at Christ In Youth s MOVE. Kayla moved from the west coast to the Midwest just before her freshman year in high school. Though Kayla and her family found a church to connect with, none of her new classmates attended there. Her new youth minister kept talking about something called CIY and a great summer event named MOVE. Kayla was very shy; she didn t like the idea of going alone ; however, her mom thought it would be a good way for her to meet new people, so she signed her up. The trip proved to be worth the risk. It was amazing how close we came to God that week! said Kayla. It was great having a caring leader teach us each day during our discipleship group. Those moments really showed how God s word can become a practical and real part of every day. One of my friends, Jessica, even discovered God for the first time. After that experience, Kayla and Jessica told many of their friends about the incredible spiritual growth that happens at MOVE. They prayerfully encouraged others to come with them the next summer. And when financial troubles looked to hinder some kids, Kayla s parents helped them with part of the registration cost. Because of their prayers and efforts, six additional friends came to MOVE the next year. I loved seeing my friends become so radically changed by Jesus! By the third night, everyone became so open to sharing about their life, their struggles, and their need for God. Now, all eight of these students are active in the church youth group and are witnesses for Jesus at their school. This past summer, MOVE became a place of bonding and ministering for this group of teens, as one of them, Cassie, found out her mother had terminal cancer. Throughout the week, her friends and peers stood beside Cassie as they continually gave her prayer, encouragement, and support. The third day s lesson was particularly poignant as it focused on trusting God to always be with you, to trust in faith that He will provide, even when you are afraid. MOVE 2009 challenged students to use their gifts and talents to be Kingdom workers more than ever. Each student was given an envelope with a card that had a challenge that would require much time, effort, and sacrifice. They were told to open it only if they truly planned on accepting the challenge. Kayla opened her card and is going to give the money she would spend on a prom dress to an underprivileged family. Marisa went as a sponsor for 27 junior high students at the Know Sweat trip in Dallas, TX. My heart will never be the same, she said. I heard 8 th graders talking to 7 th graders about the privilege of serving... I heard them praying so sincerely, even crying for the people who lived in the homes we were trying to restore. These kids would hardly take water breaks! One of the projects her group worked on was restoring the home of an 89 year-old couple, Albert and Thelma, who had lived in the same neighborhood for 52 years, but which is now deteriorating. Throughout the week, Albert enjoyed talking with the students as they worked. One day, Albert s son broke into tears from seeing the compassion being shown to his parents. At the end of the week, Albert bought a huge box of fried chicken for the students. Though he and Thelma didn t have much money, they wanted to show how much the kindness and hard work of these young people meant to them. A few miles away, more of Marisa s students worked on another home. This house belonged to Margret, a single mother overwhelmed with working and caring for her family on limited finances. Enduring the hot Dallas weather, the students set to scraping, painting, and landscaping to improve the conditions of the house. As they were working, Marisa s students noticed that one of Margret s children, Precious, had few toys with which to play. In the backyard was a broken toy kitchen set where Precious would spend hours pretending to cook. The junior highers decided to pool their money together and purchase a new playhouse for Precious. With a little more than $200.00, the students purchased the play house, put it together and snuck it into the backyard to surprise her. The look on Precious face when she saw the new playhouse, and all her joy and laughter, is a memory that these students will carry with them for a lifetime... and Precious will always know that she is loved by Jesus every time she cooks a backyard meal. Hundreds of stories in addition to these could be told about what God is doing through MOVE and Know Sweat. These are stories that couldn t be told without your financial partnership and prayers. Thank you for reaching more than 23,000 Kingdom workers this summer in partnership with Christ In Youth.

3 A Time To Turn Up The Volume Ampli Last summer at CIY s 40th Anniversary celebration, Executive Director Andy Hansen announced by approval of the board of trustees, the Amplifying The Call campaign to expand the ministry of Christ In Youth. His announcement came at an important time in history as this generation of students is floundering to know Christ and serve His church. In the United States, there are nearly 42 Million students between the ages of ten and nineteen. These students were born between 1989 and 1998 placing them in the Mosaic or Millennial generation (born between ). Mosaic s are less responsive to the gospel than any generation before them with only 33% responding to the message or regularly attending church. Most startling, only 12% are willing to volunteer their time in service to the church (Source: The Barna Group).This current generation of students are neither prepared nor inclined to become the kingdom workers God is calling them to be. If this Mosaic generation of students fail to become kingdom workers, the global impact of the church will decline. As the church of today, we must amplify the call of Christ on student lives to become kingdom workers for the sake of the church of tomorrow. $4,000,000 $3,000,000 $2,000,000 $1,000,000 0 $1, 693,858 $1, 276,142 Friends Churches Foundation & Esatate Campaign Goal: $4 Million Committed to date: $1.5 Million Committed Need $239,570 $110,430 $680,000 Friends Churches Foundations & Estate How will funds be raised? $350,000 $680,000 $2,970,000 $2,613,428 $1,386,572 TOTAL THE Campaign GOAL The Amplifying The Call campaign is about reaching this generation of students with the gospel and amplifying Christ s call on their lives to be kingdom workers. Multiple programs established in specific regions will impact a potential 250,000 kingdom workers from the more than 1 Million students you will help call over the next decade. How will funds be USED? $1,000,000 Storage, web, enhancements,video $3,000,000 Program Expansion to 12 New Regions

4 fy The Call You Can Make A Difference In A Generation Since the day the church began, there has been a need to amplify the call of Christ. Acts 2:14 records that Peter stood up with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd. Today, the call of Christ has not changed as the Lord of the harvest continues MATTHEW 9:38 Portland, OR Sacremento, CA to call workers into His harvest fields (Matt. 9:38). Las Vegas, NV You can help amplify Christ s call with us by PRAYING for our staff, programs, and the achievement of our goal to impact 1 Million Kingdom workers over the next decade. You can help PROMOTE Christ In Youth through your church and student ministry or by using your Facebook, Twitter or social media accounts in conjunction with CIY social media site roadcrew. ciy.com. You can also PARTNER with the ministry of CIY by providing a reoccurring gift whether through our secure website at donate or by sending your campaign contribution to PO Box B, Joplin, MO, The Amplifying the Call campaign will continue through 2011, so there are many opportunities to help by praying, promoting and providing as God leads. For more than 40 years, Christ In Youth has sought to change youth and change the world by challenging each generation to boldly live for Christ. Today, Christ In Youth is uniquely positioned to reach youth in partnership with the local church. While CIY has challenged hundreds of thousands of Ministry Expansion will include: 1. Double attendance at events and trips by Grow the number of total events 3. Establish 12 Beachheads with multiple CIY events 4. Double the number of participating churches 5. Expand curriculum offerings and influence 6. Expand video production and influence 7. Expand web developments and influence 8. Launch multi-lingual programming Phoenix, AZ Tier 1 Cities in Red Tier 2 and 3 Cities (expanded after Tier 1) in Blue Denver, CO Minneapolis, MN Kansas City, MO/Omaha, NE Region Dallas, TX Grand Rapids, MI Chicago, IL Atlanta, GA Washington DC Orlando, FL Program Expansion will include: 18 new SuperStart! events with a target increased attendance of 14,000 students. 9 new Believe events with a target increased attendance of 15,000 students. 8 new Know Sweat service projects with a target increased attendance of 2, new MOVE events with a target increased attendance of 6, new Discipleship events with a target increased attendance of 2, new Wilderness events with a target increased attendance of 150. Annual production of narrative film/curriculum with potential audience of 400,000 students. Expanded web presence aimed to achieve 1,000,000 viewers per year. New storage/education facility for program set design, construction, equipment storage, and educational space for video/sound/stage production classes. students during the last 40 years, over the next five years, within the next decade, more than 1 Million student lives will be impacted worldwide through events, trips, curriculum, video productions and the internet in an effort to turn the Millennial generation into a generation of Kingdom workers, responding to the call of Christ. The AMPLIFYINGCall

by Chris Jefferson hit the road with ciy as a member of the road crew In January of 2010, CIY will officially launch a great new way for students, leaders and friends to stay in touch and share

com will give a behind-the-scenes look at each of CIY s student programs and events throughout the year as well as share videos, photos, articles and current happenings that you can share with

The RoadCrew is the first website blog of its kind where readers can find frequent updates and exclusives from CIY and help support the ministry of Christ In Youth in a variety of ways.

ministry efforts. The RoadCrew also provides a great way to make a reoccurring or regular gift to the ministry of CIY with a safe and secure online membership.

5 by Chris Jefferson hit the road with ciy as a member of the road crew In January of 2010, CIY will officially launch a great new way for students, leaders and friends to stay in touch and share information about your favorite CIY programs. The RoadCrew website will give a behind-the-scenes look at each of CIY s student programs and events throughout the year as well as share videos, photos, articles and current happenings that you can share with friends through Twitter, Facebook or your favorite social media site. The RoadCrew is the first website blog of its kind where readers can find frequent updates and exclusives from CIY and help support the ministry of Christ In Youth in a variety of ways. Each blog entry will allow visitors to join CIY s ministry programs on the road, letting readers know how they can pray, share and support the ongoing preteen, junior high, high school or college age ministry efforts. The RoadCrew also provides a great way to make a reoccurring or regular gift to the ministry of CIY with a safe and secure online membership. Members can choose to give as little as $1 per month, $1 per week or $1 per day or sign up to provide a special gift online and help a specific campaign or a specific program need. The RoadCrew will replace CIY s former monthly giving club The Youth Group and will allow members greater access to programs and staff members. RoadCrew members who provide a monthly gift for twelve consecutive months will receive a special RoadCrew members premium pack with exclusive t-shirts, CD s, DVD s and specialty items unique to RoadCrew members as CIY s way of saying Thank You for your support. Previous members of The Youth Group have been automatically added as inaugural members of the RoadCrew. A regularly published enewsletter will help alert RoadCrew visitors and members when new stories, posts and campaigns have been added to the site. Regular updates will also be available through an RSS feed option. Visitors and members can consistently share their faith, encourage other Kingdom workers and site links to specific points of interest through their Twitter and Facebook networks. During each program s tour, CIY will provide footage of the actual events to give RoadCrew members a sneak peak at what God is doing in the lives and hearts of students as a direct result of their gifts, prayers and support. This exciting new tool for ministry has been in BETA format for the last several months and will officially launch in Go online and check out roadcrew.ciy. com and sign up today or be expecting the first RoadCrew enewsletter by next month.

CONNECTION Christ In Youth PO Box B Joplin, MO 64802 Non-Profit Org. U.S.

6 CONNECTION Christ In Youth PO Box B Joplin, MO Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Joplin, MO Permit #112 Change Service Requested Contact the Office: Phone: (417) Fax: (417) advancement@ciy.com Help CIY save resources by registering to receive CONNECTION by or update your contact information by sending your name, address and phone number to advancement@ciy.com Kingdom Workers [Con d from Pg 1] Column: Teens lining up 1,000 coats teens_lining_up_1_000_coats 13 youth from Plymouth Avenue Christian Church - Deland, FL Danielle, TJ, Amanda Ocala, FL Youths aiming to collect 2,000 coats for holiday ARTICLES/ /1002 Levi Greenwood, MI Mount Pleasant Christian Church youth distributes food 2?page=1&template=default Across the United States and in communities just like yours, students are making a difference as they learn to live as Kingdom workers. Thank you for helping to change communities across the United States and throughout the world by encouraging students to MOVE! SuperStart! Spring 2010 Event Date Event Location January Stone Mountain, GA Mount Carmel Christian Church February 5-6 Indianapolis, IN Traders Point Christian Church February Colleyville, TX Compass Christian Church Colleyville Campus February Broken Arrow, OK The Church at Battle Creek March 5-6 Normal, IL Eastview Christian Church March Cincinnati, OH Christ s Church at Mason 2010 Believe Messiah Tour Event Date Event Location January Anaheim Hilton Anaheim February 5-6 Tulsa Tulsa Convention Center February Cincinnati Bank of Kentucky Center February Chicago DuPage Expo Center March 5-6 St. Louis Family Arena March Kissimmee Oseola Hertiage Park March Arlington Arlington Convention Center April 9-10 Atlanta Gwinnett Center April Anderson 1 Anderson University, Reardon Aud. April Anderson 2 Anderson University, Reardon Aud. April Holland Devos Fieldhouse April 30-May 1 Portland Oregon Convention Center

MARCH

MARCH MARCH 2015 WWW.CIY.COM BELIEVE S AFTER TOUR CALLS JR. HIGH S ACROSS THE U.S. MORE THAN 20,000 STUDENTS ARE PROJECTED TO ATTEND THIS YEAR S BELIEVE TOUR. ANDY HANSEN THE PRESIDENT CHRIST IN YOUTH CHASING