FEATURES

• "Reaching Postmodern Teens," by James K. Hampton. We are now in what many scholars call the postmodern era. What does this mean, and how can we minister to teens growing up in this era?

• "A Place of Decision," by Jon and Kathy Mowry. Jon and Kathy Mowry live where the winter days are dark and the spiritual darkness is overwhelming. But they live here by choice. And the seeds of that choice were planted long ago at two separate events each known as World Youth Congress.

• "Ready -- Set -- Go!" by Jacque Cork. All participants at Nazarene Youth Congress '99 will devote time in "Ministry to Others," learning servanthood firsthand.

• "EJUNAS '99: God Still Changes Lives," by Lee Rudeen. Over 1,200 Nazarene youth are changed forever because of God's call at EJUNAS '99, the South American Youth Congress held earlier this year.

• "Celebrating the Past and Embracing the Future: 35 Years of Teen Bible Quizzing Ministry" by Chuck Sailors. Nazarene Youth International will celebrate the 35th birthday of Bible quizzing at the international tournament during Nazarene Youth Congress in Toronto, Canada.

• "Out of Hiding," by Joyce Williams. As a child, she had hidden from the Nazis who could harm her. As a young adult, she had hidden from the God who loved and called her. Then, through God's grace, she came out of hiding.

COLUMNS

• Commission: "The Essential Embrace," by Paul G. Cunningham. God never holds us at arm's length. He never pushes away our unloveliness, never tells us to come back when we are more presentable. Instead, He accepts us as we are.

• Portraits: "Mayerly Sanchez: Blessed Are the Peacemakers," by Dean Nelson. The president told her that he would bring peace to Colombia. But then she asked him a question she said he couldn't answer.

• Family Tree: "Marked," by Jerry and Lynda Cohagan. We parents are left to wonder if all the blessings, the hugs, the markings we bestow will be enough to shield our children from the hurts they encounter. Probably not. So, this is a cry for help. Will you help us mark our children?

• Editor's Forum: This month's panel of experts explores the tension between worship styles of the younger and older generations.

• Touching: "We Want Our Lives to Count" by Hermann L. Gschwandtner. When the history of the Nazarene church in these areas is recorded, it will tell the story of Nazarenes in Volunteer Service. Literally thousands of volunteers have served in short-term or extended assignments as they build churches, renovate buildings, work in orphanages, prisons, and hospitals, and serve the suffering, the poor, the children, and the senior citizens.

• Worldview: "Send Money, Not Missionaries," by Terry Read. Something about sending and supporting missionaries brings an outpouring of spiritual blessing and provision upon churches that do the sending and supporting. This never seems to happen if "missions" means only sending money.

• The Deeper Way: "Holiness and the Extreme Generation," by Carl M. Leth. Holiness is an "extreme" call. God wants people who are dissatisfied with being lukewarm Christians. He demands a radical discipleship that follows Christ wherever He leads.

• Heartbeat: "Going to the Bank in Toronto," by W. Talmadge Johnson. There were 750 teens and sponsors at the first International Institute at Estes Park, Colorado, in 1958. It was the beginning of an incredible journey, a trip to the bank of memories.

• Foot Soldiers: "The Stunning Power of Simple Humility," by Kaaren Witte. When asked about his strategy for evangelism, Frank Ewton seemed almost baffled by the question. His answer was simple: "We invite others and show them the love of Jesus."

• Essay: "Christmas Greetings on the 4th of July" by Randall E. Davey. I read the texts and the personal greetings and run my fingers over the ink signatures, seeing the faces and forms of the folks who bought and signed and sent the cards. Sometimes I whisper a prayer for them, and sometimes I just hold the card, enjoying memories.