 |  |  |  |  |  |
 | |||||
|
What is Youth Challenge?Western Washington Youth Challenge (WWYC) is a Christian outreach team of young people, sponsored by the Washington Conference of Seventh-day Adventists that puts primary emphasis on faith sharing activities. WWYC empowers young people, ages 16 through college-aged, to share their faith and earn tuition money by sharing Christian books, called magabooks door-to-door and participating in community kindness projects. WWYC believes that Jesus' command, "Go into all the world," includes teenaged and college-age Christians, and that they must be trained and drilled in the best methods of winning souls to Christ, and sent into their communities to love people with the love of Christ and to teach the Word of God. We see that the Spirit of God is eager to endue our young people on the Western Washington Youth Challenge team with power and ability to witness for God. It is our aim to provide an environment where that Spirit will give us joy in prayer, study of God's Word, and persevering, individual witness to the great love of our God. What is the mission of Youth Challenge?Our mission is two-fold: to bless the lives of young people, financially, socially and spiritually and to bless the lives of those our team comes in contact with. We seek to bless the lives of those we meet door-to-door by sharing God's love for them through conversation, prayer, and the distribution of high-quality books for healthy living, families and spiritual growth. We also seek to bless & inspire members of the host church and churches around Western Washington by sharing testimonies proclaiming the marvelous ways God has worked in and through the Youth Challenge team. We seek to share Jesus with everyone we meet, to hasten, in some way, His Second Coming. What do team members do on a day-to-day basis?Sunday through Thursday, each day starts with a team worship and training session, concluded with group prayer. Team members begin sharing magabooks door-to-door, by 1 p.m. Though they approach the door solo, team members work in a buddy system, with another teammate placed across the street, for safety, as well as moral and spiritual support. Team members conclude their work at 9 p.m. and meet back at the host church to close out their day with group prayer and praise for all the ways God has blessed them. What are Magabooks?The name "Magabook" was developed because the books we distribute are paperback (like books) and yet shaped liked magazines with bright, colorful pictures. In essence, they are half-book and half-magazine and so they were called a "maga-book". Our books include children's books, health books and inspirational and Bible study books. For a complete lineup of our books, click here. What do team members do on the weekends?On Friday, team members have free time until 4pm when they meet together for vespers and dinner in the home of a host church member. Often, group leaders will take students shopping or facilitate social time in a park or with a host family during the free time before vespers. Our evening vespers is a time for reflection and thanksgiving to God for what He's done for our team during the week. Each team member testifies to God's goodness by sharing a story with the group about the way they saw God using them to reach other people with His love. On Sabbath, team members lead out in Sabbath School and church services at their host church and throughout their ministry area, telling stories from "the front-lines" of service for God. The team seeks to support and encourage the local youth ministry of the churches they are a part of. On 2-3 Sabbath afternoons, the Youth Challenge team participates in a servant evangelism or community kindness project. They go out into the host community to "share God's love in a practical way" through free water giveaways, free pictures of families at the park or a free carwash. Who can join the team?Applications are welcomed from all young people age 16-26 years old. How can I apply?Print out the online application and three reference forms to be completed by a pastor, teacher, and work supervisor. Complete the application and send with a color photo to: Western Washington Youth Challenge How much money can team members make?There is no limit to the money you can earn in Youth Challenge, since you receive 50% of all that you distribute door-to-door. Typically team members make from $1500 - $4000. In addition to this, Seventh-day Adventist Academies and Universities match these monies with a scholarship anywhere from 15-100%. To find out the amount your school will match your earnings please call the Youth Challenge office at (425) 481-7171 or your school registrar. Where do team members stay during the eight-week program?Team members are matched with carefully selected host families near the summer ministry area. These families provide a warm home environment for team members to stay in during their eight weeks of ministry. Laundry facilities are also available. Who provides food for team members during the summer?Host families provide team members with a healthy breakfast. Team members are asked to bring materials for sack lunches for their lunch meal, and if they desire, their evening meal. During the program, there is a weekly grocery shopping day when team members can purchase these lunch items. For the evening meal, team members do have the option to purchase their meal at eating establishments during the evening meal break. Who will provide transportation for team members during the summer?Team members are asked only to provide their own transportation at the beginning and end of the eight weeks. During the program, all transportation will be provided by Western Washington Youth Challenge group leaders and approved staff. How did Youth Challenge begin?Magabooks were originally commissioned in 1987 by Glenn Aufderhar, Michigan Seventh-day Adventist Conference President, and Dick Thomas, marketing director for the Review Publishing Association, as a response to Ellen White' s counsel that the book Christ's Object Lessons was a gift of heaven to be used by students to help defray the cost of Christian education. The first Magabook, a half magazine, half book edition of Christ's Object lessons, titled He Taught Love, features a commentary on twelve of the parables of Jesus Christ. Cindy Tutsch directed the first summer Magabook program in 1988 with 15 students based in Edmore, Michigan. Since then, Magabook student canvassers have grown to about 2500 in North America, distributing hundreds of thousands of 17 titles of Magabooks, from healthy choices cookbooks to adult devotional books to teen books promoting a lifestyle free from substance abuse to quality children's story books which promote positive values. Magabook programs began in the Northwest in 1993 have grown to include not only Washington, but Oregon, Alaska, and Montana as well. Western Washington Youth Challenge (WWYC) began in 1994 and is celebrating it's 10 - Year Anniversary this year, summer of 2004. For the past ten years, Youth Challenge has been a key part of the ministry of the Washington Conference Youth Department. Looking to the many young people that have been involved in Youth Challenge over the past 10 years we can see the positive impact that this program has had in their lives. Hundreds of students have personally accepted Jesus Christ or cemented their commitment to Him and their devotion to following the truths found in God's Word because of their involvement as a member of the WWYC team. WWYC has left and continues to leave a legacy of young people empowered and equipped for ministry leading out in their churches and communities. Do you still have questions about WWYC?For more information e-mail Nissa Anderson or Pastor Tara VinCross |
