I’ve been involved in youth ministry in one capacity or another for the last 17 years. The first few years as a student, then a volunteer, and for the last 9 years as a youth pastor. I have lost count of the number of trips I’ve gone on, the number of events I’ve attended, and the number of times I’ve watched students have “mountain top” experiences with God just to come home and go crashing down.
I’ve had times when I wondered if these events were doing a disservice to my students. Yeah, there were a handful of students who were truly impacted, but many times, events have led to nothing more than tired leaders and emotional students making empty promises.
…many times, events have led to nothing more than tired leaders and emotional students making empty promises.
Our Initial Interaction with Dare 2 Share
In 2012, we took our group to a Dare 2 Share conference instead of another national conference we had been attending. It wasn’t a strategic shift for us, as much as a necessity, because the other conference dates conflicted with something else on our schedule.
Dare 2 Share’s call for students to put their faith in action right away by doing outreach was different than anything I had experienced in youth ministry before. Our students experienced a hunger to see their friends impacted by the gospel and for once, a trip created excitement that lasted well beyond the weekend. Over the next few weeks, we saw more salvations than we had seen before. It’s safe to say our weekend at the Dare 2 Share conference had a greater impact than any other event we had done before.
Our students experienced a hunger to see their friends impacted by the gospel and for once, a trip created excitement that lasted well beyond the weekend.
The next year we returned to our previous conference and saw our previous results; students making commitments they never took any step to fulfill. We even had a few students complain that the event’s teaching was too “watery” compared to what they’d gotten the previous year with D2S.
In 2014, we went back to Dare 2 Share and for a second time saw students excited to share their faith, which led to them taking other steps to grow in their faith. From this point forward, we decided that Dare 2 Share would be our spring conference. As I spoke with friends in youth ministry, I often encouraged them to join us at Dare 2 Share Conferences. I have gone as far as to offer to do all the organization for other groups to come with us and had a friend take me up on that offer.
LIVE Opened Up Ministry Opportunity
Last year, when I heard the conference was going to be replaced by Dare 2 Share LIVE and moved from spring to the fall, I was initially a little disappointed. This event was a huge part of our youth ministry calendar. But then I realized the opportunity it opened. Now, I would be able to bring Dare 2 Share to my community to bless other youth ministries the way it’s blessed us. I was excited about the possibility of pulling together all of the other local youth ministries and creating a community of students, not just excited about their faith, but also equipped to tell others about the gospel.
I was excited about the possibility of pulling together all of the other local youth ministries and creating a community of students, not just excited about their faith, but also equipped to tell others about the gospel.
As I am working with our team to organize the Elverson, PA, site, I’m encouraged that almost every youth ministry in our area is talking about coming. I have been asked by a few churches “What can we do to help?” The answer is simple: Spread the word about Dare 2 Share LIVE to every youth leader and church you know!
I truly believe this event has the potential to radically transform your youth ministry, which will affect your community. Together, we will see a shift in our country which, in turn, will change the world.
Learn more about Dare 2 Share LIVE or register your group here!
This post was guest written by our friend DJ Grick.
DJ Grick has served as Youth Pastor and Director of Media and Technology at Morgantown Community Church since 2008 and has recently became a Certified Trainer with Dare 2 Share Ministries. He graduated from the University of Valley Forge with a degree in Youth Ministry. One of his favorite things to do in his free time is bike riding with his beautiful wife Stef.
