Changing America

Battle Cry: Changing America One Community at a Time

See how God is using the Battle Cry to inspire people to do big things in their communities.

Have you ever had the thought: "Can I really change young people's lives?"

As these stories are about to demonstrate, you can! With passion, hard work and the Spirit of God, people who love youth are making things happen across the country.

One adult with a big heart for young people reached 140 people in his community with the message of the Battle Cry. A fourteen-year-old boy and his friend started a youth group after going to an Acquire the Fire event. And one youth pastor was inspired to raise awareness in his church and community and has built the theme of his 4 day youth event around the Battle Cry.

Danny's Battle Cry Presentation in Illinois

Danny recently gathered people from seven churches in Illinois to speak with them about the Battle Cry. Since reading "Battle Cry for A Generation" and learning about the desperate need to reach young people, his heart has fully embraced the message of the campaign. He saw that much more could be done to make a difference in the lives of the youth in his community. When he invited the churches in his area to share his newfound passion for young people with them, close to 140 people showed up. As he spoke and presented the need, in his own words, the following happened: "The crowd was silent and eventually broken-broken at heart, spirit, and pride. There was crying, weeping, repenting, and cleansing."

Danny is heavily involved with the youth ministry in his church. He simply understands the heart behind the Battle Cry and wants to wake people up to what he knows is true: the young people around them need Jesus. At first, he didn't know how to get started. But after talking with a Battle Cry Coalition Coach, he got some great ideas and resources, like the Battle Cry Power Point Presentation (available online to all Battle Cry Coalition members).

Since the meeting, Danny has been doing everything he can to get more people involved in the Battle Cry. Now, he has four more speaking engagements and credits the Lord for the incredible things happening.

Ryan Starts a Youth Group in Virginia

God is using people all over the country who willing answer the call to help save this generation. Ryan, a fifteen-year-old teen from Virginia, is doing his part to reach his peers. After going to the 2005 Acquire the Fire event in Baltimore, Ryan made a big decision with his life to stop listening to secular music. This played a big part in what God did in Ryan's church in the coming months. He told us what happened in an email:

Before May of last year, my church had no youth group. It had been that way for years. One day my friend David called me and asked me if I wanted to meet with him to read the Bible and pray. After doing this for a few months, God gave us a vision to start a youth group. I was 14 at the time and David was 16. After a lot of praying and planning, we met with our pastor and shared the vision. Our pastor felt it was of God and we started the youth group that same month. God inspired us to name it G.I.F.T. ministries, which stands for God Is Forever True.

A few friends and I started a worship band and David and I took turns giving sermons. Just recently we sponsored a child through World Vision. God is blessing it greatly and we usually have between 15-20 people attending.

All of this happened just 3 months after I stopped listening to secular music! God knew the choice I made at ATF and I believe I would not be in the position I am if I chose to continue in that garbage. I give God all the glory for what he is doing and I hope that through Battle Cry and other youth ministries we can make way for God to revive our nation. Thank you for reading this and I hope to attend the east coast Battle Cry event.

God continues to use Ryan to work in people's lives. Now the church and youth group are seeking God's will in regards to a youth building and are praying that they will continue to grow and follow the Lord without question.

Pastor Chris in Florida

Young people are not the only ones being inspired to sound the Battle Cry. Adults who have a passion for teens, like Youth Pastor Chris in Hollywood, Florida, are also making a difference in their lives.

After attending the leadership session at the Miami Acquire the Fire in 2005, Pastor Chris went into his community and realized the need to make others aware of the crisis concerning this generation. Excited and inspired by Ron Luce's call to action, he instructed all his youth leaders, teen leaders and children's ministry readers to read "Battle Cry for A Generation" and encouraged parents to do the same.

Over the past few years, Pastor Chris has had the opportunity to speak in front of thousands of teens. Every year, his church holds a large four day event in central Florida called "RISE Youth Getaway." This year's theme will be "The Time Is Now," and it is based on the Battle Cry campaign.

Pastor Chris is praying that the tide will change as he and other youth pastors and workers network together and actively break barriers in the community. He is encouraging youth to become part of the Battle Cry Coalition on battlecry.com, and he will be hosting a special Battle Cry event at his church to get the youth excited about it as well.

These stories are only glimpses of what God is doing all over the country. Ordinary people are doing amazing things because they caught the passion and saw the need to reach young people. Fire spreads quickly. Let their stories ignite zeal in your own heart as you continue to fight for the teens in your life.

*You are welcome to republish this article once you include the following text and link at the end of the article:

Read youth culture news, youth ministry articles, and join the fight for America's young people at http://www.battlecry.com.

BACK TO BATTLE CRY NEWS