Beth and I are excited to announce that a large-scale project we have been working on is now ready! We are officially launching a monthly subscription service for youth and family ministries at www.GetGroundedForLife.com. Dave Eastman, a dear friend from Chicago (now leading the church in Indianapolis), once told me, "No one should write a book until they are at least 40 years old." He was commenting on the fact that good ideas should marinate before they are ready to share with others. 

Beth and I are about ten years older than Dave's "at least 40," and we have worked in Youth & Family ministry for 17 years. We have spoken to churches around the globe and spent four years in Africa developing youth and family there. Between our time in Chicago, Johannesburg, and San Antonio, we have come to believe in a few fundamental truths about building a healthy ministry.

In our fellowship's short history we have seen thousands of our beloved children who grew up in our congregations put on Jesus as Lord at their baptisms. This is thanks to the amazing grace of a mighty God who wants all people to be saved, and moves in incredible ways through His word, His spirit and His people. In most cases our children getting saved is also the result of tireless striving by dedicated, spiritual parents who exemplify Christ and uphold His standards.

We are on the cusp of a tremendous shift in our movement.



For decades, our churches have focused time, energy, and resources on reaching our teens. We hired youth and family ministers. We engaged volunteers devoted to mentoring and studying the Bible with our high school students. We had teen Bible talks and devotionals. We hosted events, lock-ins, proms, youth camps. We sent our kids on trips both to domestic and international destinations, to serve and connect with those in other churches. We prayed with them, for them, over them.