Youth Encounter

"Ashley Meaney had 'the look'. It set him apart from the friends of his youth in Melbourne. By the time he was nineteen, it had won him entry into Europe's fashion scene and placed him squarely in the ranks of the 'beautiful people'. His world revolved around the runways of Paris, Milan and London.

I was young. I'd made the scene. I was signed on by Elite, the best agency in the business. I was modeling in shows for the likes of Giorgio Armani. My image was being plastered on billboards. Things were certainly going great for a guy who not long before had been a class-A Aussie beach bum. Now I was riding the crest of a real wave, and I fully intended to ride this one as far as it would take me.

Modelling, I soon discovered, isn't just a job. It's a lifestyle. It becomes your life. Suddenly, a whole new world opened for me. There were clubs to frequent, with tables set aside just for models. Alcohol was free, drugs were free, sex was free. Everything was there for the taking, and who was I to refuse?

Once, I found myself in Milan, strapped for cash and short on my rent. Hardly a problem: I simply did what was known as "dancing for dollars." I'd be driven to a night club and would spend the evening getting drunk and flirting with as many women as I possibly could, and then I'd be driven home. It was the club's way of attracting female business, and it paid well.

Often I'd be at a party and things would sort of blur towards the end, and without really knowing how I got there, I'd find myself in the home of some celebrity or other snorting cocaine all weekend. I was always willing to give something a try, even heroin.

Fame and power, personality and prestige, celebrity and fortune - those were my aspirations. That's the direction my wave was taking me. I put together a very, very good show that I called me. And it worked well. I was very popular: people enjoyed having me around. I was the down-to-earth, mad Aussie party guy. That was how I lived. That's how I did London, Paris, Milan.

In the late 1980s, New Age made its fashion-industry debut. White clothing became almost de rigueur as designers sought to infuse their work with a sense of spirituality. I began wearing an amethyst and spent a lot of time trying to astro-project. I read Buddhist literature and all the typical trendy stuff on dreams, and so on.

On August 20, 1989, in London, the Marchioness, went down in the Thames. A pleasure boat, it was full of models and their agents out for a night of partying on the river. But it collided with a larger boat, and fifty-seven people drowned. A lot of them were drugged out; it was that kind of party. One of the models who died was a very close friend of mine.

After that disaster, my search for meaning in life intensified. Nothing seemed very real. Drinking and doing LSD and coke were the only things that made much sense to me. And then, two months later, my best friend in Australia died of an asthma attack... I had a lot of questions running through my mind, but no answers.

The day he died, I'd booked lunch with another model, Sibs (Cyrille, really, but everyone's always called her Sibs). We'd met in the park across from a popular restaurant. You couldn't smoke dope in the restaurant, so my friends and I would go into the park to enjoy a joint before dinner - grass on the grass we called it. And that's where I'd met her.

Well, we began dating and eventually moved to Paris together, both of us working as models. We both got into painting, and our modeling earned us enough to live on. We lived in a lovely apartment in Montmartre, a neighborhood known for its artsy, alternative image, with some mystical elements blended in for good measure. And that's where we began to fall in love, I guess.

As our relationship deepened, I slowed down on the drug intake. But my search for peace was just getting more intense. And so I was reading mythology, and I was trying to meditate with crystals. And then a friend who was also attracted by New Age suggested I try the main religions as well. I'd not been to church as a child so I didn't know about the Old Testament or the New Testament. I didn't know much of anything about God, let alone Jesus. But my friend bought me a Bible, and I sat down at the table and opened it for the first time in my life.

What I read that day changed my life. I was overwhelmed with the feeling that God was real and that he cared about me. I felt this with my whole being, and it completely wowed me. My first reaction - and this shows where my heart was then - was: 'If I could put this in a cap, I'd be a millionaire tomorrow.' My drug mentality thought, this is better than any Ecstasy, any acid, any coke I've ever had.

This feeling of love, of peace - it was so new, so foreign to me. I knew it was what I'd been searching for, and what I knew so many others were searching for. Over the next several days, I waited for the feeling to go away. But it never really left. It kept coming back, sometimes at very strange times or places. I'd be on the Metro in Paris, heading for a casting with my modeling portfolio tucked under my arm, and it would just come over me again. Warmth. Love. And it would reduce me to tears, right there on the train. Here I was, trying to be a model - you know, cool and hard and hip.

Sibs didn't quite know what to make of all this at first. She'd watched me try to astro-project and all that, so she assumed this was just another one of my 'trips'. She remained skeptical when I began making Christian friends and going to church - a place that at first completely petrified me, because I was completely out of my league and thus totally vulnerable. But the change that was taking place inside of me wasn't just a passing phase. When Sibs realized this, her curiosity eventually got the better of her, and she had to find out about God for herself. She did, all right.

Knowing that God was real gave my life a purpose. Not that everything happened overnight, but a seed had been planted, and change was inevitable. It became clear to me that my life was based on egocentric selfishness, that I had been the center of a universe of my own design. That all had to be dismantled. My relationship with Sibs needed some drastic changes, too. Fortunately, we chose to stick together and to begin looking at each other with new eyes. We wanted our love to be enduring and unconditional. We stopped having sex, we stopped fighting, and we went through the painful process of quitting drugs.

It was far from easy. We had been "comfortable" with our dysfunctional relationship; now, all of a sudden, we were having to really relate. Amazingly, we were able to rebuild our relationship on new, beautiful ground. Two years later we married. And today our son is eighteen months old.

When I decided to live for God, I knew it had to be all the way. I didn't know at the time what the costs of that decision would be, and I'm still learning. Sibs is learning right along with me. My modeling career came to an end. I knew I couldn't stay in that lifestyle and be true to what I was feeling inside. So I quit and spent the next several years trying to find a vocation I could give myself to whole-heartedly.

One thing that's clear: life can't be lived selfishly. You've got to get out of your own little world and live for others. I spent so many years destroying my life and other people's through my own selfishness. I have to keep asking myself, What is there I can do? How can I help? I can't change the past, but I can spend the rest of my life trying to do something for others. I now work for a charity that tries to brighten the lives of children who have AIDS or are directly affected by it. Just being able to spend three or four hours a week with each of the five children I visit makes a difference in their lives and mine.

Joshua died not long ago, at the age of four. He was born with AIDS. I used to hold him in my arms, and we'd dance around his mum's living room to MTV. We laughed a lot together. One time, we were dancing to a Bob Marley song, and I had this flashback: it was closing time at a night-club in Milan, and there I was, surrounded by women, the star of the show as usual, drinking and dancing to that very same song. Worlds collide. Right then I understood that God does move mountains. These are the mountains. And moving them is a far greater miracle than moving any physical mountain."

The above is from a free ebook from our friends at bruderhof.com

Youth Encounter
Thursday, May 19, 2005 Issue 8, Volume 3, May 2005

* Youth Encounter Is Turning 40! *
And You're Invited to the Party!
by Michelle Evens

<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000399817.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>

Youth Encounter, incorporated in 1965, is celebrating 40 years of ministry this year! We will be having special events from *August 12-14* to celebrate the last 40 years, along with bringing the 2004-2005 team year to a close. Below is an abbreviated schedule of what will be happening during the weekend. Saturday and Sunday's events will be held
at Bethel University in St. Paul, MN. Come learn about Youth Encounter's history, celebrate with friends and family of Youth Encounter, see this
year's teams, and have a great time of fellowship. Registration information will out soon; you can also contact Michelle Evens (800-659-6884 x8471; michelle@youthencounter.org

* Pre-Register for EDGE! Today *
Only a Few Weeks Left Until the Early Bird Deadline
/ by Stephanie Gunderson /

Don't forget to reserve your spots for EDGE! 2006!
*July 7-11, Nashville, TN*
Early Bird pre-registration deadline is June 17, 2005!
Go to www.edge-event.com
<http://www.imakenews.com/eletra/go.cfm?z=youthencounter%2C79971%2Cb3s5Tcn0%2C357449%2Cb4Tq42C>
for registration forms, prices, and more!

*
*
*Friday*
*6:00-9:00 p.m.*
Open house at the Youth Encounter office! Come celebrate and reunite
with past alumni and friends of Youth Encounter. See the "new" office.
Take a look at the last 40 years of Youth Encounter. Eat food and listen
to music, presented by Youth Encounter alumni!

* [CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000399817.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>*

* Fellowship Dinner 2005: "Why Not You?" *
Celebrating with the Followers of Christ
/ by Kate Tripoli /

Joy Hart spoke of the transformational power of missional experiences.
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000401306.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>

Monday, May 16 was an evening of celebration and challenges. The sixth
annual Youth Encounter Fellowship Dinner was held at the Doubletree
Hotel in St. Louis Park, MN, where more than 200 alumni, staff, donors
and friends of Youth Encounter gathered to eat, talk, sing, pray and be
encouraged by the presence of God in Youth Encounter's ministries.
Captive Free North Central kicked off the evening with acoustic music in
the foyer as old friends mingled with new acquaintances. After a welcome
and meal blessing from President Larry Johnson, the guests were treated
to piano music by Linnea Logas and Tiffany Schmader and a video
presentation that highlighted the exciting things God has been doing
through our Events, National and International Teams and Summer
Ministries during the 2004-2005 year. Rev. Hal Stoa, Foundation
Executive Director, took a few moments to recognize the members of the
Heritage Society, those who have "gone above and beyond the call of duty
in their support of Youth Encounter." Executive Vice President Dana
Peterson talked about the need to bring Youth Encounter to the cutting
edge of youth ministry again, as well as the need to dream big and
follow God. "We want to be the premier provider of missional youth
ministry programming for the radical center church in the United
States," said Peterson.

* [CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000401306.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>*

* Welcome Home! *
International Teams Return After Four Months of Ministry
/ by Amber Rislow /

Our International Teams were warmly welcomed across the world
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000396273.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>

May is an exciting time for Youth Encounter because we welcome back our
five International Teams
<http://www.imakenews.com/eletra/go.cfm?z=youthencounter%2C79971%2Cb3s5Tcn0%2C95945%2Cb4Tq42C>
from their four months abroad! Each team was able to share the Good News
of Christ and His love for us in a variety of settings. From the
communication I've received from the teams, it appears that God is using
them for amazing work! Their hands, their feet, and their hearts have
been an extension of God's love to our brothers and sisters in ten
countries across the globe!

* [CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000396273.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>*

* The Power of God in the Ministry of Events *
Remembering a Season of Changed Lives
/ by Danielle Tietjen /

God is moving in our youth through Event ministry!
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000400759.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>

When the end of the Event season rolls around, numbers aren't what we
want our focus to be. However, when they reveal the power of our awesome
God, they're worth taking a second look at. When we look back on this
year, we can see that in a matter of five months, God revealed Himself
to 19,990 youth and adults in 39 cities around the country at 54 Youth
Encounter Events. God used the ministries and personal testaments of 24
inspiring Christian rock bands, 19 speakers and eight Captive Free Teams
to share His undying love with the youth of this generation. And as much
time as we spent digging deeper into our faith for one weekend, the
youth were also able to touch the lives of 651,230 starving children
across the globe at our nine brand new Construction Zones as they packed
meals with Feed My Starving Children, the new on-site service project of
our senior high Events. My brothers and sisters, God is amazing! Let all
that has breath praise God for what He has done this year and continues
to do.

* [CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000400759.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>*

* "Another Opportunity to Continue Learning" *
Read Excerpts from New Vision's Online Journal
/ by New Vision (in Australia) /

New Vision had a unique opportunity to minister within aboriginal
communities.
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000398873.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>

Wow, we met some truly awesome people today! This morning we spent a
couple of hours with Paul Eckert, who works as a Bible translator within
aboriginal communities. He came to Alice Springs about 30 years ago as a
school teacher and has worked with aboriginals ever since. It was very
clear to us that he was a very wise man, so we shot questions at him
from every side trying to learn as much as possible about this community
of which we are taking part the next three weeks.

There is so much information I would like to share with you. The
aboriginal people used to spend their time hunting and gathering to live
and moved around depending on water resources. Then the government
started supplying the different tribes with food, which completely
changed their lifestyle. Suddenly they had much more time on their
hands, as they didn't need to spend it hunting and gathering. And
instead of moving around, they stayed close to where the food was
available. Before 1967, aboriginals were not considered citizens of
Australia. That is, they were not counted in the census, and did not
have the same rights as citizens. When that changed, only 40 years ago,
they were suddenly allowed to drink alcohol, which was abused by a lot
of aboriginal people, and the aboriginal men, who had been working on
cattle stations for very little money, were now fired, because they had
the right to higher salaries.

* [CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000398873.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>*

* "We Can Be Examples for Those Who Are Lost" *
Read Excerpts from Captive Free South Central's Online Journal
/ by Captive Free South Central /

South Central gets crazy!
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000398879.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>

Hey, y'all! Greetings from good ol' Kansas once again! We are having a
fantastic time on the road. Things are starting to wear on us, but it's
rewarding and refreshing to go to a place that's just so full of
Christ's love!

We were in this little hole in the wall town called Osboren, Kansas.
Just like other small Midwest towns, we didn't really expect anything
really awesome and amazing to come out of it for us, but once again, God
has proven us wrong (you'd think we'd be used to this by now, right?).
We arrived on Friday afternoon to no one at the church, so we just hung
out and played baseball, read, and took maps in the warm Kansas sun.
Soon after we arrived, though, the pastor got there to greet us. Joannie
and I went in, like always, to check in with him and see what was on the
agenda so that we were all on the same page. After checking with him, we
had about two hours of free time before the kids came, so we just sort
of hung out and charged up for the lock-in we were doing.

* [CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000398879.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>*

* "I Feel Honored to Have Been There" *
Read Excerpts from Captive Free South East's Online Journal
/ by Captive Free South East /

The boys of South East get funky!
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000398883.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>

God is awesome! We recently worked at a retreat at Camp Woodlands in
Florida with fifth and sixth graders from a Lutheran school in St.
Petersburg. It was so great for me to be back in a camp setting! We
provided music for the retreat and joined them for activities such as
group games, a challenge course, and canoeing! In the evening we'd do
devotions with music before heading to cabins. On the last night, the
girls in my cabin were talking about the devotion that had just
happened--apparently several people had cried during it. One of the
girls asked me, "Why was it that all we were doing was singing, and I
wasn't sad and I hate crying, but I was still so moved that there were
tears coming down my face?" What an exciting thing to hear! "Well," I
told her, "that is because you were moved by the power and presence of
the Holy Spirit--it was filling that place and filling your heart, and
you could feel that power in your life!"

I hadn't noticed any kids crying during the devotion earlier--I don't
think I would have known about it if the kids hadn't been talking about
it afterwards. But it is so amazing to know that God used that time,
when we were just playing and singing music, to move so powerfully in
the lives of the kids we were with! I feel honored to have been there.

* [CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]
<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000398883.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>*

* Great Discounts Available! *
Visit the Youth Encounter Store to Get the Goods
/ by Ryan Veil /

Sing-A-Long Songbooks on sale now!
Check out www.youthencounter.org
<http://www.imakenews.com/eletra/go.cfm?z=youthencounter%2C79971%2Cb3s5Tcn0%2C42222%2Cb4Tq42C>
and click on "store" to see Youth Encounter's latest gear! You can find
items from Captive Free, Construction Zones, and our International Teams
here-everything from music and t-shirts to hats and water bottles. Get
yours today!

Don't forget to pick up your VBS music materials. Our three volume
Sing-Along series of CDs, Songbooks, and accompaniment CDs are GREAT
resources for VBS music! Call 800-659-6884 to order by phone and receive
a discount when you mention this article!

DID YOU KNOW?that Youth Encounter sells our items at wholesale? That's
right! If your camp store or church resource center would like to carry
Youth Encounter's products for resale, you can receive as much as 50%
off! This can be a great fundraiser for the camp or church you are
working with. There are also discounts available for people who order
items in quantity as gifts and other occasions. Call 800-659-6884 for
more information.

Job Networking through Youth Encounter *
Connecting Churches and Youth Workers Across America
/ by Stephanie Gunderson /

Are you a youth worker looking for a church? Are you a church looking
for a youth worker? If you are, please email
stephanie@youthencounter.org <mailto:Stephanie@youthencounter.org> with your contact information. We currently know of churches in Arizona,
California, Georgia, Washington and Minnesota that are looking for
quality youth workers. If you are interested, please let us know, and we
will get you the church's contact information!

*
*
* Youth Encounter Qualifies for the Thrivent GivingPlus Program *
Gifts from Thrivent Members Are Eligible for a 50% Match
/ by Brett Koopman /

<http://www.imakenews.com/youthencounter/e_article000401372.cfm?x=b4Tq42C,b3s5Tcn0>

We are excited to announce that Youth Encounter now qualifies as a
*Thrivent GivingPlus� recipient*. That means that gifts to Youth
Encounter up to $600 are eligible for a 50% match by Thrivent if you are
a Thrivent member. We are so grateful to be included in this fantastic
program.

The GivingPlus� Member Gift Form must be completed and sent to Youth
Encounter with your gift for us to receive those matching dollars.
Please click here

<http://www.imakenews.com/eletra/go.cfm?z=youthencounter%2C79971%2Cb3s5Tcn0%2C328543%2Cb4Tq42C>