I just spent the weekend at the Newport, Oregon Quake on the Pacific coast and in three weeks will be on the Atlantic coast at the Florida Quake.  I spent three weekends in Texas and two in Wichita, Kansas.  My job here at Youth Encounter sends me all over the country to host youth events that rekindle the flame of the light of Christ that lives within us.  How amazing is my job!  I started as the new Event Ministry Director on December 8th and shortly thereafter was up to my eyeballs in details looking at a pretty crazy schedule that is the Event season.  My name is Dani Tietjen and I work at Youth Encounter. 
 
My first experience with Youth Encounter was when I was a freshman in High School and my youth group went to our first Quake and had the time of our life!  I remember how much Captive Free talked with our youth group and I knew at that point that I wanted to be a part of Team ministry.  Three and a half years and numerous Quakes and Congresses later I flew to Minneapolis, Minnesota three weeks after my 18^th birthday to join Captive Free North Central.  Thus my history with Youth Encounter really began. 
 
Those Quakes and Congresses, as many different retreats, camp, and National Youth Gathering experiences can do, helped to keep me focused on the Lord.  Quakes and Congresses have the ability to pull youth out of their everyday routine and saturate them with the love of their Lord God.  They listen to Christian speakers and bands and get the opportunity to experience true grace and forgiveness and a life given to the Lord.  These weekends are important to the Christian’s daily walk.  They help fan the flame, set our hearts on fire, and rekindle that relationship with God that we long for.  I am so honored to be a part of the Event ministry here at Youth Encounter.  I feel I get the chance to give back for all that YE has given me.  With one season behind me, I am excited to spend a spring and summer planning for the upcoming year and finding new ways to make each event better than the last.  Thank you for the chance to introduce myself and share a part of my heart with you.