What Could be Sweeter? What Could be Sweeter? was the Halloween tract theme we passed out at the Brush’s Trick-O-Treat street. The beautiful weather brought out a large crowd. We handed out 1,080 tracts and 800 Christian-themed stickers, which was more than last year! Fall Quizzing The juniors had their fall quiz in October! It’s such a blessing to hear the little guys quote their verses. Our oldest foster child participated in quizzing and scored in every quiz, unlocking a team bonus! The...
4 months ago • 1 min read
Bible Quizzing Team Fishsticks & Breadsticks: Xander, Brandie, Dean, Zarya, Aryll, Aubrey, Elijah, and Alyssa. I have to dye my hair purple now. Let me explain. The Bible Quiz season has officially kicked off! We had our first quiz at Camp Machasay with nine teams! Rick shared from 2 Corinthians 5:7—“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Our new creation status is dependent: If anyone is in Christ. We must be in Christ to...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Bible Quizzing Team Fishsticks - second place team for the 2024-2025 quiz season! The Bible Quiz season is beginning! Bible Quizzing is a competitive sport where youth memorize Bible verses and answer questions to earn points for their team. This year, students are learning 1-2 Corinthians, 1-3 John, and Jude. On August 2, Nathan and I hosted a one-day quiz camp in Fort Morgan. We had nine quizzers participate from Fort Morgan and Holyoke. The kids learned studying methods and enjoyed...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Fourth of July Parade Youth Challenge's Parade Float July is our busiest outreach month! We engaged in three separate tract distribution events. All together, 2,835 people received a gospel tract! Our Fourth of July Day float consists of two parts: a Bible Quizzing Demonstration on the float itself, and handing out tracts to spectators. We met many obstacles leading up to the parade: broken down vehicles. The parade officials lost our entry paperwork. Less volunteers to pass out tracts. Ten...
8 months ago • 2 min read
Abiding I’ve been studying 1 John in preparation of our upcoming Bible Quiz season. John, unlike many of Paul’s letters, orbits or repeats key ideas: Darkness vs light. Love vs hate. Obedience. Fellowship. And abiding. I’ve been studying what abide means: Abide: To stay. Remain. Be present. Continue. Dwell. Endure. Its the word used in the gospels when Jesus stays in a village or when he asks his disciples to remain with him while praying in the garden of Gethsemane. John has many things to...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Prepare the Way Prepare the Way was the theme of Nationals 2025. Our opening speaker was a former quizzer who shared about verses he was memorizing that convicted him: “I didn’t like that verse, but I had to memorize it and review it.” These verses were a spotlight on areas in his life that he had not surrendered to God. By saying ‘yes’ to these spiritual pin-pricks, he became more like Jesus. “When you come to a verse you don’t like, surrender that area to Jesus.” Memorizing isn’t just for...
10 months ago • 3 min read
Bible Quiz Regionals Youth Challenge took three teams to the Midland regionals competition. Most of the quizzers on my team, Veritas, had never attended a post-season competition before. Everyone on Veritas answered, and several quizzed out! They also made memories with the other quizzers. The last night, the three Youth Challenge teams had the camp to themselves and enjoyed playing games together, including flashlight hide-and-seek. Final team standings: Witness placed 5th, Ginosko placed...
11 months ago • 2 min read
As the St. Patrick’s Day 5k race drew near, the forecast looked gloomy. Windy. Cold. Overcast. Maybe even raining. Youth Challenge was a sponsor for the 5k, and we were adding items to the runners’ goodie-bags. It even rained the day before the race. However, there were clear skies the morning of the 5k. There were approximately 75 runners, and each received a St. Patrick’s Day themed gospel tractas well as information about upcoming camps. One runner received our journaling Bible of the New...
about 1 year ago • 1 min read
My New Position: Regional Outreach Staff I have recently accepted a position at Youth Challenge as Regional Outreach Staff. Youth Challenge is an interdenominational, non-profit organization committed to reaching teens for Christ. Based in Holyoke, Colorado, Youth Challenge serves the northeast Colorado and northwest Nebraska area. The organization has three focuses of ministry: Bible Quizzing, summer camps, and outreach. Youth Challenge has been a part of my life since age ten. I joined a...
about 1 year ago • 2 min read