So, you’re asking “Why Revolution?” Good question.

Here’s why, in three-ish words: Irrelevant, Disunity and (Two-Week) Relationships.

Take a few minutes to read this…it is the core of why we’re doing this.

Irrelevant. The world sees the church as largely irrelevant, out of touch and infatuated with itself. Sadly, this is all too often true. The unfortunate result is that many in the world conclude that therefore Jesus and the message of hope that Christianity offers are irrelevant. If the Church, who is the image of Christ, is not worth considering, then Jesus, the leader of this “irrelevant and self-infatuated religion” must also be irrelevant - so the thinking goes.

We can change this, but we can’t change it with fancy marketing tools or by building bigger buildings or developing a more elaborate high-tech worship service. We help people see the real Jesus by being the hands and feet of the real Jesus in this world. The world needs to see Jesus’ followers getting dirty and loving others in a sacrificial way – only then will they be compelled to consider Jesus and his message.

Disunity. Jesus’ very own words were: “May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me” (John 17:23). When we unite under the name of Jesus, for the causes that Jesus calls us to, then Jesus himself says the world will know that Jesus is from God and that God loves the world even as he loves his own Son.  Wow! … However, Christianity is not united now - far from it!  This must change so that the world will know.

By definition, we cannot do this alone, as separate, individual churches.  There is power and blessing beyond our understanding when we unite as one. This is Jesus’ promise!

(Two-Week) Relationships. If you’ve ever served on a mission team in another state or country, you know this feeling: Students make a major impact for a week or two where they’re serving, building relationships with the local people and seeing God work among them.  But the time always comes when the team must leave. Tears are shed, hugs are exchanged, but 90% of the time relationships with the individuals served are cut off, usually forever.

There is certainly a place – a good place – for foreign short-term mission trips.  But how much greater the impact if there could be at least the realistic potential for follow-up with local families, organizations, and schools.  The relationship with a family or a school wouldn’t need to end when the trip ends.  As God leads, each youth group could go back and follow-up with those with whom they’ve built relationships. How much more impact could happen in the context of long-term relationships rather than one-time encounters!?

This is what Revolution is all about:

• Redeeming the image of Jesus in this world by being RELEVANT to our culture, serving and loving them sacrificially
• UNITING as one group to break down walls within Christianity and love each other as Jesus prayed we would
• Fostering long-term RELATIONSHIPS with people in this area to allow for a greater community impact
• And…giving high school students a BIGGER PICTURE of their mission locally and the size of the body of Christ