Challenge 2008

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