FA L L 2 0 1 9 I S S U E
YO U T H U N L I M I T E D . O R G
YOUTHUNLIMITED STUDENTS | CHURCHES | FAITH-FORMING EXPERIENCES I N S I D E : 3 0 Y E A R S O F S E R V E | R E A DY TO S E R V E | A C H I L D O F G O D GO DO GOOD … DO IT! | SERVE 2020 SNE AK PEEK
YOUTH UNLIMITED | Fall 2019 Youth Unlimited has a rich 100 year history of assisting churches ministering to youth. Birthed out of the Christian Reformed Church, Youth Unlimited remains committed to the reformed perspective while serving alongside congregations of any denomination. We strongly believe that the local church is the tool God is using to reveal himself to this world, and we are blessed to partner with congregations to offer faith-forming experiences that reach this generation of youth for Jesus Christ! This informational magazine is printed in the United States as a free resource to churches across North America. It is published triannually by Youth Unlimited, Grand Rapids, MI.
Contents from the director................................................ 1 9 Benefits of Youth Mission Trips........................ 2 5 Questions to ask after your mission trip......... 4 30 Years of SERVE................................................. 6 Ready to SERVE..................................................... 8
Contributing Writers | Elizabeth Bosscher, Chris VanderEide, Luke Kaemingk and Angie Klooster
Editor | Mandi Grasmeyer Design & Publication | SDPcreative USA | Postmaster, please send undeliverable copies and address changes to: Youth Unlimited 1333 Alger Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507
A Child of God......................................................10 Go Do Good . . . Do It!.. ...........................................12 SERVE 2020 Sneak Peak........................................14 Serve 2020: Types of SERVE Trips........................16 Serve 2020: Where Will you Serve?. . ...................18 Serve 2020: we don’t do midnight!.. .................... 20
Canada | Canada Post International Sales Agreement #41124116. Please send undeliverable copies and address changes to: Youth Unlimited PO Box 1100 Norwich, ON N0J 1P0
THE YOUTH UNLIMITED TEAM: Executive Director:
Rick Zomer 616.241.5616 ext. 3043 rick@youthunlimited.org
9 Benefits of Youth Mission Trips –Page 2
SERVE Coordinator:
Amanda Roozeboom 616.241.5616 ext. 3038 amanda@youthunlimited.org
SERVE Director:
Sandra Bork 616.241.5616 ext. 3046 sandra@youthunlimited.org
Youth Unlimited Ambassador: Ron deVries 780.619.6566 ron@youthunlimited.org
Communications and Events Coordinator: Elizabeth Bosscher 616.241.5616 ext. 3039 elizabeth@youthunlimited.org
SERVE 2020 Sneak Peek –Page 14
FROM TH E DIRECTOR
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his magazine is probably landing in your mailbox in the midst of the beginning of a new ministry year. Youth groups are meeting after summer breaks, fall programs have started back up and summer can seem like a distant memory. As a result, the section of this magazine that might appear to be the most interesting is the preview of the SERVE 2020 theme. Let me encourage you to resist the temptation to jump straight to those sections that focus on next summer and instead, begin by spending some time reading the stories and testimonies from SERVE 2019. This past year, over 1,400 individuals participated in SERVE at 23 sites across Canada and the United States. Students spent the week considering Paul’s message in Titus 2:14 to “Go Do Good.” They were challenged to reflect on how this verse could impact their life beyond their SERVE experience as they return to their homes, churches and schools. Now, they’re back in their communities and our prayer is that they are trying to discern how a SERVE experience impacts their day-to-day lives. Many of you know one of these students. You may have encouraged them to attend SERVE, prayed for them before they left, organized a church
fundraiser or written a check to cover registration costs. Their experience might not have been possible without the support you provided before their SERVE week. Now that students are back home, the tendency might be to let their memories of summer 2019 fade into the background. You, too, might spend some time with this magazine, reading SERVE reflections, but the tendency may still be to shift focus to next summer and a new theme. Before that happens, let me encourage you to continue to support students you helped hear the challenge to “Go Do Good.” There are two articles in this magazine that can be used to help students reflect on how their summer mission experience might impact their lives. Look for ways to connect with a 2019 SERVE participant and use these resources to begin a conversation that helps them consider how their experience might deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and his call on their lives.
"Look for ways to connect with a 2019 SERVE participant and use these resources to begin a conversation that helps them consider how their experience might deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and His call on their lives."
If no one asks a student about a significant experience in their life, they might assume it doesn’t matter and move on. Rick Zomer Executive Director
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BY ELIZABETH BOSSCHER Communications and Event Coordinator, Youth Unlimited
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hrough our 100 years of ministry, we’ve learned that our youth mission trips are a powerful way for students to remain active in their church and grow in their faith. Faith-forming, short-term mission trip experiences give students the opportunity to serve God and learn about what it means to get involved in their community and be a good neighbor. The participants, community and the churches involved all benefit in ways that will continue to guide and shape their lives years later. Here are nine benefits you can talk about with your students as you are setting expectations before and following up after your short-term mission trip:
1. God will change you. You’re not going to change the world in the short time you spend on your mission trip. There’s so much going on around you that it’s challenging to make a significant impact in a week. You are not there for adventure, but for obedience. You are going because you know that God has commanded all of us to serve the world and love our neighbors. That is the main point of this trip. Soak up it up and pray God will change your heart in extraordinary ways.
2. You build relationships with people. Finishing a project is only a small part of a successful youth mission trip. The rest is all about building deep and meaningful relationships with the people around you. The people you cross paths with deserve to be treated
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Benefits of Youth Mission Trips
with care and respect regardless of their circumstances, level of education, skin color, language, and/or needs. Be willing to ask questions. Go simply to learn and communicate. Come back with stories and the names of all the new people you’ve met, not just a photo album of nameless people and mission trip selfies.
3. Your comfort zone will be challenged. Many of us get stuck in the sameness of our spiritual lives. It can be useful to step out of your comfort zone and allow God to stretch you. You’ll experience physical, mental and spiritual change during your week as you learn about the new place and build relationships with other Christ-followers.
4. You are taught faith in ways you don’t expect. Sometimes God uses a short-term mission trip to reveal your purpose and God-given strengths. Sometimes on mission trips, people discover they want to start non-profit organizations, get degrees in social work or serve as a full-time missionary. The experience is a time and place to allow God to work in and through your life. Use the trip as an anchor in your faith, and it will propel you forward, deepening your relationship with God.
5. Your compassion grows. Pain, suffering and poverty are not just things you learn about in the classroom or read about in the news. Behind these things are real people with names and families. Learning compassion through service on your teen mission trip can be a powerful form of knowledge.
6. You practice patience and flexibility. Rarely on a mission trip does everything go as planned. Be ready to forgo things you enjoy in your dayto-day life to serve others. Requests you may think are simple may end up taking a lot of work. Be patient and trust in God, even when things don’t happen the way you’re used to.
7. You become more globally aware and better understand the world. Expect to encounter the world in a way you never have before and may never again. Despite language or cultural differences, all humans are fundamentally the same. We all have a need to be known, cared for and to have lives steeped in meaning and purpose. A short-term mission trip can open your eyes to the reality of life and turn to God in humility.
8. You commit to servanthood. It’s easy to believe youth mission trips are about you and what you will gain. This list focuses on many of those very benefits, but these benefits should be the byproduct and not the main focus. Use the trip as a time to take your eyes off of yourself and look for the needs of others. How does God want you to help other people meet their needs? Continue your commitment to servanthood by serving in your church and community at home.
The participants, community and the churches involved all benefit in ways that will continue to guide and shape their lives years later.
9. The benefits don’t end when the trip is over. After the experience is over and you’re brimming with passion and stories, it doesn’t have to end. Continue to focus on seeking justice in your own neighborhood. Keep trying new things. You don’t have to fly on an airplane to serve others. Take what you learn and find a way to apply it in your day-to-day life. ——— If you’re considering a mission trip, either with Youth Unlimited or another organization, remember that they can create dramatic shifts in how you view the world. After all, God uses short-term mission trips to make a long-term impact on the lives of those who serve. To learn more about how you can serve communities in the USA and Canada in missions, head on over to our SERVE Missions Trip page for a list of trips and testimonials.
To read more articles like this, please check out the stories page on the Youth Unlimited website.
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oming home from a mission trip can be much like falling off a mountaintop and walking away very disoriented. You have experienced so much in such a short time that coming back to real life can be a letdown. One way to prevent the disorientation is to spend some time in reflection and share your experience with others. Below are a few questions to ask yourself and your trip companions as you try to process your experience and integrate what you learned into daily life.
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1. What are the top three things I will miss from my mission experience? Mission trips often come with new friendships, a new love for the location you were in and a spiritual high. While we know that the trip can’t last forever, it is ok to think about what you will miss about being there. Recognizing things that will be missed is also a good way to think about what you may do differently at home.
2. What are the top three things I’m most thankful for at home? Maybe you are really thankful for your family, home church, the school you go to or that you have a stable place to eat and sleep each day. Spending some time to reflect on these things will help you have a greater appreciation for all that you have been blessed with!
3. What is one thing I want to remember from this experience? We hope you will remember it all, but we know memories fade over time. It’s important to think of some of the highlights and make note so that you can hold onto this experience for many years to come.
4. What do I feel like God was communicating to me during this time? Do you feel like you learned a big lesson or felt a little nudge? Are you leaving with a renewed conviction to spend more time in the Bible or to get connected with a non-profit at home? Sometimes you don’t even realize what God was trying to tell you until you take a little time to process your experience.
Questions to Ask After Your Mission Trip BY ELIZABETH BOSSCHER
Communications and Event Coordinator, Youth Unlimited
5. Who will I share with when I get home so I can be held accountable for continuing this growth? We are not meant to go through life alone. Talking about your experience and the things God communicated to you throughout the trip with someone you trust can be a great way to follow through on the promises you have made yourself.
Don’t let all the transformation that you experienced during your mission experience fall away when the trip is over.
As you ask these questions, really reflect on your experience. You may notice lessons that you learned without even being aware at the time. Maybe you want to write down some notes about your experience and your answers to these questions so that you can look back on it in a few months. After you have spent the time reflecting on your experience and preventing the disorientation, you will want to think through the conversations you will have with people at home. You’ll want to be ready to share one story about how the week impacted your life. When people at home ask, “What did you do?” they often really mean, “Whom did you
serve, and how did the week impact your life?” Be ready! Above all, don’t let all the transformation that you experienced during your mission experience fall away when the trip is over. Be intentional about bringing it home with you and always remembering the lessons God was teaching you. To read more articles like this, please check out the stories page on the Youth Unlimited website.
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Thank you for your partnership! youthunlimited.org | 7
Our youth group kids were on fire. They excitedly told their friends about the trip, and they wanted to incorporate some of the SERVE experience into our weekly meetings. We started changing things, and our youth group soon began to grow. We had 20-plus teens join us every Sunday evening and our supporting churches noticed. We wanted to share our SERVE experiences with our town.
BY CHRIS VANDEREIDE
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Fulton, IL
even years ago, my husband and I decided to become volunteer youth leaders at our church the same year our twin daughters joined the youth group. We had a small youth group through Thrive Ministries—a collaboration of three Christian Reformed Churches and some kids from other area churches—and it was here that our co-leader, Rollie VanderEide, introduced us to Youth Unlimited and SERVE. We had no idea what to expect but, with our faith in God, we loaded up nine teens, four leaders and all our gear for a week-long SERVE trip to Alamosa, Colorado. Words cannot describe the spiritual high we found ourselves on and brought back to our church after this amazing, God-filled experience. After just one week, we were hooked.
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However, the thought of hosting SERVE in our small town in Illinois along the Mississippi was planted in our souls, but our church wasn’t ready just yet. As with several churches across America, our church was struggling, but our youth group was thriving. Our students were learning and growing. They were taking the things they learned through their SERVE experiences and going on college mission trips to other countries and/or staying close to home and becoming leaders in our youth group, hoping to see a Fulton SERVE happen. We were able to gain more experience while going to Bunde, Minnesota SERVE, Houston SERVE, Sioux Falls SERVE, Holland SERVE and Brookside SERVE. After each week of SERVE we’ve attended, our youth group kids would again ask, “When can we host our own SERVE?” They would brainstorm with us how we could do worksites, praise time, the day away and more, all while waiting for God to tell us it’s time.
This year marks the seventh year my husband, Jeff, and I (along with at least one of our three kids) have attended SERVE. We are excited to have now crossed the border for our first time to Thunder Bay SERVE! But as Thrive Ministries is thriving, so is our youth group. God spoke and we listened. After seven years of gaining ideas and waiting patiently, we will be hosting our first SERVE in Fulton, IL in the summer of 2020. It has been such a blessing to see how SERVE has affected our youth group kids as they’ve moved on in life, and we cannot wait to create an atmosphere for other kids to experience that, too. We hope to see you at Fulton SERVE 2020!
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“It has been such a blessing to see how SERVE has affected our youth group kids as they’ve moved on in life, and we cannot wait to create an atmosphere for other kids to experience that, too.” youthunlimited.org | 9
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A Child of
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God BY LUKE KAEMINGK
y first week of SERVE is one I will never forget. Growing up in small-town South Dakota, I was used to the lie that attending church and doing right will get you into Heaven. I attended the local youth group and always earned a good grade in my Bible class. Jesus surrounded my life, but Jesus was not in my life. That course forever changed in 2016 at Platte, SD SERVE.
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I think a positive attitude can make any situation manageable, but I’ll admit I did not start my week of SERVE with a positive attitude. Previously a very quiet person, I served on the host team for the Platte site, which meant I had to help welcome everyone to the community, assist them and, ultimately, talk to them. It was a situation I did not enjoy. However, while talking to other teenagers on that first day of SERVE, I realized people had not come to Platte for the sights. They came to serve, which made me want to serve, too.
At our first night of praise and worship, we met our speaker, Pastor Zantesah Ingalls. As he was introducing himself, he decided to have us recite a small poem of his. I will always remember the specific line, “I am a child of God.” As I heard everyone say that line on the first night, I finally realized that God, who is the King of the universe, is my Father. This still blows my mind today. During that night, I decided I did not want to just live on earth – I wanted to live for God on earth. Throughout our serving, I made some great connections with amazing people. My group leader, Linda Werkhoven from Sunnyside, Washington was one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She was easy to talk to and gave some of the best hugs ever. Later in the week, I met Linda’s two daughters who would go on to become like sisters to me. Cameron Mensonides (also from Sunnyside ) and I were able
to connect based on our shared interest in cars, construction and dangerous playground toys. My SERVE group was awesome to be around during the week, and we grew closer to each other throughout the devotions and daily sessions. I owe the transformation of my spiritual life to Zantesah Ingalls and will forever remember that week in 2016 as the week that changed the course of my life. The theme for SERVE that year was Make Change, Be Changed, which resonates in my own life. God worked in my life through Zantesah, Linda and my SERVE group. Each one of them showed me what a life of following God can lead to and looks like. My attitude towards life changed during SERVE. Today, I know I am a child of a God who is working in my life and cares about me.
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GO DO GOOD… DO IT!
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“It’s changed who I am, and I hope everyone gets a chance to have a similar experience.”
BY ANGIE KLOOSTER SERVE 2019 was one of the most influential weeks of my life. Seeing the broken state some people live in is one thing but having the opportunity to help them and change their way of life is entirely different. We made a difference, even if all we did was weed a few rows of a community garden or paint the walls of a non-profit organization. And making a difference made a difference in me. I was cautious to go on this trip. It was very out of my comfort zone. Then, when I found out no one from my church was in my SERVE small group, I was even more discouraged. However, as soon as I met my small group and spent one day with them, I knew I was here for a reason. The people I worked with and got to know were some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, and I quickly realized God sent me on SERVE to do good.
God sent me to a small church in Muskegon, Michigan both to help people and to grow, myself. I learned more about myself in those seven days than I have in my entire life. I learned to not take things for granted. I learned that God works miracles in the strangest of ways. I learned to get out of my comfort zone and talk to people. And I learned to make friends, even if it’s just for a week and I might never see them again. With each service project – every time we handed out yogurt at the church or cleaned a lot – we made a difference, and I was so encouraged. It might not have been much, but it was something, and it was hopefully enough to encourage others to follow our footsteps, too.
One little nudge can make a change in someone’s life, like the way my life changed at Muskegon SERVE. If the people of Muskegon saw us planting a garden and growing food, it shows them that it’s possible. If the kids at Muskegon Heights High School saw that people were willing to help them, it shows them they can help people, too. Muskegon SERVE was just one week, but the people I worked with have been doing this for years. They have dedicated their lives to helping their community and are very passionate about what they do. They work so hard with so little. I’m so grateful I had the opportunity to see, and talk to, and help these people. It’s changed who I am, and I hope everyone gets a chance to have a similar experience. If you ever get the opportunity to go do good, do it. It will be beyond worth it.
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SERVE 2020 SNEAK PEEK
For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations. PSALM 100:5 (NIV)
The Bible is full of stories. These stories, or narratives, give us a glimpse into the nature and character of God, as well as God’s relationship to humanity, in a way that informs how we should live. They tell of people, places and events from particular times and cultures and yet speak to each of us right where we are today. The stories in the Bible are not standalone accounts of people, places and events though; the Bible is one cohesive grand narrative of the Triune God who created all things, loves all things despite brokenness and sin, came down in flesh to redeem all things and is weaving a master plan to bring all things back to himself. All stories of all people, places and events in the Bible are part of this grand narrative. At first read, biblical narratives may seem to tell the story of a prophet, or a country, or a miracle but really Bible stories are only a little bit about these things. They are mostly about God. It has been almost two thousand years since the most recently penned stories in the Bible were recorded, and no written texts will be added. And yet, the grand narrative of God, the story God is unfolding through time and space, is far from complete for God is still at work in, among and through God’s people.
In a world where we are so busy and things around us often seem so wrong, it can be easy to miss how our stories are woven into the grand narrative of God. Many days most of us are just trying to do the best we can to get work done and hold things together. We don’t give much thought to where we fit into the overarching story of how and where God is at work in the world because our lives are full and our minds are preoccupied. Together at SERVE, we have a chance to take a step back and consider the bigger picture of the story of God. During SERVE 2020, we are going to live deeply into stories from the Old Testament. We are going to learn about interesting characters in the Bible and how God used them to bring about his salvation and the restoration of all creation. We will explore how this hope of restoration was made perfect in Jesus, how Christ was the fulfillment of all of God’s promises. We will witness how the early church faithfully lived into the good news of Jesus. Finally, we will ponder how God is still at work bringing each of us back into relationship with him through Christ, and inviting us to join in the work of the Holy Spirit as participants in the story God continues to write.
Visit YouthUnlimited.org for more information about SERVE 2020. High school, middle school and special needs SERVE mission trips are available. Registration opens November 1, 2019.
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SERVE Youth Mission Trips for Groups Mission trips and other faith-forming experiences are proven to be the #1 way to keep teens active in the church and growing in their faith. SERVE youth mission trips for teens are all-inclusive, 5-7 day service trips for Middle School or High School students. The students go into communities in the USA and Canada to care for and restore their world in an environment where they’ll encounter the concepts of justice and missional living. More than just a week-long short-term mission trip over the summer, SERVE is a faith-forming experience where the communities, congregations and students who are involved all experience lasting transformation.
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High School Trips High School SERVE mission trips are 7-day mission experiences open to students who have completed grade 8 through graduating seniors. The communityfocused environment of SERVE encourages students’ passion for their own congregation and community, so the impact of SERVE continues long after the high school students return home.
Students on SERVE mission trips participate in revitalizing communities, showing compassion for the marginalized, caring for creation, providing recreation for children, performing acts of kindness, and sharing the gospel. SERVE teen mission trips are all about joining with God and a local church in the renewal of all things.
Middle School Trips
Special Needs Trips
Middle School SERVE mission trips are 6-day mission experiences open to students who have completed grade 5 through students who have completed grade 8. The community-focused environment of SERVE encourages students’ passion for their own congregation and community, so the impact of SERVE continues long after the middle school students return home.
Our Special Needs mission sites are open to people ages 16-28 with special needs. The work projects at these sites will be tailored to the ability of the individual students, allowing them to experience as close to a typical SERVE experience as possible.
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SERVE 2020 Confirmed Sites In US: OO Abingdon, VA OO Alamosa, CO OO Brookside (Grand Rapids), MI OO Byron Center, MI (Middle School) OO Cadillac, MI OO Douglas, MA OO Fulton, IL OO Gallatin Valley, MT OO LaGrave (Grand Rapids), MI OO Lynden, WA OO Mechanicsburg, PA (Special Needs) OO Muskegon, MI OO Palos Heights, IL OO Platte, SD OO Sioux Center, IA OO Sioux Falls, SD OO West Des Moines, IA OO Whitinsville, MA OO Wyoming, MI
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In Canada: OO Agassiz, BC OO Barrie, ON OO Burlington, ON OO Fort McMurray, AB OO Hamilton, ON OO London, ON OO Niagara, ON OO Thunder Bay, ON Sites subject to change. Please watch youthunlimited.org for additional sites and up-to-date info.
Planning Calendar OO September 1, 2019: SERVE 2020 Sites announced at youthunlimited.org. September/October: Choose a SERVE experience. Invite input from fellow leaders, students, parents and church leadership. November 1, 2019 (Noon EST): Registration opens. Save your spots by placing a deposit of $50 per person. You will only need to indicate the number of youth and adult spots at this time. Sites are filled on a first come, first served basis! Registration will open at NOON this year. (We are too old for that midnight stuff anymore. Seriously, when you make it to 100, you really need your sleep.) November 2019-March 2020: After you receive your confirmation letter with your site placement, your group can then complete the individual online paperwork by providing specific participant information. April 1, 2020: Deadline to complete your online paperwork. Any registrations completed after this date will be charged a $50 late fee. April 1, 2020: Scholarship applications are due. May 1, 2020: Final balance due for all SERVE Sites. Last day to receive a refund for cancellation.
Before your SERVE experience Collect Liability Waiver forms from each student and adult participant. Bring these with you to your SERVE site. Ensure each adult leader has a background check on file with Youth Unlimited. More information can be found at youthunlimited.org on the FAQ page. Have a leaders’ meeting to review the Leader Handbook (expectations), Spiritual Life Guide and Expectations of a Leader Document. Have a students’ meeting and teach from the 2020 pre-trip theme lesson and review the Student Handbook. Ask your congregation to pray.
Where will you SERVE next summer?
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At age 100, we’re getting a little too old for midnight.
SERVE 2020 registration now opens November 1 at Noon (EST).
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Dynamic Youth Ministries 1333 Alger Street SE Grand Rapids, MI 49507
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HELPING CHURCHES CHALLENGE YOUTH TO COMMIT THEIR LIVES TO JESUS CHRIST AND TRANSFORM THE WORLD FOR HIM
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