Often, our first thought when we meet someone like her is, “What choices did she make to get her in this position? Kids nowadays! I’m sure she started out dabbing in casual drug use and went too far. She was probably trying to deal with [...]]]> There she stood. Yet another teen addict. Statistics say that about 75% of students under 18 have tried illegal drugs or alcohol. One-third of them show signs of addiction. But she was more than a statistic.

Often, our first thought when we meet someone like her is, “What choices did she make to get her in this position? Kids nowadays! I’m sure she started out dabbing in casual drug use and went too far. She was probably trying to deal with things going on in life and made some bad choices. Now she’s an addict.”

But no. That’s not her story. This teen was born an addict.

Yes, her mother used drugs while she was pregnant and this girl literally had to go through detox when she was born. I know and have heard how difficult it is, but can you imagine your first experience of life being that of suffering through the pains of withdrawal?

She eventually went to live with her dad because the courts took her away from her mom. By the time she was a teenager she already had a couple step moms come in and out of her life. At age13 the most recent step mom started to physically abuse her. Her dad even walked into the room once while she was being beaten bloody. But he didn’t want to lose yet another wife, so he turned around and walked out without doing a thing.

Can you imagine what the heart of a little girl does when the mom that gave birth leaves her and has never been there for her, and the person she’s supposed to call mom is now beating her, and then the protector and provider, her dad, just turns his back?

The counselor at the school believed her story and called the social worker. Social services got involved, and at the age of 13 she went to live with foster parents. My hat goes off to those who have opened their hearts and homes to love and care for a child as if they were their own.

She finally started turning things around, pulling up her grades in school, becoming interested in art, and using some of her creativity to create, not just survive. A few years passed and she was going to celebrate her sweet 16th birthday when her dad called. He apologized for all he had done, and even more so, for what he had not done. “Can I at least throw you a birthday party?” He said. “Your brothers and stepsisters would really love to see you.”

She was so excited. Her heart filled with hope at the prospect of a reunion and of her father showing her the love she longed for. She went to the party with anticipation. But while there her dad let a friend of his take her to the back bedroom where she was raped. Her hopes were crushed.

When I met her and heard her story, the guy who had raped her was behind bars. And now she has a  1 1/2 year old girl she’s trying to raise as she does her best to stay in school. That’s where she heard me speak and that’s where she heard me say, “Even if you’re treated like garbage, and even if you were tossed aside, you’re still valuable. You’re not garbage!”

The words she heard during the day at the school assembly stirred something in her and she came to the rally that night. “I came back because I believed you,” she said. “Well, I’ll be honest; I also wanted to see AJ. He really made me laugh and it feels good to laugh. And, I love pizza.” She said it with a hint of laughter in her voice.

But then her mood changed and she asked with a bit of uncertainty, “Bob, I raised my hand tonight. Do you really believe that Jesus still loves me even when everyone who was supposed to love me hasn’t?” I looked her i the eyes and said, “I can guarantee it. You are loved!”

I can say with all that is in me that I don’t doubt that. But can I be honest with you? I do have my doubts that her life is going to change. And I fear that her daughter may face the same or even worse experiences than she has.

No, I don’t doubt that Jesus changed her life. He already has. She felt loved. She felt joy. She felt real hope. I just wonder if the people of Jesus will walk with her on this hard journey called life, called discipleship.

But maybe I can hope because, well, the foster parents are there for her and they are good people. And the church that just made her feel welcomed bought her a meal and invited her to a bible study. And that guidance counselor at school came to the rally too and I found out she is a believer. Yes, there is hope.

This is why Life Promotions, more than ever, is working alongside schools, communities and the church to instill hope in youth. Because we can’t do it alone!

Let’s pray. Let’s hope. Let’s act. Let’s give, so that she can make it. It takes all of us doing our part.

Let’s hope with her.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

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“See what?” I asked. “The two gangs!” was his response.

I tried to recall the two assembly programs I had done earlier in the day and panned the audience in my mind. “Oh, you mean in the schools?” I asked.

“No, right in front of you in the church while you were [...]]]> “Did you see it? Did you see it?” asked the pastor. He had come up to me excitedly and you could sense the combination of thrill and disbelief in his voice.

“See what?” I asked. “The two gangs!” was his response.

I tried to recall the two assembly programs I had done earlier in the day and panned the audience in my mind. “Oh, you mean in the schools?” I asked.

“No, right in front of you in the church while you were speaking tonight,” he replied.

All I remember seeing from the stage were students that needed to find Jesus and needed real life. They were still gathered there to watch Josh Jordan’s final act. Josh is the illusionist that was working with us that day.

“Look!” said the pastor. Sure enough, as I looked out at the crowd after having just finished speaking and sharing the gospel, stage left sat a group of black students and stage right was a group of Hmong students. They represented two area gangs that I learned didn’t get along at all. But here they were, gathered together. It was a safe place, a place of peace. This little church in Nederland, TX that held fewer than 200 worshipers on a given Sunday, had more than 350 students and family members come back after the school assembly programs on anti-bullying and respect to attend an outreach at the church.

Part of my talk that night included a skit called Because I Want to be Loved. You can go to this website and get a free download of the talk or simply watch the video online if you like: www.lifedownloads.org.

In the skit I try to humorously enact several scenarios of ways people try to find love. The efforts range from making money to exercise and dieting, or even smoking, drinking and being the class clown. One of them also includes the lines, “Because I want to be loved, this is what I do…I’m bad, I’m touch, I’m in a gang. Yeah me. Well, really I am just a wanna-be.”

Why are people doing drugs, drinking, cutting and so many other things? The bottom line is that they want to be accepted and loved. Why are people in a gang? It’s no different. They’re looking for community, love and a sense of belonging.

I shared that night how the longing for love can only be fulfilled by Christ and in his people, the church. This was a traditional church with an older congregation. In fact, we had a loyal church member, an elderly gentleman, walking up and down the aisles with his counter; clicking and making sure he got exactly how many people were there so he could tell the church council.

But the youth and the gang members weren’t offended or put off at all. Why? It’s because they felt so much love from this same gentleman who was handing out pizza and drinks with a welcoming smile and loving them unconditionally. He was demonstrating love the way it was meant to be; kind of like the love you’re supposed to feel at a grandpa’s house. Sadly, so many of them are on the streets looking for that kind of love and coming up empty.

Where did they find it? Here. In the church. With God’s people.

There were 107 people that responded to the gospel that night, to the claim that Jesus loved the world so much that he came, died on the cross, and rose from the dead. They raised their hands to say, “Yes, I respond to the invitation of God’s grace.” And among them were several who knew all too well about initiations, but this time, there was no humiliation, no pressure, and no judgement. Only love.

And the color of those hands that went up? Red and yellow, black and white. Why? Because just like the song we sang as children taught, they are all precious in his sight: Gang members, football players (it was Texas, after all), cheerleaders, computer geeks, poor and rich. It didn’t matter. The church was demonstrating who she really is and doing what she does, loving people and lifting up the gospel.

That’s why we partner with the church. And I hope that’s why you support and partner with us to reach every kid, gang member or not, by the age of 18.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

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Have you ever watched a show on television and really gotten into it? The storyline has you hooked and you can feel the tension mounting in the air. You sense that something epic is about to take place as it builds towards the climax. And just when you think the ending is about to be revealed, the screen goes black. Across the screen are displayed the words, “To be continued…”

I get so frustrated when that happens, especially when I know [...]]]>

Have you ever watched a show on television and really gotten into it? The storyline has you hooked and you can feel the tension mounting in the air. You sense that something epic is about to take place as it builds towards the climax. And just when you think the ending is about to be revealed, the screen goes black. Across the screen are displayed the words, “To be continued…”

I get so frustrated when that happens, especially when I know I won’t be available to watch the next episode!  I want to see the outcome! I want to know what happened in the lives of the characters I’ve gotten to know, even though I know they’re just fictional.

But it’s different when the storyline I’m hearing isn’t from a TV show, and the lives and people are real. Yet the same feeling happens every time I speak, when someone inevitably comes up to me afterward and shares their story. Oh, how I wish I could see the next episode in their lives!

One such person was Kelly. I met her at a youth gathering in Pittsburgh. That’s when she began sharing her story with me, and believe me, she had me hooked. I could tell she was a sweet girl with lots of potential and personality. She talked about her dreams of college and the hope of more than a career; she wanted to make a difference by working with children.

But just like any well-written plot, a villain entered her story. Nobody saw it coming, even though 1 in 4 girls are sexually abused by the time they’re 18. As is the case with so many, for Kelly, it was a family member. It’s not the storybook plot she had hoped for, or what her heavenly Father had planned for her.

And then the plot thickened. When she reached out for help, people didn’t believe her and told her she was making it all up. Even her own mother didn’t support her. Her dreams turned into nightmares and her story into a horror film. The pain and anger were turned inward and she thought, “Maybe it was my fault. Maybe I am nothing and this is what I deserve.”

She felt alone. Unwanted. Abandoned by those she thought were there to love and protect her. She started putting on weight and not taking care of her appearance. To further mask the pain she resorted to cutting, and thoughts turned to suicide.

She just wanted the pain to stop. The screen was about to go black. This was the end.

But wait! A flicker of light broke through cracks in the walls she had built around her heart. Somehow the songs that were sung and the stories told, along with the foolishness of the gospel, ushered hope into the crevices of her soul.

You could almost hear music on the soundtrack of her life swell with anticipation as the villain’s grip began slipping from her life and his stronghold became less and less. She hesitated, and then reached into her pocket. Now with resolve she pulled something out and placed two items in my hand. “Thanks for helping me see that I can use my past to help others,” she said. “I don’t need these anymore.” I looked down to see a razor blade and a carefully written suicide note.*

The thrill of hope!  She’ll live to see another day. There will be another chapter in her life. Now there’s hope for a happy ending after all; maybe even a sequel for all eternity.

We talked for a long time. “There will be more hard days to come,” I assured her. “But you’re not alone. Let God write the rest of your story and turn this ugly situation around. Don’t let the pain in your past have the last word.”

Oh, how I want to know what happens next! But I flew out the next morning, and I can’t see the next episode unfold. But that’s ok, because when she came forward for prayer, we connected her with an adult from a church in her town to guide her through the next season, and a new friend that she met at the event was also going to be by her side. It’s so important to have people in their own community to walk with them through the difficulties of life, and that is why we work so diligently to gather follow-up teams in each community we go to. Most importantly, Christ is helping her grow and seek the help she needs.

To be continued…

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

*Image shown is actual razor blade given to Bob by Kelly.

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Her name was [...]]]> Montana skies hold claim to some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world, showing off the splendor of the Creator while giving us a glimpse into His heart. He is an artist that is pursuing us and is in love with us. I love looking into the eyes of people. They radiate beauty as well, and give us a window into their precious souls, much like looking at creation gives us a glimpse into who God is.

Her name was Montana. Ironically she wasn’t from Montana. I met her after a school assembly program where she had waited in line for over 15 minutes to talk with me. As I glanced into her eyes, I noticed that instead of peaceful beauty there was a raging storm. Tears stained her shirt, causing the shades of the colors from her high school team to darken like oncoming storm clouds over the mountains.

She waited patiently as Carrie, the girl in front of her in line, shared about being bullied because of her weight, and how her friend had attempted suicide, and how her home life was abusive. Montana was there as I listened to this girl’s story, and was close enough to hear the struggles she faced.

I gave Carrie words of comfort, connected her with places where she could get some help and invited her back for the evening rally where I could share the true hope of the gospel. I wanted so badly to give her a big bear hug like I would with one of my kids. But I needed to be appropriate, so I gave her a side hug around the shoulders. I felt so limited with what I was able to share in the public school setting, and limited in the hope and love I wanted her to feel and experience. I said a quick silent prayer inside my soul that she would return that evening.

As Carrie walked away still crying, it was finally Montana’s turn. But instead of talking with me, she turned and left the line. I watched as she approached Carrie and gave her a big hug, so tight, and they both cried big healing sobs together. But at least they were not alone now. It showed that it was ok to share, to hurt, and through it all, to care, to love. From it came hope.

Montana came back in line after she was done comforting Carrie and we did get a chance to talk. It was then that I finally learned about the storms in her own life and the reason behind the tears. She talked about the sexual abuse from her grandfather (for which she got help) and the mocking laughter from others over her speech impediment. “Just like you, Bob,” she said.

Her tears showed a compassionate heart and love for others that I felt compelled to affirm. “Because of your tears you showed that you can understand others and show them love,” I said. “In your pain, you offered hope to Carrie.”

Her eyes, though still filled with tears, suddenly seemed brighter. I saw purpose overtaking the pain as she began to realize that the bad pain inside her was now being used to give hope to someone else.

I noticed a bunch of wristbands and bracelets on her arm. One of them had a cross on it. I reached for it to point out the cross as a silent gesture to show her where hope truly comes from. But as I held her wrist it revealed the cuts on her arms. It was the reason she had so many bracelets on – to conceal the cutting.  I could tell some of them were recent. As I looked at her with concern and understanding the tears really flowed. “A friend that goes to church gave that bracelet to me,” she said.

Later, I was able to share with her about the tears Jesus shed when his friends turned on him. He also shed tears when they bullied him, not just with words, but with beatings to the point of bloodshed. He did this as a sign of his love for her. I got to pray with her and share about the only One who could heal her scars and bring purpose to her pain.

“I can’t change your past, but please don’t waste these beautiful Montana tears,” I said. “Let them fertilize the ground of character in your life so you become the person that you are meant to be. The person who gave you that bracelet with the cross on wanted to point to the one person who does not change, who can take all this bad and turn it into good. Montana, those eyes that now have tears can show hope like you did to Carrie. You can give hope to others by sharing about this everlasting love that is not just for the next life, but for this life. Here. Now.”

In that, hope was born. That’s why I do what I do. It’s because of Montana’s tears, and those of countless others like her who are searching for purpose and meaning. We can’t stop every hurt and pain these kids go through, but we will continue to help them see the beauty in the storm, and the only One who can calm those storms and bring peace.

I hope that’s why you stay with us in giving and praying for this ministry. And I hope it is what fuels you to continue sharing the love you’ve found in Him.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

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It was September 19th [...]]]> It’s not a new story, I guess. Maybe you’ll see that this story is about me presenting school programs during the day and a rally at night and think, “Gee, Bob, you’ve shared about that kind of stuff before.” True. But every time is different. Every time is new and fresh because no teenager is the same. Each one has unique joys, hurts, family situations and life circumstances that make every school, every rally, every city, different.

It was September 19^th last fall when AJ and I headed to the high school in Negaunee, Michigan in the UP for, you guessed it, two assembly programs and a rally presented to 730 students. AJ brought down the house with his gravity-defying performance. Hearts were softened and defenses came down. Then, I spoke on values, courage and respect. Kids laughed at my personal mishaps, and cried when I told the story about my brother, Tim and my friend, Ronny. Hearts were touched.

When it came time for the rally that night, we expected about 150 kids to walk back through the doors of the auditorium. Instead, 500 students and families came streaming in. We scrambled to find more chairs and quickly ran out. Every seat was filled with people sitting in the aisles. We couldn’t believe it!  As I shared the gospel, hundreds of hands reached to the sky, symbolically saying, “Yes, I need Jesus.” 183 of those filled out a card and indicated that it was their first time ever responding to the gospel.

Afterwards I spoke to a girl battling an eating disorder who told me she always hated her body image, but God’s love penetrated her heart and she believed for the first time that she was a beloved and cherished child of God. Not only did I see her receive Christ and invite him into her heart, but I got to put her hand in the hand of a woman from a church who said she would personally help her grow in her relationship with Christ.

This never gets old!

Some of you know that we have been making efforts to provide follow up teams and prayer partners for each event we go to. Steve, a local pastor, was our local coordinator for this event and had gathered a team of 35 leaders from around the community. We met before the rally for a meal, training and prayer time. Then, after the rally, they met with students who responded to the gospel to pray with them, provide a bible, workbook and try to get them connected with a local church.

I often share stories about the impact on a student’s life. But today I want to share about the impact on the life of a community. See, following our time in Negaunee, Steve took it upon himself to stay connected with the team of people he gathered for the rally. No one could deny the effectiveness of having several churches working together to care for youth. Why should it stop there or be reserved for a special event? Why not have it be a year-round effort?

So Steve and a few others decided that they needed to invite every church in the area, along with some surrounding communities, to be part of a collaborative effort to reach youth and minister to them. Here’s just a snippet from his invitation to area churches:

“…Ever since the wonder of seeing 500 plus people (mostly youth) gathered at Negaunee High School Auditorium, hearing the gospel through the Bob Lenz outreach event in September, we have been wondering about next steps in area youth ministry.  One of those steps, we’ve concluded, is this invitation and what we hope will be the resulting conversation.

Would you like our youth connecting with one another in the greater body of Christ?
Would you like to further encourage them in their ministry places at school and in the world?
Would you like to see youth who have yet to know Jesus come to know a united, yet diverse witness from Christ’s body?
Would you like to ally together to be of greater support to each other’s congregational youth ministries?

If so, please come…”

That’s the body of Christ! That’s lasting change! We’re talking lasting impact of people responding to Christ and the church working together and now reaching out to youth all year round!

I get so excited when I see business leaders, various organizations and churches that have caught the vision to unite within their community and put aside their differences for the purpose of reaching this next generation. It’s humbling to know we were a part of changing this whole community’s view on reaching youth and changing people for Christ.

Coordinating follow up teams and providing the tools they need to invest in these young people’s lives takes more staff time and resources, which are increasingly difficult to come by these days. This is partly where finances go, to help change many communities. Some of you have been including Life Promotions in your charitable giving for a long time, and some are just coming on board.  It all matters. It all makes a difference, and not just for the moment, but long term. You are part of our team. For many, we know that you also offer support through your prayers and time. We are grateful. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you! We couldn’t do it without you.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

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I know the church hasn’t done everything right, and there are often differences that can divide us.  But just like when we’re hurt and sinned against by someone in our family, we need to confront it, offer and ask for forgiveness, and pursue reconciliation.

So many people I’ve spoken with on my travels have been hurt by the church, and so many of them talk negatively about it, offering a list of offenses and mistakes.  [...]]]>

I know the church hasn’t done everything right, and there are often differences that can divide us.  But just like when we’re hurt and sinned against by someone in our family, we need to confront it, offer and ask for forgiveness, and pursue reconciliation.

So many people I’ve spoken with on my travels have been hurt by the church, and so many of them talk negatively about it, offering a list of offenses and mistakes.  Sadly, many have given up and walked away.

First, let me say that if you call yourself a Christian, you are part of the church whether you like it or not.  If you’re among those who have been bashing it, I urge you to ask for forgiveness, and I pray that you don’t allow the hurts you’ve experienced to keep you from Jesus and knowing that you are a part of the church.  God wants us to be unified for His glory and for reaching this world.

With that said, I think we also have to know there is an accuser of the brethren.  Just like in the media, good news doesn’t sell, and we often only hear about those sensationalized stories of people who claim to be Christians who are given media attention for their extreme actions or get caught doing something immoral or illegal.  We all know the church isn’t perfect, and that it has done its share of wrong, but even though it may not make the nightly news, the church has done a lot right as well.

I want to give an example from my day on the road a week ago.  We were in Elk City, OK and a small church, Elk City Methodist, put on an outreach night for the community.  Elk City is a town of 1,200 people right on Route 66.  It’s a great community, and they even have a small, awesome museum about Route 66, plus a great park that was all lit up with Christmas lights when I was there.  It’s a great tourist stop if you’re driving through the area.  I do have a joke about their lighthouse though, because there’s no water anywhere nearby!  But it seems to be working because they haven’t had a shipwreck since they put it up!  LOL!

This church in a small town had a big vision and booked the I Have A Dream Tour, for which I was the keynote speaker.  It featured the artists, The City Harmonic, Eric Brandon and Daniel Bashta, who wrote the song God’s Not Dead.

The church had 400 chairs.  They had a sell out with 476 people coming!  We had more than 50 people raise their hands to receive Christ and 20 Compassion kids sponsored.  They had so many youth there, and the only complaint by a few adults was about how loud it was.  But this church was willing to not just play church, but actually be the church and reach this generation.

My fondness for this community of believers didn’t start with the sold out crowd though.  I got picked up from the airport by a great couple, Jim and Deannie, volunteers who have given their lives to this community and this church.  They gave me a tour of the town and went out of their way to show how this church is working together with other churches and the community to reach out to those in need.

There’s an old abandoned armory that was given to the city, which turned around and allowed the ministerial fellowship to use the building to help out the community.  Here’s a place that used to store ammunition that was being turned into a place to help those in need.  It reminded me of the scripture in Isaiah 2:4; “They will beat their swards into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.”

Various ministries use the facility, like a shelter for abused women, the Salvation Army and Red Cross.  There is Hope Dental which has provided $270,000 in free dental care, and a new clinic that has given $75,000 in free medical care.  They even have a food pantry serving thousands of pounds of food every month.

My heart was full seeing all these organizations, ministries, and churches of different denominations working together in their community.  I know it won’t make the front page of the newspaper, but there are churches like these across this country making a difference in Jesus name.

Go ahead and try to bash that.

A lot of churches may divide when we talk about our differences, but it’s good to see the church working together and being the hands and feet of Jesus.  Let it be known that caring for the physical and emotional needs of people, caring for youth, and proclaiming the gospel of Jesus…  That’s the full gospel.  That’s the church.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

WAYS TO GIVE
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My heart broke and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same. The image is forever engrained in my mind. It’s heartbreaking to know that 1.2 million children are trafficked like this each year, and that 80% of them are women and young children (International Labor Organization 2007). Are [...]]]> I was in Thailand in the Red Light District while on a Compassion trip when I saw a 9 year old girl being sold for a 10 dollar bill for the night.

My heart broke and I don’t think I’ll ever be the same. The image is forever engrained in my mind. It’s heartbreaking to know that 1.2 million children are trafficked like this each year, and that 80% of them are women and young children (International Labor Organization 2007). Are you like me, thinking to yourself, “We have to fight against it! But hey, it’s not here in Small Town USA.”

A ministry partner of ours, Green Lake Conference Center, held a conference on sex trafficking for the International Christian Alliance on Prostitution (ICAP). People with a heart for God and a heart to rescue people from this horrible industry and prevent others from becoming victims, came from all around the world to learn more and make a difference. I spoke with one of the leaders in the organization, Lauran Bethell. “I want to thank you for what you do in the public schools and rallies here in the US,” she said. “I mostly want to thank you for dealing with girl’s self-identity. This is the biggest thing you can do to prevent sex trafficking in America.”

Me? Prevent sex trafficking? My mind went back to the scene of that 9 year old girl in Thailand, and I thought once again, what can I do? But she said America. I didn’t understand until I learned how leaders of this crime ring target insecure girls in America who are looking for love. According to the US Dept. of Justice Child Exploitation and Obscenity division, the average age for American girls to be lured into pornography and prostitution is the young age of 12. And the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children says there are 100,000-293,000 children in danger of becoming sexual commodities right here in the USA. Yes, America.

I always pictured it as a problem in a faraway land. I thought it could never happen in the US. But we don’t live in Neverland.

The Bible says that love is better than wine. It is intoxicating. But so is the fake allure that the leaders of these rings mimic to entice and lure girls into these situations. In just the last six months I’ve met two young girls who’ve been affected by this heartbreak: one who was rescued from a sex traffic ring, and another girl who God helped to avoid becoming a victim.

Yes, here on our own soil.

The real stories told by the girl I met who was rescued are so devastating that I can’t even share them here. Her experience makes the movie Taken seem mild. My father’s heart of love is enraged with an unmatched passion to protect others from the pain she experienced.

This all hit home for me, and I learned all too well how true this was after I spoke at a rally. A girl came up to me and thanked me for helping her really believe she was loved, that she was fearfully and wonderfully made, and that she didn’t need this world to affirm who she was. She had bought into the lies and images of society that told her what a girl should and shouldn’t be. But something clicked for her that night and she believed she was loved, and that she didn’t have to have a boyfriend in her life to feel she mattered.

I’ve heard encouraging words like that before, and they always fuel me to keep reaching more kids. But then I heard the rest of the story from her and her mom. This 15 year old girl had gotten involved in an online relationship with a 25 year old man from Russia. His attention made her feel alive for the very first time. They started to share letters, then parts of their hearts, then pictures, then pictures of her in her bikini, and then…

He said he loved her, that she was beautiful, and that he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. She had never believed she was beautiful before, but his words were what her hungry heart thought it needed. He told her that he would come to the US and began making plans to meet at Sea World in Florida while she was on a class trip.

But after listening to me talk, the Holy Spirit spoke to her heart and she realized that the relationship with this man would not fill the emptiness inside. My talk shared about the counterfeit things of life that so many pursue, all because they want to be loved: money, drinking, appearance, gangs, dating, sex, etc. She finally understood the emptiness in her heart could only be filled by God, and that He loved her just the way she was. After seeing AJ the Animated Illusionist and me at her school assembly program and that rally, she opened up to her mom about what was going on.

I later learned that the authorities were called, and a huge tragedy was averted. They found out the guy was already in the US and the FBI got involved. They told her family about how much money this beautiful girl would have been worth in the sex traffic market, and then showed pictures of what happened to those who survived, and tragically, what happened to so many who didn’t.

I wish you could picture AJ at the same rally, bringing a young girl up on stage and doing some comedy to make her and the audience laugh. He ripped up some colorful paper into dozens of pieces and then somehow, much like God can do with our hearts, he made the broken pieces whole and crafted it into something more beautiful than before. In this instance, it was a cute hat that he gave to the girl.

While he does this illusion, there’s a song playing through the loud speakers with the lyrics, “Girl, you’re amazing just the way you are.” AJ encourages the audience to sing along and you can almost envision the heart of the girl on stage growing before your eyes and being filled with a message of love. I cry every time I hear it because I know so many girls struggle to believe this truth; that they are beautiful and loved just the way they are, and that Christ died for them and rose again to give them hope.

We’re going to continue to share this truth until it breaks through another young heart, until another tragedy can be averted, or until another person can be rescued from this terrible plot of trafficking. I believe we’re making a difference. But I also believe that everyone who reads this can make a difference too. Keep spreading the only message that can fill the emptiness of their hearts, a message of hope and love. And if you believe in building girl’s identity in Christ, then I ask you to continue to stand with us as a partner, and pray for the youth of America.

We may not know until heaven how many have been prevented. But I promise that we will not stop.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

WAYS TO GIVE
Web:      CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE
Phone:  800-955-5433
Mail:      Life Promotions | 4 N Systems Dr Suite C | Appleton, WI 54914

But for a 6’10″ tall, red-haired basketball player from Shullsburg, WI, none of those things were on his birthday wish [...]]]> If you ask a senior in High School what he wants for his birthday, you’ll likely hear him say, “An iPod. An iPhone 5. An iPad. Maybe even an iTouch.” Face it; the answer usually begins win an “I.” In this “me” culture everything is I, I, I, or me, me, me. At best it may be “we” because of Nintendo.

But for a 6’10″ tall, red-haired basketball player from Shullsburg, WI, none of those things were on his birthday wish list. Instead, he wanted friends at his high school to hear a message on bullying, and then come back out at night to hear the gospel.

His name is John. His parents, Jeff and Joann Meyer, have been taking their kids to Lifest and Power of One for several years. Jeff told me that Lifest and Power of One are the most effective tools they have for growing their youth group and introducing kids to Christ. In fact, the Meyer’s oldest son, Jacob, who is now at Lawrence University in Appleton, WI, received Christ at Lifest. They come all the way from Shullsburg in Southwestern Wisconsin, which I’ve been told is the third city to be established in Wisconsin. Their Mascot is the Miners.

When I met their red-haired son, John, we were at the Power of One event last year. He was sitting down so I didn’t know how tall he was. His red hair caught my attention so I jokingly called him Opie, which probably dates how old I am because of the Andy Griffith show. When he stood up and towered over my 6’4″ height, I realized the foolishness of my remark. We laughed together, and so our relationship began.

But you know me; I picked on him a bit more that day and said, “Hey, how come you’ve never brought me to your school?” He responded by telling me how his school only had 200 students total in grades 5-12. “So what?” I said.

“You’d come to a school that small?” he asked surprisingly.

“Sure,” I said. At that, John began dreaming and planning how he could reach his friends for Christ.

The day finally came in September. We presented the anti-bullying assembly programs and made an impact on the students by sharing about value, courage and respect. After the school programs we prepared for the evening rally, which was being held at a little Methodist church that John’s dad happens to pastor.

Usually when we do programs in the junior and senior high schools during the day we’ll get an average of 25% of the students and their parents to come back out at night to hear the gospel. So, we expected about 50 people to come to the outreach in that little church in Shullsburg that evening.

But instead of 50 people coming out, we had 220! That’s 110% of the audience we saw during the day coming back at night. We were overwhelmed with gratitude as people kept pouring in and more chairs needed to be set up. The great response was a result of both John’s efforts, and also because of a new advance program we’ve established this year. Where possible, we have a team that will go into the school and community several weeks before the event to establish relationships, and most importantly, connect with the churches in the area to have them work together for the Kingdom to provide prayer and follow-up counselors for the evangelistic rally.

We’re calling this new program “Gimme 5.” As part of meeting with local churches and leaders and securing prayer partners, we ask people to pray for and invite 5 people to come to the outreach to hear the gospel message.

It’s working. When all was said and done, over 100 people raised their hands to receive Christ and responded to the gospel that night. Now, because of the advance work with local churches and prayer partners, these new believers will receive follow-up and discipleship to grow in their faith.

I’m realizing more and more that evangelism is not a gift, such as some consider help, hospitality or mercy a gift. If evangelism is that type of spiritual gift, then that would mean some people have it and others don’t. It’s too easy for many Christians to then simply say, “Oh, it’s someone else’s job to share Christ.” Instead, let’s look at evangelism according to Ephesians 4:12 where it tells us that evangelists are given to the church for the equipping of the saints for the work of the ministry. In other words, evangelists should instead be considered a gift to the church to serve as a help to the body of Christ, not necessarily just a gift given to an individual. It’s all our responsibility, working together.

John’s birthday present was to have me at his school. So I joked with him and said, “I guess I’m your gift! You may not like your gift, but I’m it.” What melted my heart was that this 6’10″ high school student said, “I love my gift, because you’re helping me reach my friends for Christ.”

All I can say to this is, “Happy birthday, John.”

My prayer is that you realize we can’t do this by ourselves. The effectiveness of our advance teams is staggering, but the cost of the advance and follow up teams are also daunting, as they are new positions on our staff. Yet, we feel they are vital in order to get the whole community on board and have the greatest impact. We really need you to stand with us so that we can fulfill other birthday wishes on the road, and in turn, have new births of people being born into the Kingdom of God.

Thanks to people, like John, who have a vision. Thanks to you for joining with us.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

WAYS TO GIVE
Web:      CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE
Phone:  800-955-5433
Mail:      Life Promotions | 4 N Systems Dr Suite C | Appleton, WI 54914

We stopped for gas and a potty break for all the kids. After I fueled up we [...]]]> If it’s ever happened to you, you know how bad it feels. We were driving home from the Milwaukee Zoo with our five kids, my parents and my sister, Lois, in the van. As we drove down the highway, I could have sworn people were looking in the window as though we were a family of monkeys. Some would say we were the zoo.

We stopped for gas and a potty break for all the kids. After I fueled up we got back in the van and off we went. We were already going down the on-ramp when someone asked, “Where’s Danielle?” Yep, you guessed it; we left her at the gas station. A sudden rush of emotion came and fear and guilt gripped my heart. Because we were on a one-way on-ramp we couldn’t turn around. We had to keep driving until we got to the next exit, which felt like an eternity. I went as fast as the law allowed, well, maybe a little faster. I had to get there!

We finally arrived and as I turned into the station I saw Danielle standing against the building, alone, afraid and crying. I leapt from the van and ran up to her, embracing her with hugs and saying over and over, “I’m so sorry, honey. I’m so sorry!” We wiped away the tears and promised her we would never forget her again.

I felt horrible as a parent. But believe it or not, this happened to Joseph and Mary, the parents of Jesus. In Luke 2:45-49 it tells how they went on in the caravan for about two days before they realized Jesus wasn’t in their midst. He was back at the temple. It made me feel a little better knowing it only took me 2 minutes to realize my child was missing, and it took them 2 days.

From this story, Don Wilkerson of Teen Challenge came up with the term “Front-Sliding.” I’m sure we’ve all heard of backsliding, going back to our old ways after coming to Jesus. So, what is front-sliding? It happens when we get so busy and so passionate about doing ministry that we get ahead of Jesus.

Have you ever been guilty of this? I have. I can get so busy with programs, projects and ministry, things that are important and good in themselves, yet leave the power back in the temple. So I’m asking you if you would slow down with me for a minute and spend some time with Jesus. Let’s bring Jesus back on the road with us, because we can have the best programs in the world and the best entertainment to reach people, yet it will do nothing to help their hearts if His power isn’t in it.

I don’t want to do what we’re doing in vain. We’re all about bringing people to Jesus and a relationship with Him. That’s called evangelism. But all of our programs will be in vain unless the Lord builds the house (Psalm 127:1).

So we’re teaming up with another youth organization, Endeavor Ministries. They help equip and empower students to do ministry on their own and reach out to their communities and the world. They have launched an initiative to get one million adults and students to pray for 31 days leading up to the next election.

Will you pray? Pray for yourself, your relationship with Jesus, your family, school community and church. Pray for America. Pray for Life Promotions as we expect to be in front of 500,000 people this year alone. Pray, because we don’t want to be in front of them without Jesus.

To learn more about Endeavor’s “Pray 31,” please view the following interview I did with their Executive Director, and my friend, Tim Eldred:

http://vimeo.com/channels/onemillionpray/48965134

Or connect on the web:

http://onemillionpray.com/ OR http://www.facebook.com/Pray31

I believe God is calling me and calling this nation to stop front-sliding. Let’s not get ahead of Him. Instead, let’s slow down and pray.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc

WAYS TO GIVE
Web:      CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE
Phone:  800-955-5433
Mail:      Life Promotions | 4 N Systems Dr Suite C | Appleton, WI 54914

“You’re as flat as a board. You sure you’re not a boy? Better check again.”

“I heard you had dyslexia. Are you worshiping “dog” again?”

“You’re so special they have a class just for you. Your name should be Ed. Then you’d be in special Ed. I told you you’re a boy.”

Over and over again. The voices ring in her head. They’re played more than the top 10 songs [...]]]>   If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts. – Hebrews 4:7

“You’re as flat as a board. You sure you’re not a boy? Better check again.”

“I heard you had dyslexia. Are you worshiping “dog” again?”

“You’re so special they have a class just for you. Your name should be Ed. Then you’d be in special Ed. I told you you’re a boy.”

Over and over again. The voices ring in her head. They’re played more than the top 10 songs on the radio. The hurt is all she hears. The volume at school is turned up. Even at youth group she’s treated the same way. But there, it’s mixed with shame. She doesn’t want to tell her mom. She doesn’t want her to worry.

“How do I make the pain go away?” she asked. “Was I born this way? Am I a mistake? Where can I be open and real? There’s too much at stake. Yes, I’ve hardened my heart just to endure the verbal hits. Sure, it’s calloused now, even cold and distant. I just want it to stop. I just want the pain to go away.”

Her words pierced my heart. But she wasn’t done. “I just want it to be the way it used to be. I want to crawl on my dad’s lap and have him hold me. I want to be a little girl again and have him tell me the story of that lost princess and her being found. But I haven’t seen my dad since, I don’t know when. He doesn’t live with us anymore. I just want some relief. Anything.”

I wondered how she was coping. She told me, “When I drink I forget all the pain and I can laugh a little while. But it always comes back. Now I cut. I know it sounds weird for someone who wants to get rid of the pain, but it’s not as bad as the hurt on the inside. I just want the voices to stop. Because even when I’m alone I hear the voices of the kids at school, the commercials on TV, and my own insecurities. All of them join together saying, ‘You don’t matter. You have no value. The world would be better off if you’re gone.’”

This girl tried to take her life just before Lifest. That is where I met her mid-July. Her mom couldn’t afford a ticket, so a free one was offered and she brought her daughter. They both sought me out to thank me.

“Lifest has been amazing,” said the girl. “People have treated us so good. The music is great!”

The mom laughed and said, “The music’s a little loud though.” I chuckled with her, trying to ease the heaviness in the air.

The daughter chimed in, “The speakers touched my heart. I prayed with someone in the prayer tent and asked Jesus into my heart and into all this pain. I feel like He was talking just to me. I heard His voice.”

I turned to the mom with tears and said, “That’s why we turn it up so loud, so people can hear.”

I held the girl’s beautiful face in my hands and made her look at me. She had tears coming down her cheeks. I looked her in the eyes and said, “I can’t stop the voices of the bullies. I can’t stop the commercials. I can’t stop the voices inside you. But I pray that the voice of love, the voice of God, would be louder than all the other voices coming at you. I hope you hear that you matter, that you are loved, that here is hope. It’s okay to get help. It’s okay to talk about it. It’s okay to share what’s going on inside. And it’s okay to not keep it all together.”

As she walked away, I wanted to run back up on the stage and tell another person about the love of God so they could hear His voice like she did, and another, and another… The feeling was a start contrast to where my heart’s been lately.

Honestly, I’ve wanted to quit. Why? Because I don’t understand why God seems to be silent when people are crying out to Him. I don’t understand why He doesn’t reach out to protect girls like this from the abuse. I don’t understand the excruciating pain of losing someone close to you, a pain that doesn’t subside. I can’t make sense of it when one teenager takes their own life. Because one is too many.

Yet, what do I do? Where else can I go? If I quit then I am giving into my own voice, pain and bitterness. I can’t harden my heart and let my doubt, anger, questions, fears and insecurities harden me.

Instead, I will choose to hear His voice of love, hope, forgiveness and purpose and continue to be a part of turning up the volume of His voice so that one more person can hear it, and another, and another…until the whole world hears.

If today you hear His voice, please, please…don’t harden your heart.

For the Kingdom,

Founder & President
Life Promotions, Inc.

WAYS TO GIVE
Web:      CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE
Phone:  800-955-5433
Mail:      Life Promotions | 4 N Systems Dr Suite C | Appleton, WI 54914