Gospel Journey Unfolds in New Reality Series
International youth ministry Dare 2 Share released the ''GOSPEL Journey Adventure Kit'' nationwide this spring, transforming youth thinking and training students to answer the inevitable questions they encounter.
More youth leaders are taking students on a Gospel journey and not just through a flip of the scripted text. This time, the journey is unscripted and more tangible.
It's a reality series.
International youth ministry Dare 2 Share (www.dare2share.org) released the ''GOSPEL Journey Adventure Kit'' nationwide this spring, transforming youth thinking and training students to answer the inevitable questions of the atheist, the agnostic, and other non-Christians they encounter.
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"It's a straight up presentation of biblical truth," said Lane Palmer, youth ministry specialist at Dare 2 Share.
"We were starting to wonder with all the postmodern influence on ministries, is the Gospel still relevant and are people still receptive to it in this culture?"
The People
The GOSPEL Journey series features seven young individuals from completely different walks of life: an atheist, agnostic, Episcopalian, a Presbyterian, minister's kid, wiccan and city girl. The strangers were both intentionally and randomly selected.
"Stephen the wiccan - we randomly found him down at the mall," said Palmer. "We wanted someone seemingly off."
Others called in through a local ad in the paper, not knowing what to expect until they stepped foot on top of the Rocky Mountains at the start of a six-day journey from Genesis to Revelations.
The Journey
"Ready for this?" Zane, the journey guide, asked each of the seven participants at Timberline Lodge in Winter Park, Colo.
On top of the diverse group of strangers, the reality series throws in a preacher to the mix. Greg Stier, founder of Dare 2 Share, tells the strangers for the first time they're going to travel through the entire Bible in six short sessions.
While not necessarily going through every book of the Bible, the goal is to talk about the Gospel journey and true Christianity.
"My goal is not to convert you," Stier told the students in the first session of the journey. "My goal is to paint a picture of what Christianity is about.
"I want to paint a clear picture of what God is about. True Christianity is a relationship with God, not a religion. The real revelation is a non-religious Jesus."
The Response
"We've gotten a ton of response from youth leaders across the nation, saying how [the GOSPEL Journey] is transforming the youth group and how hungry they are for the next episode," said Wendy Henkelman, public relations coordinator of Dare 2 Share.
Palmer described the Journey as a "solid training tool" and "attractive outreach tool."
The adventure kit, picked up by youth leaders at Dare 2 Share conferences and online, provides eight weeks of apologetic training and another seven weeks of outreach opportunity.
And the GOSPEL Journey? It's the Bible unfolded, filled with twists and turns, break ups and make ups, mystery and intrigue but the driving message of the redemption of mankind through Christ.
