Youth Encounter

All of Youth Encounter’s ministry teams are now on the road doing the ministry that God has called and equipped them to do. Two of those teams, Kindred going to Peru and Bolivia, and Cross Fire going to Ghana and Nigeria, could still use additional male members. Ideally our teams should have at least six members. Minimally, there should be five members on each team. Currently, Kindred and Cross Fire each have four members, one man and three women. It would be wonderful to find two ministry-minded men who would consider joining one of these two teams.

Another area of need that still exists for this year is the Community-Based Team in Stillwater, MN. We have a couple of people who are feeling called to ministry in this area, but we could still use one or two more people for this team.
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Mission Team Down Under
A Newstart for the Adelaide Community
Lisa Rykken-Kastler

Youth Encounter is excited to be teaming with the Lutheran Church of Australia to form a new kind of International Team. This team will be based in the community of Westwood, just outside of Adelaide, and will spend a year planting a church for 18-to-35-year-olds.

Four North Americans will mix with four Australian nationals to form a team called Newstart. This team will move into the community and start relational ministry work. Team members will become deeply involved in community activities and build relationships as they spend time helping out where they can in a variety of public settings, such as schools, coffee shops, civic organizations, and other local hangouts. As those relationships are built, conversations will lead to spiritual topics and Jesus Christ will be talked about. People will be invited to join the group for worship that is already taking place with the team members and others who have joined.
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Event Season Kicks Off!
It's Not Too Late to Join Us!
Steph Gunderson

Good times with friends and Jesus (and pizza) at the Chicago Quake

The countdown begins now! The first Quake and Zone of the season are just a week away, and the Events Division is so excited to get Event season rolling! This year’s Events are going to be outstanding. We hope that you and your church will be attending a Quake or Zone near you this year.

The Early Bird Deadline for March and April Events is fast approaching! Don’t forget to get your numbers together and register by November 1, 2006 to save $15 per person. Click here to check out the Event Calendar, which lists all of our Events by month!
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Church Ministry Positions Available
Connecting Churches and Servants
Gary Korpi

From time to time, congregations throughout the country notify us of ministry positions they have open in youth ministry, music ministry, and other areas. If you are an individual interested in knowing more about these positions as they are made known to us, or if you are a church wanting to get the word out about a position on your staff, please feel free to contact Gary Korpi by e-mail at garyk@youthencounter.org or by phone at 651-287-9494.

All the Good Things Are of God
Read Excerpts from Captive Free South Central's Online Journal
Captive Free South Central

Lately, God has been working in my life and reminding me that I need to be completely focused on Him. Colossians 3:1-4 really hit home for me when I read it. “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” It is so, so important for us to remember that these things we acquire on earth have no value and that we need to clothe ourselves with God’s word and compassion while here on earth. The only way for us to fully live our lives out for Christ is to be so hidden in Him and His word that others have to find Him to know us. I pray that we would all be deep in our zeal for the Lord, and always yearning to grow in our walk with Him. May you all have an incredibly blessed week!
--Meredith Matthews
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The Best Way To Do Ministry
Read Excerpts from Cross Fire's Online Journal
Cross Fire

I feel as though God has been working through our team in so many different ways the past few days. We were able to have a staff member, Cassie, from Youth Encounter meet with us at one of our stops. She encouraged us that God is present and working at all times including team meetings, difficult conversations, rain storms, spontaneous invitations, fabulous cups of chai, and a large cup of French coffee which looked more like a bowl. We talked through many things as a team, and we all realize that any difficult times we have experienced so far that God was still present and guiding us.

I saw God working on Wednesday, when we were at the church eating lunch and a woman named Eve came in and asked us to come to her house for dessert that evening. It was very spontaneous, but God showed me that sometimes that is the best way to do ministry.
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Hit the Road With Spoke Folk
Make Friends With Your Bike
Eric Arundel

Greetings! Update time from Spoke Folk Central!

Our first year as our own company has been a success, and God has truly blessed this ministry in amazing ways. Spoke Folk went great this summer! We had 110 people on our tours this summer and winter from 23 different states. That’s right, we did a winter tour as well! What a great success that was—so much of a success that we’re doing it this year in Florida. In fact, we already have 31 people signed up for this new tradition! God touched the lives of the people who toured and the lives of the people we met. It always amazes me what can be done with God on our side! We’re very excited for the growth we had this year. God has blessed this ministry in so many ways!

Next year we’ll be traveling to some states that are a mix of new and old:
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Youth Encounter Qualifies for Thrivent GivingPlus
Gifts from Thrivent Members Eligible for Up to a 50% Match

We at Youth Encounter continue to be grateful to qualify as a Thrivent GivingPlus^® recipient. That means that gifts to Youth Encounter up to $600 are eligible for a 50% match by Thrivent if you are a Thrivent member. We are so thankful to be included in this fantastic program.

The GivingPlus^® Member Gift Form must be completed and sent to Youth Encounter with your gift for us to receive those matching dollars. Please click here to download that form. Also, if you are not a member of Thrivent, you may apply to be an Associate member for $10, which will allow you to participate in the GivingPlus program. You may click here to learn more about the requirements for becoming an Associate Member of Thrivent.

The following is valuable information regarding this program:
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Support Youth Encounter While You Shop and Get Money Back
Less Than 60 Shopping Days Until Christmas!

As a part of our growth campaign, Youth Encounter is participating in a unique fundraising project. The program is SHOP4ZERO, a growing Internet mall that contributes to non-profit organizations as it gives cash to its members for their online shopping and services.

As we further our ministry of proclaiming Christ and changing the lives of youth worldwide, we are so pleased about this tremendous opportunity. You, our faithful supporters, are now able to contribute toward Youth Encounter while at the same time earning a cash-back bonus from all your normal shopping. This additional funding resource is provided to Youth Encounter with no extra expense for you and at the lowest prices on or off the Internet.
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