Gospel.com Blog

Are big, planned events still necessary or useful in youth ministry today? So asks Mark Cornelison at the Youth Ministry Exchange. He argues that the logistical nightmare of planning youth ministry events is still worthwhile—so long as we understand the place of those events in ministry, and have a clear idea of what we hope to accomplish with them.

The Youth Specialties ministry addressed this same question a few weeks ago in Wendy Walker’s article More Than a One-Night Stand: Behind Mere Event Hype (PDF).

This November, the National Youth Workers Convention will take place in Atlanta, Georgia–but there’s something new happening at this particular convention! Before the main convention begins, there will be a special pre-conference gathering of women who are involved in youth ministry. It’s called Herstory, and it includes two main sessions and several different seminars and breakout sessions, all focused on the particular challenges and opportunities that face female youth workers. Whether you’re paid or volunteer, rookie or veteran, take a look at the Herstory website and consider attending it in addition to NYWC. It’s a chance to share your story, and to hear the stories of other women who know what you deal with in your ministry.

What are the primary values and principles of American culture today? Are these values compatible with Christianity? Can America truly be called a “Christian nation”? These are some of the provocative questions that will be addressed at a September 13 event hosted by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries in Atlanta, Georgia. Ravi Zacharias and Michael Ramsden will both be on hand to discuss the relationship between American society and the Christian life. Visit the event’s webpage to learn more or register to attend!

Every year, over 10,000 conferences take place in America. But the Revival Conference, scheduled for October 23-25 in Canton, Ohio, is different–it’s not just another conference, but an honest, sincere plea for revival in North America.

Among the ways that the Revival Conference will stand out is in commitment to worship and revival, without any focus on money or flashy music and performances. The event is hosted by the Sermon Index ministry, and features an impressive lineup of speakers and evangelists, including Roger Ellsworth, Keith Daniel, and Denny Kenaston. If you’re tired of conferences that are heavy on showmanship and light on content, Revival Conference may be just what you’re looking for!

There is no cost to attend the Revival Conference, although if you plan to attend, you’re asked to register in advance at the Revival Conference site. Stop by the Revival Conference site to learn more or to register to attend; and also visit the Sermon Index forums, where discussion of the upcoming conference is already underway!

Answers in Genesis has been working for years to build its Creation Museum–and the grand opening is finally here! There’s been a flurry of media attention centered around the Museum (it was recently featured on Good Morning America and the New York Times); and Answers in Genesis has responded to recent criticism of the Museum on its website. Now that the Creation Museum is open, stop by the website to see what’s in store, or to plan a trip out to Kentucky to visit it yourself.

The registration deadline for the last of InterVarsity‘s On Purpose Greek Conferences in Charlotte, NC is rapidly approaching! InterVarsity’s Greek conferences are an aspect of their fraternity and sorority ministry, and are the biggest IVP events outside the massive Urbana student missions convention.

If you’re a student with an interest in shaping your campus culture for Christ, consider attending the On Purpose conference, which runs from February 16-18. Read more about the Greek conferences at the IVP website.

A recent church-planting conference in Mexico City drew over 600 attendees, according to an article at the Bible League. The conference brought together people involved in the Bible League’s massive church-planting campaign in Mexico; since 1995, over 3000 churches have been established throughout the country. Read the full article for more about the conference and its role in ongoing evangelism and discipleship efforts in Mexico.

The Unity Festival is coming! Unity is a multi-day Christian music festival in west Michigan from August 10-12, and there’s just a few weeks left in which to get tickets. The band lineup was recently finalized, so be sure to check out the latest schedule.

Set your Tivos and VCRs! On June 28 at 8:00pm (EDT) our very own Billy Zeoli will be a guest on on the Trinity Brodcasting Network. Billy — better known as “Z” to his friends and family — will be Paul Crouch’s guest for a half hour discussion about the ministry of Gospel Communications.

If you haven’t seen Z before, you’re in for a treat. The former CEO and current Co-Chairman of Gospel Communications, Z is a powerful speaker and a gifted storyteller. We’re sure you’ll be blessed, informed and entertained all at the same time.

Paul and Z’s relationship goes back over 40 years, when Paul and his wife Jan were youth leaders at a local church in Muskegon, Michigan, where Gospel Communications is headquartered.

If you’re not sure what your local TBN station is, you can use their handy
web-based channel finder to find the local affiliate in your neck-of-the-woods.

While the rest of us were sitting down last February to watch the Winter Olympics unfold, AMG International was gearing up for something quite different: an outreach effort to bring the Gospel to the countless people packing the streets of Torino, Italy during Olympics season. In all, sixty missionaries from many different parts of the world converged on the Olympics to distribute Bibles and other materials. Read the full missions report at the AMG International website.