CIY Believe is very excited to release the 2011 publicity and 2011 NOW Tour Dates!  As Believe INSIDERS, we want you to be the first to see the new publicity.  This stuff hasn’t even come off the press yet.  It will soon though, so keep an eye on your mailbox during early September.  In it you will find some returning faces as well as some new ones.  No matter who you recognize, be sure to visit all of our artists online to tell them which event location you will be at!

2011 Believe Artists:

Illusionist – Jared Hall

Artist – Eric Samuel Timm

Speakers – Mark Oestreicher, Kurt Johnston, Scott Rubin, Heather Flies, Chad Monohan, & Jon McCallon

Special Extreme Sports Guests – NTRL Racing Sensations Eddie & Cameron Falcon.

Download the whole PDF version HERE!

Not signed up for Believe Twitter?  Be sure to start following us now to always be aware of the latest news about CIY Believe!

Last month I had an opportunity to go on a CIY Engage trip to Cambodia. While I was there I was able to reconnect with a Cambodian friend, Theara. CIY as a ministry has been challenging people to be “Kingdom Workers” and I tell you what… Theara is striving to be the hands and feet of Jesus in her neighborhood. Theara started “Friends of Jesus Club” when she was 16 years old with 20 kids and 10 years later there are over 400 kids in the ministry who are learning about Jesus! Theara’s family also started a church on “Women’s Island” which is an actual island that women and children were taken to be killed during the genocide. It’s amazing that a place that used to be full of death is now full of hope and life!

Friends of Jesus Club is what I would call a “preventative” ministry. There are several after-care facilities that work with girls who have been rescued out of human trafficking (www.raphahouse.org), but Theara’s ministry is one that helps to prevent it. Children (Jr. Highers!) are at high risk for being trafficked from this neighborhood because people are coming in and offering parents money for their children. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be at a point where it’s an acceptable option to sell a child because the money is needed to survive. It’s CRAZY! But these families are so poor that they sometimes literally don’t have any other option to survive.

What is amazing about Theara and her family is that they saw the need and decided to step out in faith and do something about it! They work with these poor families to provide basic physical needs (food, clean water, shelter) and sometimes even pay for school so that these kids can get an education. As well as provide opportunities for them to come eat a meal, learn about Jesus, learn traditional Khmer dances, play games and just be kids! While our Engage team was there we were able to witness and be a part of a huge baptism celebration. 29 kids were baptized as a result of this one family. It was incredible to see how God has worked through Theara over the last several years and to also see the hope these kids now have in Jesus! Walking through that neighborhood and feeling God’s presence there is a memory I will not soon forget.

Since I’ve been back I find myself questioning how I can get more involved in my own community (James 2: 14-26). I have been challenged in my personal life about how God can use me in small ways to impact my community for the Kingdom. I have started praying and am asking God to show me different needs and areas where I can volunteer and help be the hands & feet of Jesus.

My hope and prayer is that we all begin to take the challenge of being a kingdom worker seriously and start looking for opportunities to serve in our daily lives. Ask God to show you what your gifts are and how you can use them to help further the Kingdom. It doesn’t matter if you’re a 6^th grader or the parent of that 6^th grader! Let’s start paying attention to different needs in our own communities (nursing homes, homeless shelters, food pantries, volunteering at your church, reaching out to neighbors, etc.) and begin listening for where the Spirit is leading us to serve!

Also, please pray for Theara and the Sath family as they continue to serve the people in their neighborhood and teach them about the hope we have in Jesus. Below is a prayer request from Theara!

“I don’t want to change Cambodia but I want the people in Cambodia to change and help each other. I would like to ask you to continue to pray for all these kids and their families; that they will come to learn about God and trust God and be faithful to God.” – Theara

Last week I got the chance to spend a week at a junior high camp but it wasn’t the average or ordinary camp…it was bikekamp. Yes, it was actually a christian bike camp for junior highers. One thing that I definitely learned through the experience is that jr. highers are resilient! They can do so much!

BikeKamp was tough on me, my out-of-shape self and my a/c needs were stretched . That’s right, there was no a/c in any of the camper buildings or the mess hall. And it was hot! However, although I often complained to myself I never heard any of the students complaining, AT ALL! They didn’t care that it was 98 degrees outside they were ready to have FUN! We rode our bikes each day, played games like Chicago style softball and ate lots of good food. Even on the days that it rained the students were ready to have mud fights. The fact that the plans for that day could have been or were ruined  didn’t faze them.

It takes a lot of really gifted people to pull off a camp like this! They kept the students busy but they also helped them learn the meaning of community. Everyone rides together, eats together, is hot together, plays together and we need each other.

Honestly, I think I learned a lot more from them then they ever learned from me. They let me see just how crazy, fun, and exciting being a normal jr higher can be. I had some of the funniest, weirdest and most awkward conversations of my life…seriously. But, I noticed that THEY got ME out of my shell. They pushed me to be part of their community and welcomed me with open arms.

This summer thousands of junior high students will be going to camps and conferences of all kinds. Take some time and pray for their time to spend and build community together and that there would be life change. Pray for the adults that will lose sleep and partial sanity and all those leaders that serve without thanks that they will know they are making a HUGE difference.

-Shawn Miyahara

The offices here at CIY this week are at their peak of activity. Summer staffers are getting to know each other and all of our brainstorming meetings from last October are finally being brought to life. It is exhilarating being in this atmosphere, knowing that as we ate lunch together today our paths would separate over thousands of miles across America.
I’m reminded of a highlight from last summer’s travels as we anxiously anticipate all the wide eyed students who will experience a Move high school event, Know Sweat service project or Engage trip very soon. I was speaking at one of our more jr high intentional Know Sweat service projects. This night we moved the entire room to a tight focus on a small center stage where the day’s activities would culminate with our nightly programming. It was Wednesday which is a double sided sword. If you have spent much time on student trips then you know some of the common patterns: Wednesday can be a major break through day in pushing through walls that kids have had up all week, exhaustion can start to set in; but more times that not it seems to take about three days of retreat from the tyranny of our pop cultured driven world for kids to hear the voice of God speaking clearly. As a speaker and programmer who had poured into this evenings events my hopes were high.
The stand out moment happened about 7 minutes into my HIGHLY engaging talk that evening. With such a cozy room set up there was a bit more energy in the room between speaker and audience. I remember walking through a few rows and looking more kids in the eyes thinking we are all really tracking together in this moment. Then I saw it. I was mid sentence and almost completely lost my train of thought. Sure this kind of thing has happened to every person in publicly speak but it was more eventful this night for me due to two downright funny occurrences.
The first sticky point in this story is that because the way the room was set up with all of us so tightly knit together into the center of the room there was no hiding such a sight. In normal conditions most folks wouldn’t know and there would be a distraction at all. There we all were however, confronted with the reality of this moment that totally caught me off guard.
Secondly I just so happened to catch the eye of the youth worker in charge of this student simultaneously as I happened up on the whole scene. Because of her mirrored reaction to mine there was no way we could brush this over. It was going to be a total distraction of epic proportions.
As I energetically weaved from one point ready to land another I spun on my heal and right in front of me sprawled out over two and a half chairs was an 8th grade boy who had unapologetically crashed during this intense moment. I know I said it, we have all had kids fall asleep on us! Unfortunately just as I clearly stopped, stunned at this picture the kid made a huge bear like gurgle, sighed like he was home tucked in bed and readjusted his position before falling back into an almost coma like sleep. Every student in the room instantly realized I was speechless from suppressing laughter while still trying to hold the moment I was in . . . whatever that was.
At that instant I recollected many conversations I’ve participated in that brought perspective to my immediate situation and the stark reality of what we do in youth ministry. We toil, plan, pray, communicate, promote, explain, and execute so many trips over the course of just one summer season. Sure, sometimes the light bulb moment for a kid actually happens during the special song on the night we think it will . . . but most of the time some freaky series of events unravels in such a way that we scratch our heads and wonder how in the world God used THAT to touch a kid. The comforting thing is that He will have His way no matter what. If you are like me; it’s good to hear things you already know but will most likely forget on the interstate when the air conditioning goes out . . . again.
1. Even though he uses other goofy ways than what we thought he would, still plan well because sometimes he goes conventional just to keep us honest.
2. Get to know a kid’s story. You may not know that the most Spiritual thing happening in that kids life could be a nap in the middle of your sermon.
3. Take some time to think back to a special trip you had in adolescence. Remember the moments that stuck with you the most?

-Johnny Scott blog

Eric Samuel Timm

Thanks so much for coming to Believe.  It is humbling to see God move in our lives as they collided for a weekend.  You guys are the so much part of the reason we do this. Thank You again for letting this be a part of your students faith history.

My contact info is below if you need it or want to get rid of Chic-Fil-A coupons, Old Money, Expensive Cheeses, Copper or other precious metals and I looking for Back To The Future 1,2,3 on VHS preferably.

Also to say thanks to you leaders I will give you a calendar with my art in it for your office.  But there is a catch.  If you get 4 guys under you and they get four guys…wait, wrong sales pitch.  That’s that berry juice from amazon or amazon.com I don’t remember which…anyway…If you make a purchase of $25.00 on the No One Underground Store at www.NOUstore.com and enter BELIEVE in as the coupon code you will get a Calendar with your order for free.

See you on twitter?

Eric Samuel Timm

“depulso creperum”
Now booking 2011
W:  www.nooneunderground.com

www.paintinghope.com
www.noustore.com
E:   ericsamueltimm@mac.com
A:   No One Underground

1354 14th Ave. SE
Forest Lake MN 55025
T:   www.twitter.com/ericsamueltimm
F:   www.facebook.com/nooneunderground

Hetti Marie

You may remember me from this year’s Believe Tour. I would love to reconnect with your kids again! If you’re looking for someone dynamic to lead worship, share their testimony or do a Back to School concert, I would love to come along side and support what you are doing in your youth group.

Now, I’ve worked on staff at my home church as the Children’s Director, so I understand just how tight budgets can be. So please don’t let that stop you!

Let’s do something together! I double-dare you! ☺

What Hetti-Marie does: Worship Leader, Girls Events, Guest Speaker, Concerts

Rates: Vary based on church size and budget. Give us a call and we are willing to work with you!

Booking Info:

Contact: Priya Devalia (303) 219-6157

email: hetti.mariebooking@gmail.com

website: www. hetti-marie.com

321 Improv Comedy

We had a blast with you all this spring and would love to have a chance to see you again!  We are currently booking end of summer and fall 2010, plus winter and spring 2011. This includes events that include just us as well as a tour we’re doing in the fall called Mayhem and Misdirection.

If you contact me (Carl) for a non tour event and let me know you are responding to the CIY BELIEVE referral, you will receive a 10% discount on booking your event.

Contact info:

321 Improv Comedy – Carl Crispin
www.321improv.com
616 291-1373
CarlCrispin321@aol.com

Untitled Skateboards

We had a great time on the believe tour this spring. It was an honor to be a part of this tour, and it was so much fun getting to meet and hang out with all the Junior High Students.

We are currently offering 4 new packages. All of them involve us coming to skate and minister with your youth. For more info visit untitledskate.com. Call us at 417-623-2527, or email us at booking@untitledskateboards.com. We would love to hear from you, and don’t forget to mention you saw us at believe!

Also, if you liked the skateboards we had at Believe, check the website soon. We are launching a whole new line of boards!

Being the new guy on the Believe team, I am learning a lot about what makes Christ In Youth the unique ministry that it is.  One of the things I have learned is that these guys believe in working hard at amplifying the call to raise up Kingdom Workers.  Every person here takes on their role with an intensity that shows they understand what is at stake!

The other thing I am learning is that these guys also know how to have a great time!  There are very few times during the year when ALL of the CIY staff is in town at the same time, but mid-May is usually one of those rare times.  So each year, CIY takes one day to have an “all-staff fun day”! This year’s events was a day of building and racing old-fashioned soap box derby cars.  Well, not cars so much, but modified racing vehicles!

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The rules were pretty simple. We had to build a contraption of some sort to race against the other teams.  We were not allowed to use any CIY property or equipment either on our “cars” or to build them.  Each car had to have at least 3 wheels on the ground at all times along with at least one rider.  They could not have mechanical engines or power of any kind (including pedals), and each member of the team had to touch the car at least once during the race (a rule which got my team disqualified from the finals!)

We were split into six teams with people we didn’t get to work with on a regular basis and given six hours to design and build our cars.  A team of three “impartial” judges rated them first through sixth for creativity.  We then had 3 heat races of two teams each.  The winners of those three heats competed for spots 1 – 3 in the race and the losers of the heats competed for spots 4 – 6.  Adding together each teams score in creativity and the race gave their final score, with lowest score winning it all!

Some people would look at a day like that and say it was a wasted day.  The reality is that working together on a team that is seeking to make an eternal impact requires days like that!  I truly believe that God wants us to work hard and to give our best for Him.  But I also believe He wants us to laugh together, to play together, and to build relationships with each other.  Because those relationships allow us to get through the tough times. We all spend a lot of time on the road, and days like CIY Staff Fun Day help us become the team we need to be to do what we do.

The CIY team is getting ready to break for the summer.  MOVE teams will be rolling out all across the country within days.  Know Sweat is gearing up to lead thousands of teens in service projects nationwide.  And Engage will be going all over the world!  For us at Believe (and for our friends at SuperStart), we are off tour, but even will we will all over the place, planning and prepping for the next tour, and helping with the other CIY events.  CIY Staff Fun Day was a great way for us to all huddle up and encourage each other before we go our separate ways for a few weeks.  Please pray for all of us as we amplify the call this summer!

Many of you know Brent the stunt guy and his wife Amanda who were part of the believe tour from 2007-2009.

Brent and Amanda have been dearly missed on tour but heard the call on your own lives to become missionaries in the Philippines, specially the city of Manila. The last year these two Kingdom Workers have been traveling the country to share the Gospel and to receive spiritual and financial support. Not only have congregations decided to support Brent and Amanda but youth groups have too! In an update e-mail the believe team received, Brent shared, “We are continuing to see the youth in the churches get excited about missions. We were at a church Sunday in Austin, TX where the youth group decided to take us on for financial support. This is the 2nd youth group that has committed to supporting the ministry in the Philippines. We are anxious to get to the field and start reporting to these teens, churches, family and friends what all the Lord is doing in Manila.”

How awesome is that? We were meant to be Kingdom Workers, in your family, communities and all over the world. Please keep Brent and Amanda in your prayers as they take the journey of being missionaries in Manila. If you would like more information about their ministry, you can visit their website.

Claim Your Campus from Claim Your Campus on Vimeo.

This year believe partnered with Claim Your Campus, an organization dedicated to helping students pray for their campuses across the nation.  Their presence at every believe event has helped students receive support, guidance and encouragement to pray for their teachers, friends and fellow students.  Students are now taking action to form small prayer groups within their schools!

You can learn more about Claim Your Campus by clicking HERE.

This year at believe junior higher’s across the nation are making an impact for clean water in African countries.

CIY is partnering this year with active water, an awesome organization that helps people get connected using their own talents to raise money for countries without clean water. You can find out more about active water go to www.activewater.org

At believe students are asked to give $2.00 to help make an impact on the raising water crisis and they are definitely meeting the challenge. Students across the nation are giving their $2.00 and skipping on their favorite soda pop. Now get this…if 20,000 students each give $2.00…that’s $40,000!! Each biosand filter is $75.00, I’ll do that math…that’s 533 biosand filters and each filter can provide water to a family of seven for LIFE!

Please pray for the students that have come and are coming to believe…that they will realize how huge of an impact they ARE and WILL be making as Kingdom Workers!