T H E M AGAZ INE
WINTER/SPRING 2017 ISSUE 8
THE CULTURE ISSUE HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR STUDENTS’ CULTURAL DISCERNMENT | CAN’T MISS RESOURCES FOR TRACKING YOUTH CULTURE 3 TIPS FOR HELPING FAMILIES NAVIGATE CULTURE | GENERATE CAMP 2018 DATES RELEASED
YOUR DISCIPLE NOW & RETREAT WEEKENDS CAN BE LIFE-CHANGING IN THE LIVES OF YOUR STUDENTS.
Disciple Now and retreat weekends are an opportunity to spend extended time pouring into the lives of your students, building relationships, and helping them grow in their faith. It’s one of the few times throughout the year when you get to be hyper-focused with the time you spend. Let us help you give them your full attention. Used by 3,000+ youth groups and designed by our team of trusted content creators, YM360's Gospel-driven Bible studies and resources will equip you to lead students to know Christ and make Him known through your event.
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I DO NOT ASK THAT YOU TAKE THEM OUT OF THE WORLD, BUT THAT YOU KEEP
THEM
FROM
THE
EVIL ONE. THEY ARE NOT O F TH E W O R L D , JU S T A S I AM NOT OF THE WORLD.
J OH N
1 7 : 1 5- 1 6
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 TRENDS & CULTURE
2 CULTURAL RELEVANCY & YOUTH MINISTRY 4 HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR STUDENTS’ CULTURAL DISCERNMENT
7 YOUTH MINISTRY & OUR CULTURAL OBSESSION WITH SPORTS 8 CAN’T MISS RESOURCES FOR TRACKING YOUTH CULTURE 10 EQUIPPING TEENAGE GUYS TO PURSUE CHRIST-CENTERED MASCULINITY 12 3 TIPS FOR HELPING FAMILIES NAVIGATE CULTURE 19 GENERATE CAMP BY YM360 - 2018 DATES RELEASED! One of the things we’re most interested in at YM360 is the impact culture has on discipleship. Our students are each on their own respective spiritual journeys, and these journeys happen against a backdrop of culture. Spiritual development doesn’t happen in a vacuum. The cultural contexts our students live in each day dramatically shape their faith. While the specific impact of our cultural context is interesting to track, the idea that culture impacts discipleship isn’t anything new. Read the Sermon on the Mount through this lens and you see Jesus addressing the cultural implications of His audience. So many of Paul’s writings, especially his letters to the Corinthians, are aimed at helping his readers understand how to follow Christ amidst the culture that surrounds them.
A NOTE FROM ANDY
As people who have been tasked with shaping the faith of the next generation, we must strive to take the timeless truth of the Gospel and deliver it in a way that is couched in the relevant aspects of our teenagers’ culture. This edition of YM360 The Magazine is aimed to help you do just that. My prayer is that it provokes in you questions about how you engage with culture, as well as providing you with tools to help you lead your ministries well. As always, I speak on behalf of the entire YM360 Team when I say what a privilege it is to serve you. Please do not hesitate to let us know what we can do to partner with you as you lead teenagers closer to Christ. God Bless, Andy Blanks YM360 Co-Founder, Publisher
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TRENDS & CULTURE
FEWER TEENS are
DOING DRUGS THAN EVER BEFORE
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US teens are drinking and smoking less, and doing fewer drugs than their predecessors in more than 40 years of tracking. Even marijuana use is down among 8th and 10th-graders, though it’s flat among high school seniors, according to the annual Monitoring the Future survey of American teens. In 1991, nearly 11% of high school seniors smoked a half pack of cigarettes or more a day. This year, only 1.8% said they smoke that much, and only 10.5% reported any smoking in the last month. Even e-cigarette use fell among high school seniors, from 16% last year to 12% this year. Alcohol use is also at its lowest level ever. Source: usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/12/13/teens-drinking-smoking-drugsstudy/95349684/
TEXAS TO LAUNCH
DEPRESSION
MASSIVE
AMONG TEENAGERS
IS ON THE RISE
YOUTH-ATHLETE
CONCUSSION STUDY
The University Interscholastic League, Texas’ governing body for public high school sports, is partnering with the O’Donnell Brain Institute at UT Southwestern Medical Center for the project, from which they hope to gauge whether rules or equipment changes are improving player safety and what more can be done to protect athletes. The CDC has estimated that up to 3.8 million concussions occur in sports and recreational activities each year, but some experts wonder if those numbers underestimate total brain injuries, as some individuals may not seek treatment for mild or moderate symptoms. Source: foxnews.com/health/2016/12/12/texas-to-launch-massive-youth-athlete-concussion-study.html
PARENTS USE
DIGITAL
ENTERTAINMENT
MORE THAN
9 HOURS A DAY
A recent study published in the medical journal “Pediatrics”, has found that depression is on the rise among teenagers, particularly in girls. The increasing rates of depression are concerning, particularly when viewed with rates of suicide, which are also trending up. The real problem, according to the research is that pediatricians are struggling to identify the mental illness. “The training regime for pediatricians in childhood psychiatric disorders is slim,” Washington University psychiatrist Dr. Anne Glowinski said. Source: news.stlpublicradio.org/post/depression-rising-among-teenagers-diagnosisand-treatment-have-ways-go-catch#stream/0
A new study finds between posting pictures on Facebook, exploring Pinterest projects, tweeting, texting, etc., parents spend an average of nine hours and 22 minutes every day using media and technology. That’s mostly entertainment screen time, not work. The study from Common Sense Media is based on a nationally representative survey of nearly 1,800 parents of tweens and teenagers. “This study shows that while parents spend over nine hours a day with screen media, 78% of American parents think that they’re very good media and tech role models for their kids. So there’s a pretty big disconnect there,” says James Steyer of Common Sense Media. Source: kxan.com/2016/12/06/study-parents-use-digital-entertainment-more-than-9-hours-a-day/
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ARTICLE we can be when it comes to youth culture? It’s actually pretty simple:
CULTURAL RELEVANCY & YOUTH MINISTRY:
KNOW THE BIBLE. KNOW TEENAGERS.
I believe youth workers must strive to be experts in two things: Scripture and culture. Why? Great question. Let me explain. We know the truth of Scripture is timeless. But culture isn’t. Culture is fluid. It changes with time and geography. You wouldn’t travel to rural Chongqing, China and teach the exact same lesson you would teach in Idaho Falls. While the underlying biblical truths have a universal application, the cultural “vehicle” through which your lesson is communicated would be wholly ineffective. I believe as youth workers we should approach reaching our students with the same level of cultural awareness that we would take in approaching another people group in another culture. Why? IT’S STRATEGIC—Knowing youth culture helps you tailor your message in order to deliver Scripture’s un-changing truth in a way that is wrapped in the rhetoric of the context surrounding your students. IT SHOWS YOU CARE—Whenever I travel internationally, I learn some basic conversational phrases in the native language. When I need something and engage someone in their native language (however clumsily), they are much more inclined to help. It shows that I value their culture. Knowing youth culture says the same thing to your students.
BECOME A STUDENT OF YOUR STUDENTS’ CULTURE Consider watching some of the movies they watch. Read the magazines they read. Visit the websites they visit. Listen to music they listen to. By doing so you craft your cultural vocabulary. You will know the cultural factors influencing your students. ENGAGE STUDENTS IN CULTURAL CONVERSATION Titus 2:12 says that we are to “say ‘no’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” You can help your students know how to say “no” to the harmful elements of culture by engaging them in conversation regarding the cultural influences in their lives. LOOK FOR THE BRIDGES TO GOD’S WORD I believe one of your goals as a youth worker is to help students see the world through the filter of Scripture. It’s vitally important to look for bridges back to Scripture as you discuss what you see in culture. By doing so, you help students rise above the negative effects of culture. As I stated earlier, I believe all youth workers are called to be versed in culture. Want biblical evidence? Look no further than the way Paul conducted himself in Athens. Acts 17:22-23 says this: “Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: “Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are very religious. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship.’” Paul studied Athenian culture then used this knowledge to craft a Gospel message unique to his audience. It is our call as youth workers to be committed to the same level of cultural relevancy.
IT’S PROACTIVE—If you’re aware of a trend, movie, or TV show that you know you will need to respond to, you can be proactive in engaging your students. By doing so, you have the opportunity to equip your students with a biblical response to whatever the specific issue is. But how do we make sure we are as culturally relevant as
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ANDY BLANKS is the co-founder and Publisher for YM360. He lives in Birmingham, AL with his wonderful wife Brendt, their three daughters, and one son. When he’s not hanging out with his family or volunteering at his church’s youth ministry, you can find Andy trail running or mountain biking. Follow Andy on Instagram: @andy_blanks
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FEATURE
HOW TO IMPROVE YOUR STUDENTS’ CULTURAL DISCERNMENT
BY ANDY BLANKS
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FEATURE It’s not hard to look around and see that our culture continues to evolve into one that runs more and more counter to God and His ways. As we encounter and engage with culture alongside our students, I thought it would be beneficial to offer a sort of guideline for addressing cultural elements, whether it be a movie, TV show, song, website . . . really, any cultural entity that offers a perspective contrary to God’s standards. The goal here is pretty simple: improving your students’ cultural discernment. It’s not enough to tell students “no,” or “don’t.” What we should be doing, alongside their parents, is helping create discernment. I want my own children and the students I work with in our youth ministry to be able to say WHY a particular message is counter to their beliefs as a Christ-follower. I know you do, too. This is just a simple guideline, but I think it’s flexible enough to allow for adaptation to a variety of subjects and settings. 1. GAUGE YOUR GROUP’S LEVEL OF EXPOSURE Consider this your fieldwork, gathering insight through conversations with students and through overhearing conversations between students. See if the particular issue is something your students are aware of. I think there’s a fine line between checking to see if a certain song, movie, or trend is on students’ radars, and possibly alerting them to something they might not have otherwise been exposed to. I know as I work with students, I’m always trying to be aware of this element. You know your students best, and if you think they’ve been exposed to something that they are struggling with, you have to address it (that’s my belief, at least). 2. ESTABLISH A BASELINE Scripture is the only measure we have of how we are to conduct ourselves from a moral and ethical viewpoint. The Bible paints a clear picture of God’s character and contains the moral standards of God’s Kingdom. And as Christ-followers, we are called to imitate His character, more or less acting as citizens of God’s Kingdom. You must establish that God and His ways, as communicated through His Word, are literally the standards by which your students are to conduct themselves.
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3. NOTE WHERE THE PARTICULAR CULTURAL CONCEPT DEVIATES FROM GOD’S STANDARD How does the song, or movie, or TV show conflict with Scripture? Does it go against God’s standard for right sexual relations? Does it go against the idea of honoring our bodies as the temple of God’s Spirit (1 Cor. 6:19-20)? Does it go against the idea that all people are treasured and valuable because they are made in God’s image? Isolate the main reason(s) the particular cultural element goes against God’s Word by reading specific passages from Scripture, and, where possible, supporting it with multiple passages. 4. CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE OF CRITIQUE I ate lunch the other day with a veteran youth pastor. He made a great point about messages and marketing that target a teenage audience, specifically TV shows. He said if you pay attention, you’ll see that teenagers are simply being exploited. They are the butt of the joke. In most cases a denigrating view of teenagers is pedaled to generate ratings and buzz, to push the envelope for what is shocking in our culture. You can help students see that this is simply not acceptable, or beneficial. Ask how students feel being manipulated and used. Don’t just teach, engage! If students have watched the particular show, or heard the song, have them bring to light other instances where the show might violate some aspect of Scripture. (Keep in mind point number 1 here as you make sure the discussion stays within acceptable boundaries.) The goal is to help create students who are critics of culture, discerning exactly where and how culture violates God’s standards, and choosing to engage with it based on those grounds. 5. END WITH AN EMPHASIS ON HOLINESS 1 Peter 1:15-16 makes such a clear case that as children of God, we are called to emulate holiness in all we do. To me, the pursuit of holiness is the aim of helping students develop “handles” for how to live in and engage with culture. Again, this is not a rigid set of rules by any means, but a good guideline with which to negotiate dealing with a cultural element your students may find themselves interacting with.
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A NEW DISCIPLE NOW & RETREAT WEEKEND STUDY “FOR GOD GAVE US A SPIRIT NOT OF FEAR BUT OF POWER AND LOVE AND SELF-CONTROL.” - 2 TIMOTHY 1:7 FEAR CAN KEEP YOUR STUDENTS FROM BEING ALL THAT GOD CALLED THEM TO BE. Whether it’s insecurity, doubt, fear of rejection, or the fear of un-met expectations, fear holds many of our students back. The problem with this is, of course, that God has called us to face our fears and lean-in to who He desires us to be. Scripture is clear: God empowers us to meet the tasks He’s set in front of us. In their small groups, your students will look at four powerful moments from Jesus’ life where He modeled for us what it means to be fearless. Your students will see what Scripture has to say about being bold in the face of whatever the world throws their way, empowering them to do the same.
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ARTICLE
YOUTH MINISTRY & OUR CULTURAL OBSESSION WITH SPORTS
I am a fan (and scholar) of sports and its place in our culture. The reason that sports are so popular is that, unlike films, TV programs, and video games, sports are unscripted and exciting to the point of exhilaration. It’s easy to see the draw of the unknown and be thrilled by the possibilities, the “Cinderella stories,” or the “huge favorite” suffering a loss to the underdog. I’ve often thought about the wild and easily observed idolatry that our culture — Christian and non-believer alike — ascribe to sports, athletes, and teams. Go to a college football game — any game, anywhere — on a Saturday in the fall, and you’ll see worship. You’ll see rabid fans, both Christian and secular. There is often no distinction. And yet we know there should be. How then can we teach our students how much is too much, and how far is too far in their passion for sports? Here are some ideas.
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more difficult as emotions escalate. Encourage students to make a plan before the game, so that temptation will (hopefully) be held at bay. Have a “wing man/woman” to hold them accountable. Jesus surrounded Himself with 12 people, and often they let him down. However, the model is that “iron sharpens iron” if we allow the process to work. FANTASY SPORTS ARE AWESOME . . . IN MODERATION. Many of your students (and maybe you) overindulge in fantasy sports the way some people overindulge Facebook and Twitter. The actual games are no longer enough, so they spend hours a day, for entire seasons, “researching” drafts and lineups. Scripture is pretty clear that binging on anything is not a good idea, as it leads to abuse of the temple of God (our bodies) and the abuse of our ability to worship Him. Especially as it pertains to leagues that involve students, consider the example you’re setting. FINALLY, SPORTS ARE FUN AND CORPORATE. Paul often mentions finishing strong and “winning the race.” Sports have always been a rallying activity in societies, but as with all recreations, we need discipline. Sports are for teaching healthy competition, teamwork, and fairness. When we corrupt them into bitter rivalries, hateful language toward opposing teams/fans, and abusive behavior with our bodies, we not only made sports an idol, but also we lessen its ability to reveal to us the heights of physical possibilities for human achievement. All in all, it’s okay to yell and scream for your team at the game, but remember that it’s just a game. And remember what your actions and attitude says to your students. Sports are not the place for worship. That is reserved for God alone.
AS WITH ANY PASSION, MODERATION AND DISCIPLINE IS THE NAME OF THE GAME. An all-day tailgate for your favorite team, the game, and then the after party is pretty normal the world over. With the possible exception of golf, fan behavior can often get rowdier and bawdier as the day toils on, the libations continue to flow, to say nothing of their team’s good/bad performance. Students can get swept up in such culture without even knowing it’s happening because sports inspire such passion. Therefore, we need limits and boundaries before we get swept up. If we are tailgating, we need to help students be mindful of their language and behavior. Peer pressure gets more and
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HARPER COSSAR, PHD, is a professor at Georgia State University and has been teaching film and media studies for over a decade. He is the author of “Jesus at the Movies: Christianity and Cinema in Conversation” and “Letterboxed: The Evolution of Widescreen Cinema.” He has been published in numerous academic journals and anthologies. Harper and his wife, Heather live in Atlanta, GA. You may contact him at hcossar@gmail.com.
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ARTICLE
CAN’T MISS RESOURCES FOR TRACKING YOUTH CULTURE At YM360 we think it’s absolutely vital to know the backdrop of our teenager’s faith development and the effect it has on spiritual development. So, we thought it would be helpful to pass along our top “youth culture” resources to youth workers (and parents of teens and tweens). Check these resources out and if you like them, bookmark them or share them with your team, and/or your students’ parents. They’re part of the way we stay informed with what’s going on in the world our teenagers are growing up in. 1. YM360 Blog - youthministry360.com/blog Shameless plug, but it’s a great resource for youth culture content. 2. Walt Mueller and the Center For Parent/Youth Understanding - cpyu.org Walt has been doing this for years. He’s a true expert in youth culture and how it impacts spiritual development. 3. Jim Burns and Homeword - homeword.com Jim is similar to Walt in that he’s a seasoned veteran of this field. Homeword has an added family emphasis that’s super helplful. 4. Fuller Youth Institute - fulleryouthinstitute.org There is really great work being done at Fuller by Drs. Kara Powell and Chap Clark (and their team). Their blog and their research is a great tool for helping equip families.
5. Orange Parent’s Blog, “Parent Cue” - theparentcue.org A good resource from the folks at ReThink/Orange. 6. The Youth Culture Report - theyouthculturereport.com A good content aggregate of news, entertainment, and research articles focusing on a youth culture angle. 7. The Billboard Hot 100 billboard.com/charts/hot-100 Billboard Magazine’s interactive list of the hottest 100 songs in the country based on plays across multiple platforms. Let’s you get a sample of what students, or their friends, are listening to. 8. News-ish websites Sites like Mashable, Ink Tank, Boing Boing, etc. are great places to stay up to date on technology, entertainment, and viral videos. 9. Focused Google Search Try this. Search for “teenagers+study,” hit the “News” filter under the search bar, then click on the “Search Tools” drop down menu and filter by your desired date range. You’ll see a list of the most recent studies and research being done on teenagers. 10. Listen to your students As much as anything, just being in relationship with students will help you know what’s going on in their worlds.
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TO LEARN MORE & DISCUSS HOW THE THREAD CAN WORK IN YOUR MINISTRY, CONNECT WITH LEE. CALL LEE. He’s a 35 year youth ministry veteran who is in love with Nike shoes! 888.969.6360 // LEE@YM360.COM // CHAT ON THE WEB AT YM360.COM
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10 ARTICLE
R I C K B U RGE S S
A NDY BL A NK S
YM360 Publisher and Co-Founder Andy Blanks has teamed up with Rick Burgess, best-selling author and cohost of the nationally syndicated morning show Rick and Bubba, to author two exciting books, How To Be A Man and How To Be A Man: Student Edition. These books challenge and equip teenagers and adults alike to pursue a masculinity grounded in the person of Christ. Here, Rick and Andy discuss why they wrote the books. AN D Y: You and I both share a passion for seeing guys
imitate Jesus and live as God desires them to live. This is something the Lord has really laid on our hearts the last few years, isn’t it?
R IC K : Absolutely. As you know, this started in our own church with a movement of men who began to take seriously what it means to live out a Christ-centered masculinity. As I travel and speak across the country, I see this happening all over. Men are waking up. They are realizing that they’re not really pursuing their faith as God has called them to.
YM360 EQUIPS TEENAGERS AND ADULTS ALIKE TO PURSUE CHRIST-CENTERED MASCULINITY what I would recommend to help address this. I wanted to be able to put something in their hands that pointed them toward Jesus as the model for what it means to be a man. And so the idea for these two books came together. AN D Y: I love that we decided to do one for adults and
one for teenagers. I get pretty excited about the idea that a dad can walk through this with his son, or a youth worker can walk through this with a group of guys.
R I C K : Oh yeah. That’s the part that I love. Obviously, a teenager can go through the guy’s book by himself. And a man can go through the adult version by himself. But the real transformation happens when you watch a dad lead a son or an adult leader lead a small group through this content.
AN D Y: After years of discipling teenagers and just watch-
ing how they engage with the world around them, and observing their relationship with their dads, I approached you last year about co-authoring a book for teenagers that challenges them to become the young men that God is calling them to be. You pushed back and said that if we were going to do one for teenagers we needed to do one for men too.
R IC K : That’s right. I’m blessed to be able to speak and teach in churches and men’s conferences around the country. What I was seeing in men is the same thing you were seeing in teenagers. A lot of men know they aren’t purposefully pursuing their faith or a Christ-centered masculinity. I’m often asked
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3 TIPS FOR H E L P IN G FA M IL IE S NAVIGATE CULTURE It’s a familiar scene. An element of some sort is introduced into culture. Maybe it’s a movie. Or a song. Or a trend. Whatever it is, it strikes a chord with Christ-followers, and the reactions explode onto Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Some people are shocked. Some are angry. Some call for a boycott. Sound familiar? We’ve all witnessed this cycle play out. But instead of sitting around, moping about the depths that culture has reached, we can (we must) teach our students and their families how to navigate culture. Here are three tips on how to do this: COME TO KNOW YOUR PERSONAL MEDIA PHILOSOPHY Before you can talk to students or their parents about their media habits, you need to know where you stand on what you’re watching and listening to. My hubby and I are sensitive to what we see and hear. For us, we model a pretty strict guideline of what we watch or listen to. We’re not as strict as some. And we’re stricter than others. The point is that we are intentional about what we will watch, or listen to, and why. So what’s your philosophy? IT’S LESS ABOUT SAYING, “DON’T,” AND MORE ABOUT SAYING, “WAIT.” Work with parents to teach students how to navigate decisions about what they consume. Let’s partner with parents to help teach our students to wait a moment before they
see the show, listen to the song, or watch the video. Teach them to stop and ask themselves where this will pull their heart: does this draw them closer to God? Does it lead them farther away? Help them learn to navigate the world that’s out there. YOU CAN TURN IT OFF Students intrinsically don’t want to feel left out. They watch a video they know they shouldn’t because they assume everyone will be talking about it the next day. They learn the lyrics to the latest songs for the same reasons. I try to help remind parents and students alike that there is always an off button. If they stumble onto a video or show or lyric that makes their stomach churn, teach them how to walk away. Using the off button when the Holy Spirit is nudging you to do so is a vital skill. We will always have students around us whose parents prohibit much of what they watch, and others whose parents don’t seem to mind what they see at all. We need to remember that what we watch matters. Philippians 4:8 truly helps us navigate this perfectly: “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” When we allow Christ to speak to us about what we could, should, or are watching, He’ll help us to say “yes” and “no.” Let’s commit to helping our students have the same awareness and openness to God’s leading. LENEITA FIX is the Mission’s Program Coordinator for Urban Youth Impact and the co-creator and director of the “Own It” Initiative at Berean Christian School in West Palm Beach, FL. One of her greatest joys is serving in ministry as a family with her husband, John, and four amazing children. Leneita is a youth ministry veteran, with a wide range of experience including curriculum writing, leadership training, speaking to national audiences, and authoring several books. Her most recent book, “The Beautiful Chaos of Parenting Teens: Navigating the Hardest Years You Will Ever Love,” helps parents of tweens and teens connect with their children.
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The Rescue: Discovering How the Gospel Rescues and Redeems Us unpacks this reality in a powerful way. The Rescue gives your students a comprehensive and transformative view of exactly what the Gospel is, how it radically changes their lives, and how their lives will, in turn, be used to change the world. The Rescue gives your students a rich, in-depth view of the Gospel and its impact that many of them have never seen before. It is great for Sunday mornings, Discipleship purposes, Large and Small Group settings, and more.
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*see a detailed scope & sequence online at: YM360.com/rescue
The Rescue: An Interactive Devotional Journal is an essential devotional experience, for students experiencing The Rescue curriculum, that will take them into a deeper study of God’s Word.
LEE IS DEDICATED TO HELPING YOU FIND THE BEST CURRICULUM FOR YOUR MINISTRY. CONNECT WITH HIM TODAY! CALL LEE. He’s a 35 year youth ministry veteran who was the first Team Member at YM360.
888.969.6360 // LEE@YM360.COM // CHAT ON THE WEB AT YM360.COM
.COM OR CALL 888.969.6360
CAMP by WE'RE EXPECTANT. WE'RE FULL OF HOPE. BECAUSE WE KNOW NOTHING CAN BE THE SAME WHEN WE ENCOUNTER JESUS.
YOUR MOMENT IS WAITING GENERATESTUDENTS.COM
E U L A V A C A MU RPP A RAE NTT S & P A S T O R W I L L L O V E THAT YO
$269 AS LOW AS
PER PERSON
ptions. and Explore o E V R E S e th r nch fo s or a boxed lu u p m a c n o ls a 11 me rity is Housing prio s. e G g d IN lo G r o D s LO dorm beds! Either in p deposit is paid. in p e e sl u o u Y when your gro based off of ll plans for sma n o ss M le U d L n u U d cally so C U R R IC provides bibli Bible study an 0 h it 6 3 w M k o Y o t b a t studen Our team nt receives a e d u st ry e v E groups. quiet times. a ll o w IN G M d e si g n e d to ll M a A re R a G t a li ty h O g PR a n d F ir st Li x p e ri e n c e q u e rt l a il st w k ts ic n K e , d t way. u r st u Wo rs h ip th e w o rk . Yo ction elements in a relevan o d to rd o W u th e prod rship and live preaching, wo S T U D E N T qSuality R U O Y H IT T IM E W you to spend r D fo E d T e A ft ra IC c D DE y are etails. ughout the da ro th ts n care of the d e m e k o ta M e w s a r students time with you
MEALS
o u r g ro u p . y in e n o y r s h ir t fo r e v e A th e m e d t-
T - S H IR T
FULL DETAILS ABOUT GENERATE CAN BE FOUND AT GENERATESTUDENTS.COM
5 CAMP OPTIONS
CHOOSE YOUR OPTION At GENERATE, we believe in letting YOU CHOOSE what is best for your group. So, at every week of camp, you have 5 options to choose from for your group to take part in.
LEAD TEAM
CONNECT
POPULAR
SERVE
POPULAR
A great option for community building within your group. Groups in this option (called “villages”) will be in Bible study for part of the day, and will also participate in recreational games. The Bible study will be led by your adult leaders.
Allows your group to get off campus and serve at a mission project for much of the day with one of our Community Partners (our team will take care of the details).
EXPLORE
Do you have adults who are willing to come to camp, but don’t want to teach the Bible study? GUIDE is for you. Instead of your adults leading your students in Bible study, recreation group building activities, and worship pre-gatherings, one of our Village Guides (a GENERATE staff member) will do so.
Allows you to decide how you want to spend your day from 10:00am through dinner. If you want to be off campus enjoying what the area has to offer, go for it!
GUIDE
One of the best ways to learn to be a disciple-maker is to learn alongside other disciple-makers, and LEAD TEAM perfectly displays that. Your group (10th grade students and older) will participate in staff devotions, meetings, development, worship, and areas of concentration such as production, recreation, and support roles. (Max of 20 people per week)
REGISTER NOW GENERATESTUDENTS.COM
LIMITED SPACE STILL AVAILABLE FOR SELECT 2017 LOCATIONS!
GENERATESTUDENTS.COM
WORSHIP WITH
LEADING THE WAY
2018 DATES & LOCATIONS CLEVELAND, TN LOOKOUT MOUNTAIN, GA MAY 28TH-JUNE 1ST
JULY 2ND-JULY 6TH
JUNE 4TH-JUNE 8TH
JULY 7TH-JULY 11TH
WINSTON-SALEM, NC
JUNE 18TH-JUNE 22ND
JULY 11TH-JULY 15TH JULY 16TH-JULY 20TH JULY 20TH- JULY 24TH
DELAND, FL LAKE OF THE OZARKS, MO
JUNE 18TH-JUNE 22ND
JULY 23RD-JULY 27TH
LAKELAND, FL WHEATON, IL
JULY 26TH - JULY 30TH
JUNE 25TH-JUNE 29TH
RUSTON, LA DURANGO, CO
JUNE 11TH-JUNE 15TH
JULY 9TH-JULY 13TH
MARSHALL, TX ESTES PARK, CO
JUNE 4TH-JUNE 8TH JULY 2ND-JULY 6TH
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, TX JUNE 25TH-JUNE 29TH
JULY 16TH-JULY 20TH
PACIFIC NORTHWEST JULY 30TH - AUGUST 3RD
TO BE ANNOUNCED! JUNE 11-JUNE 15
C O N TA C T O U R T E A M
T O S E C U R E Y O U R S PA C E F O R 2 0 1 8 !
GENERATESTUDENTS.COM
20 YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES
WE ELEVATE CHRIST
YM360 helps youth workers lead their students to be passionate about the Way, the Word, and the world. Everything we do, from resources to events, is Christ-centered and Gospel-driven. We don’t just want students to be consumers of the Gospel, we want them to be conduits of the Gospel, taking the good news of Christ to a world in desperate need of it. Ministry isn’t just a paycheck. It’s a calling. We envision teenagers transformed through a deeper understanding of God and His Word. We are committed to providing youth workers with an ever-expanding offering of Gospel-centered, Bible-based, easy-to-use, and amazingly priced resources which are innovative, creative, and relevant. From Sundays to retreats and all in between, YM360 is here to serve you with great resources.
FOR YOU AND YOUR LEADERS THE 7 BEST PRACTICES FOR TEACHING TEENAGERS THE BIBLE
CONSIDER THIS
To say, “Youth ministry can be challenging,” is an understatement. Few callings have as many variables. Discipling teenagers is tough calling. But what about the dynamics with the staff and leadership of your church? What about the challenges of engaging with your students’ parents? And let’s not get started on the way that ministry impacts your family. Youth ministry is not for the faint of heart. Especially if you’re just getting started. Which is why Consider This is such an important book.
We know you desire to lead students closer to God. Many ask, “What’s the most effective way to do this?” We believe it is by teaching students the Word of God. The Bible is God’s main way of making Himself and His ways known and your students need sound Bible teaching now more than ever. This resource offers you seven ultra-practical and deeply meaningful “practices” you can use to help teach the Bible in a transformative and dynamic way. This is a perfect book to place in the hands of your leaders.
As low as $8.49/ea
As low as $7.99/ea
PEN TO PALACE
DISCIPLE: THE ORDINARY PERSON’S GUIDE TO DISCIPLING TEENAGERS
This is your youth ministry evangelism and discipleship strategy for a post-Christian culture. If your ministry desires to reach teenagers growing up in the post-Christian culture we find ourselves in, you and your entire team will benefit greatly from this resource. Benjamin Kerns uses a thought-provoking twist on a beloved parable as the framework for a rich examination of the cultural landscape; helping you reach lost students and know how to begin discipling them.
Written by one of the leading voices in youth ministry, Dr. Allen Jackson. Disciple is a practical, down-to-earth guide for leading teenagers to pursue Christ. No matter if you’re a veteran or a newbie, Disciple will help challenge and equip you and your team to get serious about disciple-making.
As low as $8.49/ea
As low as $9.99/ea
.COM/STORE
OR
CALL 888.969.6360
FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.
YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES
21
YOUR BIBLE STUDY CURRICULUM Created for Sunday mornings, Mid-Week Bible Studies, Discipleship purposes, and Small Groups. 100% Digital and Reproducible. Saving you time and money NEW
NEW
THE RESCUE: DISCOVERING HOW THE GOSPEL RESCUES AND REDEEMS US
This 52-lesson, unit based, curriculum gives your students a comprehensive and transformative view of exactly what the Gospel is, how it radically changes their lives, and how their lives will, in turn be used to change the world. It gives your students a rich, in-depth view of the Gospel and its impact in a way which many of them have never seen before.
$299 YM360.com/rescue
THE THREAD: DISCOVERING THE THREAD OF THE GOSPEL THROUGH THE BIG-PICTURE STORY OF THE BIBLE
This 52-lesson, Scope and Sequence, Bible study was created to help students discover the life-changing narrative of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. But most important, show them how the thread of the Gospel is woven through every story.
$299 YM360.com/thread
ELEMENTS
This is a 72-lesson, 2-year, Bible study curriculum helping your students understand 25 core building blocks of faith and know how to live them out.
$299 ALL-ACCESS BUNDLE YM360.com/elements $19.99 FOR INDIVIDUAL BLOCKS
SAVE $200
WITH AL ACCESS L
ELEMENTS TEACHES 25 CORE CONCEPTS IN POWERFUL 3-LESSON STUDIES VOLUME 1 VOLUME 2 VOLUME 3 VOLUME 4 VOLUME 5
GOD’S LOVE, SALVATION, GOD’S JUDGEMENT, GRACE, DISCIPLESHIP HOLY SPIRIT, GOD’S WORD, SPIRITUAL GIFTS, EVANGELISM, GOD’S GLORY GOD’S KINGDOM, THE CHURCH, WORSHIP, PERSECUTION, GOD’S MISSION GOD’S SOVEREIGNTY, SUFFERING, PRAYER, GOD’S POWER, COMPASSION GOD’S KNOWABILITY, OBEDIENCE, SERVICE, GOD’S RIGHTEOUSNESS, STEWARDSHIP
TEACH AT YOUR OWN PACE - TEACH ONE, A FEW, OR TEACH THEM ALL!
THE JESUS STUDIES
This offers 52-weeks of Jesus-centered Bible study designed to cut through the confusion, teaching your students a Christ-centered look at the major issues they deal with in their daily lives.
$299 ALL-ACCESS BUNDLE $29.99 FOR EACH 4-LESSON SERIES YM360.com/Jesus-studies
J eSus and
Jesus and Identity a 4-lesson Bible Study
StRes§ A 4-Lesson Bible Study
Jesus & Relationships A 4-Lesson Bible Study
JESUS
AND YOUR
FUTURE A 4-LESSON BIBLE STUDY
.COM/STORE
OR
CALL 888.969.6360
FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.
JESUS AND MEAN PEOPLE A 4-LESSON BIBLE STUDY
22 YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES
STUDENT DEVOTIONALS STUDENT BOOKS & DEVOTIONALS: HELPING YOU RESOURCE STUDENTS TO GROW DEEPER IN THEIR FAITH THROUGH THEIR PERSONAL STUDY OF GOD’S WORD.
.COM/STUDENTS
MOST USED NEW
BELIEVER
RESOURCE
NEW: FIRST STEPS FOR CHRIST FOLLOWERS
NEXT: GROWING A FAITH THAT LASTS
is the most used and trusted new believer resources in youth ministry. This powerful 4-week devotional experience will help your new believers get off to a strong start on their new journey with Christ.
is a 4-week devotional journal which challenges and equips your students to take ownership of growing deeper in their faith.
As low as $7.99/ea
As low as $7.99/ea
NEW
NOW: IMPACTING YOUR WORLD FOR CHRIST RIGHT NOW!
NEW
is a 4-week devotional experience helping your students understand the PURPOSE God has in store for them, catch God’s VISION for exactly how He wants to use them, and practice real, PRACTICAL ways to impact their world.
is designed to challenge and empower teenage guys to pursue a Christ-centered masculinity.
As low as $9.99/ea
As low as $7.99/ea
FACING YOUR FEARS: A 40-DAY DEVOTIONAL
NEW
HOW TO BE A MAN: A 40-DAY DEVOTION STUDENT EDITION
(EXTRA)ORDINARY
is a devotional experience for students which allows the Lord to reveal where fear has taken hold of their lives and guide them to put an end to these strongholds through a powerful, Scripture-driven experience.
is a 365-day devotional journal your students will actually read. With 3 sections students choose where they want to pick up each day based on what they are going through in life: Ordinary Times, Crazy Times, and Holiday Times
As low as $9.99/ea
As low as $17.99/ea
TRACING THE THREAD: A 52-WEEK JOURNEY THROUGH THE STORY OF THE BIBLE
TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH: A 4-WEEK INTERACTIVE MISSION JOURNAL
is a meaningful daily devotion for your students. It guides them through the big-picture story of God’s Word. More than that, it helps them trace the thread of the Gospel through the narrative of Scripture. This devotion is a great compliment to The Thread 52-week curriculum.
Equip students to prepare for their mission trip, process their trip, and build on their experience moving forward.
As low as $11.99/ea
As low as $7.99/ea
.COM/STORE
OR
CALL 888.969.6360
FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.
YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES
THE ALL-IN-ONE YOUTH MINISTRY EVENTS SOLUTION DESIGNED FOR DISCIPLE NOW, SEASONAL RETREATS, SUMMER CAMPS, & SPECIAL EVENTS NEW
$49
23
TO GET STARTED
NEW
Published in partnership with ED NEWTON
.COM/STORE
PER STUDENT
OR
ONLY
$12.95 PER STUDENT
CALL 888.969.6360
SUPER BUNDLE
WHEN YOU BUY BUNDLES
BOOK BUNDLES
SAVE BIG
ONLY
$9.95
ESSENTIAL BUNDLES
4 SMALL GROUP LESSONS Streamlined, easy-to-teach lessons delivered online to your teachers 4 LARGE GROUP OUTLINES Designed for your speaker -- choose from simple or detailed -- these help your large group sessions work perfectly with small groups LARGE GROUP MEDIA VIDEOS to kick off and wrap up your weekend, background loops, PowerPoint images, and more INTERACTIVE STUDENT BOOK Full color Student Books are designed to help your small groups have maximum impact for your students 4 DEVOTIONS Included in our Student Books, these four devotions can be used during or after your Event weekend FOLLOW UP JOURNALS These 4-week devotional journals help your students continue growing long after the weekend T-SHIRTS Authentic. Themed Design. These shirts offer your group a sweet look for your weekend. We'll even customize them for you if you'd like! ONLY
$15.95 PER STUDENT
BEST VALUE!
FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.
24 YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES
BIBLE STUDIES
Feature-packed, 4-6 week Bible study options perfect for your ministry. VIDEO DRIVEN
alk in the light, as he is in the light, llowship with one another, and the us, his Son, purifies us from all sin.” - 1 John 1:7
d in many ways define, teenagers’ lives. Friendships are vital to how
their culture. This is especially so with Christ-centered friendships.
Christ-followers take on a much deeper meaning. Or at least, they
s are called to Christ-centered friendships, where Jesus is at the
gage with one another. And when this is fully realized, your students
kindred
ps take on greater meaning, and greater purpose. Christian fellowship mradery of friends; it is a coalition of saints, called to the highest
endship becomes kinship. This is the message of KINDRED.
on, video-driven Bible study, will challenge your students to see
s believers is dependent on the centrality of Christ in all they do.
en Bible study includes the following features:
hort film that drives the Bible study
n Guides for building a Bible study around the movie
ENGAGE
KINDRED
kindred
A 4-lesson study. The world your teens live in is almost universally opposed to the basic principles of God’s Kingdom. So, how do they respond? Do they immerse themselves in culture? Do they flee from it? Or do they engage their world with the light of the Gospel? This study challenges them to live for Christ.
A 4-session, video-driven Bible study, will challenge your students to see how their friendship as believers is dependent on the centrality of Christ in all they do.
Discovering Christ-centered Friendship
al Art and PowerPoint backgrounds
ges and Student Devotions to keep the conversation
of class
As low as $39
at:
8
58558
00230
0
See web for current sale pricing
A 4-LESSON VIDEO-DRIVEN STUDY
youthministry360.com 1.888.969.6360
VIDEO DRIVEN
LIVE DIFFERENT A 4-session, video-driven Bible study, will help your students see the relentless nature of God’s love, and how we are changed by it.
A 4-lesson study. Live Different, teaches students God's intent for sex and how God views sex outside of this intent. But most importantly, Live Different will challenge your students with God's call to live a holy life in a world of sexual immorality.
As low as $39
See web for current sale pricing
VIVID
THE LEAST OF THESE
DRIVE
A 6-week study on the book of James. Do your students' lives reflect their beliefs? The Book of James calls us to live a life that looks like Christ. In a word, James is a book of action. James calls his readers to live a life of vivid faith! Help them know how.
A 4-lesson study. No matter where you go in this world, you’ll find poverty and suffering. And for many this is one of the main reasons for rejected God. “Why would God allow suffering?” The Least of These helps your students answer this question, and much more.
See web for current sale pricing
See web for current sale pricing
PROOF
A 6-week study on the book of John. Proof helps your students see exactly who Christ is through His powerful teaching, His amazing miracles, and His death and resurrection.
See web for current sale pricing
FOCUS
A 6-week study on the book of Colossians. Teaching your students that Christ is to be the focus of who they are, the very center of their attention and affection. Teach Focus to help your students' lives reflect a single-minded devotion to Christ.
YM360 BIBLE STUDY SUPER PACK See web for current sale pricing
See web for current sale pricing
REACH
A 6-week study on the book of Psalms. This will show students how "alive" their communication with God can be by looking at examples of various ways they can reach out to God. Use Reach to show students what an active and dynamic relationship with God can look like.
YM360 36-WEEK BIBLE STUDY BUNDLE
See web for current sale pricing
.COM/STORE
See web for current sale pricing
OR
CALL 888.969.6360
FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.
YOUTH MINISTRY RESOURCES
25
COMING UP
MEET ANDY BLANKS
He’s the co-founder and publisher here at YM360. If it’s a GENERATE Camp by YM360 Bible study, blog post, resource, or workshop, he has overseen the development. In 2003 he took a gig with a youth ministry publisher where his passions for God’s Word and for creating intersected in a dynamic way. He’s the husband of his wonderful wife Brendt, and daddy to their one son and three daughters. He’s a pretty big fan of both the Boston Red Sox and anything involving the Auburn Tigers #WarEagle. When he’s not hanging out with his family or volunteering at his church’s youth ministry, you can find him trail running or mountain biking. Andy guided the YM360 team through the core values in recent months, the first one being “We Elevate Christ. It is fleshed out like this… YM360 helps youth workers lead their students to be passionate about the Way, the Word, and the world. Everything we do, from resources to events, is Christ-centered and Gospel-driven. We don’t just want students to be consumers of the Gospel, we want them to be conduits of the Gospel, taking the good news of Christ to a world in desperate need of it. Ministry isn’t just a paycheck. It’s a calling.
WE PRAY THE RESOURCES WE CREATE SERVE YOU AND YOUR MINISTRY WELL. THANK YOU FOR USING
IN THE COMING WEEKS & MONTHS at COMING
SUMMER 2017
GENERATE CAMPS BY YM360, 20 DATES, 14 LOCATIONS IN 2018 WITH 5 OPTIONS AT EACH LOCATION.
AVAILABLE
MARCH
NEW 52-WEEK BIBLE STUDY CURRICULUM THE TABLE: A NEW STUDY IN PURPOSEFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH FALLS CREEK COMING LATE SPRING A NEW LINE OF 6-WEEK SMALL GROUP BIBLE STUDIES
.COM/STORE
OR
CALL 888.969.6360
FREE SHIPPING ON MOST ORDERS OVER $99 • VISIT US ONLINE. SAMPLES FOR EVERYTHING YOU SEE AND MORE YOU DON’T.
Mission Trips SHORT TERM
Cuba Dominican Republic Haiti Ecuador Costa Rica Nicaragua Guatemala Ukraine United Kingdom Bulgaria Kenya South Africa Uganda Houston Memphis New York City Toronto East Asia
Check out our summer-long opportunities for college students!
SERVANTLIFE.COM | 800.772.2615 | INFO@SERVANTLIFE.COM /SERVANTLIFE
@SERVANTLIFE
SERVANTLIFEMISSIONS
expect more
Pictured: Covenant alumni teaching music to children in their community.
At Covenant, we expect more of our college community. More than four years of entertainment. More than four years of cruising by. More than just a place to get a degree. Covenant students, faculty, and staff are eager to tackle the difficult questions of our time and are passionate about living out their faith in every area of life—in business, ministry, school, and home. For more than fifty years, Covenant College has shaped curricula and experiences to equip generations of men and women to embrace their vocations as they serve the church, their communities, and a changing world. Ask hard questions. Pursue your calling. Join us at covenant.edu/ExpectMore.
in all things christ preeminent
DR. ED NEWTON Mid-America alumnus Class of 2000
“MID-AMERICA HELPED IGNITE A PASSION AND A WONDER FOR EVANGELISM IN MY HEART THAT STILL BURNS TODAY.”
Come spend the day with us at the MABTS Spring Preview Day, March 28, 2017. Whether you’re interested in the Associate, Bachelor, Master, or Doctoral level program, we have a special day planned just for you. You’ll join in on a class, tour our campus and student housing, and attend chapel to hear Dr. Michael Spradlin, President of Mid-America. While enjoying lunch, you will hear from students, faculty, and staff. To register, visit mabts.edu, e-mail dsneed@mabts.edu, or call the admissions office at 901.751.3060. Deadline to register is March 24, 2017.
MEMPHIS • NEW YORK • ONLINE
MABTS.EDU/PREVIEWDAY
“My prayer is that churches
everywhere would seriously consider making the Pray for Me Campaign a strategic part of how they minister to the next generation.”
-DOUG FIELDS
Author, Speaker, Youth Pastor, Co-Founder, downloadyouthministry.com
what if every young person in your church
could have 21 adults cheering them on in faith and life beginning with prayer?
YOU CAN MAKE THIS A REALITY WITH THE PRAY FOR ME CAMPAIGN. HOW THE PRAY FOR ME CAMPAIGN WORKS:
O N E
STUDENT INVITES
Your students need intergenerational relationships for a lasting faith.
T H R E E
ADULT BELIEVERS
FROM
WHO ALL COMMIT TO
GENERATIONS
THROUGH THE GUIDE
TO BE HIS OR HER
FOR ONE
T H R E E P R AY I N G
P R AY E R
CHAMPIONS
LEARN MORE NOW AT:
E N T I R E SCHOOL YEAR
PRAYFORMECAMPAIGN.COM
every day. every week. every t-shirt need. Custom Design Work that's truly free & truly custom.
Brought to you by the teams of
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52threads.com
The Ripple Effect Because understanding persecution strengthens your faith.
Do you have a passion for the persecuted church? Have you ever wanted to teach others about it but didn't know where to begin? Look no further than the new Ripple Effect! The Ripple Effect provides 6 sessions targeted at teaching believers about Christian persecution so they can grow deeper in their faith. This series will draw your group closer to persecuted Christians, and to the One whose name they’re persecuted for. To order your kit, visit RippleEffectSeries.com Use the code “YM360” and receive 5 free wristbands with your order
Included are: • • • • • • •
‘How to Host’ guide Event signs Handouts Take home resources Prayers and sermons PowerPoint slides Event videos
FUNDTHE NATI ONS.C OM fundthenations
GENERATESTUDENTS.COM
leading s tudents to know chris t & make him known