gregstier.org

Columbus…the morning after

Posted on Sunday 3 February 2008 by Greg @ 6:30 am
Filed under: Conferences

It’s Sunday morning, the day after the Columbus conference. All I can say is “wow”. God did some amazing things!

Well over 5,000 were registered for the event. Final count of canned food collected for the Salvation Army was 9 tons. In addition 159 children were sponsored through Compassion! Tons of people came to Christ on Friday night and during the outreach experience (we have no way of tracking exact numbers for this!)

I can’t tell you how many teenagers I talked to who made life altering decisions that weekend. Whether it was regarding telling their friends about Jesus, fulling committing themselves to Christ as King of their lives or staying sexually pure, these teenagers made some powerful decisions.

And the Double Dare rocked. Zane told his powerful story and God used it to compel maybe 70% or more of the audience to take the Double Dare. If you took the Double Dare and are ready to share your story of sharing Jesus with that one friend (and your plan to share Jesus with your “list” of friends) please leave a comment below. If you want to know more about the Double Dare and how you can take it click here, watch the podcast and then sign the pledge.

I double dare you.

66 Comments for 'Columbus…the morning after'

On February 3, 2008 @ 8:00 am Paula said:

Greg,

What an amazing experience we had this weekend in Columbus! This was our first D2S conference, and we are going to make it a yearly event. I never would have imagined that our teenagers would go door to door sharing their faith - this weekend has changed their lives and ours (their youth leaders) as well. Thank you for bringing Dare2Share to our neighborhood!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 8:40 am Cole said:

Greg,

I just wanted to thank you for the amazing experience i had at dare 2 share. I am 13, and one of my friends found god for the first time about a week ago. I made sure she got to go to d2s, because i knew how moved she would be. You and the whole staff at d2s made it truly possible for her to become closer to god and find out more about herself. I am proud to say that my friend is saved. Thanks for everything you did!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 8:54 am Student. said:

Just wanted to let you know, during your cell phone challenge i texted my entire family about how I needed there support from now on. When my dad read my text message, and this is a man who does not like to hear about Christ, he cried. And in a couple minutes, were about to attend church together, as a family. =]
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On February 3, 2008 @ 11:21 am Student said:

Greg,
I just got home from d2s and I would really appriciate some advice. I bought the book Vinti Jesus Please, hearing from my good friend that it was a great book to pass on and share the gospel, so I was planning on sharinging it with my best friend when I was finished reading it. The thing is my best friend is a devoted catholic, so is her mom, but her father is an achohalic. When I began reading the book, one of the girls in it is in the same situation. I wasnt sure that if I gave her the book she would enjoy it, or take offense in it. When I called her during the cell phone challenge, she didnt take me seriously, she thought I was telling her what I was learining and not that I was trying to share it with her. I would really appriciate your advice on what I should do and how I can get her to take me seriously. Thank you!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 12:15 pm Kelly said:

Greg Last night was the best thing that has ever happened to me.Three years ago my mother passed away unexpected.I have been mad at God for the last couple years.But after hearing everyones story,and noticing
how much you guys really love God,made me want to be like you.I have always been a Christian and I have
been saved but this weekend made it final I am not mad a God,I am happy that my mom gets to be in the best
possible place that God has created.You made it possible for me to forgive God.I love God more than anyone he is what is important.I am a new person,thanks to you.
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On February 3, 2008 @ 12:21 pm zack allwardt said:

i went to dare to share this weekend that passed it was great we collected over 9 tons of can food that unbelievable lol.i just wanted to right to you god bless and thnxs for makin my weekend extreme.im form mansfield,ohio i go to first alliance chuch i am 12 years old and in the 7th grade.you rock greg.one of the youth sponsers at my church names bruce says he knows you well i just wanted to say thnxs right back at justin.thomas30@gmail.com
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On February 3, 2008 @ 12:53 pm Derek said:

Hi Greg,
This weekend was my first dare2share conference. I have to tell you that it was the most amazing and revitalizing experience of my life. I am part of the Saint Paris Youth group, the one that you spoke about when you told Maggies story. The girl maggie talked about, Mandy, was my best friend. After losing her my life began to fall apart, I didnt know what to do. I had been friends with her since 2nd grade and i was devestated. I didnt really now God or Jesus when everything happened, so instead of praying to God, I had a hate for him , for what he did to my friend. Then after this weekend I realized that I love God and Jesus, and that they didnt mean to hurt me and all of my friends. I am truly a changed person. And i want to thank you for helping me cope with losing Mandy, and for telling her story. I am truly thankful for you and dare2share!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 1:37 pm Molly said:

this weekend at D2S was amazing. I’m a leader in Undignified youth group from Renewed Strength church in Westville, Oh. I’m 20 years old and I’ve never been to a youth event quite like it. It was intense and really hit home for the kids in the youth group and also for myself. Before D2S I knew the kids in the youth group that I help with but I really didn’t know them. Before we went out and collected cans the youth pastor had everyone tell why they were saved and what they’ve seen change in their lives since they were saved. The stories some of the kids shared were quite shocking. Never did I think that they could have such hard lives. We live in a decently small area and it just doesn’t seem like the thigns that they were saying would actually happen in our area. Also a lot of the kids knew Mandy the girl from Saint Paris who died from an aneursym. It really impacted them to hear that story. So thanks for an amazing weekend and for having the passion to share God to teens in a real way that they understand.
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On February 3, 2008 @ 1:40 pm jesusrox24 said:

Greg,
I was just at the Columbus D2S yesterday, and went last year. You told us to right about how it changed our lives, so here I am. I had been dreading the cell phone challenge for a while, REALLY scared. But all of a sudden God comforted me and I found myself calling my cousin. She stopped going to church two years ago, and is most recently dealing with anorexia. I left a message telling her that I had been worried about her, and that I wanted to talk to her about her relashionship with God, and wanted to ask if she knew where she was going when she died, I texted her saying the same thing. She still has not called me back, and it will be awkward the next time I see her, but I am confident that through the seed I planted she will find God again, and so will her parents. I am also proud to say that through this amazing weekend, other than my cousi, I have already shared God’s message with two others, and I am working with them to accept Christ. Thank you for all that you have done. You have shown me that God really can do miracles!!!!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 2:22 pm kendra said:

Greg,

I was at the columbus conference this past weekend and I took the double dare. I have a friend named clara, she is 16 years old and every time I have ever tried to tell her about Jesus she would change the subject and when I finally asked her why she told me she didnt believe and that she never would. I almost started crying when she told me this because she is a really good friend of mine, so for the cell phone challenge I called her but all I got was her voice mail and a few hours later she called me back but I missed the call, so when I called her back I got no answer and now I am afraid she will do what she always does she calls church and praying a bunch of “religous powder” when I asked her what she meant she said she believes there is a hell but no God or heavan or devil or any of the real stuff. I am trying and praying really hard for her and ever since I missed her call that day I have not been able to contact her and I think this is satans way of keeping his grasp on her and I really am geting discouraged. I am sharing with my friend brianne also but she believes but she doesnt understand what is wrong with being unsaved. she told me at school ” if God really loves us why would he make specific terms and conditions? why would he make it like a credit card ad?” so I was really out of words to tell her and now she thinks I dont know what im talking about.

please pray and if something changes ill post,

kendra
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On February 3, 2008 @ 2:28 pm Amanda said:

I went to Dare2Share in Columbus and it was so amazing that I didnt want to leave. Greg, I’m the gilr wh left you the note with the music guys and I am forever thankful for you, Derwin, and Zane and please pass my thanks and note along to them. God bless you. Amanda
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On February 3, 2008 @ 2:46 pm nora said:

my name is nora and i am 15 years old.i went to dare2share in columbus ohio and i was so GREAT. Well i thought tought i would let yoy know that the friday night drama was the best it made a huge impact on my life. When i was 12 i put my trust in god only because my family was going trough some tough times and i tought god would stop it and he did well then i started to fall away and for the last two year i have had a lot of problems with my youth group the girls were very mean to me and there was a lot of drama and i said thing that were not nice i also hurt my good friend and her family but watching the drama helped me relize a lot of thing so on FEB 1 AT 9:45 I FULLY COMMITED MY LIFE TO GOD wow its amazing also when derwain was talking about giving things up the gir and her family were there with at the confence and i told them i was sorry for everything i did and that was really are i also to the cellphone challenge but not to call a friend about god i used it in a different way and called my sister who abused me and neaver was there for me when i was little and was very i called and forgaver her foreverything she did to me and then told her that i loved her so much and that her caliming to be a christian mean she had to live like one too couse i wanted to she her go to heaven well i thought i would tell you how much u impacted my life very much and i wanted to THANK YOU , DERWEN AND ZANE (the cute one) lol
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On February 3, 2008 @ 2:46 pm nora said:

my name is nora and i am 16 years old.i went to dare2share in columbus ohio and i was so GREAT. Well i thought tought i would let yoy know that the friday night drama was the best it made a huge impact on my life. When i was 12 i put my trust in god only because my family was going trough some tough times and i tought god would stop it and he did well then i started to fall away and for the last two year i have had a lot of problems with my youth group the girls were very mean to me and there was a lot of drama and i said thing that were not nice i also hurt my good friend and her family but watching the drama helped me relize a lot of thing so on FEB 1 AT 9:45 I FULLY COMMITED MY LIFE TO GOD wow its amazing also when derwain was talking about giving things up the gir and her family were there with at the confence and i told them i was sorry for everything i did and that was really are i also to the cellphone challenge but not to call a friend about god i used it in a different way and called my sister who abused me and neaver was there for me when i was little and was very i called and forgaver her foreverything she did to me and then told her that i loved her so much and that her caliming to be a christian mean she had to live like one too couse i wanted to she her go to heaven well i thought i would tell you how much u impacted my life very much and i wanted to THANK YOU , DERWEN AND ZANE (the cute one) lol
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On February 3, 2008 @ 2:59 pm Deanna said:

Greg,
Thank you soo much for coming to Columbus for Dare2share and thank you so much for taking the time to do this ministry. This was the first year for my youth group to come and it was ahmazing. I got alot out of it. and during the cell phone challenge the Lord brought my struggling cousin to mind. She just recently got out of rehab. and we really grew close over the summer but i wasn’t being a good christian or an example to her. and so after rehab its kinda been akward so i texted her first but she didn’t get it or text back =[ and that was hard. but later that night i texted the other friend that i felt God laid on my heart and last year i atempted to share the gospel with her but i wasn’t sensitvie and i was saying all the wrong things and it almost cost us our friendship. so i was a bit nervous but she opened right up and everything went pretty smoothly she has never been to church but she really new what we believed she just didn’t have the relationship side of it so i was up till 12 on feb. 3rd sharing the gospel with her and she really enjoied the analagies i used and really loves the idea of having a purpose to live for and having someone there who will always love you and forgive you. but because last year she cut her wrists and just last weekend she did everything but sex with her boyfriend she is really having a hard time believing that God will forgive her so she has decided to really think about it for the next couple of days and make sure this is really what she wants to do so please pray that she wont change her mind and that the devil wont trick her and that she will make the right decision and THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR DARE2SHARE ITS REALLY HELPED ME IN SHARING MY FAITH THANK THE LORD FOR ALL YOU DO AND BLESS YOU i will post again if she decides to accept Christ and also please pray for my cousin thank you so much for everything you do and have done
God Bless You ,
Deanna
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On February 3, 2008 @ 3:07 pm Jordan said:

Greg,
before D2S, i was not really sure what to do about a church. I used to go to Willoughby Hills Friends Church, but then the church split. Almost all of my friends stayed at WHFC, but my parents were going to follow the pastor to start a new church (New Promise). i didn’t like New Promise, because i didn’t really get along with some of the teens who were there. i argued and fought with God and my parents, because i knew in my heart that God wanted me to go to New Promise. because of what you said, i realized that it didn’t matter that i didn’t get along with the teens or that all my friends were at my old church, it was about worshipping God. also, because i went to D2S with New Promise, i got to know the teens better, and now we’re all great friends. i just wanted to thank you for what you said and did. I also rededicated my life to Christ on Friday.
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On February 3, 2008 @ 3:50 pm Danielle said:

Hey my name is Danielle, and the Dare 2 Share yesterday was our first ever, and wow. Friday night, my WHOLE youth group accepted Jesus as their savior. Many of us had already accepted him, but it happened again. My youth leader, Andrea was so glad. It was a life - changing event.
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On February 3, 2008 @ 4:08 pm Daniel Shaw said:

Hello. I am a NAVY sailor for the US. I am on a mission as of the new year to share the gospel to every base I go to and to show how even the ones who have to take a life, can be changed by the lord. For this mission to go wrong is not knowing that we have Christians that serve our country. Remember not only are there bad sides of stories there are also the great wonderful testimonies all around you. Just take the time to find them in your own community. My testimony is that, I was only a young teen and now after 6 years of being a born again Christian, I can shout to the lord in front of my friends and still not fill weird. I remember the last D2S I went to, it got my group that I went with from my church to spread like wildfire at our home town. So eventually I will have a video of me questioning and spreading the gospel not only to this countries military but the world… That is my MISSION!!!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 4:14 pm Kaede said:

All I can say about this weekend is: Wow.
My youth group has gone to similar programs like Dare 2 Share and…you know, I can’t even CALL them similar now. We all agreed that this is the best we’ve ever been to, and we’ll be back next January, for sure!
Anywho, the double dare changed me. I originally intended on calling my friend Nick during the cell phone challenge. I dialed his number…and I ended up calling my mom instead. Now, we really don’t have the best relationship with each other, we never have, and it’s hurt me. She was the one who got my dad and I to start going back to church in ‘96, and she’s drifted away from the Lord. She stopped going to church, she’s been lying, hanging out with “friends” who just use her, and a whole list of other things. She says she gives her problems to the Lord for help, but then she just takes them back from him to try and solve them on her own.
So, I talked to her…but I didn’t follow the script given to us in the journal. I felt like God was speaking through me. I sat in my seat for about 15 minutes after we were released for the lunch break spilling out how I felt that she was trying to put God behind her, and how that God isn’t just someone to give your problems to and take them right back, he’s a friend. Someone to confide in, to tell anything to, because he KNOWS how to help, in any way he can. I made her PROMISE me when I hung up that she would drop whatever she was doing, and pray to God that she would confide in him with everything, that she would give her problems to him and not try to take him right back, and that she knows he’s there for him.
At first, I didn’t think she would…but when I got home around midnight last night, she greeted me at the door in tears, telling me how she felt God embrace her, and tell her that he would help her with everything, and how she gave her life back to the Lord.
We cried and prayed together for a good half an hour, and I feel that this weekend helped to bring me back to the mother I thought I had lost.
I’m looking forward to just as good as an experience next year, or even better! So, on behalf of the Faith Fellowship Church youth group, we thank you for putting D2S together.
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On February 3, 2008 @ 4:15 pm Courtney said:

Greg,
This weekend at Dare2Share was a very eye-opening experience that I will not forget. With the cell phone challenge I made a call that I didn’t think I could ever make. Thankyou so much for coming to witness at Columbus. God Bless. -Courtney
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On February 3, 2008 @ 5:16 pm Dallas Hall said:

hey greg,

i am finally home from columbos and i live in pittsburgh pa. i just wanted to thank you so much for everything this weekend and i am so glad that you guys touched on the subject about purity and sex because i have been struggling with the sex issue and i am a senior in high school so as u know in school with my non christian friends i am pressured to lose my virginity before i go to college next year and your message helped me to make the decision on not doing anything until i am married because i realized that it will be much greater and better to share my first time with that special girl and i just wanna say again thank you very much. Second i wsnted ask if u could help me to reach my friends and get them saved in the right way as a christian. My problem is that most of my friends are catholic so i have no clue on how to talk to them about christ because we have alot of differences on christ so if you could help me to share the gospel with them it would be grealty appreciated thank you for everything this weekend.

in his love
dallas hall
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On February 3, 2008 @ 6:30 pm Britani said:

Gregg, i was at the survive in Columbus! i had a blast! and i learned a lot! I also had decided to sponser a child in the compassion! Everything was amazing and this was my first time going and i was amazed. i am glad to say that i accept jesus christ as my savior! and i want to come again next year!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 6:49 pm Sarah said:

Greg,

This is my second year at dare2share and it just keeps getting better. i loved everything about dare2share. This year really opened my heart though. It should me that I HAVE to share the GOSPEL to as many people that I can and I cant be afraid. I am not the strongest witness but this weekend at Dare2Share i have learned that it doesn’t matter how scared you are because God is right there with you. I have this friend and i have been trying to get her to come to church for over a year. and i invite her all the time and i am always telling her about Jesus but i just don’t think she gets it. i never really get in dept with it about her i just you know hint on it. And i am hoping me always talking about church and how much fun it is and stuff that she will ask me about it but i can’t wait for that any more i have to tell her the truth..”Do you know where you are going if you where to die?” but when you had your Cell phone challange i didn’t call her but i prayed really hard. and when i go back to school. i am just going to be honest with her about everything and i am hoping and praying that she will come to know the Lord. but i just wanted to say thanks for the messages that you gave us. because it helped me realize i need to get out there and be a better witness.
Good bless
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On February 3, 2008 @ 7:03 pm caitlyn said:

greg,
thanks for everything.
i wanna talk to you.
just dont wanna post a comment about personal things.
(:
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On February 3, 2008 @ 7:49 pm Haley Dalton said:

Hi Greg! I had a awsome time at d2s in Columbus Ohio. Friday night i put the lord first in my heart for good . U are a great preacher and u are someone who can really communicate to us teens. I remember last year . It was amazing. I remember getting my picure with u and my small youth group from Marlind Heights Community Church. I didnt get a chance to see u this year but theres always next year. I just wanted to say thankyou for ahving d2s. It is a great program and really makes u think about your personal realation ship with god. I hope u can find the time to talk to me over email sometime or if u have an aim you can add my screename ladyforce15. I am always on if u want to chat. Well i ahve to go now. Again thankyou for ahving d2s.

Sincerely Haley dalton.
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On February 3, 2008 @ 8:10 pm Breeana Uhlik said:

Greg. You did an AMAZING JOB at D2S. iTS WAS ONE OF THE BEST TIMES OF MY LIFE. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS FOR TAKING TIME TO COME AND PREACH TO US. AND THANKS FOR BRINGING ZANE. AND GETTING THE LINEBACKER. HE REALLY MADE MY DAY. YOUR AWESOME. AND I LOVE THOEOLGY. HA

BREEANA UHLIK
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On February 3, 2008 @ 8:42 pm Alex said:

Greg.,
I just wanted to thank you for the incredible experience at dare 2 share, I also wanted to tell you that I did , in fact take the double dare, and 2 of my friends got saved!! Wow, God works in amazing ways!! And I am so thankful that I got to spend the weekend learning and then teaching all about Jesus!! Hope to see you next year!!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 8:49 pm Shannon said:

Greg,

Wow! D2S was Great! It was my first time, and I went with my friends church. I’m 15, & I went to NYC in St. Louis Mo., and you were awesome there too. Everytime I go to something like this, I give my life to God, but then I slowly start slipping away. I almost just stopped trying for a while, because I was so discouraged and hated letting God down time after time. But something feels different this time, and I have faith that I can really do this! But I need some help in reaching my friends. The one that I REALLY want to reach isn’t too open minded about things, and I don’t want her to just blow it off. So, if you could please contact me, and give me some advice and/or ideas, I would be so grateful. Thank you for the wonderful experience, and I hope to hear from you soon!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 10:03 pm Victor said:

On Monday I take the double dare with one of my closest friends. I am willing to lose our closeness for the glory of Christ but I would rather not. I really need prayerful support from anybody and everybody who can provide it. Thanks.
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On February 3, 2008 @ 10:04 pm KC said:

Hey Greg I just wanted to thank you do much fro making us take the cellphone challenge yesterday morning and I called my friend Brad
and I never knew if he was a christian he didnt pick up and so I just kept calling him all day long. I was soo scared for him that during the worship music time after lunch I only sang 1 of the songs because I was praying for him and some other people. I just wanted to say THANKS for having this challenge. My friend Maggie went onstage and before she did I was standing there back stage while she was waiting for the music to end, and we started talking. Once you and I finished talking I began talking to Zane about my friends, I asked him if he would please pray for them and he said sure and we prayed right then and there for them which was just awesome. When I got back to my seat and we sang I just prayed again I was praying so hard for him just to call. Then Stellar Kart came on and I decide that I was just going to use my worship to God through singing as my prayer. Right after the conference was over I pulled out my cell phone and called Brad 1 last time. He picked up, FINALLY is all my brain said at first, then I asked him if he had gotten my message from earlier, he said he hadn’t checked it yet so I asked him if he would and then think about and call me back. He told me he would and on the way up the escaltors and he called me back so I picked up and he said he couldn’t hear the message and I explained to him where I was @ and what was going on with every teen in their phones…he said that he thought it was cool. Then I asked him if we could talk about the message and he said he was leaving but to call him tomorrow (as in 2 day) I did and found out that he was a believer in God and I asked him to come with me to youth group. I had already asked him once but he said no he didnt like youth groups. But this time when I aksed him if he would come he said he was really busy this month but that he would like to maybe come in March I am soooo happy that Zane and I prayed for him necause that is why this happened because of God. Thanks again Greg and please show this comment to Zane. Thanks!
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On February 3, 2008 @ 10:16 pm CortneyAnne said:

Aaaaahh!
I miss you guys already! This was probably the absolute BEST D2S I’ve ever been too!
The drama was definitely one of my favorite parts! It really made me think of how I shouldve been living my life for Jesus, full heartedly! I’m so pumped to go back to youth group and share with my other friends the things they missed!
I cannot wait until next yearr! Maybe you should start doing D2S two times a year in Columbus?!?!!! lol.
You guys rock!

God Bless!

Cortney
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On February 4, 2008 @ 12:03 am denimcat said:

Hey, just thought I’d share some of my experience from this weekend with you. I woulda e-mailled but I honestly couldn’t find your address. o.o

Anyway…. Confession: I had heard about the cell phone challenge before and I considered not attending the conference at all because of it. That’s how much I didn’t want to do it. I will say that I do kind of have some issues with that whole thing and I think it probably is far from the best way to go about witnessing, but that’s beside the point. ANYWAY, I bit the bullet and signed up anyway. Just when I started to think the whole call-a-friend thing was a one-time thing that I missed, y’all told us to get out our phones.

I did not get my phone out of my pocket. My youth leader was sitting right next to me and he asked me if I didn’t have a phone with me. I said I had no one to call, and he nodded in such a way that I felt he didn’t really believe me, and yeah, that was sort of a lie on my part. I DID have someone to call - granted, she is an online friend who I barely know who I have never spoken to in person or met face-to-face.

It was right then that I realized that, for valid reasons or not, I would feel guilty for heaven only knows how long if I didn’t at least try this. Like “You had a chance and you didn’t take it. Some child of God you are. You really suck, Self.” So I did in fact get out my phone and immeadiately felt like I needed to throw up.

I dialled and got to her voicemail - freaking fantastic. Not. But there was no turning back at that point, and while I somehow missed the boat on getting the booklets where they explained what to say, I started sharing the G.O.S.P.E.L message and made a sickeningly inept attempt at clarifying certain parts of it. The moment I snapped my phone shut I just said “God, I hate myself”, and I wasn’t really kidding. I spent the next 40 minutes-an hour on and off just weeping and trying to keep my peers from noticing. That didn’t work so well and it was kind of a “find out who your REAL friends are” experience, and that was a positive.

So, I don’t think I really got quite what you guys were going for out of the cell phone challenge. I’m figuring you were wanting the reaction to be “That wasn’t so horrible, I can do this kind of easily”. But my reaction was “That was SO horrible, other forms of witnessing cannot possibly be as bad.” So, later in the day when we went door to door, I WOULD have been afraid were it not for that. I knew it couldn’t be as bad as the cell phone experience. (I know this is probably…. not exactly what you want to hear. But either way the result is the same - I am no longer as afraid as I was to share my faith.)

Since then the friend whom I called told me that it “wasn’t that bad” and I was more coherent and did a lot better than anyone she knew would have done. So it didn’t end in some miraculous life-change for her, but at the very least I know now that I did not, in fact, give all of christianity a bad reputation by my bungled attempt at witnessing, as I honestly sort of thought I had initially. I’m a better person for that experience.

This is probably THE longest comment you’ve ever recieved, but I’d also like to mention that over the pteaching role. Between seeing all of you guys up on the stage, and just the ongoing influence of my youth leader’s preaching style, as well as of course the fact I was being equipped to share the gospel and by extension my testimonies, it was impossible NOT to imagine myself doing the same as you guys were, delivering sincere messages to the masses. Of course, now I’m wondering if most people didn’t imagine themselves doing it at all, and if the fact that I did is actually purely a God thing… I don’t know. But either way, between friday and sunday, this went from a somewhat amusing “what if” thought concluded essentially with a “I could never…”, to something that I actually WANT TO DO and wish I could find an oppurtunity to do so, though I still fear it. I really feel that God is working on me about this, and he worked on it through you guys, and I thought you should know.

Also, I confess that I did NOT raise my hand to accept the double dare. I felt bad about it, because I could sense as well as hear seemingly every other hand in the room going up, but I would rather feel like a useless loser than to raise my hand and lie to God and you. It’s something I wish I could have said “yes” to but know it is something I am not ready to commit to. Still, I’ll be praying to God that I will find the courage, strength, boldness, and oppurtunity to take on this dare on my own later on.

Thank you for helping to change my life. I kept hearing everyone say “Dare 2 Share will change your life”, and while I believed it could, I didn’t really think it would, cause it seems like very little ever lives up it’s own hype. I am now happily eating my words (well, thoughts).
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On February 4, 2008 @ 7:52 am Autumn said:

Greg,

This past weekend was amazing!! I had so much fun attending D2S and I was so excited to bring my little sister as well. This is my third time going, but its the first for my little sister. We both needed this so much. This weekend was a wake up call for me. My youth leader gave everyone who attended Dare 2 Share a copy of the book Venti Jesus Please and I finished it in two hours. Now I plan on giving my copy to one of my friends who isn’t saved. Thank you so much for everything!!
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On February 4, 2008 @ 12:23 pm alisha said:

this week @ d2s was awesome! During the cell phone call, i called my friend. Before the weekend, i called her and invited her to come at least 3 times.Every single time she told me no because she doesn’t like church and said that she would die if she had to deal with it all weekend. This made me sad, but like normal, i gave up. Well, i knew that we were going to have to phone a friend because we did last year. I was half way tempted to to “accidently” leave my phone in the hotel room. I had a deep feeling in my heart to that God wanted me to call her. Even though i really want her to be in heaven, i felt embarrassed to talk to her about it. I kepy on asking “God, is there anyone else that I can call? Maybe someone i feel more comfortable talking about this to?”My youth leaders and i prayed about it, and when the time came, God gave me enough courage to call her. I first tried her cell phone and got her v-mail. I almost left one but knew i’d feel guilty and desided to call her house phone. I talked to her and explained about how i didn’t want to go to heaven and her not be there ( by the way, i was already in tears before she picked up the phone).I also asked if she knew if she was going to heaven or hell and she told me “no”.I asked her to do me a favore and she said “what?” i asked her to read john 3:16 and Zeph.1:18. she told me that she couldn’t and i asked “why?” she answered “because i don’t have a bible” i told her “that’s ok. i’ll get u one” i have been praying for her for along time, and for long time i hadn’t seen any change. Maybe this the begining of the answer to the prayer that i have been praying for, for over a year and a half! Thanks so much d2s staff! May God keep blessing you and your ministries for the kingdom of heaven!
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On February 4, 2008 @ 1:22 pm Jada said:

PRAISE THE LORD!
THE ONLY THING I CAN SAY ABOUT THIS WEEKEND IS ….. WOW…. GOD MOVED SO MUCH IN MY LIFE AND IN OTHERS! I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO BE REALLY HARD GOING OUT AND TALKING WITH PEOPLE ABOUT GOD WHEN WE COLLECTED FOOD, BECAUSE MY GROUP WENT TO A JEWISH NEIGHBORHOOD. IT WASN’T HAD AT ALL.SOME PEOPLE JUST CLOSED THE DOOR AND OTHERS LET US PRAY OR SAID THEY HAD SOMETHING THEY NEEDED PRAYER FOR BUT DIDN’T SAY. i HAD SO MUCH FUN AT D2S! I DIDN’T GO WITH MY YOUTH GROUP I WENT WITH MY TEACHERS, BUT IT WAS A BLAST I JUST WISH MY YOUTH GROUP COULD HAVE BEEN THERE. I CAME HOME AND TOLD MY YOUTH PASTOR ON SUNDAY MORNING HOW MUCH GOD WAS MOVING AND HOW GREAT D2S IS. I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU SO MUCH AND I’LL BE PRAYING FOR YOU AND I PRAY THAT GOD WILL BLESS YOU AND YOUR MINISTRIES.
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On February 4, 2008 @ 2:49 pm Britt said:

Greg,

this was such a great expierence i am so glad that i got to come
after my mom died 3 years ago my life changed so much and not in a
good way at lest at first intill i switch churches there i learned that i shouldnt be mad at God for taking my mom from me i should be stoked because she is in the best place u could ever be. this weekend i learned so much i could never talk to people about God word unless they were my friends or family that already new Jesus. I am just so glad that i came because i want to talk to everyone about the gospel and lead them to christ. this just made me even closer to christ and i am just so stoked about this. I cant wait to come next year and bring so friends that dont know christ. I will pray for all the D2S to come and that everyone will have the same kind of expierence i had and become closer to christ.
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On February 4, 2008 @ 3:00 pm Nick said:

Hey Greg,
Dare2Share Columbus was awesome. I called my friend, Jessica, when you asked us to use our cell phones. She said she wasn’t sure she was going to heaven or not, so I told her about the gospel and about other stuff we did over the weekend and she decided to accept Jesus to be her savior. And now she is comfortable talking about Jesus around me.

I also wore my “Jesus Recycles” shirt today and explained to countless people what it meant and they all said it sounded really cool and that they would love to hear more.

Dare2Share has really made a huge impact on my life, and others. You, Derwin, and Zane are AWESOME, to say the least.

(My mom even asked me to get your guys’s autographs, but I could only get Derwins because he was the only one I saw outside of the theater room.)

Email back please, nickboss777@yahoo.com
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On February 4, 2008 @ 3:17 pm Valeri said:

My friend convinced me to go to the Dare to Share conference. I figured, Hey there will be music and were staying in a hotel, why not it could be fun. So I went and it was so amazing. I didn’t expect it to be this much fun. I want to thank you and everyone else so much, because for the first time in my life I got it, and I understood. I was saved this weekend. I commited my life to God, and it’s all thanks to you and my wonderful friend of course. I mean, I said I was christian before,but I had my doubts, I have NO doubts now, I read that book, Venti Jesus Please, and it was amazing. I am so excited, and its crazy how much happier I feel now. I am taking the Dare to Share Double Dare, and I’ve already started, not going as good as I hoped but progress, is happening and hopefully I can get others to accept Jesus christ into their lives, because it is truely the most amazing feeling. Thankyou.
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On February 4, 2008 @ 3:33 pm Xander said:

Hey Greg

Dare2Share was an amazing experience and even though I was originally going to this conference for selfish reasons I believe that God used my selfish desires to get me to go to this amazing conference.
- Romans 8:28 “But we know that to the ones loving God all things work together for good, to the ones being called according to [His] purpose.” - American Literal Translation

I read “Venti Jesus Please” last night and that story touched me so much.

Because of that I wanted to tell you and anyone else who wants to know that I became a Christian because of my cousin Amy Marton who died of brain cancer last April, even though she was suffering through each day that God allowed her to live she was always truly joyful. I believe that she possessed the “Peace of God which surpasses all understanding” (Phillipians 4:7) and it was her death that finally made me realize that I had been pretending all this time to be a Christian when I really didn’t know Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour

This morning I gave my copy of “venti” to my agnostic friend Emily and she said she would read it. I may have shared my faith with her but I am not done with the double dare yet. I still have 4 more friends that God has told me to tell the good news to.

Thank you all (Greg, Zane, and Derwin) for having the courage to let God speak through you in a way that touched the lives of so many

God Bless you all
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On February 4, 2008 @ 4:15 pm Katie Schaefer said:

Greg,
This is was my first year going to Dare2Share, Though my older sister went to last years and the year before that. I really didn’t know what to expect, and let me tell you I was amazed. I was still skeptical when my group got to columbus, but friday night changed me, changed my life really.

February 1, 2008, 9:48pm, I pledged myself to God. I’ve been a saved since I was 5, but I mess up a lot (lots of people do) I’d been struggling with a bunch of things and I really was only going tiny baby steps ahead. But no more!! I’m in it for the long run now, I don’t want this “high” to go away. God is soo AMAZING and Good and I love Him soo much, He has done soo much!!

So I took the Double Dare challenge, but today at school I had NO idea who to talk to. But in my study hall i was talking to my friend about college, then it went to my brother in iraq, then to family stuff, then religion… and then I stopped it, i said “oh I HATE that word!! i hate it with a passion that burns in the very depths of my soul!” and then it clicked!! THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY to share the Gospel!! (GOD IS AMAZING!!!) I was soo excited and giddy and i could bearly get the words out, at one point i stopped and looked up and said “thank you God!”. (my friends got a hoot out of that) So i went through the whole thing, we ended up having a deep conversation and guess what??? i GAVE AWAY Venti Jesus Please (LOVE that book by the way!) OMGosh!! this is soo awsome i don’t want to change!
I love sharing God to people!!
Thank You, Greg, Derwin, and Zane!!

Love in Christ, Katie Schaefer

P.S. I also did the Cell Phone Challenge and I led my friend Ashley to Christ!! I’ve shared the Gospel hundreds of times but I’ve never gotten that response before!!

P.S.S. Sorry this is SO long!!
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On February 4, 2008 @ 4:53 pm Katie said:

Greg,

I went to D2S last weekend and I loved it so much! I went last year too, and am looking forward to next year as well! I think I most enjoy the skits, because they really make me think about things I ordinarily wouldn’t think about. I am into theater and think it would be cool to work for D2S doing those skits when I grow up (I’m only 13 now). When I was there I took the double dare, but I’m doing it on my aunt and uncle. I’m having a hard time though because they get mad when anyone talks about God to them. Last D2S I wrote them a letter. And this year I wrote an e-mail (I don’t see them very often or I’d talk to them in person). I really want them to be saved. Can people please pray for them because I love them a lot and want to be with them in Heaven. I want to thank you and everyone else who is involved with D2S because it literally changed my life. Thanks so much!

God Bless,
Katie
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On February 4, 2008 @ 5:02 pm Michael S. said:

Greg,
Thanks so much for everything you have done this past weekend. This was my third year of D2S, and this year was especially well done. I appreciated all the aspects, including hearing from Zane. He was especially motivating after hearing all of his life stories. Again, thanks for everything, and looking forward to returning next year!

Your Brother in Christ,
Michael S.
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On February 4, 2008 @ 6:00 pm Tanner Karcher said:

wow hearing all the facts i have to agree GOD is amazing and I took that Double Dare challenge and called two people that i have been working on and feel lika i am making progress. I just want to thank everyone who talked and played in worship becuase it was a blast. This was my 3rd year going and it just keeps getting better every year. Thanks again to everyone who helped, talked, and played at Dare 2 Share Columbus.
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On February 4, 2008 @ 6:14 pm Hannah C said:

all that i have to say is how great is our God. This weekend was seriously the best thing for me right now. I have been going through things with my mom and my best friend.And my faith was really not on the right track. i had been doubting it and if it was even real. and after this weekend i can say that it most def is.I go to a christian school so i hear aout God all the time and after a while you get used to it and stop listening. but this weekened really got my attention. i honestly dont think that i had ever told anyone about my faith because at school iam around either people who are christians like me and have heard it there whole life. or others who dont want anything to do with God so its feels pointless to talk to them about Him. And this weekend with the cell phone challege was really pushing my limits. i actually didnt have service in the building but thats be sides the point. i decieded to text one of my friends from korea (because it would be hard to talk to him on the phone becaue his english isnt the best.)so i got to talk to him about Jesus. and i dont have an amazing story about how he came to know Christ but i put it in his head so i was pumped about that! thanks so much for helping me!!
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On February 4, 2008 @ 7:02 pm Sam said:

to denimcat:

wow, i am struggling with the same things. lol thats rly funny. i didnt go to dare to share, but Im trying to get myself to do the double dare anyways, but even with ppl i kno i should talk to, i have no clue what to do/when to do it. lol whats funnier is that i also feel that i have a call to ministry.

for me, witnessing has come through a devotional i write for my school, it is much easier for me to write my thoughts on paper and hand them out than for me to actually go up to someone. idk if i should just stick with that or keep pushing myself to be a better verbal witness too.

anway, thot id share that.

good luck to you!
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On February 4, 2008 @ 7:04 pm Anna said:

Hey Greg.
This was my first year at Dare2Share, and it was absolutely amazing. I can’t wait to go back. I have been a believer for years now, but the drama on Friday night made me want to take my faith more seriously. The whole weekend was absolutely amazing. I was pretty unhappy to have to come home. Hahaha.
But anyway…I thought I would tell you about my experience with the Double Dare. Today in my Biology class, the teacher was talking about how her mom had died from lung cancer. The girl who sits next to me said, “I’m so afraid to die, because I don’t know where we go.” And I thought, “Wow! God definitely just put this oppurtunity right in front of me.” So I told her about the G.O.S.P.E.L. Journey, right there in the middle of class. She didn’t become a believer yet, but I’m certainly going to keep talking to her about it.
I also wore my “-Zane-Follow Me…As I Follow Jesus” shirt today. When people asked me who Zane was, I shared his story with them. It really touched some of my friends, and I think I have them thinking about Jesus a lot more now.
So I just wanted to say thank you for presenting me with this challenge. It is definitely a process, but I’m willing to go through the process, as long as it takes.
Also, I would like to thank Zane for sharing his story, so that I could share it with others.

God Bless everyone at D2S.

In His Grip,
Anna
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On February 4, 2008 @ 8:38 pm Lyndsey said:

Hey Greg.
I Really Wanna Thank You For Friday Night.
And No I’m Sorry I Didn’t Do The 48 hour challenge..or
the double dare…Because I Feel Like I Need to get more
in touch with God and get closer to him Before I Go Out and
Tell Other People. I’m Not sure why though. but So much
has been goin on in my life and it’s been hard…
but Since friday..even though it’s only been a few days
I feel differen’t and so much has been taken off my shoulders
and I’m much happier…This past weekend has been amazin.
And I Wanna Thank You For That. Because Friday night I re-dedicated
my life to God. Because I Haven’t Been Livin Right For Him.
But I Plan Too. And I Plan To go to dare2share Next Year.

Thanks Greg.:]
You Practicly Are My Hero.
-Lyndsey
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On February 4, 2008 @ 10:31 pm Joseph said:

Hey Greg and everyone else, i come from a very christian based household, i have a brother who is a former convention worker/speaker, who was also at one time president of the PA christian youth council, he is now moving to anderson indiana to finish his pastoral and his PhD. But for some time i have known God to be calling me to teach and preach, i am a director of a traveling christian dance team, but i spend most of my time behind a computer and soundboard, but i still feel God calling me to the stage to speak, this last summer i co-directed a VBS for my local church and got to spend my time on stage sharing Gods love, and God actually made it possible for me to be called to two other church’s as well, so this last summer i was able to minister to 560 kids, which is truly amazing for me. But i still felt something missing, i had had an issue with some things in my youth group in the past which had forced me to leave youth instead of doing something about it, so i left youth and came up with so many excuses as to why i couldnt attend, i would say i had to teach dance or go do something else, and i kept feeling this tugging on my heart to do something, well my friends in youth begged me to come to D2S again, so i decided to go, and i had given lessons on alot of the topics covered and actually have a published paper on the sex topic, but through the course of the weekend God showed me what i was missing, instead of running from youth out of anger, i am supposed to get up there and teach, let God use me as His lips so he may bring the needed changes to the group, instead of turning away and saying someone else can deal with it. I am the one He wants to use to try to make a change, so i want to thank you for the conference and letting God use you in such a wonderful way. I spoke with the leaders of my church and they are giving me the chance to teach for a few weeks so i would appreciate the prayer from anyone willing to give it, that i may possible reach the other 40 members of my youth group. One day i pray to be doing what you are doing Greg, but i also know that if i can even plant the seed in one soul then God will be very satisfied.

Thanks, and may God bless
Joe
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On February 5, 2008 @ 6:38 am cheyenne warner said:

Hi i want to tell you Greg thank you so much for coming in cloumbus, it seems alot of people are forgotten down in cloumbus but to be able to do what i did was great. my first year at Dare2 Share change my life i didnt know christianity and i always new their was someone who had to love me but i just waited to find that someone and that man is the glory and power Jesus Christ! well ever since the first year i really meet God and saw His face at dare2share i new right away i was destine to share the Gosple to all the Nations and proclaim the true message and the Judgement for those who dont believe in Jesus! ever since i can not stop i have talk to over hunderds so far and i sure dont remeber how many has been saved since ive been starting the gosple message into the world. Last year i know a group of 25 were saved all at the same time on the street and i could see Gods power and Glory like no other time the angles were singing and God was smileling! i am wanting to be a evanglist my goal is to reach Newark and cloumbus with the message of Christ my vision and hearts desire is for the whole to come to know christ and to worship bow down before Him giving Him all the glory and i believe they will! thanks greg for sharing christ with me love,Cheyenne
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On February 5, 2008 @ 2:33 pm Deanna said:

Greg,
It’s me again and i am still working with my friend Erika but she told me that she told her best friend everything i told her and she is like asking everyone around her if they are Christians including her boyfriend and he is which is amazing and ever since i told her about Christ she has been so much happier which is amazing for her because she is very sensitive and emotional. but i asked her why she seemed to be acting differently and happier and she said she has just really been thinking about the convo we had and she is filled with joy. Greg thank you so much for challenging me to do one thing that turned out to be God really working in someones life and showing me how great God really is and what he can do! keep praying for my cousin and her Thankss=D
God Bless you for all the differences you are making in peoples lives and i am so grateful
,Deanna
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On February 5, 2008 @ 3:54 pm Brooke said:

Greg,
WOW!! This was my first time to d2s and it was totally awesome! I’m so glad Zane shared his testimony. It changed my life forever. One of the things Zane said was (in my own words) “I will never forget what I did but I know that I am forgiven.” I will never forget what happened to me in my past but I can know that I am forgiven. Greg thanks for challenging me to share my faith! I never thought I was good enough, that I didn’t have the talent and through your challenge I braved sharing my faith. Thank you so much and may God bless you in what you do.
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On February 5, 2008 @ 8:02 pm Mariel said:

Greg,
I had stopped going to church about 2 years ago. About a month ago, my friend started inviting me to her church, and i loved it. D2s was the second big thing that i went to with that church, and I feel different about my religion. I feel so much closer to god, and i think that i’m going to be this way for the rest of my life. I really enjoyed Lincoln Brewster and Stellar Kart, i also was amazed how much Zane has changed from the time he was in high school. I can’t wait for next year!!
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On February 6, 2008 @ 7:51 am Brittany said:

Greg,
I was at teh Dare 2 Share conference in columbus this past weekend and i just wanted to say thank you for helping me make one of the best choices that I have ever made in my lifetime. Friday night when you had our Youth Pastors pray over us and had us make that choice my Youth Pastor Steve Bendik couldn’t have been more happy for anyone in my Youth Group!!! He talked to us later that night and told us how incredibly proud he was of us! again I just wanted to say thank you!

God Bless,
Brittany Faris from Marianna Pennsylvania
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On February 6, 2008 @ 9:26 am Daniela said:

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOO! I’M SO STOKED! you guys were absolutly amazing and so is God. this was my 2nd D2S and it was even better than last year because my best friend was there experiancing it for the first time and i saw many of my friends from school. after hearing Zane speak it got me thinking about the meaning of stoke (i never take things for their surface appearance).
heres what I found:1)stoke- to poke or STIR UP.
2)stoke- to tend the fire or supply feul
3)stoke- to provide more than adequetely with food

How amazing is it to be Stoked for God and to know that he will supply spiritual fuel and “provide MORE than adequetely with food”

Now that’s food for thought.
God bless you all!!
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On February 6, 2008 @ 8:26 pm Candy said:

Hey Greg,

I took the Double dare and started talking to my friend Haley. she is not a christian yet, But i am praying for her and she seems to really listen when i talk about God. Dare 2 Share was awesome. This was my second year and I loved it. I was Chosen to share with PU this year, I shared My testimony with the 5000 people that God had sent and i wanted to thank you for the opportunity. I had a girl come up to me and tell me that because of my story she was not afraid to talk to her older wiccan brother.

Thanks and God bless
Candy
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On February 7, 2008 @ 10:56 am Suzie Eller said:

It sounds amazing, Greg. Keep doing what you are doing for teens. Always let me know when something like this is coming up and we’ll post it on Real Teen Faith.
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On February 7, 2008 @ 1:28 pm jonathan said:

Greg,

This was my first Dare2Share that ive been to. It was an amazing experience. I took the Double Dare on Saturday of the Columbus tour and i am still working on getting my friend to go to youth group. We were talking about something that was sinful (i cant remember what) and he shouted in my face, “I dont care.” It was then that i realized that the Dare2Share conference was God’s way to give me the strength to keep on trying. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you in the next tour.
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On February 8, 2008 @ 10:56 pm Laura Eckstein said:

Greg,
Thank you so much for sharing the story about Mandy for the cell phone challenge. Maggie’s goal is to spread Mandy’s story around the world if possible so that everyone can understand the urgency in sharing the gospel with those that we love. On Sunday morning after Dare2Share, our youth are in charge of the morning worship. ( praise songs, slide show, testamonies and stories) This year Maggie invited Mandys’ parents to attend. They are a wonderful, faithful Catholic family. We knew it would be a stretch for them to attend a Baptist service but they love Maggie and wanted to hear what she had to say. When they heard Maggie’s testamony about sharing Mandy’s story with over 5,000 people and the urgency she feels for everyone she knows to love Christ and know him personally, they were so touched. The 3 guys that attended on Maggie’s invitation were also some good friends to Mandy. The ride home was so exciting because 2 accepted Christ for the first time and the other has rededicated his life to following Christ. Your programs keep touching so many!! We thank you again for sharing the story.
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On February 9, 2008 @ 9:59 am amber said:

dare2share always opens my mind to alot of things. i took the double dare and read the “venti jesus please” book and gave it to my brother-in-law and my sister they both are not saved and i really hope the get saved i am working realy hard to answer all of there questins and also any questions my nephews have too.
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On February 9, 2008 @ 10:54 am Sue said:

i really enjoyed dare2share. i have grown up in the church, but never put my faith in Jesus. i was talking to one of my friends and she invited me to come with her youth group to it. i wasn’t sure was going to be able to go, but i was able to find away and my parents let me. on friday i was really thinking about things, and that night, i talked to one of the youth pastors there at the church. then the next day i had the courage to go up and talk to my friends youth pastor, and he said he would, and i talked to him for like ah hour on the way back. i am sorry to say that i have not accepted Christ, but i am really close, and just all the stories there impacted me, because i have done lots of things, and i finally realized that God will forgive. i am happy to say that i am very close to accepting Christ. it was so much fun though, and i think i am going again next yeah with my friends church.
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On February 9, 2008 @ 8:12 pm Kimber said:

Greg!

Wow, it’s amazing to think that this was my third year here at Dare2Sare Colombus. This is by far my favorite convention out of the many that my youth group goes to, and man, we go to a lot!
I have a friend named Taylor. She went to D2S with me; she’s a great member of my youth group. This was also her 3rd year of D2S. For the past few months, her grandmother’s health hasn’t been the greatest, and slowly it’s been deteoriating. (Or however you spell it…*wink*) Unfortunately, her grandmother died the day we came home. She was able to go to her grandmother’s house before she died to spend the last few hours with her. Her grandmother was a great Christian, and she’s surely with God right now. But her grandfather, well, to my knowledge he wasn’t a Christian. Tay has been trying for a long time to get him to see God’s light and everything, but so far it hasn’t working. On Sunday night after she died, her grandfather told her mother that he wanted to be with his wife. Her mom was scared, thinking that he might have been considering suicide. But no! Instead, he decided to put his faith in Jesus! And not only that, but when Tay’s mom asked him if she could pray with him, he said no, I would like to have Taylor do it! It was fantasic! I heard this story when I went to her grandmother’s viewing on Wednesday, and he was there, spreading the word of God to everyone that came! It was great! Now they only have to keep working on Tay’s uncles. But I think they can do it!
Thanks for such a great year!
(Oh, and by the way, I did do the cell phone challenge. I called my best friend Cody who had come with us last year but he’s fallen away in the last year. I called him and told him how much he meant to me, and how much everyone here at youth missed him. We talked for a little longer and then everyone in our group yelled goodbye to him…he told me at school that Monday that he really wanted to come back!)
<3Kimber
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On February 10, 2008 @ 1:38 pm AH said:

I had an amazing time at D2S, and I think that Friday night was the biggest life defining moment I’ve ever experienced. Thank you so much for working so hard to pull off the drama for us.

During the cell phone challenge, I called my friend who goes to church but whose actions tell me that she is not a believer. I don’t think she really took me seriously. I had invited her to D2S about a month before the event but she told me she had to go visit her family in Iowa. She told me quote “It’s not that I don’t want to go, but we have to go see my family” Well, the Thursday before D2S I asked her what she was doing over the weekend, because I hadn’t quite believed her when she told me she was visiting her family. She told me she wasn’t doing anything. That hurt me so much. Everytime I bring up youth group or God she shrugs it off as if its stupid. I am continuing to pray for her and trying to invite her to different youth events.

On a positive note, I saw a ton of people from school at D2S which is awesome! On Monday, lots of people were wearing “Jesus Recycles” shirts. That is so cool!

Lincoln Brewster, The Washington Projects, and Stellar Kart really impacted me in in a positive way. Now everytime I hear one of their songs, I think of D2S and I smile! Also, I’ve discovered that music really helps me spread the word of Chrsit. In the past week I’ve shared my love of Stellar Kart and Hawk Nelson with two different people. I was playing a CD of Stellar Kart and Hawk Nelson at a skating rink and people were like “this music is so cool!” Through these songs I was able to start people on the Gospel Journey.

Well, I’ll leave you now. One last request that will probably not happen - make D2S every weekend at the Convention Center!

Yeayea!
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On February 12, 2008 @ 12:18 pm Emmalee said:

Greg,

This was my first time at Dare2Share and I found it really amazing. I have been a christian almost my entire life, I trusted in God as my Savior when I was a very little kid, but this conference really compelled me to tell my friends about Jesus and live my life for him instead of myself. I was told at a camp last summer to “put all my chips in” to christ and to give everything to him, but I don’t think I really understood what it meant until now.
Thank you so much! You rock some seriously amazing socks. God bless.
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On February 17, 2008 @ 1:48 pm Taylor Stacy said:

OH MY GOODNESS GREG! That is all I can think to say…Dare2Share was sooooo so so awesome! It was something that I really needed. You, Zane, and Derwin really touched me. I was at the Columbus convention with my church that I have been attending for all 15 years of my life. I grew up with a great christian family with christian values and was taught everythihng to know about God…how to love people…evangilism…and all that good stuff. Before the tour I had been missing something and I knew what it was…I have been saved sense I was 7 so I never really knew what it was all about. I recommited my life to christ in the the 8th grade but never really had that relationship with christ that I wanted. I did devotions every night and prayed every night and yet…there was still something missing. I needed that deep christ relationship that I had heard so many people talk about. On February 2 something finally clicked…you guys got it into my thick skull…what I needed. I loved God…I knew Jesus but I didn’t let any one know that. Because they all knew…you see I am what people at my school call “the church girl” and I thought sense they knew why tell?… But I wasn’t telling them the best part…I wasn’t telling them about Jesus and what he did for me and how he could do the same for them. I wasn’t spreading the GOSPEL…I was just letting them make their own opinions about it all. Let me tell you this…sense that conference I have changed so much…I am a lot more happy all the time and I am spreading the GOSPEL. I have got my boyfriend and his whole family coming with me to church every Sunday night and every Sunday morning! And I am so happy that they get to experience what you guys gave me the opportunity to experience. I am a lot more open about sharing my faith and there is one particular girl that I have been sharing with. She really doesn’t seem to have much interest in God but I am compelled by what you say and I will keep trying. I want to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for what you do…it’s so amazing. Dare2Share is one of the most amazing things that have ever happened to me and I loved it. Stellar Kart was sooooo awesome that was the first concert that I had ever been too and let me tell you I had a BALL! I looked like a lunitic jumping up and down…lol My friends are still laughing! Thank you so much for sharing your story! And I can’t wait to see you next Year! I will be waiting!
YOU GUYS ARE SO AWESOME!!! God Bless you and Thank you so much!
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On February 21, 2008 @ 6:22 pm Brittany said:

Greg,
I’m a little late at writing to you but, I took the double dare in Columbus and told my friend in a letter about Jesus, and I explained the Gospel message. I told her in the letter that she could either accept it or reject it. So I went home that night and found out that her mom called my mom to tell her to tell me to stop “harassing” her. So I went to school the next day(after I couldn’t sleep, I stayed up and prayed intead)and I was expecting her to give me a mean look, but she didn’t, and I was so relieved to see that she wasn’t very offended, because she acted like nothing ever happened. I’m still praying for her, and we’re still friends, so now I just have to be a good example for her to show her Christ.(By the way, my whole Youth Group had an amazing time!) I also want Zane to know that his story makes me think every time I walk into school, I don’t want anyone to have to go through that. Keep doing Dare 2 Share, it really does make a difference.-Brittany
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On March 16, 2008 @ 6:33 pm Breanne \\ said:

Greg,
I was at the Columbus Conference. It was AMAZING!!! you really touched my heart. You made me relize how important God is to me. And when you did the drama part, yes I did cry, but the most important part is I was crying because God was telling me to cry. Because at 9:49pm I accept Jesus Christ into my heart and my soul. So I thank you for changing my life!!!

Truly yours,
Breanne
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On April 5, 2008 @ 7:21 am trheph1921 said:

I thank God for your ministry and passion for the Truth. Our group spent some time with you and Zane in Columbus this year. I appreciate the challenges you presented to the kids to do it NOW with the cell phone calls and evangelism/service time in the afternoon. We’re a small group with very shy kids who tend to be the ones in the background and against the wall in most settings but my heart was filled with joy as I watched them approach door after door asking for food and prayer requests. We were challenged and convicted as leaders that day as well. As we handed our cell phones to the kids and told them to call someone God very clearly asked a couple of us why we weren’t placing the calls… Thanks for allowing God to challenge and convict all of us, kids and adults, through your service.

I also want to thank Zane for his graciousness and the time he spent with the kids during the break. We had just finished the Gospel Journey and I think they saw him as quite a celebrity. I appreciated his transparency and honesty as he spoke about his life before Christ. What a wonderful example of God’s restoring power and love.
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Columbus…the morning after

Posted on Sunday 3 February 2008 by Greg @ 6:30 am
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Posted on Sunday 3 February 2008 by Greg @ 6:30 am Filed under: Conferences

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Posted on Sunday 3 February 2008 by Greg @ 6:30 am
Filed under: Conferences