TeenStreet Home Offices Gather in Germany

Twice a year, the various TS leaders and Home Office staff gather to discuss the previous TeenStreet, and to plan for the upcoming year. This month the group gathered at OM Germany’s offices for a few days of meetings and fellowship. It was an exciting time – and the team was able to look back at some of the great things that God accomplished in 2009.

For example, it was reported that we raised € 20.000 this year for the day care project in Moldova! The group also spent time looking ahead to TeenStreet 2010, and were kept quite busy planning some new and exciting things for next year. Just in case you haven’t seen it – the dates for TeenStreet 2010 are 29th July – 4th August. Contact your home office for more details on how to apply.

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Finding Answers

Over 3000 people of all ages living together for one week at one place. That promises to raise a lot of questions. Whether it is the shortest way to the next drinking fountain or giving orientation to all the day guests visiting TeenStreet – whenever and whoever has a question, they most likely ask the staff at the InfoDesk first.

The great diversity of questions asks for a lot of flexibility and patience of the staff. Each question is waiting to find an answer – or at least another person who might know it. “As we have to find a solution to every request, we also have the privilege of feeling to have been of help to each individual person”, tells Ann-Katrin (22), Germany, working for the InfoTeam.

For curious passersby she is the first person they talk to at TeenStreet. Ann-Katrin is part of TeenStreet for the seventh time and so she has a lot of experience that she can share from. “Everytime I am caught by the international atmosphere. there is no place else where can you meet people from so many different countries and places” she explains excitedly. “And the whole programme team has such a passion for providing an opportunity to the teenagers to encounter God in a personal way. ”

Each year TeenStreet has been a great encouragement to Ann-Katrin. “I have not always lived the way I should have. But being at TeenStreet has always challenged me again to reflect Jesus in my school. He is always up for a second chance.”

What have they experienced this week?

TeenStreet has gone by so quickly, but the teenagers have learned so much. Here are some of their thoughts:

"I learned about trusting God and giving Him everything on your heart, because He’s bigger than our worries. This was a great week and it changed my life." - Lilja, 15 (Faroe Islands)

"God taught me to trust Him all the time and not care about what other people say about my faith. He taught me not to be ashamed of Him." - Vladimir, 18 (Italy)

“Even though this is our third TeenStreet, it is just as fulfilling. You can focus your attention on God and experience His peace and love. Without a doubt, the most spiritually intimate moments for me have been during worship.” - Angélica, 16; Erika, 15; Laurys, 14 (Spain)

“I’ve learned to make many new friends and to worship in a new way. In my culture we worship in a different way. My favourite part of TeenStreet is Throne Room, because it makes my spirit sing; it’s amazing.” - Mario, 14 (North Africa)

"Being a coach is about thinking of others, becuase you have to give all yourself for others. But, it's not that I just give, I get blessed too. It’s given me some experience to lead others to get closer to God, and it’s amazing to see your kids get closer to Jesus." - Inger, 23, coach (Norway)

"Sometimes when we pray, God might not give you what you want, but he always answers. He never disappoints you, even if it takes a long time." - Sam, 14; Gareth, 13 (Northern Ireland)

"We can always come to God with our problems. He is so great and we can be thankful for Him." - Lovisa, 16 (Faroe Islands)

"If you have worries, you can just give it to God and he will do what He thinks is good." - Luc,13 (Netherlands)

"What became really important to me is what we heard about Prayer: that we are supposed to pray continuously all the time. Prayer has to do with our character, with who we are as people of this world. We are different from the other people of this world, the ones that don't know Christ." - Jann, 19, coach (Germany)

"I have a stronger relationship with Jesus and I've learned about faith and trust in God. I will read the Bible every day and tell everybody what I've learned." - Joy, 14 (North Africa)

"I've learned about how to seek God with all my heart and focus on nothing but Him. I’ve learned how to just stop and take time and listen to God--to have an actual conversation and say, 'God, can you please speak to me.' I learned that when Jesus came to the earth he experienced all the worries we have, so He knows how it feels and He’s carrying our burdens if we’re open enough to give them to Him." - Claire, 14; Amy, 15 (Northern Ireland)

"I’ve learned humility. You think you know so much about God, and then He surprises you. He shows you something new and you realize that He’s so much bigger than you thought." - Lisa, 19 (Sweden)

"I have four girls in my group. It’s a great experience to be a little part of their lives for a week. This is my third time, and I’ve enjoyed it because of all the great things God is doing in the lives of the teenagers. They are the future of the world, so I think it’s very important. That’s why I’m a coach."  - Mareille, 29, coach (Netherlands)

"I learned that you don't have to be holy before you come to worship God. You can just come and give eveyrthing to Him." - Nadia, 17; Sharon, 17; Marloes, 13; Elisebeth, 14 (Netherlands)

A poem inspired by Psalm 22

My GOD, My GOD, why have You forsaken me,
or Eli, Eli, lema sabachtani
Sometimes you feel like this inside,
And you just only want to hide.
Hide it for God and also for men,
Because that is one of the few things you can

But the truth is always better,
and it changes my inside weather
Makes me cheerful about that what he has done
Even when it's only the fact that he has won -
Satan, oh yes, he's extremely strong.
But he is like nothing, compared to the Son.

Outreach Day

It’s Outreach Day at TeenStreet! Today the teens will be going into Offenburg and other cities nearby to collect glass and prayer requests. Toni Gerdemann, from Germany, has been organizing this outreach, and she’s very excited for the teens to have the opportunity to share their faith and love for Jesus outside of TeenStreet. “I think teenagers learn most when they are challenged. People will ask them what they believe in, why they are a Christian, and why they are doing this. It’s good to give the teenagers an opportunity to use their different gifts and realize that they do have something important to share.”

The teens from previous years have loved their experiences. Two girls from Sweden who participated in the outreach last year explained, “So many people need Jesus. God is very important to me, so it’s important that I share with others.” One of the girls went to a kindergarten class and made balloons and painted kids faces. “Serving the kids, telling them about God, and seeing their faces was wonderful. It was very special.”

But, this isn’t just a learning experience; it’s a way for people in the area to see Christians in a new way. “Germans don’t like to recycle their glass bottles, so if the teenagers do it for them it’s a positive way to approach people,” said Toni. “We are offering a service and asking them if we can pray with them while we’re doing it.”

A teen guy from Germany who participated in Outreach Day last year said, “It’s important to show what Christians are like. They should see that all Christians don’t pull their trousers up to their armpits, but Christians are normal people. It’s about how a Christian lives and what he or she believes in.”

Never seen, but always heard

English and German are spoken from the main stage during the Main Hall meetings. But, this year 17 nations are represented at TeenStreet. You might wonder, how do the rest of the teens understand what is being said? Well, it's through headsets and dedicated translators that the teens are able to understand the message. The teens who spend the Main Hall meetings wearing headphones listen to a little voice that belongs to a member of the TeenStreet Translation Team.

There are about 25 translators who take turns during the main hall meetings. They work from the back stage area, sitting in cubicles, speaking into microphones and watching the programme projected onto a screen. To them, translation is an important ministry. “I think God is here to tell these teens something, and I’m so honoured that someone thinks I can serve Him just by using languages,” says Ola, the Swedish translator.

His Italian colleague, Miriam, believes translation into the teens’ first language is important to create a full understanding of the message. “When you listen to a language that is not your first, you concentrate on understanding the words, but don’t really get the message,” she says. “When the teens get it in their own language, they can really comprehend the message, open their hearts to God, and hear what He has to say to each person."

Many of the Scandinavian teens understand English, explains Ola, but he says that it’s still best for them to have translation. “They’re not used to listening to someone speaking so fast,” he says. “Also, the accents can be a problem. But, most importantly, I don’t think the teens have the vocabulary to understand everything that’s being said; no one on MTV talks about ‘abundant grace’ or ‘redemption’.”

But sometimes the vocabulary can also pose a problem for the translators, especially with the different translations of the Bible. “Sometimes you get so intense, that you don’t realize what you are saying, because everything goes so fast in the Main Hall,” says Manoli, the Spanish translator. “The other day they were talking about sparrows. But in the Spanish Bible, it reads ‘little birds’ instead of sparrows. And I got that mixed up, and ended up saying, that God cares more for us, than he does for asparagus! Most of them didn’t realize what I was saying, but one girl came up to me afterwards, and commented on it,” says Manoli. For Miriam, translation is a way of saying thanks. “I have been to TeenStreet three times as a teenager and received a lot. I think it’s my turn to give something back.”

Ola believes translation is best when the teens don’t even notice he is there. “I hope they just get the message, and can focus on what is being said and not on who is saying it.”

Hearing God's Voice

Prayer can be the most incredible conversation with God. It is an intimate connection with our Father. And you can pray anytime, anywhere. We sat down with Roly Miller, better known as the Teenstreet DJ, and asked about what praying means to him.

“I pray in so many different ways,” Roly said. Sometimes, whether he’s at the bus stop or at the supermarket, when he feels that there is a need, he just stops and prays. He also prays over the internet. And, when something comes to mind, he sends up a little prayer to the Lord in the exact moment. He calls those “arrow prayers.” If someone says to him, “can we pray about that?” he says, “Let’s do it now.” It doesn’t matter if he’s in the middle of town or nice and comfortable at someone’s house.

“I don’t see any boundaries in prayer,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be a formula or anything that is strict.” As Christians, Roly said we need to hear from God. “As much as God wants to hear from us and listen to our lists of requests, he actually wants to speak into our lives, affirm who we are and give us visions and dreams to point us in the right direction.”

Struggling with hearing God’s voice can become a part of any of our daily lives. Roly said that not hearing from God every day is normal, and it’s okay. He pointed out that Abraham, through what we know of his life, only specifically heard from God seven times. Abraham didn’t hear from God everyday, all day long. So, when you face not knowing if God is speaking to you, or not hearing from Him for awhile, Roly said to remember, "that is why we’ve been given the Bible, so we can delve into scripture and find words that speak to us.”

Roly talked about the book, Practice God’s Presence by Brother Lawrence. It discusses how prayer doesn’t have to be something you only do in a temple or while you are fasting. The author talks about even praying while he peels potatoes in the kitchen. “The author talks about the fact that his whole life is a prayer,” Roly said.

What most transformed Roly’s prayer life was encountering God’s spirit and knowing that he didn’t have to speak words out loud. “God hears your cries even if you don’t verbalize them, even if you can’t form your thoughts into words.” Roly believes it's where your heart is that matters. Roly would like the teens at Teenstreet to know that they can expect God to speak to them through prayer, and their prayers are heard by Him exactly as they are. “God wants to have a relationship with you through your prayer life, and it will change you in immense ways," he said.

Toilet Paper and Exhausted Cows

There are 3,611 people at TeenStreet this year. This many people gathered in one place consume an enormous amount of resources. Here are a few examples:

During one week of TeenStreet, we consume:

• 275 hand soap dispensers
• 60 litres of toilet cleaner
• 1,400 packs of paper towels, each containing 250 folded sheets. That’s 350,000 sheets of paper towel!
• 3,400 rolls of toilet paper, each containing 400 double layered sheets. That’s 1,360,000 sheets! With each sheet measuring 12 centimetres, each roll stretches 48 meters...163.2 kilometres in total! This is longer than the distance from Offenburg to Stuttgart!

Think about that we eat

• 750 kg of noodles
• 1,000 kg of bread
• 2,500 kg of meat
• And, there must be a bunch of exhausted cows somewhere in Germany, who produced the 4,200 litres of milk we drink!

As for candy and other sweets,
the TeenStreet Café (in one week) sells:

• 15,000 litres of drinks
• 750 kg of sweets, crisps, etc.
• 4,400 packs of ice cream

Ministering through Cocktails?

There is a mastermind behind all the cool drinks at the cocktail bar, and it’s German cocktail expert Karsten Kopiar!

Trained by professional bartenders, Karsten started making cocktails when he was 17. Now studying to get his doctorate in media and theology, Karsten still makes cocktails for weddings, birthdays, and other kinds of parties on the side. When a friend asked him to volunteer with TeenStreet ten years ago, he asked if he could make non-alcoholic cocktails at the café. He hasn’t missed a TeenStreet since, and now has a separate bar here!

You may wonder, “How does being a Christian mix with serving cocktails?” Karsten has the perfect answer: “Cocktail mixing is something cool. You don’t have to drink alcohol just to have a great drink, and I think it’s important that kids are aware of that.” Karsten also has a seminar called Cocktail Communications at TeenStreet, where he teaches teens how he incorporates his faith into cocktails in the secular world. “At cocktail bars, I can get in touch with people,” says Karsten. “People who come to the bar after midnight order a drink just because they need someone to talk to. I’m just there to listen. I have some really good talks. It’s about building relationships. I figured out when I say ‘I’m Karsten, and I wanted to talk to you about my faith,’ they say ‘well I’m not interested, but could you make me a cocktail?’ But when I make them a cocktail, and they ask my about what I do, it turns into a conversation about faith and my beliefs.”

Karsten and the other volunteer bar tenders can be found at the Cocktail Bar having fun. You can sometimes catch them juggling oranges and drinks while working. Keeping them under control is Paul, the parrot on the back wall of the bar. “Paul is a good boss,” says Karsten. “He makes sure nothing goes wrong.”

Josh and Debs - A Heart for Teens

Josh and Debs Walker have been speaking from the main stage programme of TeenStreet Germany for years, and have been the main speakers for three. They are thrilled that the teens are finally here, and after a year and a half of planning, they can’t wait for the teens to meet with God this TeenStret. Hear from them about the programme that’s in store this week, and their heart to serve and love the teens.

“The programme is rooted in Hebrews 11:6. In that verse it says that 'without faith it’s impossible to please God.' Then it goes on to talk about earnestly seeking God. That really is our heart for teenagers, that they pursue God and their hearts turn towards Him. Much of the week is about faith in practical areas of our life. Tuesday is the day when we split up the boys and girls for the morning session, and the theme of the day is also Worry. We think it's going to be a very key day for the teenagers, to discuss faith and worry.

“Wednesday in the morning we will talk about prayer, and in the small groups the teens will be talking about the Lord's Prayer, which ends strongly with forgiveness. So, in the evening we’re going to offer time for the teens to forgive others and themselves. We hope that it will be a time that God breaks open things the teens are carrying. And then the last day we’re talking about having faith to go out as ministers of reconciliation from 2 Corinthians 5.

“Our biggest heart for TeenStreet is that the young people would know that God is walking with them, and that this week is about practically living out their faith with the Lord. He is going to give them everything they need. And we pray that the teens have an expectancy of wonder and amazement of God. The Holy Spirit is here at TeenStreet, and He is going to work in us, speak to us, heal us and change us. And it’s so exciting that God will continue to be with the teens when they go home as well.

“TeenStreet is a safe place for the teens. Everyone is here to serve and love them. And we pray that they take the opportunity to experience EVERYTHING that God has to give them.”

Help!2009

There is something new at Teenstreet this year called Help!2009. It is a fundraising campaign using the teen’s unique gifts and talents. The aim is to get all teens interested and involved. Whether they love sports, art, photography, playing games, singing, dancing, even playing air guitar…there is a way for them to get involved with raising support for kids in need.

“There is something for everyone,” said Simone Schmitt, organizer of Help!. “It is a whole new concept for fundraising.”

Competitions include hockey, mega kicker, dodge ball, a climbing wall, crate stacking, a chess tournament, talent show, and even Mario Kart. Teens can also submit their work for the photo contest and an art auction. Teens are awarded points for both participation and winning. At the end of the week they get a certificate that has the total points they earned. Some of the teens found sponsors prior to coming to Teenstreet, but others will be looking for them during and after. So, please pray about supporting the teens as they use their talents to help raise much needed funds!

The money raised will be used to offer hope to children and teens at OM’s day centres in Moldova – the poorest country in Europe. Over 80 percent of the people in Moldova live below the poverty line, and around 22 percent live on less than one euro a day. The money will be used to provide hot meals, school materials, Christian education, and fun activities for the kids. It will also be used to help the families of the children by bringing them in contact with a local church. “The goal of Help!2009 is to raise enough to support for four day centres for one whole year,” Schmitt said. The teens will be able to keep track of the progress made towards this goal daily by checking the TeenStreet newsletter.

“We hope that the outcome will be that teens know this is not just an event; it doesn’t stop here…they can take these ideas home with them to raise support for other needs,” Schmitt said.

Art Zone

There is a reason for the artwork and supplies found around the TeenStreet site. Art Zone is providing a different style of worship for the teens. “Our goal is to promote other forms of worship besides singing and playing music,” said Andrew, ArtZone Coordinator. “We want to provide an environment for the teens to express themselves.” The different mediums used range from the usual painting and drawing to 3D sculpture and stop-motion animation.

Teens can work individually or with their groups. The group projects help the teens to incorporate what they learned in the sessions together. One of the group projects offered is stop-motion, incorporating the TeenStreet theme that impossible things can happen. During Throne Room in the main hall, the teens are encouraged to express themselves in the art corner during worship. Art Zone staff will also do performance pieces.

The Art Zone staff consists of volunteer artists from Germany, US, Holland, and more. Some work with ArtsLink, OM’s art ministry, and some have been TeenStreet participants and volunteers for many years, while others are working with OM for the first time. “I was a participant at TeenStreet for four years, but I’m too old,” said ArtZone volunteer Rachael. “So I found a place where I can volunteer. It’s like a second home.”

TeenStreet Bookstore

One of the many parts of TeenStreet is the bookstore. Different tables feature books of all genres, from dating and prayer to spiritual growth, poverty, and more. Books are offered in English and German, and a small selection in French. In addition to books, CD’s are also being sold. The CD tables are full of Christian music ranging from rap to pop to alternative. Every day, the bookstore will feature a book and CD of the day.

The bookstore sells a variety of other things, including jewelry, journals, cups, flags, and key chains. The most unique finds in the bookstore may look like candy wrappers or juice boxes; but, if you look closer, you’ll see they are actually wallets, bags, and purses. These are hand made by women in the Philippines, and all proceeds will go to them.

More than Just an Event

“We’re taking an entire site and transforming it into a village,” explained Mary Wallace from the logistics team. With around 100 volunteers, TeenStreet is well on it’s way to becoming a community of cooks, artists, writers, and people with many other gifts and talents. “It doesn’t matter if you’re sweeping the floor, it doesn’t matter if you’re on the stage,” said Mary. “Our goal is to glorify Jesus.”

Being on a conference site, the logistics team and staff are not only here to prepare for the TeenStreet event, but to be an example to the surrounding community. The entire site is being renovated during the next few weeks. Mary talked to some of the workers and explained why they are here and what TeenStreet is all about. Some of the workers expressed interest in coming to some of the events and inquired about bringing friends. “They want to see what we’re made out of,” noted Mary. “They know we’re Christians and believers, and they may not have worked with people who respond the way we do. As we say on the logistics team, ‘many plans man has, but God orchestrates those plans.’”

Here are some prayer points for this week:

• Pray for the non-believers who are working on the site and in the community, that they will see the love of Christ throughout the entire event.
• Pray for the safety of the TeenStreet workers as they continue to set up.
• There have been issues of stolen items during the last few days. Pray that the Lord will protect those on site from any future thefts.
• The workers have been blessed with a smooth set up. Praise the Lord and pray for continued favor.
• Pray for the blessing and safety for staff members still traveling to TeenStreet.
• Teens will be arriving Friday and Saturday, please pray for safe travel.