What is the power of uniting churches to reach teenagers?
In North County San Diego, there is a groundswell of churches unifying to share the gospel to teenagers. It started with two different networks working together. The North County Coastal Network, led by Brian Day and Willie Register of North Coast Calvary Chapel, wanted to live out their motto "a church without walls." God brought together multiple churches for a worship event called "Anthem," which gathered students from the San Diego Coast.
At the same time, Inland North County Network members, led by Jeff Lowry, were uniting churches in worship and service through an event called "Unify." At this student-led worship gathering the gospel was presented through multiple youth leaders sharing Scriptures without sharing thier names. During the same week hundreds of students heard the gospel in assemblies on public school campuses led by students and youth leaders.
But God wanted to unite churches across the county to share the gospel. The leaders from both networks combined their efforts in a work called Unify Anthem. Last year, roughly 1,000 students gathered for worship from five youth ministry networks. Dozens made decisions for Christ.
God wants to see the entire church mobilized to reach teenagers. This year Dan Daugherty, a senior pastor, came to a planning meeting and shared how important it was to have the entire church behind the youth ministries as they worked together. He invited the youth leaders to share at the One Church pastors' network. More than 20 youth leaders stood before a gathering of 100+ pastors to mobilize the entire church behind Unify Anthem. Youth pastor Benji Horning shared the essence of John 17:20-23: "May they be one as we are one so that the world may know."
This story shares the importance of the values that unite us in the Network. Personal discipleship, equipping students, sharing the gospel and encouraging unity are what drive leaders connected with NNYM. Please read over our new leadership values agreement. In the coming months, we will see how these values can add value to your network as you mobilize your community to reach and equip youth.