June Victory Stories

Real Life Youth Ministry

How youth pastors are making a difference in young people’s lives.

Fighting on the frontlines of youth ministry is not always easy. Just ask the youth pastor who invests countless hours into his youth group for little reward, or the parents who pray diligently for their wayward son. But they will tell you that it is worth the cost. The BattleCry campaign exists to impact, inspire, and equip teenagers and those who have a passion to reach them.

One youth pastor sacrificed financial comfort for his youth group, while another veteran youth pastor discovered a newfound passion for young people after watching a BattleCry DVD and used it to reengage his youth group. These are just a few of the amazing stories heard across America as the BattleCry movement spreads and grows.

Ready to Go -- Denver, Pennsylvania
Tom Beamesderfer had been involved in youth ministry for twenty-nine years but was ready to give up. That changed when the BattleCry DVD, The Big Picture, arrived in the mail in June 2005.

After watching the DVD, his passion for youth ministry exploded once again. When he showed the DVD to his youth group of six kids, they decided to act. At their next meeting they watched the same DVD, but this time they brought nineteen other Christian teens with them.

The group understood the urgency of the situation. An estimated 4% of their peers were expected to follow Jesus as adults. In their public school of 1,200, there were less than forty-eight students living for God. They knew the numbers were real, but it took on a completely different meaning when the numbers they heard became the faces they saw in school every day. It was truly the 4% statistic in action.

More had to be done. In November 2005, Tom went to a BattleCry Leadership Summit to arm himself with more information and resources for reaching those teenagers. In addition, the youth recently went through the Rise Up Curriculum. Through the seven weeks of training sessions, they learned what it means to be a follower of Christ and how to harness their passion for God to fight for their generation.

Not to be outdone by the youth, Tom and his youth leaders also did their part to get equipped. Currently, they are reading Revolution YM to help redefine their youth ministry.

With his pastor supporting him and his youth group and leaders embracing the vision of the BattleCry, Tom and his church are going all-out to reach teens. They are serious about rescuing this generation.

Reaching Out -- Lehigh Acres, FL
Youth pastor Ashley Davis in Lehigh Acres, Florida recently read Battle Cry for a Generation. After sharing it with his youth leaders, they decided to take action. For three weeks, he and a friend prepared and promoted a message called “No Weapon.” On the night Ashley and his leaders gave the message, 100 youth showed up and 60 went forward for the altar call. Not bad for a youth group that averaged 30-40 kids a week.

This is how Ashley described the event: “These teenagers, some who had never been to church, were praising God. They were dancing and praising God. It was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I am telling you this because we used the resources available at battlecry.com. They are worth every penny. They get these kids’ attention and keep them.”

From 2 to 100 -- Homosassa Springs, FL
Reaching young people does not come without a price. For people like Tim Sensabaugh who want to see teens’ lives changed, it often means making sacrifices.

Originally, Tim’s church in Homosassa Springs, Florida had a youth group of two. But after applying BattleCry principles and strategies, it increased to over a hundred youth. Every Saturday night, they held a teen-only service that drew over a hundred young people, and once a month, 300 people came for Youth Wednesday.

Growing a youth group that much is a miracle most churches would be thankful for. However, many of the retired members of the church were not happy to see so many “kids.” In fact, the congregation split because of it.

After the church split, Tim had to take a pay cut and sell his home. But even in the face of financial hardships, he understands the need to reach this generation. He is not giving up.

He told BattleCry, “In this battle there will be casualties of war. Many youth pastors, senior pastors, and lay people will be wounded. I also know that those same people (leaders) will rise again and fight for the cause. This generation needs the sacrifice of clergy. I am aware that my sacrifice may not be finished, but the battle isn’t close to being over. And I am ready to roll…”

Fight the Good Fight
Everyday, teenagers are immersed in a corrupt yet highly influential culture, and many have simply allowed themselves to be tossed and swayed by the cultural tide. But a generation passionate for God is rising up and standing for what they believe in.

No matter where you serve in this battle, be encouraged. You are not alone. Many others are fighting alongside of you, including youth leaders like Tom, Ashley, and Tim, who are investing their passion, energy, and time into reaching young people. As you bring life and truth to those you fight for, know that the cost is worth seeing them become followers of Christ.

The BattleCry campaign exists to reach out to the largest generation of young people in U.S. history with the life changing message of the Gospel. With only 4% expected to be following Jesus by the time they time they become adults, something has to be done. Together, Christian adults, young people, churches, and organizations will change the 4%. To learn more about the BattleCry campaign and how you can make an impact on this generation, go to www.battlecry.com.


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