“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12

I don’t know a single teen that doesn’t dream BIG! I can’t recall a teen who doesn’t dream of playing in the NBA, or the NFL, be an actor, or singer, musician, who doesn’t dream of having a family, being rich and famous, who doesn’t dream about living “The Life” when they grow up.

What we strive to do in the Eugene International Christian Church, and in God’s modern day movement, is get everyone back to the way of Christ, starting in the teen ministry. The teen ministry is a unique ministry because it touches all other ministries in the church (Campus, Singles, Married, Women, and Children). It is incredible to think about the sphere of influence one teenager posses. The Bible says in Proverbs 29:18 “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;” When we stop having dreams for ourselves and the world around us, we lose a lot of the potential power we have to change our world. So having vision for the teen ministry is how we came up with idea for Dream Teen Ministries. So, what is a “Dream Teen”?

D- Disciplined – First thing a Dream Teen is self-controlled and disciplined. The Bible says in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” A Dream Teen sees how God destined them be disciplined. They are disciplined in and outside the classroom, on the athletic field, at home, in their finances, and when it comes to their relationship with God. A Dream Teen knows that self-control is part of living in Jesus and strives to become more disciplined everyday in every area of their life.

R- Replication – The unique thing about DREAM is not just its goal to produce leaders with the heart of Jesus in young people, but it’s incredible mission to teach young people to reproduce that heart into others around them. DREAM Teen Ministries gets its idea of replication from Jesus Christ’s dream to change to the world. “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-19. A Dream Teen’s life will result in positive changes not just in their life, but in the lives of the people around them.

E-Eager to Dream! – One of the greatest stories in the Bible is the story of the original Dream Teen, Joseph. “Joseph, a young man of seventeen,” was always dreaming! And after many years he finally saw all his dreams come true and he was put in charge over all the land of Egypt! “Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint;” and Dream Teens are always dreaming! They’re always focused on what God has in store for them, always setting new, higher, and more challenging goals for themselves. No Dream is too big in Christ because “…with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26. The sky isn’t the limit for Dream Teens, it’s just the beginning!

A- Aspires To be Like Christ –A Dream Teen is someone who’s constantly seeking after God through his word, loving, serving others constantly, building up God’s kingdom, and reproducing the heart of Jesus into those around them. They look toward God, “so that Christ may dwell in (their) hearts through faith… being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:17-19. Dream Teens constantly has their eyes fixed on Jesus and are trying to imitate him in every aspect of their life! Their “attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus” Philippians 2:5

M- Mature – Something that is obvious in a Dream Teen’s life is maturity. It takes a lot of maturity to not only to set the example for the kids at your school, but also for the whole body of believers; young and old. In today’s society, children are “growing up” faster than in any other time in history. That doesn’t necessarily mean that they are becoming mature. Ephesians 4:13-15 says, “until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” A Dream Teen isn’t fooled by today’s modern definition of “maturity”. Rather, they are raising up as a leader at school, in sports, at home, and in God’s Kingdom. They know that real maturity is “attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ”. Everyday a Dream Teen strives to grow more mature in their walk with God and in every other aspect of their life.

From the Scriptures we can see DREAM Teens are disciplined, they replicate, are eager to dream, aspire to be like Christ every day, and mature. These are the future leaders and revolutionaries of the world. DREAM Teen Ministries encourages young people to have vision for their lives and God’s kingdom! As Dream Teens become older and mature, the goal is to see them apply that same vision and life skills on campuses worldwide! That’s why, Dream Teen Ministries works closely with other Campus Ministries to make the transition from high school to college easier academically and most important spiritually! Here in Eugene, OR, it’s the SOUL Campus Ministry (Students Of Unfailing Love).

DREAM Teen Ministries is more than just a cool name; it’s a way of life. It’s a way of life that patterns the life of Jesus and the apostles. There has been no greater time in history than now, where people, especially young people, need hope and vision. That’s what DREAM Teen Ministries give. It won’t be the president, or mighty government that changes the world. It will the young men and women of today, who build their lives on the foundation of Christ. God says in Jeremiah 29:11-13, “I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” DREAM Teen Ministries wants to help teens everywhere in every nation achieve the plans the Lord has for them. We want to see every teen go beyond living “The Life”, we want to see every teen living THE DREAM!

Every Friday night the we get together for our DREAM Devo! Past Friday Night Devotional Events:

Dodgeball

Three-Legged Basketball

Kickball

Leadership and Contact Info:

Stephen Rydstedt: (541) 359-8285

Jenny Rydstedt: (541)913-7989

Stephanie Pengra (541)743-6255