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

National Youth Day National Youth Ministries encourages all local churches to recognize a special day of worship with their students. Sunday, April 15, 2007 has been set apart by the Assemblies of God as “National Youth Day.” This is a day to connect you and the youth of your church. National Youth Day enables a church to highlight and make these connections through a special worship service. This is a great opportunity for students to demonstrate their love for God in the body of Christ. This is a great opportunity to present a message about God’s promises and call to youth. Let’s lead our youth to be the next generation of champions for Jesus Christ!

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Sermon Outline

Make the difference By Jay Mooney and Cecil Culbreth A U.S. study concluded that among all of the influences of modern life, parents still have the greatest influence. Seventy-eight percent of youth said the single greatest influence over their attitudes and actions is their parents. That study only scratched the surface. The youth-parent connection is vital to spiritual maturation of a youth. It shapes a child’s eternal destiny. And the spiritually healthy child has the potential of shaping countless other lives for God. As a parent, you will influence your children to live for God or to live for Satan. Many of the behavior patterns you portray are being picked up by your children. That can be frightening or reassuring. What would you do if you only had your children for three or four years? Let’s examine the parental influence from the perspective of Moses and his parents in Hebrews 11:23-27 (NIV). As background, according to Exodus 2:1-10, Moses’ mother only had him for a few years. Throughout his childhood and into his young adulthood Moses was “educated in all the wisdom of the Egyptians” (Acts 7:22). Moses had a chance to be a great leader in Egypt, a powerful but ungodly culture, yet he chose to identify himself with the people of God. What made the difference in Moses’ life? Confidence in God “By faith Moses’ parents … ” Hebrews 11:23 begins. Moses’ parents believed God had given them this child and would take care of their child. They instilled that same faith in Moses. Take a look at Hebrews 11:24 and you see the phrase “by faith Moses.” Moses’ actions of faith as an adult were tied to the faith his parents had shown. When it became impossible for Moses’ parents to hide him in the house, their faith was severely tested. But their faith in God sustained them. They knew God was in control. Parents must instill faith in God into their children. Commitment to God’s purpose Notice the next phrase in Hebrews 11:23 — Moses’ parents “saw he was no ordinary child.” Moses’ parents believed God intended to do great things through their child. Consequently, they had their priorities right. They were more concerned that Moses should succeed in the kingdom of God rather than the kingdom of Egypt. Sometimes our children do not become spiritual giants because we do not expect them to become spiritual giants. Moses’ parents believed God would use their son. They saw God’s mission as Moses’ destiny. We need to instill a sense of destiny into this generation. God is going to use them in the last great outpouring that will take place on earth. “Your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Joel 2:28). Are you expecting God to use your child? Courage to do what is right Hebrews 11:23 says Moses’ parents were “not afraid of the king’s edict.” As a result, Moses had courage to stand up for God. As an adult “he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger” (v. 27). It has been said, “We teach what we know, and we reproduce what we are.” Courageous parents produce courageous children. Give us godly moms with a holy boldness and courage to stand up against those forces seeking to destroy today’s generation. Moms who choose to do the right thing although it is not the popular thing. Give us godly fathers who will boldly but lovingly say, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord” (Joshua 24:15). Parents, live an authentic Christian life before your children. Model a love for God and a life of forgiveness. Put God first. Home is usually the most transparent place in life. If you can live a genuine life of faith at home, you can live it anywhere. Parents, we make the difference. JAY MOONEY is director of Assemblies of God National Youth Ministries. CECIL CULBRETH is the Youth Alive national coordinator and executive director of His Story. Article originally appeared in Today’s Pentecostal Evangel (April 15, 2007). Used with permission.

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For Your Library

Student Fire Bible Scheduled for Release The Fire Bible: Student Edition (FBSE), the only in-depth student study Bible from a Pentecostal perspective, will be released this fall. The project, which began in 2005, is a collaborative effort between Assemblies of God National Youth Ministries, Life Publishers and the Assemblies of God Bible Alliance. National Youth Director Jay Mooney says the FBSE is meant to help students better understand the Christian faith and what it means to be a Spirit-filled disciple of Jesus Christ. The Bible is especially designed to help train students in five lifestyle habits: pray, live, tell, serve and give. “These concepts are connected with practical how-to’s that will give students the confidence they need to talk about Jesus with their friends,” says Carey Huffman, FBSE project coordinator. “This tool will help students develop an intentional lifestyle to impact others for Christ at school, work, home and anywhere.” The FBSE contains an easy-to-use cross-reference section, a detailed overview of each book, more than 80 key issue articles, plus charts, illustrations and maps. It also contains thorough study notes, a commentary from a Pentecostal perspective and has 20 major themes tracked throughout Scripture. — Holly Bass and Amber Weigand-Buckley Article originally appeared in Today’s Pentecostal Evangel (April 15, 2007). Used with permission.

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Quotes for Leadership

We’ve been around [some of the partying and negative stuff in the rock music culture], but we’ve really tried to create our own environment. The main thing is just trying to live like Christ — that’s magnetic. Anyone can talk, but living it is what has an impact. ~ Kutless front man, Jon Micah In the end, it’s important to remember it’s impossible for us to be good at anything without God. Any talent or ability we have we possess by God’s grace. And in order to give our best, which is what God asks of us (Colossians 3:23), we must learn to find strength, wisdom, peace — everything we need for godly living — in Christ alone. ~ Jennifer McClure Content taken from Today’s Pentecostal Evangel. April 15, 2007.

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Statistics that Speak

Teen role models 1. Parents: 68 percent 2. Teachers/coaches: 41 percent 3. Siblings: 40 percent 4. Religious leaders: 19 percent 5. Athletes: 18 percent 6. Celebrities: 16 percent ~ American Bible Society survey Only 15 percent of programs with sexual content include depictions of sexual risks, need for sexual safety or abstinence. ~ The Journal of Pediatrics Approximately two-thirds of TV programs contain sexual content. ~ The Journal of Pediatrics Top teen driving distractions Other teens in car: 93 percent Driver on cell phone: 89 percent Singing or dancing passengers/driver: 79 percent Passengers drinking alcohol: 48 percent ~ State Farm Insurance Of 44 films rated “Restricted,” 80 percent were targeted to children under 17. ~ U.S. Federal Trade Commission Teens’ religious engagement 72 percent pray to God 48 percent attend worship services 35 percent attend Sunday School 33 percent go to youth group 31 percent read the Bible ~ The Barna Group Of the video game companies investigated, 70 percent regularly marketed mature-rated games (for 17 years and older) to a substantial percentage of those under 17. ~ U.S. Federal Trade Commission In one study, adolescents ages 12-17 with the highest category of exposure to sex on TV were almost twice as likely as kids in the lowest category to initiate sexual intercourse. ~ RAND study Content taken from Today’s Pentecostal Evangel. April 15, 2007.

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From the Field

Culbreth Named Leader Cecil Culbreth, national field coordinator for National Youth Ministries’ The Seven Project and national coordinator for Prayer Zone Partners, has been appointed Youth Alive national coordinator. In conjunction with the Student Outreach oversight of National Youth Director Jay Mooney, Culbreth will provide the administrative and operations support to Youth Alive: Campus Missions, Campus Clubs, Prayer Zone Partners and The Seven Project. Culbreth will continue to serve as the president of His Story, a ministry that facilitates the distribution of Scripture evangelism materials such as the Book of Hope. Content taken from Today’s Pentecostal Evangel. April 15, 2007. National Youth Ministries Announces New Speed the Light/Student Missions Director Assemblies of God national youth ministries announces the appointment of Rick Lorimer, Student Outreach director, as the new director of Student Missions. As Student Missions director Lorimer will provide oversight and administration to Speed the Light, the youth-initiated ministry that provides transportation and communications equipment to missionaries across the nation and in over 194 countries around the world. This leadership involves an extensive speaking schedule, which includes churches, conventions, camps and leadership conferences. Also, Lorimer will oversee Ambassadors in Mission (AIM), the short-term youth missions program of the Assemblies of God. As Student Outreach Director, Lorimer provided leadership for Youth Alive (Campus Missions, Campus Clubs, Prayer Zone Partners and The Seven Project) and the nationally appointed Youth Alive missionary family. Also, he previously served in national youth ministries as the Ministry Development Director, overseeing Fine Arts, Bible Quiz, Momentum and Discipleship. He brings over twenty-two years of ministry experience to nym. Of Lorimer’s new role National Youth Director Jay Mooney says, “During his time as Nebraska District Youth Director, giving tripled and the state moved into the top five per capita giving districts in the nation. Rick will do a wonderful job leading us into the future of this most strategic youth mission endeavor of winning the world's lost.” Indy '07 to Equip Campus Missionaries Thousands of students will gather Aug. 7-11 in Indianapolis for the Indy ’07-Experience The Dream: Fine Arts Festival, Campus Tour, AIM Outreach and National Youth Convention. The convention will take place in the Indiana Convention Center and RCA Dome. Speakers for the event include Jeanne Mayo, Reggie Dabbs and Rich Wilkerson. The event also will feature music performances by Planetshakers, Group 1 Crew, Kutless and Superchick. The focus of the ’07 convention is for students and leaders to experience and launch a vision called Dreaming 2015. “The vision is to reach 1 million American teenagers and have them grafted into a local church by the end of 2015,” says National Youth Director Jay Mooney. The Campus Tour will feature afternoon events, evening services and a workshop track, all designed to help inspire and equip students to develop a strategic plan to reach their campuses. The Campus Tour will culminate on Friday with a Campus Missionary Commissioning Service in the RCA Dome and World/U.S. Missionary Commissioning service in the Conseco Field House being linked via satellite. Students who are commissioned as Youth Alive campus missionaries will receive a new Fire Bible: Student Edition, courtesy of donations to Assemblies of God Bible Alliance and Light for the Lost. “The campus becomes the most crucial battleground for our future success,” Mooney says. ~ Holly Bass Article originally appeared in Today’s Pentecostal Evangel (April 15, 2007). Used with permission.

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Resources

CM_digisource Replacing the campus missionary packet, we introduce to you our campus missionary_digisource V.3, a revolutionary CDROM loaded with over 50 campus missionary resources designed to build, equip, and energize your campus missionaries.   The Fifty Two Volunteer, Part-time, Full-time youth leader? Take a free tour of The Fifty Two.

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