Engaging real people in real ministry, BUMP students receive training on issues in the areas of poverty, compassion and justice. Students participating in BUMP are empowered to rise up as tomorrow’s leaders and challenged to continue the mission for the rest of their lives. Read stories of BUMP 2011’s impact, and get details on 2012 locations, dates, pricing and registration at www.efca.org/bump. Plan for your youth group to serve for an urban church for a week and gain ministry skills that last a lifetime in one of seven US cities this summer.

Here’s a testimonial from Jon Pausley in Pella:

“In looking to the future for our students, I believe we as youth pastors and leaders are always looking for how our students can experience the life Christ has called us to and be grounded in Christ before they leave for college. I believe that BUMP provides that perfect opportunity. Students have the chance to be stretched in their faith, be involved in ministry, live in community and serve God. BUMP provided for my students the chance to serve and be blessed by serving others. They experienced the joy of serving Jesus and were given practical tools to implement. BUMP opened our students eyes to the needs of a city and gave them the opportunity for God to show them his heart for reaching people. I see BUMP as an investment, well worth the time and money spent, in the lives of our students and in the future of the church as students see and feel that there is joy in serving!”

Also, usually, some youth pastors who are at the conference Monday go out to eat together, as well, to connect. If you want to join us for Monday lunch, please just find me sometime Monday morning and will let you know where we’re headed.

The theme for this upcoming Winter Blast is LAUNCHED: Prepped for a Mission. Like a slingshot, the more we rest on God, the further we can be LAUNCHED. This weekend we will start by looking at who God is as revealed in the life of Moses. Next we will see how Joshua was poured into by Moses & God, to be prepared for leadership. Then we will look at how Samuel was ready & willing to be used by God. Finally, we will see how after much investing, waiting & confusion, the Disciples were empowered by the Holy Spirit to be LAUNCHED into the world.

What is Rebound?
Rebound is a four day retreat designed for the youth worker and their spouse (if applicable) to get away to reconnect with God, one another, their calling and their identity.  The worship gatherings, schedule, and environment are all designed to facilitate these “renewal reconnections.”   Our desire is to encourage long term, healthy student ministries by ministering to the youth workers.

Get all the information you need on the ReachStudents website.

BLITZ is one of the most anticipated and highly attended events for Jr. High students in Iowa, and it is quickly approaching! Every fall 400+ students pack into school buses and are carted around the city for the most amazing traveling lock-in your students will ever experience.

BLITZ is packed full of fun and excitement, designed specifically for your Jr. High / Middle School students. The evening begins at Valley Church with a Mega Rally. This year we are excited to announce that the night will begin with a Christian breakdance group called DJ Uppercase. It will then be followed by some great music by local worship band, Sojourn. We desire for Blitz 2011 to be a premier evangelistic event for your youth group. But that’s not all…

After the Mega Rally students will board a fleet of buses to be taken to several locations around the city in shifts. This year’s stops will include roller-skating, an indoor sports facility, gymnastics, bowling, and laser tag!

What all this means for you is simple. Mark November 4th – 5th, 7pm – 8am on your student ministry calendar and let us do all the work. All we ask is that you provide your own chaperones and your get your registration to us on time! If your group has never attended Blitz, we hope you’ll join Valley Church and hundreds of students from around Iowa for the most exciting Jr. High event of the fall!

DOCUMENTS AND IMAGES:

• Leader Letter
• Registration Form
• Student Handout
• Blitz Poster

Challenge is an every other year growth level conference for junior and senior high students that daily combines great worship and challenging speakers with youth group dynamics for ministry outreach in the site city, training sessions on pertinent topics and recreational activities. It is an opportunity for youth groups to travel together, to worship and learn together, to serve together, to play together and to be challenged to grow in their faith as individuals and as youth groups – to become effective Christ followers who impact their world for Jesus Christ.

In 2012, Challenge will be held in New Orleans, Lousiana. The dates for the conference is July 1-6. If you would like more information go to the Challenge website.

Download the forms, brochure and posters you need from the sidebar to the right. ->

When: January 6-8, 2012

Where: Coralville, IA (Marriott)

Worship Band: Jeremy Sanoski Band

Loud guitars, compelling lyrics, powerful vocals, and a passion to serve Christ are just a few of the trademarks of the Jeremy Sanoski Band.
 Based out of the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, the Jeremy Sanoski Band has been building a reputation for high energy performances that share a message of hope. “With every show we want people to leave feeling better about themselves,” Jeremy says. “We want them to see a hope in Christ that truly exists.”
 With sincere hearts and a level of dedication that is not often found, the Jeremy Sanoski Band is committed to spreading the Gospel through music. Jeremy reflects, “I feel like God has made me for this, and as long as He opens the doors, I’m running through them!”

Here’s a promo video to help get you excited!

Brochure (PDF)
Cover Letter (PDF)
Housing Form (PDF)
Elevate Logo (jpeg)
Elevate Logo (png)

ELEVATE Conference:

Dates: Saturday, September 17 – Sunday, September 18, 2011

Location: Hidden Acres Christian Center in Dayton, Iowa (hacamps.org)

Target: Ministry-Level High School Students Looking to Take the Next Step in Their Faith Journey with Jesus Christ

Cost: $50/person if postmarked by Tuesday, September 6 (after this $60/person)

All of us love to minister to teenagers. We would probably say with Paul, “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” (1 Thessalonians 2:8) We at the Reach Students Central District of the EFCA want to come alongside you as you undergo the task of developing spiritual leaders in your high school youth group. I’ve been doing ministry for some time, and I find that leadership development is difficult. We have students who want to go beyond what they learn in youth group, but oftentimes we are not sure exactly what to offer them. That’s where the ELEVATE conference can help. For two days in September, we are going to offer a retreat that is specifically designed to challenge high school students who want to go to the next level. You may have a formal student leadership team, or like me you may just have a few students who have potential. Whatever your situation, we encourage you to bring your students and take advantage of this great opportunity. ELEVATE combines traditional large-group worship and teaching sessions with small-group electives, all within the beautiful nature environment of Hidden Acres Christian Center. If you’ve never brought a group to ELEVATE before, why not give it a try this fall?

Use the links to the right to download more information about Elevate.

Disciplemaking is Relationships Youth Worker Training

Featuring: Bill Allison, Director of Cadre Ministries

March 1, 8:30am till 12:30pm (lunch is provided afterward at Valley Church at 12:30pm)

Valley Church, 4343 Fuller Road
West Des Moines, IA 50265-5319
(515) 226-9973

Get more information and even sign up for the conference.

What is a Learning Community (LC)? An LC is a highly relational and intentional gathering of youth ministry peers. We desire to build and model our lives as effective biblical disciple-makers. We hope that you will join one of our Learning Communities. Download this document to see an overview of Learning Communities. Look this document over and please prayerfully consider aligning yourself with other youth leaders in your region.

Currently up to FIVE Learning Communities are being launched by veteran youth leaders:

• East Iowa: Todd Cramer (Iowa City) tcramer@parkviewchurch.org
• Des Moines area: Jon Kalvig (W. DSM) jonk@valley-church.com
• Central: Damian Peasley (Madrid) and Mark Henderson (Ames) ypdamian@iowatelecom.net mhenderson@amesefc.org
• North: Tim Olson (Eagle Grove); may merge with the Central LC. youthpastortimo@graceefc.com
• Northwest: Dennis Anderson (Albert City) and Tyler Parson (Sioux Center) danderson1466@gmail.com

You may soon be contacted by your regional LC host. Otherwise, feel free to contact them yourself.  Check out the Reach Students (the National EFCA) website if you would like to learn more about commitment to Learning Communities..