Important update!

Hello Dustinbarrington!

I hope that you are doing well.

We are all doing great. The kids are growing so fast!

I have been looking forward to sending you this e-mail because our work here in Fort Collins with local churches and at Colorado State University is going amazingly well.  We are really excited about a new opportunity!

I know that you are probably as busy as we are, so here is a short overview...

For the last five years we have been working with "Youth With A Mission" on global partnership projects that help Christians work together.  Our experience has led us to the conclusion that, in order to make a difference on a large scale, partnerships need to be multiplied into many local communities as well.  The challenge is that society is changing so fast that a "cultural gap" is developing between generations.  If this is not addressed soon, there will be serious implications for Christianity in North America.  We could lose an entire generation...

One key to turning this situation around is investing in reaching young leaders at leading universities.  We have a bold plan to do exactly that... and we would like to ask you to partner with us in reaching the next generation by investing $100 per month, or some other amount.

This is a great opportunity to make a difference.  I'll be in touch soon to hear what you think.

Thank you so much!

Dustin Barrington

Visit our website!  

Psst!  Hey!  WOULD YOU LIKE TO KNOW MORE... RIGHT NOW?

I encourage you to keep reading!  If you do... you will understand why we are so excited!

PARTNERSHIPS: GLOBAL TO LOCAL

For the past five years we have been working with Youth With A Mission on different global projects. 

• 50 Days of Prayer - We started off coordinating a grassroots prayer initiative that ended up becoming the biggest event in YWAM's history, with over 25,000 people in 170 nations praying together... it revitalized YWAM and dozens of new ministries were launched as a result.
• 4K - Before 50 Days even ended, YWAM's International Chairman asked us to lead in the development of a global information system to help YWAM ministries work together. During the two years we were building the "4K"system, it was adopted by a coalition of Christian leaders called the Global Pastors Network and it is now being used to coordinate partnerships and strategic planning for over 300 mission organizations and major denominations!
• YWAM Catalyst - While we were working with these "big" leaders, we recognized that even though getting global Christian leaders to work together is really important, if the leaders in local communities aren't working together, nothing "out of the ordinary" will happen. We felt led to start a new ministry and move to a local community where we could work on partnership models that can be multiplied in other local communities. WOW! It has been very exciting! Our YWAM partnership with a local young adult ministry called "nine70" has resulted in new discipleship, outreach, and leadership development programs as well as a campus organization at CSU. All in one year!!
• YWAM Student Mobilization Centre - Based on the success of our work here, we were invited to help multiply our models for local partnership at university campuses all over North America.

None of this would have been possible without the encouragement and support of people like you!

SOCIAL CHANGE

Our research and experience lead us to the conclusion that the most important social group to be investing in right now is YOUNG ADULTS.  The most significant paradigm shift in human history is happening all around us; YOUNG ADULTS are at the center of it and many Christians are totally oblivious to it!  Social change has accelerated to the point that a typical "generation gap" has developed into a "cultural gap" between this generation and the next.

Why is that so important?  The moral fabric and foundational values of our society are being "deconstructed" by postmodernism.  The dominant influences on the next generation are now peers, media, and ideologies like narcissism (self-centeredness), consumerism (greed), materialism (idolatry), etc...  If we do not reach the next generation, using cross cultural mission strategies, Christianity in America will decline significantly within our lifetime.

UNIVERSITIES ARE THE KEY

For the past year we have been developing a "model" solution to this potential disaster.  We have partnered with campus organizations and churches in a local community to pioneer innovative, culturally relevant expressions of the gospel that are producing effective results with YOUNG ADULTS.  Given the current trends, this is a huge accomplishment! 

Within any social network, 10% are leaders, and a high percentage of these leaders end up at universities. Our plan is to follow the example of Jesus on university campuses: identify young leaders, invite them to follow Jesus, and teach/mentor them into effective leadership within their spheres of influence.

OUR PLAN: 300

Over the next ten years, we will recruit 300 dynamic young Christian leaders and prepare them with specialized training, resources, and mentoring.  When they are prepared, we will send them out to pioneer new partnerships with existing campus ministries and provide culturally relevant expressions of the gospel at over 100 leading universities across North America.

In order to implement our strategy, we must first model the team-building structure that we will require of our young leaders.  This involves establishing a strong foundation of prayer and financial support, and that's where you come in.

PARTNER: INVEST WITH US

Denise and I are focusing on this important component of our ministry right now. By the end of August we are hoping to add 30 new financial partners willing to invest $100 per month.  These resources will provide for our monthly living expenses and cover our travel expenses.  We need your help! 

We would like to ask you to prayerfully consider investing $100 per month.  If you are unable to invest this amount, maybe you would be willing to invite some friends in your Bible study, small group, or family to help you to assemble this amount every month. Of course, we are open to whatever size investments you are willing and able to make, but we really need to ramp up our financial support in a significant way.

Thank you in advance for praying with us about this exciting work and our financial needs. I will attempt to contact you in a few days to answer any questions you may have and to find out if you are willing to partner with us. We look forward to talking to you!

Thank you so much for standing with us to reach the next generation. 

Sincerely,

Dustin Barrington

Visit our website!

 

PS.  Since you've read all the way to the end, I'll tell you OUR SECRET...

The secret to what we are doing is just "being like Jesus."  The most successful component of our work in Fort Collins and at CSU has been inspiring and encouraging young leaders through personal mentoring relationships, like Jesus did with His disciples.  As we pour ourselves into the lives of these young Christian leaders, we are laying the foundations of the next generation...  Come "be like Jesus" with us!