Pressing Forward

 With worship leader Charlie Hall (www.charliehall.com)

Nikki and I flew into San Diego today for the start of the National Outreach Convention. I’ve never been to this side of the country before, and everything you hear is about the sunny west-coast. We walked out of the airport and were staring at palm trees in the overcast skies. Not what I was expecting, but that’s okay.

I’m expecting awesome things from the convention. There are supposed to be great ideas and resources that we can take and implement in our own ministry settings, if possible. I’m looking forward to attending the opening session in just a while. I’m still a little disillusioned with time, but I think we need to leave soon. It’s just after 3 here, and we’re already having dinner!

Outreach (or evangelism, or sharing your faith…) is what is needed more and more in our churches. This is where we’re missing it. Churches are becoming exclusive groups that no longer invite people to be a part of the fellowship that comes through Jesus Christ. We no longer see the urgency of telling others about the hope found in Jesus Christ. I’m guilty of it. All followers of Jesus need to brush the dust off of their commitments to command Jesus gave us to make disciples of all nations.

I’m looking forward to the convention, sun or no sun…

With Lee Strobel, author of “Case For Christ” & many other books.

Last weekend, I was blessed to be able to take a couple youth down to Woodbridge, VA, to the “Survive” conference put on by Dare2Share.  I have to say that it was the best conference I have ever taken youth to!  It was my first time at this conference, and I loved what they did.

The focus of the conference was all about sharing our faith.  They challenged everyone there to be more bold in telling others about Jesus, and even asks people to do some things that had to be way out of their comfort zone.  I know it was out of mine!

Dare2Share understands that the change our churches need is going to come from our teenage generation.  We (people who work with teenagers) have to do everything possible to develop our teens to become the kind of people who care enough to bring about this change.  Dare2Share understands this, creates resources for this, and comes alongside of churches and youth ministries to accomplish this.

If you work with youth, check out Dare2Share.  They have some great resources that keep the focus on where it needs to be.