Challenge 2008

Greg Stier message of reaching the lost was a good shot in the arm to many in attendance to do something now. Click on the title to download file.

After so many requests for Becky talk came to us, Becky has graciously agreed to allow us to share it with anyone that it that needs. However most of us want to listen to it again. How is your daily commitment to reading God's Word and prayer each day?

Click here to download

Dear Challenge youth workers and students,

You left more than one gift in Utah!

First off, you gave the gift of love and trust for a church to begin in Stansbury Park. People were watching as you picked up trash, painted fences, and skimmed seaweed. In addition, 31 families were treated to one of more free afternoons of help around their homes. You helped people see what it means to live freely and forgiven with Jesus.

Secondly, your offering of over $23,000 was a tremendous help in covering outreach throughout this community. What a unique opportunity to have a whole conference of teens help fund the start of a new church! Less than 2% of Utahans attend a Protestant, Catholic or Evangelical church. "waters edge" is the church you got started. (www.watersedgeutah.com)

Continue reading "New Church Plant Thank You & Update!" »

Tim Elmore shared 4 picutres to help us understand leadership better from God's persceptive.

Right Click Here and Save Target As to Download

J.D. speaks for the third time on Leadership.

Right Click Here and Save Target As to Download

On Wednesday Morning following the speaker, we decided to have some additional fun. Check out our record breaking attempt for the largest kazoo band.

Watch Largest Kazoo band Attempt

Read what the local paper and TV station had to say about it. Read Article

Check out another great day of activities and highlights from Wednesday.

Check out the video »

J.D. Greear discussed in very real terms what it means to help the hurting. Right Click Here and Save Target As to Download.

Francis Chan opens up the Challenge Conference with an amazing message about God and Jesus. Right Click Here and Save Target As to Download.

Check out the highlights from Tuesday at the Challenge Conference or on YouTube.com

Check out the video »

We have had the Challenge Prayer Army going at Challenge conferences since the beginning of time. In the past 4 challenges (2008, 2006, 2004, 2002) we have seen steady growth that is a picture into the heart of the teens and young adults that are growing up right now. In 2002 we hit a new record attendance of 750 praying for an hour before the nightly rally started. 2004 a new record of 1000. 2006 a new record of 1500 gathering for prayer. In 2008 on the second night of the conference already 1700+ are gathering. I am excited to see what God will do this time. It is obvious to everyone that attends that God is drawing this generation to an intimacy with God that they have not seen illustrated to them much.

My vision for the prayer army is not to have a lot of people pray but to capture a generation with the heart of God to be intimate with us. That intimacy will be demonstrated by regular time with God in prayer with their youth group, friends and just personally with God. (submitted by Glenn Olson- Challenge Conference Prayer Director)

God is in the business of making a spectacle of His greateness. Sometimes, He lets us be a part of the story. Alfred Murrello is the founder and leader of the Utah Dream Center, an organization that serves the needs of the poor, immigrant and refugee population of west Salt Lake City for Christ. Last Saturday, Alfred and I were meeting to discuss plans of putting together for the children of his community Utah's largest water balloon fight on Thursday afternoon of the conference. We couldn't do a big clean up project because he didn't have enough money in his ministry to pay for a dumpster. We also talked about his dream of being able to someday have his own food and clothing distribution center for his community.

Yesterday, several groups from Challenge 2008 went to the Utah Dream Center to pull weeds, clean up around the facility and do a free car wash. A man, curious about the spectacle of all the kids on the property decided to stop by and see what was going on. The kids told them about how the Utah Dream Center seeks to serve the immense needs of the community. They eventually introduced the man to Alfred. The man moved by compassion decided on the spot to donate $30,000 to the Utah Dream Center. Alfred said that the money will allow him to finally fulfill his dream of a food and clothing distribution center for the community.

Continue reading "God Shows Up Big At The Utah Dream Center" »

Check out the highlights from Monday at the Challenge Conference.

Check out the video »

The Tuesday Morning Rally with JD Greear and Starfield.

Jimmy Dorrell speaks about reaching those that have been forgotten. Download it by clicking on the title.

This is the first installment of our Morning Rewind Videos that look back at some of the highlights of the last 24 hours.

Check out the video »

Our Challenge "Sojourn" has started today focus was on helping the needy and marginalized on our society and world. We were blessed to hear from Zach Hunter, a 16 year old student, who is changing the lives of the those in slavery one at a time. It was followed by an amzing time in Worship with Starfield.

New to the Challenge Conference is JD Greear, our morning rally speaker. JD's stories from his own life and the church he pastors left the students encouraged to make a difference.

The afternoon options featured a Compassion Forum with Zach Hunter, Francis Chan and Jimmy Dorrell (Monday Night Rally Speaker), and seminars such seminars as "Understanding our LDS friends", "Answers in Genesis" and Bible Quizzing.

If that wasn't enough already, we also had over 600 students participate in Ministry and Service Projects as well as Recreational Tournaments.

Click below for pictures.

Continue reading "Monday Morning Rally & Afternoon Options" »

After thousands of hours of driving and just as many gallons of fuel, youth groups from all over the U.S. have arrived in Salt Lake City, Utah. We had groups breakdown, encounter large moving animal objects across the road, to groups flights being cancelled. Over 5400 students, leaders and staff are ready to be challenged by God through worship and His Word. There was a lot of exictement when the doors for the rally opened up. However, before the doors even opened, we had over 700 Challenge Conference attendees spend time in prayer to commit the week to the Lord.

The rally featured Francis Chan (Challenge speaker 2002, 2004 & 2006) who challenged the groups to have the right picture of who God and Jesus are. It also featured some amazing new songs of worship led by Starfield (new worship leaders in 2008). It also featured Curt Cloninger doing some drama as well as the Utah Dream Team.

We will also post the Francis Chan message online, Monday Night.

Sunday Night Pictures. . . Click Below!

Continue reading "Challenge 08 Has Begun!" »

For the first time, we will be video streaming two of our rallies. Monday Night with Jimmy Dorrell and Starfield as well as Tuesday Morning with JD Greear and Starfield. If you have broadband access you will get to see what the students and leaders get to see. For those of you parents back home wondering about what is going on, this will be your ticket inside. We have opened up enough bandwith for up to 700 people at one time. If you have trouble, just try back an hour later. The content will be available through the end of July. Just a note, you will not be able to download this video.

Times will be posted Sunday Night with the actual times of the video streams.

A note from Jon

Hello, all who would visit the Challenge 08 blogs. It's Jon here, younger brother to Tim, guitar player, etc, etc. I wanted to write a quick note, as Challenge is just over a week away. It's always good to be prepared before visiting a new city, so here's a few things I've learned about Salt Lake City in hours of studying:

- it was originally called Great Salt Lake City
- it has a population of about 178,000
- it was founded in 1847
- it has a strong outdoor tourism industry

Ok, I took all that off of wikipedia in about 30 seconds - I actually know nothing about Salt Lake City. But here's all I really need to know - I'm going to be there in like 3 weeks, I'm bringing a guitar, and I'm excited to join with a bunch of students who are seeking God. I'm excited about a climate that is characterized as semi-arid steppe with four distinct seasons! (Ok, I'm back at wikipedia. I'll stop.)

See you soon...
Jon

Hosea 10:12 says, "Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord" (NLT). That's the call we're holding out right now.

You see, it's quite possible that thousands of us could gather next month in Salt Lake City, UT, hear incredible messages, sing great songs, have fun hanging out with our friends, and leave entirely unchanged, if our hearts are hard. On the other hand, if we come with hearts softened and prepared, there's no limit to what God can do through that week. He could bring us to the point of total surrender, radically transform us, and raise us up as an army to take His fame to every person on the planet who does not know Him.

There's a lot that God will do. He will do whatever it takes to confront us with the truth. But He asks us to prepare our hearts. How soft is your heart? Are there areas you've refused to surrender? Are there aspects of your life that you just haven't allowed God to investigate and clean out lately? How sensitive are you to His conviction and direction?

Now, says Hosea, is the time to seek the Lord. Start plowing the ground now. Don't wait until we arrive in Utah.

If you look through the Bible, you will find that most intense times of seeking God, repentance, and desperate prayer were accompanied by fasting. Fasting is a very tangible way in which we can set our heart, mind, and entire being on God. The natural desire that we have for food can be deliberately directed to God, allowing us to see our desperate need for Him.

The Challenge 2008 team has set aside Wednesday, June 25, as a day of prayer and fasting for the conference. I'm writing this to you to encourage you to take this day seriously. You don't have to fast the whole day. You can give up dinner. Or breakfast. Or TV. Or anything else that you feel you couldn't live without. Let God fill that spot in your life. You don't have to wait until June 25, either. You can start now (although it might not be wise to fast all food for a few weeks...). All we ask is that you intentionally give up something in order to set your heart more fully on God as we approach the dates of Challenge 2008. And that you pray.

Pray for the speakers, the lead worshipers, the drama teams--pray for their personal holiness, clear direction from God, and sensitivity to the Spirit. Pray for every group that will be going--for safety, prepared hearts, and transformed lives. Pray for the youth leaders--for rest, renewal, wisdom, and openness to God. Pray for the outreach and ministry projects--for effectiveness and right hearts. Pray for Salt Lake --that we would make a dramatic difference in that place. Pray for God's will, His way, His glory.

Praying with you,

Glenn Olson

It's easy for prayer to become somewhat of a habit--a one-sided conversation during which we sometimes forget Who it is we're talking to. We forget that the power of prayer is not in prayer itself, but in the One we're praying to.

Solomon, known for his wisdom, wrote, "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few....Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God" (Ecclesiastes 5:1-2,7, NIV). If you were with us for Challenge 2006, you probably remember the awesome prayer testimonies and praying.

How often do you do that? If you're like most, the answer is probably rarely--if ever. Sometimes we're convicted of the need to listen and worship God more, to spend time in silence before Him, and so we try. And we find ourselves easily distracted, impatient, and very quickly either have proceeded to our list of prayer requests or quit praying altogether.

Why do we find it so difficult? Too often, I believe, we try to "force it." We sit in silence because it's something we think we're supposed to do. On the other hand, in those times like we experienced at Challenge 2006, when we've just been shown a glimpse of the absolute greatness, hugeness, and holiness of God, all we can do it stand in awe. What words could we possibly bring?

I'm convinced that what we need is not to learn the right things, but to see. The more we see of the awesomeness of God, the more the right actions--and the right way of praying--will follow. So as you spend time in prayer in the month, ask God to show you more of Him. Learn to listen and allow Him to do so. Be prepared to learn the sacredness of silence.

Prayer, after all, is not about getting God on board with our agenda. It's more like allowing ourselves to get on board with His. And we can only do that when we know how His heart beats...when we take the time to listen.

Seeking God with you,

Glenn Olson

Well, He is calling you to exactly that! You have been chosen by your youth pastor to be the contact person in your youth group for the Challenge 2008 Prayer Army. Get ready: you are about to have a part in changing lives. James 5:16 says, "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results" (NLT). Though God is sovereign and almighty, in His wisdom He has granted an incredible amount of power to us through prayer.

That's why your position on the prayer army is so important! We know that God wants to use Challenge 2008 to massively affect thousands of people. If that happens through this conference, it will not be because the speakers were incredible, the lead worshipers were passionate, or the seminars were exceptionally good. It will be because God chose to act. And, as unbelievable as it may seem to us, often God waits to act until His people pray. What does all this mean for us? It means that God's answer to our prayers will be what makes Challenge 2008 a life-changing experience.

So what does being a part of the Prayer Army mean? It means, first of all, that you are a prayer warrior for this conference. And secondly, it means that you are a recruiter--it's your job to bring your youth group on board with prayer for the conference! We'll send you monthly newsletters to encourage you in your prayer life. Then it's your job to spread your excitement for prayer to others. Once you arrive in Salt lake City, it will be your job to bring as much of your youth group as you can to the Prayer Army time (every night, one hour before the rally). During these times, you will prepare your heart as well as plead for God to do the massive work that only He can do during the rally.

But don't wait until you get to Salt Lake! The Prayer Army is active now. Pray daily for the conference--maybe every night before you go to bed or every morning while you get ready for school. And pray with others. We'd like to encourage you to get together with your youth pastor and student partner to pray for Challenge 2008. Pray for those still considering whether or not they will go. Pray for the finances your group needs. James 4:2 says, "The reason you don't have what you want is that you don't ask God for it" (NLT).

We look forward to partnering, praying, and meeting you personally at Challenge.
In Christ,

Glenn Olson
Challenge prayer coordinator

Zach will be sharing with during the week one our seminars. This is an amazing story of being used by God. Who said you need to be an adult to change the world?

Zach is the author of Be the Change (Check out the youtube video)--a book that will let your students find out how Zach is making a difference and how they can make changes to the things they see wrong with our world.

The Dare2Share website is full of great stuff. Tons of videos, weekly devotions, Greg's blog, and more.

Dare 2 Share Ministries is committed to affecting positive change in the increasingly troubled generation of teens. As you are probably aware, it certainly doesn't take a genius to see the alarming and even frightening trends that are painting the current picture of the youth culture in dark and depressive tones. Even at first blush, a casual observer of the statistics will see a marked rise in every major area of dysfunctional and high-risk behavior in youth.

We do. That's why we are putting together a Prayer Army of students who will pray regularly for the conference and also help to pass on the vision of prayer to their fellow students.

James 5:16 says, "The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results" (NLT). Though God is sovereign and almighty, in His wisdom He has granted an incredible amount of power to us through prayer.

That's why the Prayer Army is so important! We know that God wants to use Challenge 2008 to massively affect thousands of people. If that happens through this conference, it will not be because the speakers were incredible, the lead worshipers were passionate, or the seminars were exceptionally good. It will be because God chose to act. And, as unbelievable as it may seem to us, often God waits to act until His people pray. What does all this mean for us? It means that God's answer to our prayers will be what makes Challenge 2008 a life-changing experience.

If you are interested in being a part of the Prayer Army. Talk with your youth leader to get on the list. Also you can participate each day we are at Challenge at 5:42 each evening. Leaders are encoruaged to attend. Leaders can also spend time praying with other leaders at the Youth Worker update each morning.

Thanks for your heart of prayer!

Glenn Olson- Challenge Prayer Director

Francis Chan is coming back to Challenge 2008 in Salt Lake. He will bring with him not only his humble attitude and solid Bible teaching, but he will bring with him his recently published book "Crazy Love- Overwhelmed By A Relentless God."

We have included some great web links related to Francis Chan.

Continue reading "Francis Chan and "Crazy Love" Along With More" »

Hello all, your good friend Tim here. Writing from my home in Canada, where we're gearing up for a tour. 18 shows in about 20 days - which is great, except it moves very quickly. We get to play a good long set each night and that's fun, but we also pack everything up and head to the next city as soon as it's done. That's the nice thing about some of the youth conferences we do - where we're spending 4 or 5 days with a group of people. By the end of the week, you feel like you know each other - you've spent time together and you're not rushed off.

Which, of course, brings me to Challenge 08 - something we've been planning on for a long time now. I hope everyone is planning on coming and being part of the week, and are taking some singing lessons or something to get your voice warmed up. Because we're going to make you sing along with us, and loudly. Probably some jumping involved.
Maybe some light jogging. Rumors of me asking you to do pushups and jumping jacks are completely untrue.

So now that June is practically here! We're honored to be a part of Challenge and will be bringing our very best! Hope you're coming and expecting God to move and reveal Himself to you in new ways!

Going,
Tim

Starfield's New CD "I Will Go" Now Available, see on next page.

Continue reading "A Message From Starfield" »

All students (attending Challenge or not) are being asked to give up discretionary funds to buy a million meals - the money they spend on pizza, McDonalds, etc that they and their friends could sacrifice and forgo for a week or a month. 30 cents for one meal, it doesn't take a lot of change to make a difference.

We will partner with EFCA TouchGlobal to distribute the meals through the Evangelical Free Church of Congo - in order to feed starving people both physically and spiritually in Jesus name.

During the afternoons of Challenge, one of the ministry options for groups to do together will be to package meals for an hour or two. With all the students and groups attending Challenge, we have the potential of packaging a million meals. We are only limited by the funds. The money needs to be raised beforehand so Outreach Inc. can purchase the supplies and truck them to SLC. The sign up for all the afternoon ministry options will be made available a little later in April.

Continue reading how you can become involved

Continue reading "Provide A Million Meals. . .This is Huge?" »

Challenge '08 is looking for a youth group to perform on our center stage. What will you be performing? We are looking for your version of the Lifehouse song, "Everything". It must be the original version of the song. If your group would like to be part of our large rally sessions send a recorded copy (MiniDV, DVD or YouTube link) of your group performing this musical sketch to:

Brandon Barker
Rally Coordinator
3775 EP True Parkway #280
West Des Moines, IA 50265

A decision will be made by May 30th.

Continue reading "Drama Teams Wanted!!!" »

Can you remember the theme in Salt Lake City in 2004? Probably! How about a Purdue in 2006? Well we wanted to see how far back we could name the previous conferences years, themes and locations. Help us put the puzzle together.

To your left you can see the cover of the old EFCA Beacon magazine that featured articles about the National FCYF Conference (aka Challenge Conference) in Grand Rapids, Michigan in the summer of 1982. Guess who the featured speaker was? The young and up and coming Greg Speck. Who won Bible Quizzing that year? UD- Oxlip EFC (Isanti, MN) & LD- Calvary EFC (Essex Fells, NJ).

If you think you know or even have some old items from other years, please feel free to post them over at our Facebook group. Also feel free to add your comments. We will reveal the answers at the end of February.

Did you notice the reference in the latest 2008 promo video about breaking a world record? Some think we were joking, but it is true. You may ask what record, however we can't let you know until you get to Salt Lake City.

We are curious though, what kind of record do you think we may break? Let us know.

The New 2008 Challenge Promo Video has just ben released. This video is a great way to see some highlights from 2006 as well as get excited for Challenge 2008 in Salt Lake City. Keep praying and get signed up soon. Must register with a EFCA church to attend. Hope we see you there.

Check out the video »

Sojourn: "To stay as a temporary resident; to dwell for a time"

Every one of us is on a journey, making our way from our beginning to eternity. For some it seems that the best times are always ahead of us, just around the corner and just out of reach. Like cars speeding through a dark tunnel, we are focused only on what is ahead. We are always looking for the next best thing. But what if we were to stop and look around, to sojourn; we may just realize that the next best thing is right here. . .right now. . .right in front of us.

Continue reading "Purpose of the Challenge Conference" »

We have started a group on Facebook. We are encouraging past, present and future attendees to join. We plan to update it regularly with any recent Challenge Conference news for our trip to Salt Lake City in the summer of 2008. So be sure to spread the word to join up. Facebook group name "Challenge Youth Conference (EFCA)" Hope to see you there soon.

We also plan to have some fun Challenge Conference trivia about past Conferences. Hint: How many themes, locations and speakers can you remember?

Many of you have already seen this video, but for those of you that want to know about the value of a Challenge Conference, check out this brief video interview and highlight reel.

Check out the video »

Many of you have been wondering about the cost for Challenge Conference in 2008. Well is about the same as 2006. Don't remember 2006? That's okay. Here is the general scoop on costs and deadlines.
Group/ Church Registration begins on January 7th, 2008 at www.efca.org/student/challenge. There is no individual registrations accepted, everyone must come with a EFCA church group.

Continue reading "What's The Cost? When Are Things Due?" »

Two years after the release of Starfield's eponymous debut, brothers Tim and Jon Neufeld, bassist Shaun Huberts and drummer Gordie Cochran waste no time getting to the point on Beauty in the Broken. On "My Generation," the lead track, they cut through the noise, the media clutter, the surface images, the shallow posturing.

"My generation is aching for real."

Continue reading "Challenge 2008 to Feature Starfield As It's Worship Leaders!" »

Chris Tomlin and the worship band perform the "Happy Song" at Challenge 2006.

Check out the video »

You've seen them on stage, but have you seen them when they are not. After a fun tennis match Francis and Chris return to Purdue and find themselves having a little fun at the expense of the other. Just a reminder that Francis Chan will return to Salt Lake in 2008. Watch for new clips each week.

Check out the video »

"Sojourn" what is that all about? Where in the world is that taking us? Stay tuned to the next post. By the way you can check out youtube.com to see more Challenge 2006 clips from all our speakers.

Hard to believe that it is time to start thinking about Challenge 2008, we just received our new promo video for 2008. Tell us what you think of it? Did you know that all EFCA churches are getting a postcard soon to save the date? Ask your leader or pastor if he received it? If you missed us at Purdue last summer, we have plenty in store for you in Salt Lake City in 2008.

Check out the video »