So far in the call center we've hitting our second wind making any where between 60 and 100 calls a day trying to get in touch with youth pastors and parents. I have to say it is awesome talking to a lot of you. Occassionally we have conversations where we gain a lot of wisdom and sometimes people pray for us. (I must say that is a major blessing.) However, in my humble opinion the best part is when we get to pray for others and hear how the Lord is working in your lives. It's amazing to know that the Lord would include us young adults in something so huge!

Here in the call center we know this ATF could really change lives of teens and adults and really show them how much the Lord loves them. This year will be an event where lives are changed for the better, strongholds will be broken and hearts will be healed. We'd love to talk with you more about it and get to know you and your youth better. If you have any questions feel free to call us or email us. The number is 1-800-329-3473 ext 7062 or 7011. You may email myself or her call partner Cindi at kailee.burnham@teenmania.com or zac.gullo@teenmania.com .

Also a quick reminder that the prices for Denver go up on March 5th. The floor seats become $57 and the lower and upper level seats become $47. We have a lot of fundraising ideas and payment options and we would love to help you!

We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the ATF soon!

Bethany

For His Glory! 

Jeff Pratt

ATF Regional Manager

903-324-7315

jeff.pratt@teenmania.com

http://www.atftour.com

Jeff Pratt

ATF Regional Manager

903-324-7315

jeff.pratt@teenmania.com

http://www.atftour.com

Your days at the most cannot be very long, so use them to the best of your ability for the glory of God and the benefit of your generation.”

- William Booth

My name is Jeff Pratt and I am a Colorado native now living in East Texas.   I attended Abraham Lincoln High School, in Denver,  back in the 80's.  I love to ski Copper Mountain & Vail.  Living in Texas we only get to water ski.  I am excited to be coming back to Denver this spring with the ATF tour.  I am looking forward to seeing you all there when we blow the roof of of the Denver Coliseum.

ATF Regional Manager

Jeff Pratt

903-324-7315

Our call team consists of 7 of the most amazing callers I know. We are the Flaming Waffles. Bethany and myself call for Portland OR (WHOO WHOO!!) Zac and Kailee call for Denver CO, and Robin calls for Seattle WA. Then we have Vince and Mr. Pratt who happen to be the best RM and Supervisor in the entire ATF Call Center =)

Ooooh my goodness there goes Cameron trying to catch Tinkerbell. I should go.

-Cindi, ATF rpresentative

Published on Monday, November 2, 2009 @ 5:29 PM CST

Today during my quiet time I came across the following scripture in 1 Kings 10:22 The king had a fleet of trading ships  at sea along with the ships of Hiram. Once every three years it returned, carrying gold, silver and ivory, and apes and baboons.

Do you have any thought on what the apes and baboons were used for?

ATF Regional Manager

Jeff Pratt

903-324-7315

God's word says in 1 John 3:1 "What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we're called children of God! That's who we really are." MSG

Can you believe we are his children?

His love is truly marvelous!

Team Denver is praying for the youth of Denver everyday.  Our prayer is that you all would know how much the Father loves YOU!

Denver Regional Manager

Jeff Pratt  903-324-7315

www.acquirethefire.com

Thank you for taking time to read Denver's ATF blog.   I am the Regional Manager for your event.  I have the privilege of leading a fine team of interns known as "The Flaming Waffles".  My fellow waffles are working hard to reach a generation for Christ.  We are looking forward to seeing the Denver Coliseum filled with area youth screaming for Jesus.  I know this event is going to be a powerful life changing event for all.  Please keep "The Flaming Waffles" in your prayers as they press on to Denver.

Thanks!

Denver Regional Manager

Jeff Pratt  903-324-7315

www.acquirethefire.com

I wanted to tell you about a special offer we are running through 10/21. We have made 10,000 tickets available for a very low price. If you register and pay in full before 10/21 you will save $10 per ticket. That makes bowl tickets $32 and floor $42. Also, if you act now you will also get a free ticket to Youth Ministry Training Conference, and 4 weeks youth curriculum. For more information please call me at 800-329-3473 ext. 7315

Pizza Hut

883 Colfax Ave.

Denver, CO 80218

303-863-7591

10 minutes, 3.50 miles

Large Pizza: $15-$20

Domino’s Pizza

1280 Grant St.

Denver, CO 80203

303-831-4242

10 minutes, 3.65 miles

Large Pizza: $15-$20

Wendy’s

857 E Colfax Ave.

Denver, CO 80218

303-837-0808

Youth Pastors,

            Planning on coming to the Denver Acquire the Fire, but need help with getting your students ready for the event? Getting parents on board? Planning your trip? Fundraising?

            We have compiled easy to use guidelines for these topics and more in the Acquire the Fire Event Planning Guide. Find everything you need - from event schedules and session outlines to tips on team building to maximize your youth group’s experience in one comprehensive document! 

            To have the Event Planning Guide emailed to you, call 903-324-8214 and we will send you the information as soon as possible.

God Bless!

Hello Youth Pastors,

   Here are a few more fundraising ideas for your youth group that your entire ministry can help out with. If you need any more ideas or have questions, give me a call at 903-324-8214. God Bless!

                                        - Donut Delight -

 Have the youth group get donuts and coffee (either donated or purchased) and bring them to church each Sunday.  Before and after the service, set the food out and let people buy them for a set price.  You could also set a jar on the table to accept donations.

Items needed:

- Donuts

- Coffee

- Coffee creamer and sugar

- Coffee mugs or cups

- Napkins

- Plastic spoons

Time required: 1 hour each Sunday

Amount you can expect to raise: $25- $100 each Sunday

How to make it happen:

1. Get permission from your pastor before setting up.  Buy donuts each Sunday (make sure they are fresh) and set them out neatly on the counter or on a small table.

2. Have a small sign on the table to show how much the items cost and what the money is for.

3. Serve your customers and be as friendly as possible.

                                - Skip a Movie for Acquire the Fire -

 Get people to figure up the amount of money that it would cost them to take their family to the movie.  Then ask them if they would be willing to skip the movie and donate that amount of money to your church’s youth fund.

Items needed:

- None

Time required: 2 hours

 Amount you can expect to raise: $150- $300

 How to make it happen:

1. Figure up the amount the movie, a bag or popcorn, and a drink would cost in your community.

2. Explain the trip and the fundraiser to the customer.

3. Ask if they would be willing to skip the movie and be a part bringing young people to ATF!

Answer: Acquire the Fire specializes in reaching both Jr. High and Sr. High students. Our purpose is to communicate the Gospel to youth and inspire them to go to their home churches on fire for God and ready to do whatever it takes to grow and make disciples. Even if a young person already has a relationship with Christ, they will be challenged to grow in their walk with the Lord at the event (I know I was).

   Although the events are targeted to reach a specific age range, anyone that attends can be genuinely impacted. Don’t be surprised if your youth group volunteers, chaperones, and parents come back inspired about pursuing Christ and reaching this generation!

Yielding \YEEL-ding\, adjective:

1. Not resisting; compliant
2. Not stiff or rigid; easily bent or shaped

The scripture I read was Jeremiah 17: 7-9 vs. 8 “For he will be like a tree planted by the water, That extends its roots by a stream And will not fear when the heat comes; But its leaves will be green, And it will not be anxious in  a year of drought Nor cease to yield fruit.” - NASB

Sometimes we are stiff and rigid and we resist what God is asking of us because it is uncomfortable, but when we yield to Him we don’t need to be anxious in times of troubles or drought ( for example our economy), we are able to be what God has called us to be and to trust in him in these times

Denver Youth Specialists!

  Guess what?  Acquire the Fire has just recently confirmed a partnership with Thomas Nelson for the Here Comes Trouble tour.  We are really excited to have this opportunity to work together and reach students for Christ.  Thomas Nelson is passionate about putting the word of God in young people’s hearts.  Please feel free to check out the new hot item Thomas Nelson has available for your students. Thomas Nelson will have a table set up at the event and so you can pick this new item up there or go ahead and click on the link to order your copy online today.

                                           Click Here to Order!

   Today’s teenagers are more technology oriented than ever before. The Word of Promise® Next Generation is an exciting full-audio drama experience featuring an all-star young Hollywood cast complete with dramatized background sounds and a breath-taking musical score that can be downloaded right to their computer or Mp3 player. Let the Word resonate with their world by giving them the New Testament in a new way.

   Thomas Nelson is pleased to announce its partnership with Teen Mania Ministries at this season’s Acquire the Fire events.

Hello Youth Pastors,

   Looking for ideas to raise money for ATF? Here are a couple of good ones:

                                                Easter Baskets

 Prepare Easter baskets for people in your church or community.

Items needed:

-      Various items to put in the baskets.

-      Baskets

Time required:  4 hours

Amount you can expect to raise:  $100- $200

How to make it happen:

1.      Get the youth and some of your friends to help you and decorate the baskets.

2.      Put the various items in the baskets.

3.      Take orders and deliver the baskets.

4.      Charge around $5- $10 for each basket you sell.

                                                  Pink Flamingo

Get several of those tacky plastic pink flamingos that people put in their yards.  Stick the flamingos in several different yards with a list of church member names in each.  When you find a flamingo in your yard, take out the list, cross your name off, pledge a free-will donation, and plant the flamingo in someone else’s yard (someone who’s name is on the list). If no flamingos are available, Lawn Gnomes might do the trick.

Items needed:

-       Pink flamingos

-       Paper

-       Jar or can for collecting the money

Time required:  1 hour

Amount you can expect to raise:  $150 - $300

How to make it happen:

1.      Send everyone an announcement (on pink paper) explaining how the pink flamingos work.

2.      Maybe some of the people in your church don’t want a pink flamingo in their yard.  Tell them that the can purchase anti-pink flamingo insurance for a set price.  This will guarantee that they will not wake up one morning with a pink flamingo in their yard.

3.      Tell everyone not to put their money inside the flamingo.  Set up a jar or can in the church for people to put their pledges in.

Hello Faithful Youth Ministers,

 Looking for a few ideas to spice up your post-Christmas Break youth meeting?  If so, you’ll definitely enjoy these icebreaker games. Let me know how they go!

                                       -  Mystery Moves -

                            Materials Needed: Dance Music, Stereo

       This is a fun and simple activity that works great for getting young people out of their shell.

    Start out by selecting a volunteer and having that person go to a location where he or she can’t see or hear what’s going on with the rest of your group. While that person is gone, have the group circle up and pick another person to be the dance leader. After the dance leader is chosen, the volunteer can come back into the room.

   Then the dancing starts. Without giving away his identity, everyone in the circle has to try to mimic what the dance leader is doing exactly when he’s doing it. The goal is to make it hard to tell who’s copying who, and change-ups in dance moves by the leader are encouraged. The volunteer who went to another room stands in the middle of the circle and has three guesses to find out who the dance leader is. (You may want to remind those in the circle that not everyone should look directly at the dance leader – it would be a giveaway).

   This game can go for several rounds with different people filling each role. Usually, the crazier the dance leader, the more fun the game is.

                                           - Banana Hose -

     Materials needed: 1 Banana and 1 Pair of Panty Hose per volunteer, Tarps or Garbage Bags

      This can get pretty messy, so you’ll want to lay tarps or garbage bags down in your youth room before hand.

   To get started, select a couple of volunteers that don’t mind getting messy. The object of this icebreaker is to stuff their mouths with as much banana as possible, chew it up, put the panty hose over their head so that it covers their face, and then try to spit the banana out of their mouth - forcing it through the panty hose. If you’re thinking this’ll be too easy for them, think again…

   You can make this activity into a contest, but be prepared for a lot more laughs than actual competition.

when you register for tickets.  The blue and green sections are bowl seating and the brown section is floor seating. Happy Picking. 

Friday PM

4:00 – Registration/Will Call open

6:00 – Doors open

6:30 –YP Event Briefing (lay out tracks for YP’s, parents)

6:59 – One Minute Countdown - START

7:00-7:30 – Worship

7:30-8:20 – Session 1: Troubletown

9:00 – Concert

Saturday

7:00 – Registration/ Will Call

7:45 – Doors open

8:30-8:40 – Session 2: the Trouble with the Opposite Sex

8:45-9:35 – Gender specific Sessions

9:45-10:20 – Worship

10:20-11:00 – Heart of Missions

11:00-11:30 – Session 3: the Trouble with The Letter (Parent workshop begin)

11:30-12:00 – Session 4: the Trouble with Being a Christian

12:15 -1:45 – Lunch – Optional Fast in Workshop room

1:45-2:05– Worship

2:05-3:00 – Session 5: the Trouble with Parents

3:15 - Break

3:25-5:00 – Bands/YP Training Tools Workshop (highly recommended to attend)

5:00-6:30 - Dinner

6:45 – 7:20 – Worship

7:20-8:00 – Session 6: Calling all Troublemakers

9:00 – Finale

Denver

Residence Inn

2777 Zuni Street

Denver, Co 80211

303.458.5318

Distance from Venue: 4.0 miles

Rate: $89.00

Reserve By: 04.20.09

Hotel VQ

1975 Mile High Stadium Circle

Denver, Co 80204

303.433.8331

Distance from Venue: 4.8 miles

Rate: $82.00

Reserve By: 04.15.09

 Holiday Inn Denver Central

4849 Bannock St

Denver, CO 80216

303.292.9500

Distance from Venue: 1.5 miles

Rate: $84.00

Reserve By: 04.01.09

Embassy Suites Denver/Aurora

 4444 N Havana Street

 Denver, CO 80239

 720.587.5095

 Distance from Venue: 6.1 miles

 Rate: $105

 Reserve By: 4.1.09

Here’s some pretty common knowledge – professional athletes are highly praised in our society. We see them on television, billboards, and the internet advertising sports drinks, clothes, hot dogs, and just about every other product known to man.

   They are highly (perhaps too highly) praised for what they do simply because they’ve paid a price to reach their level of success. Your Average Joe won’t make it in pro football. It takes years of practice, weightlifting, running, throwing, studying, and more. Few are willing to pay that price, and those that do are showered with rewards.

  As youth pastors and youth leaders, you too are paying a high price, but for something infinitely more important: advancing the Kingdom of God. I’ll guarantee that the Average Joe will never last as a youth specialist. You are an extraordinary group of people!  Ministry takes long nights, hours of prayer, patience, unconditional love for young people, hard work looking for volunteers, and much, much more. Very few are willing to pay that price, but when you do, your rewards are eternal.

   Keep going, don’t give up. When pouring yourself out to young people becomes difficult and thankless, remember that when you are weak, God is strong. Your teenagers may never tell you this, but your efforts are incredibly impacting their lives. Remember the eternal value of what God is doing through you, and that he is on your side.

Thank you for what you do,

David Warren

Assistant to Marla Glasgow

I am excited for this years HERE COMES TROUBLE TOUR We have an amazing event lined up for all of you; you will not want to miss this!  We will be featuring new workshops for youth pastors, parents and students, Please feel free to contact me as your point person for any further questions you may have.  Look forward to seeing what God has in store for Denver….

Blessings,

Marla