Over the past few years I have the opportunity to lead several discussion groups and speak about why Youth and Young People who were in the church are not attending churches anymore. God has been good and Ponder Publishing has now released the book 'Goodbye Generation' which is the result of hearing hundreds if not thousands of stories and advice from youth leaders, pastors, church leaders, and people who no longer attend church.

Please check out www.goodbyegeneration.com or www.amazon.ca to get your copy today at an early discounted rate. Also please pass this on to anyone who would benefit from this discussion or would have some stories.

Why is this important. This year the Assemblies of God in the States said they are losing 90% of their youth the year they graduate. Some studies show that the church in North America is only retaining 3% of all the children and youth that have attended churches.

However, stats are a little misleading and the real story is that many people who we have poured our lives into have left the church and many their faith. Whether it is 5% of them or 50% we are not simply called to bear ‘fruit’ but we are called to bear ‘fruit that remains’. Goodbye Generations is simply asking what are the causes behind people who were in the church wanting to leave.

We have also started work on a new project called 'Before you say Goodbye'. It is going to be a compilation of advice, stories, and insights from people like you. The premise is simple -'If a youth or young adult came to you and said they are leaving their faith behind, what would you say?' If you have something you would like to input please email us, or post on the website, or facebook group. All the details on how to do that are on www.goodbyegeneration.com

Be blessed

David Sawler

If you’ve ever wondered about how to best share your faith with your Muslim friends, then AMIR sSALAAM is the book for you.

Written in a folksy, ‘down home’ style, the book takes you into the lives of the Ben Latif family, newly arrived in the city of Moncton, New Brunswick. Through their eyes you will see how the Muslim community seeks to understand and interpret the various expressions found within the Christian community. When you travel with them to North Africa, you’ll experience first-hand examples of how God is moving in that part of the world as well.

A helpful study guide is included at the end of the book. For those who are new to the idea of sharing the Christian faith with Muslims, this book is truly encouraging.

While written primarily for Christians, it can also be used as a gift to Muslim friends with whom you are already in a good relationship.

AMIR sSALAAM by Qawi; published by Ahl al Kitaab 2007. ISBN 13: 978-0-9783146-0-6. ISBN 10: 0-9783146-0-3.

Canadian copies are available for $14.95 from Chris Ford at Arab World Ministries, .

When sisters Kristina and Amy O’Brien and their mother Heidi arrived recently at ignition, the largest event of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association of Canada’s eight-month-long epicentre youth outreach program, they had very heavy hearts.
The three from Moncton, NB, were surrounded by about 3,000 teens eagerly waiting to hear two major Christian bands – Chicago-based Barlow Girl, then Kutless from Portland, OR – and a message from Will Graham about the saving power of Christ.

In the midst of all that joy and excitement in Moncton Coliseum on a warm summer night, Kristina, Amy and Heidi felt just the opposite. Their hearts were deeply troubled by the fact another family member, 17-year-old Katie O’Brien, was missing – again.

The first time Katie ran away, with police and family members desperately searching, it took five days to find and bring her home. The rebellious girl left with some drug-using friends her family knew were very dangerous for her. This time, Katie had been missing for eight days – and her family was becoming very fearful.

“Our whole church was praying for Katie – asking God to bring her home,” Kristina said.

Their prayers were dramatically answered when, as Kristina and Heidi prepared to begin counseling youths coming forward in response to Will Graham’s invitation to accept Christ, Kristina, 25, noticed Katie standing just a few feet away. Her troubled little sister had come to ignition, and stood tearfully waiting to become a child of Jesus.

“When I saw Katie, I didn’t say anything,” Kristina recalled moments later. “I just walked over, put my arms around her and started sobbing. We both kept crying and crying.” They finally regained enough composure to find their mother. Then they prayed with Katie, their prodigal sister and daughter, as she welcomed Jesus into her life. “I’m home in more senses than one,” a tearful Katie said afterward, flanked by her smiling sisters. “I want to be home with my family, but also home with God.”

More than 200 other people in Moncton Coliseum made similar decisions to ask Christ into their hearts. Most were from New Brunswick but others came to ignition – which included three outdoor performances by Outcast, a high-flying BMX bike stunt team with a strong passion for Christ – from neighboring Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island.

For many at ignition, before making their life-transforming decisions for Jesus, they had lived out the lyrics of the Barlow Girl song in which the band, composed of three sisters in their early 20’s, cries out to God saying, “I have wasted so much time pushing you away. I just never saw how you could cherish me.”

Vocalist and guitarist Rebecca Barlow stopped at one point to tell the crowd about her struggles with eating disorders and depression as she strived to live up to the world’s standards, rather than God’s standards.

“I was done with life; I didn’t want it anymore,” Rebecca recalled. Then she heard God telling her to stop worrying about what other people thought of her and instead rejoice in the fact God loved her so deeply that He sacrificed His son for her. “I realized the world doesn’t define us – God defines us. It was the most amazing, thrilling thing in my life.”

Rebecca urged her youthful audience – many of whom had been personally touched by a series of car accidents and other tragedies the previous winter that left more than a dozen New Brunswick teens dead – to adopt entirely new priorities for their lives: “Don’t get your definition in how many heads you turn. Get your definition in Christ.”

During Will Graham’s message, he pulled a pen from his jeans and asked people to tell him its purpose. “To write,” the crowd shouted back. Will laid the pen on the podium, stared at it for a moment or two, then said: “The pen’s purpose is to write, but the only way it can fulfill its purpose is to be used by its master.”

Human beings are no different, Will noted. They can stay very busy – going to school or work, watching tv or movies, listening to music, hanging out with friends – but the only way to know and fulfill their true purpose is through a close relationship with Christ. “You cannot fulfill the purpose God planned for you until you submit and surrender to Him.”

Although most of the more than 3,400 people in the coliseum were teens, there were some interesting exceptions – including Dean Balser. The 70-year-old Moncton resident has been a youth leader for roughly half his life. He loves teenagers’ optimism and adventurous spirit: “The sky is the limit with them, and I’m willing to go there with them.”

Another older person attending the ignition event was Maryann Barlow, the 50-year-old mother of Rebecca and the other two Barlow Girl band members. Maryanne and her husband Vince, 52,
always travel with Barlow Girl on its tours, and they were rocking and jumping to the music in Moncton just like everyone else.
In the hours before every performance on a Barlow Girl tour, Maryann quietly climbs onto the darkened stage and fervently prays. The Moncton stop was no exception. “I prayed that there would be a special window – a time during the evening when these young people’s hearts would be especially open to the Holy Spirit,” she said. “I also asked God to make sure all of this becomes more than just entertainment. The girls know they are up there (on stage) for a purpose. It’s a time of ministry – a platform that God has given them to glorify Him and bring people to Him.”

Barlow Girl – with Kutless and Will Graham – used that platform wonderfully in Moncton. Thousands of grateful teens, including more than 200 new believers, can attest to that.

(The final phase of the epicentre program in New Brunswick will be global velocity, a once-in-a-lifetime trip by participants in August to Trinidad where they will befriend, share their faith with, and offer assistance to, local youths and adults.)

Feel The Music with World Vision is bringing Avalon to three cities here in the Maritimes.

The dates are:

July 10th - Halifax West High School, Bella Rose Arts Centre - 283 Thomas Raddall Drive - Halifax NS
July 11th - Moncton Wesleyan Celebration Centre - 945 St. George Blvd - Moncton NB
July 12th - Sunset Church - 429 Clements Drive - Fredericton NB

Tickets are $15 plus service charge and will be on sale this Friday
June 13th thru http://www.ticketwindow.ca/

Tickets will also be available thru some local bookstores including
LaBonne Nouvelle in Moncton, The Lighthouse in Fredericton, Miracles
Christian Bookstore Halifax.

If anyone has anyone questions please phone Shaun at 506-878-3580

This event is being sponsored by Feel The Music and World Vision.

If you or your friends are on facebook please have them Join our facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/feelthemusicca/13087202681

Website www.feelthemusic.ca - coming very soon.

We've found that prevailing churches thrive when leaders – or groups of leaders – start doing what God called and gifted them to do. They lead. They lead humbly. They lead lovingly. They lead with a serving towel over their arm. They paint compelling pictures of what could be one day. They challenge people to start working together in the direction of giving God glory.

Romans 12:8 commands anyone with the spiritual gift of leadership to take this responsibility seriously and lead with all diligence. We know this charge can be one of the most challenging to fulfill, and we bring the Leadership Summit to you to:

INSPIRE your efforts to build churches that replicate the heart of Christ in people.

CONNECT leaders with a worldwide network in a conversation of global impact.

EQUIP churches with training, resources, and events that encourage continual growth.

MOBILIZE teams to accomplish the life-changing, hope-bringing work of the local church.

We envision a world redeemed and restored by Christ through the character and actions of the local church. Join us for the Leadership Summit this August, and inspire, connect, equip and mobilize your team to develop their leadership potential!

August 7th and 8th
To register, visit www.growingleadership.com/summit

Halifax, NS:
StoneRidge Fellowship
1000 Sackville Dr.
Lower Sackville, NS B4C 2T2
www.stoneridgefellowship.com
For more information contact Matt at

Moncton, NB
Moncton Wesleyan Church (hosted by Hillside Baptist Church)
945 St. George Blvd.
Moncton NB, E1E 2C9
www.hillsidemoncton.org

St. John's, NF
Bethesda Pentecostal Church
1 Escaconi Place
PO Box 21100
St. John's, NL A1A 5B2
www.bethesda.nf.ca

Contemporary Christian recording artist Jeremy Camp will perform live in concert at the Moncton Wesleyan Church on Thursday, September 11th, 2008. New Brunswick band The Silent will open the concert for Camp.

Tickets go on sale on Thursday, May 29th.
Tickets $25 in advance - $30 at the door.

The first 250 people to purchase can win - a complete Jeremy Camp
CD/DVD library, an ipod nano and a backstage pass.

You can either purchase ticket in person at LaBonne Nouvelle bookstore in Moncton or by calling 506-857-3066.

The number one song on Christian Radio right now is Camp's "Let it Fade"which is a story about letting the old life fade away. The Billy Graham Association created this video about the song:

http://www.billygraham.org/News_Article.asp?ArticleID=283

Here is also a little bit on Jeremy you will find interesting. Its the story of him and his first wife who passed away after a battle
with cancer.. There is a video you can click on to watch as well.

https://www.cbn.com/cbnmusic/interviews/700club_JeremyCamp02122008.aspx

Stephanie Mainvillewas spontaneously invited to join Brian Doerksen's band to play fiddle at his Quispamsis concert last night. It was one of the major highlights of the night. After the show, Brian invited Stephanie to join them for the final two shows in their cross-Canada tour.

MONCTON
May 28 @ 7.30pm
Moncton Wesleyan Church, 945 St George Blvd.

CHARLOTTETOWN
May 29 @ 7.30pm
Calvary Temple, Corner of Highways 1 + 2

Tickets available at the churches or online at Unite Productions

$19.05+GST ($20) Advance // $23.81+GST ($25)

Avalon Wesleyan Church is preparing to launch in St. John's, NL! If you'd like to see what they all about, they invite you to experience on of their Preview Services:

Sunday May 25th, 7-8pm
Sunday June 8th, 7-8pm
Sunday June 22nd, 7-8 pm

All services are at the Rabbittown Theatre - 106 Freshwater Rd. (Located at the corner of Freshwater Rd. and Linscott St., next to Merrymeeting Rd.)

A Children's Program is available (Pre-school to Grade 6)

If you'd like to be involved in this exciting new ministry or if you ahve any questions at all, please contact Darren Clark:


New Life. Real Growth. Deep Roots.
www.AvalonWesleyan.ca

A non-profit organization is exploring the potential to develop a multi-day family music festival with a Christian focus here in the Maritimes. The proposed event would be held at a picturesque, pristine and spacious park setting. A component of this event would be youth-focused.

To determine the level of interest for such a festival and to collect feedback on the concept, they are surveying members of the Christian community. They would greatly appreciate 5-10 minutes of your time to help them by answering a few questions.

As a reward, all people who fill in the survey before midnight Tuesday May 6th are eligible to win an iPod Shuffle. They will be drawing the winner of one 1 Gig Shuffle on Wednesday May 7th.

Take the survey here:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=CMqYyyl3YX_2f2KgwWlydB2w_3d_3d

How can smaller churches get quality media resources to use in their services? There are numerous businesses and even churches who sell such resources, but that doesn’t help churches who can’t afford to pay $15-$20 dollars for a 2 minute clip they will use only once.

Muddy River Media is a new mission organization, launched in Atlantic Canada whose purpose is to consistently provide free, quality media resources for churches using the Internet as the primary delivery tool. They offer illustrative videos, motion backgrounds, countdown timers, stock photography and more for free!

“It’s been a long 18 months as we worked towards this website launch” said Muddy River Media’s Mark Fogarty, the organization’s first video missionary, “we’re excited to offer these resources to churches around the world.” Muddy River Media hopes other churches and independent producers will assist by donating media to the website. “We’ve invested plenty of time and money to get this site up and running, and we’d love to see other media producers take advantage of the infrastructure we have in place” says Mr. Fogarty.

Rob Feature, co-host of the popular Geeks and God podcast (www.GeeksandGod.com) says this about Muddy River Media:

"On our podcast, we get questions from thousands of church and ministry leaders, big and small, all over the planet. One of our most asked questions is: "If we can't afford to produce or purchase high quality media for our church or ministry, we're seen as irrelevant in this media-driven age...where can we turn?” Until I heard about Muddy River Media, I never had a good answer for them. With the launch of the Muddy River website these small churches are able to get high quality media at no cost. They now have the opportunity to use Gospel-spreading tools that previously only Mega Churches had access to. Hooray for Muddy River Media...they are making a big impact on The Kingdom!"

The ministry is now live and they invite you to check out their website at www.MuddyRiverMedia.org.


Contact:
Mark Fogarty

www.MuddyRiverMedia.org