Demonstrating the Gospel

There is one thing more powerful than preaching the spoken Gospel to those in our community who need Christ: it is preaching the spoken and demonstrated Gospel. Throughout the New Testament, people testified of what they both saw and heard. The shepherds glorified God for what they saw and heard surrounding Jesus’ birth (Luke 2:20), messengers sent to see if Jesus was the Messiah reported to John about what they saw and heard Jesus do (Luke 7:22) and Peter and John couldn’t stop talking about what they had seen and heard Jesus do (Acts 2:20).

Next weekend, we will have an opportunity to demonstrate the gospel to our community. This is what Christian life is about: taking every opportunity we have to communicate the Gospel in both what we do and say.

 

Important Fall Conference Information

Dear Leaders,

In a few short weeks our students will experience God, community, and missional lifestyle at the Red Culture conference. I recently sat down with a president of one of the universities in central Iowa. The research tying service learning to academic excellence is clear: providing an experience to apply what is taught catapults learning. Jesus taught us this principle when He said “Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.” There is an inseparable link between service and learning/hearing and becoming.

Your students and leaders will experience God in worship and Scripture. We are praying for another encounter with the Master, that will leave this generation breathless. As always, we have woven moments throughout the weekend such as a concert with Me In Motion, a leadership gathering and Speed the Light service/offering. The Convoy of Hope outreach will occur for part of Saturday’s conference. Students and leaders will be assigned a time slot and split their time between All Play (an indoor arcade we rented for your group) and Wells Fargo Arena (where Convoy of Hope is held). The arcade is 1/2 block from the arena and easily accessible. Every detail will be communicated at registration Friday evening and further during our leadership gathering after the Friday evening service.

For three years we have prayed, planned, strategized, and asked “what if” regarding a new generation of church planters and leaders. This moment is significant and is tied to a process rather than an event. 2012 holds opportunities for us to serve rural Iowa in similar fashion and place our students on the front lines of ministry in Iowa. This wouldn’t happen without you. Thanks for being a catalyst for the Kingdom in the lives of students.

Events are important and they serve churches with or without youth pastors. Events are significant when they are tied to a greater process and purpose. Red Culture conference 2011 is designed with this in mind. Your students will be surprised by some special guests we have intentionally not announced. They will experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to hear from a giant in the faith on Saturday morning. We will witness thousands of lives touched and served through the hands of Iowa’s finest students and challenge students to do the same when they head back home.

Please pray with me over the next few weeks. We seek His face in all we do. To Him be the honor and fame.

See you soon, and don’t forget to bring as many unchurched students as possible! I am convinced that they will encounter the Gospel in word and deed during this weekend.

If you need anything at all or I can be of service please let me know!

Heath Adamson
Student Ministries Director

Community Renewal

On November 12th, Convoy of Hope is coming to Des Moines!

The streets of our cities tell a story. Dreams have been achieved and dreams have been aborted. For some, hope has faded while for others it is rising. Injustice must bow its stubborn neck to generosity. Those who are hungry and unsheltered deserve grace from those whose hands drip with abundance.

Something remarkable happens when communities steward moments such as these. November 12 will bring with it the distribution of over 35,000 lbs. of groceries, free haircuts and family portraits, a children’s festival, assistance from over 100 agencies and 75 churches and streams of influence, back to school shoes given to underprivileged children and more.

On November 12, 2011 corporations, schools, agencies, non-profit and for-profit leaders will send the message to the streets of our cities. The message that no one will be forgotten in Des Moines. This event will coincide with the Red Culture Conference. Adults and students will serve our city side by side.

For more information about Convoy of Hope in Des Moines, visit www.convoyofhopedsm.com.

Fall Conference Promo Videos Available!

 

You can download the fall conference videos today! You can get the Convoy of Hope Vision Video here and the Fall Conference Teaser here. In order to download these videos, you’ll need to create a free account. Once your account is created, click on the blue “Download this video” text beneath the “about this video tab on the right (see below).

Also, we have a screen ad available for you to download and use to promote fall conference in your church and youth group. You can download it by clicking here. Keep reading to for more information about promoting fall conference!

By now, you should have received a packet with all the information you need to spread the word about the Fall RedCulture Conference! (If you haven’t received yours, please contact our office at (515)276.5493.) But how do you know what you should do with all the information you receive?

In your packet, you will find a number of great resources including a conference booklet, maps, registration information, posters and sign-up forms to help you publicize Fall Conference with your students.

The conference booklet is a great resource for you as you organize your trip. It includes a note from Heath, things to know about the RedCulture Conference and Convoy of Hope Outreach, a suggested promotional timeline to help you plan to get the word out to your students, a conference schedule, hotel recommendations (with reduced rate information) and a concierge list with things to do and places to eat in Des Moines. It is a wealth of great information, so you’ll want to make sure to read it thoroughly and share the information with your leadership team.

The map will help you get around downtown Des Moines. It outlines the skywalks, parking, and free shuttles available. It also has detailed directions to Hy Vee Hall and the Events Center.

The registration form is for you to fill out and send to the Iowa Ministry Network office. This form needs to be postmarked by October 24th and accompanied by a church check for the amount of the deposit in order for you to receive the early bird rate of $47. In all of your communication with your students, you will want to make sure that your in-church registration deadline allows plenty of time for you to gather the information you need to register with IMN before October 24th to ensure that your group gets registered at the reduced rate. (For example, you may want to make your in-church registration deadline Wednesday, October 19th, to allow time for students to get their deposit in so that you can get your registration and deposit in the mail by Monday, October 24th. See the promotional timeline in your conference booklet for more information.) Students can still register after October 24th, but the registration cost is $60. Keep in mind that any registrations received after November 9th will be considered walk-ons and charged the full $75 registration fee. Please be sure to send one check for the entire deposit (or total fee). Personal checks (unless written for the entire deposit amount) or cash will not be accepted. Fees will be the same for both youth and adults. Before you mail this form into the IMN office, you’ll want to make a copy to keep for your own records. Unchurched/unsaved students are welcome to attend at no cost. If you have any questions about registration information, please contact Vanessa at vschaad@imnag.org or (515)276-5493.

The poster is for you to hang around your youth room, lobby and church. It will help to build excitement with your students and offer important information for parents. Posters are included in your promotional packet, but can be easily reproduced on 11×17 paper. If your church doesn’t have a color copier, you can make copies through your local office or copy store.

The sign-up forms are for use within your church. It will help you to know who is interested in going, how to contact them and who has paid. You do not need to turn this form into the IMN office.

Again, if you have any questions, please contact Vanessa Schaad at vschaad@imnag.org or (515)276-5493. We are looking forward to an incredible weekend and all that God is going to do in and through the students of Iowa!