Youth Encounter

Only three weeks until EDGE! For people in over 20 states, it is almost time to pack up and head to Nashville! We are so excited! The EDGE! Team is busy finalizing those last minute details and making sure everything is ready for the EDGE! Event, July 7-11, 2006 in Nashville, Tennessee.

EDGE! has a brand new MySpace page! To read our blogs and check out our pictures, visit us at www.myspace.com/edge_event_2006. If you are on MySpace, become our friend today! We’ll be keeping everybody up to date on the latest, live from the Event.

Another new thing that just happened in the last month is that the EDGE! participants will be able to package some food kits for the Christus Victor Lutheran Church’s Distribution Center in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. The Distribution Center continues to serve over 125 families a day by providing them with food, supplies and other items they need to survive. The effects of the hurricanes are still very evident in this area, and the EDGE! participants are going to get a chance to help!
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The Time Is Now!
To Fill Out Your Team Ministry Application
Jeff Rowdon

This could be you! Apply today!

It’s the month of June. The sun is shining. The birds are singing. The days are lengthening. You’ve graduated from high school or college, and it’s time to start thinking about what you are going to do in the fall. The answer could be Team Ministry with Youth Encounter!

As the recruitment guy here at Youth Encounter, I can tell you that Team Ministry can change your life! The chance to live in a small community of young adults and share the Good News we have in Christ with others is a powerful experience. Not only can it change the lives of the people you meet and love during the year, but it can change you, too. Imagine growing in your ability to share your faith or relate to people or play an instrument. What an amazing opportunity.

So what are you waiting for?! Apply today! Our 2006-07 Teams begin training on August 20, so don’t wait another minute.

Our online application can be filled out by going to this link: http://secure.youthencounter.org/eseries/scriptcontent/index.cfm. You can also download a printable version of our application by going to this link: http://www.youthencounter.org/teams/pdf/team_app_packet.pdf.

Maybe you have a friend or family member who you think would be great on Team. We would love to hear about them! Call me (Jeff) at 800-659-6884 ext. 8483 or email me at jeff@youthencounter.org. Contact me today!

God Gives Youth Encounter New Opportunities
Community-Based Team at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater, MN
Lisa Rykken Kastler

Are you interested in working with one congregation for a full year and connecting with that community while especially working with an outreach to young adults? We are launching a new ministry to do just that!

If you would like to learn more, please call me (Lisa) at 800-659-6884 x8490 or e-mail me at lisa@youthencounter.org.

Ready to apply now? Download forms about Mission Teams at www.youthencounter.org/globalworkcrews/forms/default.asp

Mission Team Forms include:
Application and References
Health History
Physician's Statement
Background Check Form

God's Power in Unexpected Places
How A Juggling Kid Learned to Serve God
Jeromy Dorsing

God can lead you to do unexpected things at Events

As an Event Director, I see thousands of kids at our weekend Events. I see them moved in ways that just amaze me. But, there is always this little voice in my head that says, “Yeah, but what about when they go home? Is this experience going to affect their lives?” Then I remember Sam.

Quite a few summers ago, I was at a music festival in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. I was on a Captive Free team at the time, and a friend of mine asked me to interview some kids at the festival and ask them two questions: “What gifts do you have?” and “How can you use those gifts serving God?" I got an amazingly wide range of responses, everything from riding horses and playing video games to "I don’t have any talents." Then I met Sam.
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River: 2006 Alumni Service Award Recipients
Three Inspirational Men, One Powerful Mission

River, an inspirational Christian musical group composed of Kurt Linn, Paul Marino, and Phil Reesnes, were this year’s recipients of the Youth Encounter Alumni Service Award. The three men were all members of Captive Free in 1984-85, and their passion for musical and relational ministry has not diminished since then.

The mission statement that Kurt, Paul and Phil adopted in 1989, when they collectively became River, continues to apply to their lives almost 18 years later. "We serve as ambassadors of Jesus Christ to inspire, encourage, and challenge people to live their lives in Him and in loving relationships with one another through Him."
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Bethany Dillon: Loving Life and God
"I Hope There Is Discontentment for Anything But God"
Kate Tripoli

EDGE! participants in Nashville will have a unique opportunity to be ministered to by one of their peers. Bethany Dillon, an 18-year-old singer/songwriter from Bellefontaine, Ohio, will take the stage at a Christian skatepark called Rocketown on Sunday night, a celebration of music and worship to end a full day of service in and around the Nashville area. To learn more about Bethany’s ministry at EDGE! and beyond, visit www.edge-event.com and click on “Musicians,” or visit www.bethanydillon.com.

When was the first time you sang in public?

I can’t really remember because it was probably when I was like three or four. I have a bunch of siblings, and our parents probably made us sing in church. I’ve also been writing since I was really little, stories and silly songs. When I was around 10, I started playing guitar and writing songs for real.
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All the Possibilities We Are Given Are a Gift From God
Read Excerpts from Captive Free West Lakes's Online Journal
Captive Free West Lakes

Eating Dirt Dessert with kids at Hope Rescue Mission

Good morning, all! I hope you are all doing well, and there is no such thing as a "case of the Monday's" to speak of! We just spent a weekend with 850 junior high students at the Chula Vista Resort in the Wisconsin Dells, and I don't think I can appropriately explain how absolutely amazing it was! God was totally present in that ballroom, in those Trek rooms, in the hallways, everywhere this weekend. I was stretched, pulled, questioned, and tested many times this weekend, and I am so very thankful for all of it.

Tiger McLuen was the speaker this weekend, and he spoke a lot of truths that touched the lives of those kids but really touched me as well. He spoke about what he calls the "4 P's" which are Personal Looks, Performance, Possessions, and Popularity. I have always struggled with self esteem issues and doubted how valuable I was, how pretty I was, how I measured up to this social scale that everything seems to be based on. I know that I've heard it a million times, but this weekend it really clicked in my head. Part of what Tiger talked about was that it really doesn't matter what you look like, who you hang out with, what kind of clothes you wear or anything like that. All the treasures you store up here on earth will get you no farther than the front door.
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God Really Put His Hand on Our Team
Read Excerpts from Watermark Germany's Online Journal
Watermark Germany

We did the program at the boys and girls treatment ranch, as I had mentioned in my last journal, and it was better than I anticipated. We arrived to a very large, muscular man in a camo shirt greeting us as the pastor at the ranch. Cool, a bodybuilding spiritual leader! Sye Maanen, looking in his early thirties, was totally on fire for Christ. He was thrilled that we were there to share with these kids Christ's message. After practically carrying our entire sound system on his back, we had everything inside ready to set up in no time. While setting up, we had pleasant surprise from previous Watermark'er and YE alum, Pat Torbit. He and his girlfriend, my host sister and also previous Captive Free teamer, Allison Schwarz, came to welcome us back to good ol' Minot, ND (thanks, guys). After a quick set up and sound check, we had dinner with some of the youth. I asked to sit next to a couple of young men and their counselor and was gladly invited. Talking to the guys for a couple of minutes, I was totally stoked to hear them tell me right away that they were Christians. This set a cool mood. They asked me what I was there to do. My reply sent one of the boys, Brian, jumping nearly out of his seat. He told me all about how much he loves listening to Christian rock. I definitely agreed. So after supper, they parted promising me that they would show up. Sye gave us a tour of the compound and sharing with us a general idea of where most of these kids come from. My heart went out to these children and young adults. I wanted to show them that in this world the arms of Christ are the only true comfort.
[CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]

Global Offering Recipient: Feed My Starving Children
Over $61,000 Raised By 2005-06 Event Participants
Brett Koopman

Visit www.fmsc-youthencounter.org to learn about our partnership

Every year, Youth Encounter receives a global offering at Events that goes to help a ministry serving disadvantaged children overseas. We are pleased to announce that we raised $61,551 to support Feed My Starving Children through the generosity of the thousands of Event participants during the 2005-2006 season.

Feed My Starving Children is a Twin Cities-based organization which uses volunteers (many of whom are younger than 18) to package delicious, nutritious, culturally acceptable meals that are sent to children in need all over the world in an effort to reverse the effects of starvation on their bodies.
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T-Shirts As Low As $4.00! Get Yours Today
VBS Resources On Sale Now
Ryan Veil

The madness continues!

Our huge T-shirt blowout is still on! Get your favorite Youth Encounter t-shirts for as low as $4.00! It’s the perfect time to pick up all the Youth Encounter gear you can imagine!

Team Live CDs and Sing-Along resources are also on sale! Don’t forget to get those sing-along resources for your VBS this summer, or pick up the CD of the team that came to your church this year. Visit us at store.youthencounter.org.

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