Welcome

We at national youth ministries thank God for you and your commitment to youth! Thank you for loving and leading students. This monthly e-publication is about you, the youth leader. Every issue aims to encourage excellence and spark ideas in you as you endeavor to “make disciplined-learners (disciples)” of youth for Jesus Christ. We want to help you win, build and send them to fulfill the Great Commission. You are our heroes in this charge. We believe in you! Pray daily. Live like Jesus. Tell the Truth. Serve others. Give generously. You’ve got Momentum! —Jay Mooney, national youth director

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From Leader to Leader

Team Chaplain to NBA’s Phoenix Suns and youth pastor for one of America’s fastest growing churches, Radiant Church, Travis Hearn has discovered the secret to unlocking real life success.  Travis speaks professionally to NBA teams, Major League Baseball teams, businesses, schools, churches, and youth groups.  Travis has over 10 years of experience in capturing the hearts of his audiences. Whether teaching life principals to celebrities such as Garth Brooks and Amare Stoudemire, or challenging teenagers with relevant, life-impacting messages, Travis has a unique ability to inspire and motivate. His contagious enthusiasm is land marked through passionate, comedic messages that leave his audiences both laughing and crying. An entrepreneurial Youth Pastor, Travis birthed and established one of the nation’s premiere youth ministries. Serving on staff at Radiant for the last 9 years, Travis has witnessed some of the most amazing miracles of his life. At Radiant, last year alone, 1719 people committed their lives to Christ for the very first time and 801 people were baptized in water! Travis’ life wasn’t always sweet dreams. Albeit as a teenager he was a 1st Team All-Arizona High School Athlete, Travis wrestled with drugs and alcohol for several years. Pursuing his own fun and dreams, Travis continued to party and live life fulfilling his own desires.  At age 17, it all came to a head and Travis was arrested and cited with a DUI that would redirect the course of his life forever. Broken and resolute to alter the formidable route in which he was headed, he discovered the secret in unlocking real life success...A personal relationship with Jesus Christ. From this moment on, Travis determined to spend the rest of his life utilizing this life-changing experience to influence others.   Travis has now been married to Natalie for 9 years and they have two children, Kylie, who is 5, and Josiah, who is 3. Travis and Natalie both serve at Radiant Church as well as continue to influence professional athletes and their wives to unlock the same secret of success; a relationship with their Creator. Too Busy Reaching Teenagers If you’re like me, it’s easy to get so wrapped up in reaching the lost teenagers of your community that we forget to simply love on teenagers. I can remember when my youth group was just 8 young people. It was great because I knew all of my youth by name (I would hope so with only 8), went to their games, attended their graduations, and poured my life into each and every one of them. I was not a crafty communicator, I had no slick gimmicks, and I certainly didn’t care about whether the microphone sounded like a hyena in heat! Those were the days! I just loved on my 8 teenagers. This would have all been just fine; however, I wanted to reach the lost! That’s right, I, like every other youth pastor in the free world, wanted to reach teenagers for God! So I set out to do just that. I pulled out every trick in the book to reach young people and it started to work! The youth group began to gain unstoppable momentum and the numbers were soaring each week at a breathtaking rate! Young people were committing their lives to God! The only problem was…I was so busy programming my eyes out, designing websites, making flyers, bringing in bands, counting heads, tweaking soundboards, bringing in athletes, speaking my guts out, building infrastructure, writing songs, and coming up with whacky contests and games, that I completely neglected to simply love on my teenagers who deserved to feel and sense the love of God. I was just…too busy. Maybe you can appreciate the same feelings that I’ve gone through. I heard a friend once say, “The Kingdom of God is built upon right relationships”. I really believe that through genuinely loving on teenagers and establishing “right relationships”, the Kingdom of God will go through astronomical, sustainable growth that will literally change the world. Don’t get me wrong, reaching people is obviously the goal. But God is love and wants us to love! “The Gospel is about relationship.  The Gospel is about a Kingdom with a King (Jesus). The Gospel is more about relationship than it is about ideas” (Jim Burns, 2006). I challenge you; don’t get too busy “reaching” and forget to “love”. Make someone’s day, week, month, or year. What young person do you need to love on today? Jesus said, “And so I am giving a new commandment to you now--love each other just as much as I love you. Your strong love for each other will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:34-35

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Ice Breaker (5-10 minutes)

Soda Sock Slam! Ask for 6 contestants from the crowd. Give each contestant a bottle of Pepsi and tell them that the first one to drink it the fastest – wins! Tell them to remove the bottle caps, but to NOT start drinking yet. Give them a 3 count…say, “1, 2,”…and before you say three – decide to change the rules a little bit. Have the contestants take their socks off and pull their sock over the top of the bottle. Now that you’ve really got them grossed out – you can start your count all over again. The first one to slam their soda without spewing wins! To add even more drama – have your contestant pull their socks over their sodas – and then trade bottles with the person next to them.

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Sermon Outline

Extreme Behaviors: The Sobering Truth about Drugs and Alcohol Young people are exposed to some crazy things, aren’t they? I mean seriously, this is the most bizarre age bracket that you guys will ever live inside of. The media, music, television – it all targets young people. The world really revolves around teenagers. But young people also really do something crazy things. Never in your life – ever – will you be so apt to do such stupid and crazy things as you are right now. For instance, when you get to be my age – If you are driving down the road – and someone cuts you off – the thought doesn’t even cross your mind in the slightest bit to stick your booty cheeks up to the window and moon the guy! But when you are a teenager – mooning someone is like no big deal. Or when you get to be my age – there is no way you will be passing gas into your hand and sticking it in the face of a girl you have a crush on. Seriously! What is that about? But when you are a teenager – it’s on the top of the list! When you’re my age – you don’t have some wild hair idea to go and depants somebody! Could you imagine? If I just walked up to Pastor Lee and dropped his pants to the floor?! He’d probably turn around and knock me out! But you guys think like that! You guys are nuts! I’ve seen you guys! I’m not sure what it is – there is some filter that hasn’t developed yet inside of a teenager – but when you’re younger – you do crazy, stupid, stuff. Sometimes you do stupid stuff that is just that…Stupid. But other times, you end up doing stupid stuff that haunts you for the rest of your life. For the next few weeks, we are going have a ton of fun exploring a message series called Extreme Behaviors. This series is going to be powerful because we are taking a hard look into everyday, real-life issues that you guys deal with as teenagers. We are going to be looking into some of culture’s hottest topics including: sex, suicide, homosexuality, cutting, purging, and drugs and alcohol. Today, we are specifically looking at Part 1 titled - “The Sobering Truth about Drugs and Alcohol”. You know, it’s always interesting to me to watch your guys’ reactions when topics like this are discussed. I have had young people asking me for weeks when this series was going to be starting. In this auditorium today, we have 2 types of people represented. First, there are those of you that are sitting here today and you have never tried drugs or alcohol – and you never will. The second group that is represented here today are those of you who have either tried drugs and alcohol or at some point will try them. But the chances are extremely high, that you will all at least know someone that is experimenting with these deadly drugs. As a matter of fact, many of you have moms, dads, or brothers and sisters who have drug or alcohol addictions or problems. If you are being raised like I was – you have no choice but to see that stuff in your house. I grew up seeing my mom and dad drink; seeing fights always breaking out because they were not in their right minds. I grew up seeing other family members drunk all the time. If your family is like that today – my heart breaks for you because I know what that is like. It’s no fun. If you have a family situation like this – you probably don’t even know how wrong it is. I didn’t. You also might be sitting here thinking, “C’mon Travis, there is nothing wrong with drugs or alcohol”. -- I have to tell you that I highly disagree with you. First of all – drugs and alcohol are both drugs. A drug is any substance that can influence one’s mind, body or emotions and, when misused, can harm oneself or others. “Don't you know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16 That is one of 2 verses that we are going to look at today. You, your body, your mind, your heart, your thoughts, your mouth…it’s all God’s temple. This body that you and I have been given is the very place that the Holy Spirit lives. The Holy Spirit is God, in Spirit form. When you accept Jesus as your savior – you become a Christian – and God lives within you. This verse SHOULD change the way you think as a Christian. What you put into your body; what you look at; what you listen to; what you say – your body is the temple where God lives. I want to talk with you guys about 3 lies that society tells you and I everyday about drugs and alcohol. Three lies that are pumped into your minds everyday through friends, media, music, television, movies, and the internet. Let’s look at number one together: LIE # 1: EVERYBODY IS DOING THEM. If you are like me and you watch movies, listen to the hottest music, watch music videos, or surf the web – you realize that the world is always pitching the idea to you that EVERYBODY is doing drugs and alcohol. Maybe you’ve never noticed it before – but our culture persuades that everyone drinks and everyone does drugs. It’s not hard to see beer commercials all over the television, or movies filled with scenes of people drinking and partying. You put on your IPOD and song lyrics are laced with lyrics that support drug and alcohol use and abuse. The thing is – everyone is NOT doing them. Not everyone. If fact – statistics show that 70% of all teenagers are NOT doing them! What you guys have to understand is that the Devil wants you to believe that everyone is doing them – and He wants you to believe that they are no big deal. But they are a big deal. They are both ILLEGAL – and they both do permanently destructive damage. Let’s look at the next lie that culture throws at you: LIE # 2: TRYING OR USING WILL MAKE MY LIFE BETTER. It’s an incredibly misleading idea that using drugs or alcohol will make your life better. People turn to drugs and alcohol for many reasons: peer pressure, looking for pleasure, low self-esteem, they are overwhelmed with life, depression, stress, and many more. But the ploy that using these substances will make ones life better is a lie. In fact – the only thing that using can possibly do is make your life worse. I know for many in here – you may not even know someone who drinks or does illegal drugs. But the majority of you do. You either know someone, it won’t be long before you DO know someone, or you are that someone. Drugs and alcohol only bring temporary pleasure. Whether its drugs like marijuana, crystal meth, cocaine, or heroin – to other drugs like pills that you found around the house or sniffing gas, or rubber cement, or glue, or something else – they will all let you down and destroy your life! God did not design your body – His Temple – to be contaminated with substances that alter your mind. Drugs and alcohol also kill brain cells. I have a great recommendation for you – if you want to be a complete idiot – do drugs. If you want to try and be the dumbest dude on earth – smoke weed! I’m not kidding. There was a time in my life when I was a teenager that I drank alcohol and did drugs – and you guys – I was seriously hanging around some of the world’s dumbest people. I’m sure they thought that about me too and I possibly WAS the dumbest kid on earth. But these guys had no brain whatsoever. As I began messing around with this garbage – everything began to get worse. My grades started sliding, my relationships with my family started to fizzle out; and the things that I truly cared for were no longer the priorities of my life. I got sucked into thinking that doing this stuff would make my life better, and it didn’t. In fact – I don’t know a single person today that I used to do that stuff with that their lives got better because they did this stuff. Their lives got worse. Some ended up dropping out of school, some are now in prison, some are currently in drug rehab centers, and some are even dead. The lie that drugs and alcohol make your life better, or more fun, or more exciting is a tactic that the Devil uses on you because he wants to destroy your life. He knows how powerful you can be for God. He’s well aware of the aptitude that you possess. The Bible says in John 10:10 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. This first part of that verse is talking about the devil and the Devil is seeking you out – and wants to see you fall into his trap. But the GREAT NEWS is that God’s purpose is to give us LIFE in all of its fullness. The Bible says that Greater is he who is in us – than he who is in this world. In other words – God is greater than all of Satan’s power and his demons. You don’t have to be worried about Satan coming to snuff you out if you got Christ in your life. God is greater – and He loves you. He died for you and wants you to live for Him. Let’s look at the third lie that the world throws at us: LIE #3: YOU WILL BE “COOL” IF YOU TRY THEM. This is where the idea of peer pressure comes in. I don’t care how tough you are – how great of a self-esteem that you possess – peer pressure can be overwhelming sometimes for all of us. God designed us to want to be loved and accepted by others. This is why peer pressure is so challenging. You are designed to love – and to be loved. You are hardwired this way. How many of you would say, “Oh Yeah Baby, you called it – I want some lovin’”. You know that’s right! It’s true – we all do. We see this idea of peer pressure all through life. I see it at my daughter’s age (who’s 5), I see it at your age, and I see it at my age. Peer pressure is tough stuff. And peer pressure almost always starts out small. Most people don’t try drugs for the first time by going to school one day and saying – “Yo dog, you know what – I am gonna try drugs for the first time today and shoot a needle full of heroin into my arm so that I can be hooked and homeless”. That’s not how it works. Peer pressure builds up and quietly sneaks up on you. It seems an innocent as possible…then it’s like a snow ball. It builds, and builds, and eventually bites you in the butt. Most the time in the alcohol arena, it starts with sneaking a sip of daddy’s broosky when he’s not looking…or maybe its executing the ole’ “five finger discount” while swiping a wine cooler from store. Or maybe you see the jug at grampy’s house and sneak a couple of drinks. That is how alcohol typically begins. It seems fun. It seems harmless. It looks so innocent and like its no big deal. It’s even a little exciting laced with a hint of rebellion. But then, you end up hooked. You end up becoming an alcoholic and spending all your time, energy, and money on getting drunk. It’s addictive. It’s called alcoholism. It’s a disease that depletes your liver and destroys your mind. But you don’t care – you’ve got to have that next drink. Soon, it becomes a serious problem and you become depressed because you can’t kick the habit. It’s not fun anymore – it’s a necessity – you’re addicted. For drugs – it might start with popping a no doze pill or a vivran tablet so that you can stay up with your friends and play spin the bottle and hopefully kiss that girl you’ve been dying to kiss! Or maybe you are at school and you think it would be funny and make you look cool to sniff some rubber cement or some other substance. That will get you some attention. Or maybe you carefully sneak a cigarette out of your Uncle Smokey’s pack when he’s not looking. You and a friend go toke it around the corner somewhere. Next thing you know – you are crushing up your friend’s Ritalin and snorting it, or trying marijuana, or crystal meth, or Ecstasy – or some other life threatening drug that seems fun at the time. You guys – drugs kill lives. NOTHING good EVER comes out of drugs. NOTHING. But the world doesn’t tell you that. They make it look all fun and great. On TV, it looks fun; on the movies, it’s looks harmless. These are the lies that the world throws at us. Through music, media, movies, television, and the internet – society screams to us that drugs and alcohol make your life better; they make you cool; and that everyone is doing them. But they are just lies. So now that we know the lies - what are some truths about drugs and alcohol? The first truth is: TRUTH #1: DRUGS AND ALCOHOL CAUSE TERMINAL DISEASES. I know it’s not the most exciting thing to think about – but both of these substances cause terminal diseases. In case you’re wondering what some of these might be: Alcohol affects your brain. Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, memory lapses, and even blackouts. Alcohol affects your body. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. It is absorbed directly into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for a variety of life-threatening diseases, including cancer. Alcohol affects your self-control. Alcohol depresses your central nervous system, lowers your inhibitions, and impairs your judgment. Drinking can lead to risky behaviors that make you do things that you would never have done. Alcohol can kill you. Drinking large amounts of alcohol can lead to coma or even death. Also, in 1998, 35.8 percent of traffic deaths of 15- to 20-year-olds were alcohol-related. Alcohol can hurt you--even if you're not the one drinking. If you're around people who are drinking, you have an increased risk of being seriously injured, involved in car crashes, or affected by violence. At the very least, you may have to deal with people who are sick, out of control, or unable to take care of themselves. The Good news! – Not everyone is doing it. Not everyone is drinking. In fact – a poll was taken that shows 70% of all teenagers do not drink! Remember this statistic when someone invites you to drink alcohol with them. You are not alone. You can simply tell them “no thanks”, or “I don’t drink”, or “I’m not interested”. The majority of teens DO NOT drink! The even better news! – There is a God who loves you and cares for you and desires that you allow HIM to fill the void in your soul – and not alcohol. In addition to alcohol affects, Drugs cause all kinds of problems as well. Almost every kind of drugs can cause cancer, screw up your respiratory system, even fry your brain cells. It can mess up your memory and learning, distort your perceptions – sights, sounds, touch, create trouble with thinking and problem solving, produce loss of motor coordination, and increase your heart rate. You might be thinking, “Well, I don’t do that drug or this drug. But the truth is that they all cause short and long term damage to your body. Truth number one can be coupled with truth number 2: TRUTH #2: DRUGS AND ALCOHOL CAUSE PERMANENT BRAIN DAMAGE. TRUTH # 3: DRUGS AND ALCOHOL WILL ULTIMATELY DESTROY WILL YOUR LIFE. Young people, there is no doubt that the Devil wants to see each and every one of us go down. If he can use drugs or alcohol to achieve this – he most certainly will. But here is the greatest truth of all – it’s the second part of John 10:10: John 10:10 (NIV) “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full”. God wants to give you life. His desire for you is to live a real, authentic life IN HIM. He wants you to live IN HIM, and He wants to live his life IN YOU. Look in your Bibles at what 1 Corinthians 6:19, 20 says: “Or didn't you realize that your body is a sacred place, the place of the Holy Spirit? Don't you see that you can't live however you please, squandering what God paid such a high price for? The physical part of you is not some piece of property belonging to the spiritual part of you. God owns the whole works. So let people see God in and through your body.” I love this verse because it really puts my life into perspective. You guys – God loves you, God is crazy about you. God created you. The Bible says in Psalm 139 – That God fearfully and wonderfully created you. He put some thought into your design. And then, 2000 years ago – he came to earth in the form of a human being – and died a criminals death for you and I. He paid the price on the cross for you and I. That is why this verse says, “God paid such a high price”. He paid the price for your eternal life by going to the cross for us. Our bodies are sacred places. Our bodies are where the Holy Spirit dwells. He lives insides of us. I love the part of that verse that says, “don’t you see that you can’t live however you please”. It’s because he lives inside of us. God cares about what we put into our bodies. Young person – don’t mess with drugs and alcohol. Drugs and alcohol have the potential to destroy your life – or maybe a life of someone you love. Drugs and alcohol are both illegal. Instead of turning to these things - let God fill that void in your heart. The famous philosopher and mathematician Pascal (1623-1662) wrote that in each and every one of us – there is a God-Shaped hole in the human soul – there is a void in our soul – that only God can fill. Nobody else can fill it. No drink, no drug, no person – just God. He wants to fill it.

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For Your Library

It's Only a Tatoo and Other Myths Teens Believe by Ron Luce Book Summary As a youth pastor, I receive countless questions from parents on what to do with their "teen gone wild". My biggest temptation is to tell them, "Nothing…Now! It's too late; you should have been doing something for the last 15 years of their lives." But I usually refrain! Instead, I like to refer them to a resource that might help. I am always looking for excellent material that will equip me as a leader as well as the parents of my teenagers! This book does the trick. This book is actually a "handbook" for parents to help them through typical teen struggles from a Godly perspective. Quote from Book “A conviction is something you feel so strongly about that if you do not do it, you know you will be miserable for the rest of your life.” Purchase this book online at www.christianbook.com

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Quotes for Leadership

(taken from The New Encyclopedia of Christian Quotes  copyright  (c)1979,1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Publishers.) Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. ~ The Bible, Ephesians 5:18 Drunkenness is nothing but voluntary madness. ~ Author unknown I want deliberately to encourage this mighty longing after God. The lack of it has brought us to our present low estate. The stiff and wooden quality about our religious lives is a result of our lack of holy desire. ~ A.W. Tozer There remains deep in the soul (if I dare use that word) a persistent and unconscious anxiety that something is missing – some ingredient that makes life worth living. ~ Prince Charles

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Statistics that Speak

Eleven percent of Protestant teens (and only eight percent of Assemblies of God teens) report drinking alcohol a few times a month or more, compared to 16 percent of unaffiliated teens (p 58). Ten percent of Assemblies of God teens report that they use marijuana occasionally or regularly. There is little variation in smoking marijuana among the major Protestant traditions or among all teens (p 60). The above statistics were taken from Portraits of Protestant Teens: A Report on Teenagers in Major U.S. Denominations. Research was compiled by Phil Schwadel and Christian Smith through the National Study of Youth & Religion.

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From the Field

NYWC This year’s National Youth Workers Conference, Dream ’06: Impacting the Next Generation, held in Kansas City proved to be an exciting event for those in attendance. We were blessed with the opportunity to pray, learn and strategize with other passionate, like-minded leaders and are looking forward to the possibility of hosting the next National Youth Workers Conference in 2008.

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Resources

Connect Students through the Discipleship Website Go to www.youth.ag.org/discipleship for a free daily, online devotional for students. In addition students can e-mail a missionary, take a free online spiritual gift test, find AG Colleges, and find help on water baptism, fasting, and more! thefiftytwo.com Nearly 300 memberships have already been purchased for thefiftytwo.com. This online, youth leader resource contains everything you'll need for your youth ministry over the next year. Go to www.thefiftytwo.com for a free tour. You can order online or contact your DYD for a membership. Music Mondays If you want to keep on track with what's coming out in CCM music/music news and interviews on the OC podcast, you'll want to sign up for the new On Course Music Mondays eblast. It's simple to sign up and you can amaze your friends by being in the know :) www.oncourse.ag.org/musicmondays.cfm

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