gregstier.org

Chicagoland was grand!

Posted on Sunday 1 April 2007 by Greg @ 12:25 pm
Filed under: Rants

What a great conference!

Over 3,000 teenagers registered (our largest first year conference ever!)
250 teens trusting in Christ as their savior during the event!
5 tons of canned food collected for the needy!

And what’s really exciting…most of the teenagers in attendance took the 48 hour challenge (to share Jesus with one person in the next 48 hours!)

Were you one of them? If so, do tell…

56 Comments for 'Chicagoland was grand!'

On April 1, 2007 @ 12:39 pm sarah said:

well i took the 48 hour challenge and i havent done it yet but tonight at my youth group i am going to talk with a couple of the boys that go to youth group that haven accetpted Jesus as their Lord and Savior…also i did the whole calling my friend on the phone..i got a hold of my friend jessica..and we didnt really get to talk much but she agreed to come hang out with me someday soon..and i hope and PRAY that God just gives me the words to say and the strength…because when i am around her it feels like something (mostly likely the devil) is trying to pull me down..and i just need the strength and words to say..also one quick ? does anyone know where do to download the bible for my ipod..i just got done deleting all the rap and crap of music on my ipod and would like to have the bible on there..jw..and thanks for eveything your doing greg…i would have to say your a BIG insparation to me..and this weekend something amazing happend…i think my calling is to be a youth pastor!!… God bless sarah K!!!
Permalink to sarah's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 12:57 pm Amber said:

I was one of those 250 teens who put their faith in Jesus. And I took the 48 hour challenge. And as soon as I got home, which was Saturday night around 10:30 I logged onto myspace, posted a bulletin about how amazing Dare to Share was, and how I feel so alive now that I have put my trust in Christ. I recieved 2 messges, one from a boy who was already a christian and we talked about how we want to help our friends learn about the love of God. I recieved another message from a boy who didn’t believe, and I explained alot to him. He thinks that God doesn’t care about him because he finds it impossible for ONE GOD to care for Billions of people. I let him know that God does care. And I’m still talking to him about it. That night I stayed up talking to him from about 11:00pm to 2:00 am about God, I don’t know if he’s going to change. But I hope I changed his view on God. When you asked us to call one of our friends and share our faith with them, I called my friend Kara. She didn’t answer her phone. She called me back today. And I tried to talk to her about God. I noticed she was ignoring me. And I’m heartbroken. She told me that there’s nothing that can change her views on how she feels about God. I want to cry, because she’s my best friend. And if she dies I don’t think I’d see her again. But I’m not giving up, and I’m not losing hope. I just want to say Thank You for giving me the strength to tell my friends about Jesus Christ. & thank you for coming to Chicago. God Bless. Love, Amber.
Permalink to Amber's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 1:12 pm Megan said:

I took the 48 hour challenge. I am ready for it. Last night when I was sitting in my chair praying for my friend… my youth pastor gave me a phone. I was s scared to call my friend. My heart was about to blow right through my chest because it was beating so hard, but I called anyway. He answered the phone and as soon as I said gospel the phone was slammed down. I called again, but no answer. I am seriously determined to tell him again about Jesus. I am defiantely going to tell him in person. I really loved the way Jesus spoke through you this weekend. My heart was litterally broken in two and sewn back together with the love of Jesus. I thought I was living right and came to the sad conclusion that I really am not. When we told people about Jesus, it was hard. As we went on though it got easier and easier. I really can’t wait to tell others about Jesus. Seriously, I loved it and I will never forget it. I will be back to tell you how everything is. Megan.
Permalink to Megan's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 1:31 pm living4thecross91 said:

I’ve taken the challange before as well as now. Both times it’s been for the same person. Her name is Geneva. It was really amazing the first time because the next day the most amazing opertunity came up. She was having some trouble with her other friends and was feeling like she was being betrayed by them on a minor scale. I got to tell her about how Christ never betrays you no matter what. It was really cool. Friendly <3, Crystal
Permalink to living4thecross91's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 2:01 pm Rian said:

This was my first Dare2Share conference, and I have to say it was pretty amazing. I had loads of fun and learned a lot. During the whole conference I kept thinking of the one friend I wanted to be saved. I called her cell phone that night my heart pounding and I get her voice mail message. I leave a message only to come one and read their blog to find out that their cell phone when through the washer. Right then I knew this wasn’t going to be easy. I finally talked to her on line and she bit my head off. Telling me I was pushing my beliefs on her that I should knew she hates to talk bout that kind of thing. I told her all I wanted to do was talk. I wasn’t really sure what she believed in so I wanted her to talk about what she believe then I would talk about what I believe. But she just got mad stopped talking to me on aim. I just don’t know what to do. I don’t want her to hate me. I just don’t know how react to this.
Permalink to Rian's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 2:04 pm Becky said:

I’m so glad it was that sucessfull.
Permalink to Becky's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 2:17 pm Willie said:

i took the 48 hour challenge and this morning actually i tried to use it. I know my dad hasn’t given his life to Christ so i tried to work my way into it and see if i couldn’t get him to pray about it. but something bad happened. he started saying that he could do it whenever which isn’t very bad but then he thought that you and my youth group were teaching me bad things and that i was becoming like a Jehovah’s witness so now he wont let me go to my youth group. and i tried to see if i could get my sister to pray but she told me she didn’t care about god or what happened to her when she died. so please pray for me i totally need help on this and if this is what happened with the people who are close to me I’m afraid of what will happen when i talk to my friends so please just pray to God that he can help me though this p.s. the conference was great it really changed me
Permalink to Willie's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 3:23 pm SouthpawMike said:

I took the 48 hour challenge at the Dare2share conference in Chicago. I had a friend that was on my mind and I had already talked to him once about what he believes and such. However, I didn’t ask if he had been saved. So, I just called like 40 minutes ago and shared the gospel with him. He said that he had already accepted Christ during Conformation at his church (which I think is Catholic). To end off our conversation, I asked him if i could pray for him and he said that there wasn’t anything right now but if there was he would tell me. Then, I told him if he needed prayer or someone to talk to, I could do that. I guess that everyone you share the gospel with isn’t going to come to Christ or persecute you. Thanks Greg for the conference! It wasn’t like other conferences that they get you all spiritually "high" and then you’re like "I’ll take on the world for Jesus". This was more serious about living and doing what the conference was about. God Bless
Permalink to SouthpawMike's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 3:23 pm Brianna said:

Wow thats a big number! Prasie God! Im glad it was sucessful!
Permalink to Brianna's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 5:24 pm Beth said:

I just want to say that Gameday was so impactful in my life. That weekend is just what i needed. It was amazing. My life was totally changed though what i learned at D2S. I realized that i have to step it up. I have to tell my friends about Christ’s Love or they will not be with me in heaven someday. When i was watching the drama on that friday night God was just tugging at my heart. I just began to cry thinking of life without the Lord and then not going to heaven. And that is where some of my friends are they have no faith in Christ and no hope. My eyes where just opend to God’s grace and his power. What Christ did for us sinful people just blows my mind. I am so thankful. I was telling my youth leader Dave that i have always known the gospel but i really saw it in a different way on friday. I found a passion inside of me to tell everyone that i know about Christ and what he did for us. Everyone needs to know. It was a very powerful weekend. I took on the 48 hour challenge. That saturday night after i got home i called my friend Kim. I told her what an impact this weekend made on my life and what i all learned and did over the weekend. I asked her if she were to die right today would she know for sure that she was going to heaven. And she said no. So i asked her if i could share the gospel with her which some of it she already knew ,but she said she was unsure of somethings. I went throught the whole Gospel piece by piece. I asked her again after we talked about the Gospel if she knew now where she was going. And she said Heaven. I just thank the Lord for taking her a his child and i am so happy for her. She is now in the family of God and that is the best family to be in. She is a Christian now and i cant wait to help her grow in her faith. I have learned that we need to be on fire for the Lord and we need to go into all the world and preach this great news. Christ is the most important person in my life and i want him to be in others lifes too. Without the Lord i would be nothing and hopeless. I am going to go to school and just share this great news with all that want to here. I am God’s Servant and i will go and do whatever he wants me too. All the teaching and worship really helped me a lot. I can’t wait to tell my peers and others about Christ’s unconditional love. I told my youth Pastor Nat that my passion is Teens and i really want to see them share their faith that is so important to me. I feel called into youth ministry and that is how i will serve my Lord. Thanks Greg for helping all us teens learn how share our faith and love for the Lord. You are a great teacher and God has really blessed you in many ways. And also for all the 250 teens that are now in the family of God, bless you and i pray for strength for you and that you may grow strong in our amazing Lord Jesus Christ. That is so powerful to see so many put there faith in Christ in one weekend. O by the way i think my Pastor knows you from high school or something. um i thought that was pretty cool. Pastor Scott told me that you went to school with his wife too. i think you meet my youth pastor too one day. well, thanks for serving the Lord with your gifts. May God bless you and your family. In Christ’s Love, Beth
Permalink to Beth's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 6:09 pm Kim said:

I haven’t shared with the person who I chose to do the 48 hour challenge with but I am in the process of sharing my faith with 2 of my friends who are unsaved on aim. God is great!
Permalink to Kim's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 6:16 pm Theresa said:

I went to GameDay and I realized what I needed to change in my life. I knew that I kinda fell away from God a little bit in my pre-teen years but this confrence just made my heart full again. I’m starting to read my Bible everyday and pray. The friend that I went with went through the same thing that I’m going through and we had a really good talk and we are keeping each other in our prayers. I’m starting to take notes in church and I don’t feel empty anymore. I took the 48 hour challenge and I talked to someone online but she wouldn’t answer. I remembered though that Greg said that some of your friends will shut you out, but its ok because you know that you did the right thing by trying to witness to them. I just wanna say THANK YOU DARE2SHARE!!!!!! YOUR AWESOME!
Permalink to Theresa's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 6:59 pm Paige said:

I guess it all started at the very end of the final session. When we were told to call a friend. I decided to call my best guy friend. Hes a really cool, fun guy, he just has never been into the whole religion thing. I called him and started telling him about the convention thing and how fun it was. Hes always been supportive of my religious beliefs and never put me down about it. I then asked him if hes ever thought about having a faith. He said no and it wasnt his thing. I told him a little more about jesus’s love. Since hes my best friend he listened. I shared the gospel with him and he listened. I thought I was making head way. I then asked him if he wanted to put his faith and trust and god. He said absolutly not! He then went on to tell me about how brain washing it all was. I asked him what if he was wrong. He just laughed at me. We said our good byes and hung up. I was a little down about it for awhile. Our youth group got home around 1 am. I got a phone call around 2:45 am. I pick my cell phone up and saw that my before mentioned friend was calling. I decided to ignore the call. Since I was so tired and he was probably just drunk dialing. Five minutes later he called back. I picked up the phone this time. He sounded troubled over the phone. I asked him what was up. I’ll never forget what he said next "Paige, will you tell me a little more about that whole god thing?" Dispite how tired I was I sat up and picked up my dare2share study manuel and started reading him things about of it. He had a lot of questions. I don’t know how I was able to anwser them. The words just came to me. about 3:30 am we started to say our good byes when I asked him if he would like to go to church with me later that morning. He said that he would really like that. Luckly the message this morning was about speaking to god. I could tell that the message really touched him. In about 30 minutes we are going to youth group together. I’m glad that he decided to give christ a chance.
Permalink to Paige's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 7:40 pm Liz said:

So I was at gameday and I took the 48 hour challenge. I spent the weekend praying to the point of tears for my best friend. I called him on saturday night at the conference and we got cut off, leaving much time for thought on either end. Sunday, we played phone tag and finally met up online. After about an hour and fifteen minute conversation about past talks and the talk on the phone, I learned that he had gotten saved one night in the car on the way back home from youthgroup (the only night he had ever come with me) and not told me for a long time, but when he did tell me, I didnt realize it. In short, it took the phone call that night to trigger me finding out that I had another brother. So he didnt get saved from the phone call, because he was already saved, but thats ok becasue God had already been working in his life. But, I really learned alot about witnessing, Ive been doing it for years with a ton of friends and, I feel like I know the way to go out and do more for the Kingdom now.. ok, this is the part where I stop the rambling and just say "I LOVE JESUS AND I AM SO EXCITED THAT KEVIN IS A CHRISTIAN!" Thanks all you guys at D2S.
Permalink to Liz's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 7:52 pm Indiana.19 said:

hello. -I went to GameDay in Chicago and I was thrilled with the outcome it has made on my life. I find myself being different in many ways. I was finding myself changing the channel on my TV if something inapropriate came on…or finding myself changing the radio or just listening to my Jeremy Camp CDs instead. I also find myself trying to eat right and being more careful driving(I was already careful). I found myself being A BETTER PERSON! And I thing you got to me more than any other preacher could! Some preachers are either boring, boring, or boring. They just stand there and use big words and talk 100 miles a min.! But you were keen on grabbing hold of the short attention spand that us teens have. I love when preachers find other ways to prove their point(dramas, stories, or people dressing up and having fun on stage["Streachy Pants"]). I just hope that their are more preachers like you, so more and more teens are actually listening(cuz you grab attention so well). But I am praying for your son(ear infection) and I just wanted to tell you how touched I was when I went to that conference! + THE LORD WAS THERE! P.S.-I have been trying to register on d2s and I keep getting that my confermation # is wrong, but I put it in right…I think. Have any suggestions?
Permalink to Indiana.19's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 8:02 pm Denise said:

D2S in Chicago was great!! i had so much fun. me and my friends are taking this back to our youth group and we’re going to do a class on sharing your faith. we’re also starting a new theme off of it. me and my friends worshiped so hard and learned so much. we all took the 48 hour challenge and have completed it with 15 acceptences out of 26 discussions. we have also been allowed to challenge our whole congregation. i loved every part of the conference. it was also a real spirtual (and just plain old fun) bonding experience with all of my friends (and with Jesus) and they have all said the same. we all plan on coming next year. we already have it planned in our calenders and we already have more than double the amount of people saying they want to go next year. the thing that impacted me the most was the "Are You Sure Your Friends Will Go To Heaven?" drama. everyone i see now I think that about them.
Permalink to Denise's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 9:30 pm Godsflower1789 said:

Howdy!!!! Alright, I’ll start by saying that I had an AMAZING time at Gameday (Chicagoland)! Here’s my GameDay experience/testimony: The whole thing really started Friday night, when we took a break after Starfield played. It was my first time attending Game day, and I was totally hyped up! So, my friend and I went, grabbed a bite to eat, did the normal girl chat thing. We went back to our seats, they were pretty much empty…except for this one girl sitting in the middle of the empty seats. Neither my friend or I had ever seen the girl before. She looked really upset. So I told my friend to wait a minute, and I went up to this girl who was sitting by herself. I just randomly said hi, asked if everything was alright, where you from, how long have you been a Christian kind of chat. After the few minutes of small talk, this girl started looking upset again, and she turned and said, "I know this is going to sound crazy, but God told me He wants you to pray with me…" And I freaked. I’ve never prayed in front of someone before….What would I say? And why does God want me to pray with this person, who I’ve only known for like, 5 minutes??? So, I asked her if there was anything specific she wanted me to pray with her about, or just an in general prayer. She looked at me and said she was recently struggling with depression and thoughts of suicide. My heart sank into my stomach. Just a few short years ago, I had struggled with the same thing, and I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Out of the 3,000 people there…I was put in the path of this one person…it wasn’t coincidence…it was God. I prayed with her, and words and phrases made there way into the prayer that I couldn’t have ever come up with on my own. I was so amazed that God used me that way…AND it was just the beginning! Saturday morning, hyped on coffee and little sleep, I was hyped up for anything! So, besides the fact that the conference was AMAZING (if that wasn’t good enough!) I had so much fun! (I was one of the "umbrella people"…) and why did I throw that in there? Well, at the end when we were asked to make that phone call to our friends, I was really apprehensive about actually doing it, an d I was afraid of what my friend might think. I thought I could get away with just praying. As soon as I thought that, I felt something in my spirit say "You just walked around 3,000+ people bobbing an umbrella up and down and didn’t care what a single person of that 3,000 people thought…if you can do something like that in front of that many people, then why can’t you call up your friend and offer them the good news of Jesus Christ? That would be more impressive than bobbing an umbrella around…" So, I called my friend, and I asked her if she was to die today, where did she think she would go? She hesitated, and finally confessed that she didn’t know, and that she thought that because she was a good person she’d probably go to heaven. So I asked her, if she would just consider what I was saying, and if I could tell her a way to guarantee a spot in heaven, if she’d listen, and she said yes. I explained to her the G.O.S.P.E.L., and told her that I didn’t have all the answers, but the one answer I did have was that Jesus was the only way. We talked, and she said she’d like to talk to me more about what I’ve said, and that she was really interested! All I can say is WOW!!! This conference has really changed the way I view myself, and how I apply God in my life. I really enjoyed and appreciate all that was said and done in this youth conference, and I hope to not only enjoy the benefits and teachings I’ve received in this Gameday…but I’m looking foward to many more!!! I can’t believe how much I’ve changed in the course of 2 days! WOW! Isn’t God Amazing?!?!?!?!? How about an Attitude Check: Praise The Lord!!!!!
Permalink to Godsflower1789's comment

On April 1, 2007 @ 9:55 pm Kim said:

So when we were told to take out our cellphones and call that person we had been thinking about and praying for all weekend the only person i desired to call was my best friend. see she has a heart condition and in the past year i have been with her in the ER at least 5 times. she doesnt really know jesus and it scares me to death that she could die any day and not go to heaven. well i dialed her number with serious butterflies in my stomach. like the kind where it makes you want to puke. and it turns out her phone got shut off becuase her mother who is slowly becoming an alcoholic spent the money for their bills so that she could go drinking. Her mom’s boyfriend is in prison and life’s gotten hard lately for them. and i just sat there and started crying bc im so scared that if i wait to do this and tell her how i feel that something is going to happen and i will never forgive myself. i lost two friends recently in a horrible car accidnet that killed 5 teens bc of drunk driving. there were 9 people piled into a 4 door sedan and at 2 oclock am they hit a pole 4 of them were instantly killed including my one friend and the other died about a week later. you never know when you are going to be taken to be with jesus and it terrifies me that something like this could happen again. lately around where i live there have been alot of teenageers dying and it absolutely kills me knowing that for all i know i could be next. But i am making that commitment to tell my best friend about jesus. I’ll have it no other way. I would appreciate some encouragement though. My boyfriend is having a really hard time with me rededicating my life to God for some reason. I’m struggling with what to do and I would like some advice. So if anyone can help me please!?!!?!!?!!? Thanks a ton and Dare 2 Share Chicago ROCKED!!
Permalink to Kim's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 5:52 am Bekah said:

Dare2Share has forever changed my life! Friday night as I watched the drama unfold I could really feel God talking right to my heart. Christa was almost frighteningly identical to me. She accepted Christ around the age of 7 or 8. She went on a mission trip when she was in 7 grade and that was when she realized she wanted to live for Christ alone. Later on she became self conscious and wanted to change the way she looked which led to bad situations. Here’s my story… I accepted Christ right around the age or 7 or 8. When I was in 7 grade I realized I wanted to live for Christ alone so I rededicated my life to him and got baptized. Lately I have been extremely self consious and have wanted to change this or that. That night I could tell God was speaking to me and saying, "Bekah, if you don’t put your everything into me and don’t trust that I love you exactly as you are then eventually you are going to end up like this." That night I put my faith in him. I am no longer going to conform to the world’s ways but I am going to be content with who I am because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. He loves me and nothing can change that! Saturday night I had forgotton my cell phone so I prayed harder than I had ever before. As soon as my friend was done on the phone I called my friend Abby. I have known her since 3 grade. She believes there is no heaven. We will become animals. She doesn’t think Jesus can save her. With tears in my eyes I left her a message apologizing for never really talking to her about this before. I told her that God is the only one I want to live for and I want to share it with her. I don’t want to argue or anything… I just want to talk. Yesterday I took the 48 hour challenge even further. With trembling hands I went through my contacts list on my phone. I called every friend that didn’t know Jesus. I called every friend that did and apologized for not living it out lately. I got shot down a few times yet truly listened to others. I mostly got answering machines. As I go to school today though, I am not as terrified as I would have been before this weekend. I am going to do all I can and trust that God is going to marvelously do the rest. Thank you so much!!!!!!!!! If it weren’t for you and everyone at Dare2Share (and God of course) I would never have the courage to be so bold. THank YOU!
Permalink to Bekah's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 9:53 am Jennifer said:

man, god did a great work in me. i dont know how, but now im excited to tell others about jesus. I want to see all of my friends in heaven. so, i took the 48 hour challenge on sunday, i emailed my friend tiffany. now, i didnt really expect anything, she is the kinda girl who would swear you out if you even poked her in the arm. she is emo, she cuts herself, and is convinced that she is goin to hell and that there is nothing she can do about it. she told me this a while ago but i was scared and didnt say anything. but on sunday i left her an email explaining that i really did no the way to heaven… by believing in Jesus as savior and lord. well, she said it was crap adn she didnt want to here that church crap from her friends, but i sent her one more mesage saying "your missing out, cuz jesus loves you a heck of alot more than you know" i think shes opening up to me she told me that she tries to put her trust in jesus but so many bad things happen to her and she doesnt see how jesus loves her and could put bad things in her life. i just told her that he really does love her, and that he can help her through those times. but greg? why does god do that? i cant think of a good answer right now. anyways, i could use some prayer support right now that god can teach me what to say. thanks a million, greg, and all of dare 2 share. you did more than you know this weekend. god bless. -jenn
Permalink to Jennifer's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 1:50 pm Matthew Rizor said:

Ok i accepted the 48 hour challenge. I didnt have my cell phone but i did go to school today and met my friend. My friend has decided to convert to Wicca. He was a Atheist for the longest time. I then decided i should go home and use the dare 2 share site to see wht i should do with my friend. i really need prayer for me and my friend. I know i must try and tht is wht i plan on doing tommorow also thanks Greg for Dare 2 share it was awesome
Permalink to Matthew Rizor's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 1:59 pm Wes said:

The fire continues after D2S. Prior to the conference, we had two of our teens make it clear this was their last year of going. After the conference, we had testimony time on the bus ride home. While there was "dead air", I inquired on how many would want to return next year. I did not see one hand down. If there were any hands down, I did not see them and they did not belong to the two that said this was their last year. Now the fun begins: Sunday night at youth group before the lesson began, there was mention from a student that we should go out and share the good news at our local Walmart after youth group. When the suggestion reached the ears of the entire youth group, they were filled with excitement. (Even the ones who were never thrilled about sharing their faith.) One of the parents thought he had stopped in to pick his daughter up but he ended up coming with us as well. We were their close to an hour before we were "asked" to leave the premises. (PU) The really awesome thing about this experience was the very fact that the students (not the leaders) initiated this. 3 Prayer Requests A young man is having brain surgery in two weeks. I am sure he would appreciate all of your prayers. The youth pastor’s sister is in the hospital with a brain problem. They think they know what is causing it but I don’t want to limit the prayer focus. She does not know the Lord and our youth pastor’s unsure of her condition of the moment also. Pray for us that the fire of these kids (and adults) that God has placed in us would not be reduced to smoldering coals, but the blaze inside of us would continue burning the chaff out of our lives and lighting the path that God has set before each and everyone of us. N His Grip Wes
Permalink to Wes's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 3:08 pm Abbey said:

thanxs soooo much for the D2S conference. It really made a difference in the way I look at sharing my faith. I had remembered the G.O.S.P.E.L. from last year, but it was great to hear it again. I took the 48 hour challenge and called my friend Yoshi. I casually brought up the subject of Easter coming up and asked if she knew what it was all about. She said sort of and I explained the gospel message with her and she seemed interested in it. Then the subject changed and I was about to bring up the subject of heaven and hell when the phone cut out. I tried to call her back but it didn’t work. I do think that I impacted her and got her thinking, though. please pray for her and know that I am praying for all of the other kids who chose to take the challenge. D2S IS AWESOME!!
Permalink to Abbey's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 3:13 pm Abbey said:

hey Greg, your book Dare 2 Share, A Field Guide To Sharing Your Faith is awesome!! I read the whole thing today before taking the 48 hour challenge. For anyone who was at the conference, I highly recommend this book!
Permalink to Abbey's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 3:42 pm Kristin said:

WOW!! Game Day was incredible. I had never been to a dare2share conference, but I can’t wait till next year! The weekend touched me and blessed me in so many ways. God is so good!! As a leader at 21, I was in awe about this weekend. 3000 teenagers would sound scary to most but it was awesome to us as leaders!! We took 11(which was amazing for the size of our church) and out of that 11, 2 gave their hearts to the Lord and 2 re-dedicated their lives. They said they had a lot of fun and the experience was incredible for them. They just wish it would of been longer-lol! They’re already excited and talking about next year!! We are so excited about getting new things started with our youth that we learned this weekend and impacting our city(representin BELOIT WI) here. God bless Greg and everyone else that was involved in the whole process!
Permalink to Kristin's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 4:14 pm sarah jones said:

hey greg, game day at chicago was very awesome thnx for an amazing experience….. i took the 48 hour challenge and ive convinced like 6 of my friends to start going to church with me…i also saw this boy today(well actually like 20 minutes ago)at the park drivings a 40 oz. of beer and he looked really sad and lost ….i had my youth leader on the phone when i saw him…i had this earg to talk to him …i went over to talk to him and found out he used to go to my school but he got expelled…i was about to start talkin to him about jesus when my mom came and made be leave because he is underaged and shouldnt be drinking(iwas so bummed) so i sast on my porch in his clear view and i bowed my head and folded my hands and cried out to God….i than began to lift my hands and worship God for him to hear mey cry and reach out to the boy….i was wandering if you could pray for him, also. if so his name is malcolm thank you <3 sarah! game day rox!!!!
Permalink to sarah jones's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 5:16 pm jesusfreak15 said:

Dare 2Share had to be the coolest experience I have ever had. I called my best friend when we had to call the person we were praying about and actually, his girlfriend got saved last night, my friend is really hard to talk to since he gets mad after a couple minutes. Can you e-mail me with some help. He’s an Athiest that believes in God and Heaven but not Hell, I have no idea what to say to him anymore.
Permalink to jesusfreak15's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 5:26 pm sfowler said:

ok so i did the 48 hour challenge. i talked to a friend of mine at lunch today and he used to be a believer til he had things go wroing in his family and his life in general. then i talked to him today and he said he will reconsider being baptized…. i gave him some scriptures and he said thanks i really needed that. so i also want to say thanks because before coming to chicago i was feeling depressed and being in there with 3500 christians made me realize how much i have to be grateful for and how good ,my life really is so thank you for organizing the event!!
Permalink to sfowler's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 5:45 pm Shannon said:

Hi, my name is Shannon, and I did the 48 hour challenge. I just want to start off saying: Dare 2 Share was amazing, and life-changing. During the 48 hour challenge, I called my papa (grandpa). I started to talk to him and I asked him if he had a relationship with Jesus Christ. Then he told me something that was amazing: he just got back from church..and he was saved! He had been saved for a little while, but I didn’t know, but I had been praying for him. I was amazed at what God had been doing in his heart, and I am also very grateful. I also contacted my friend, but she just didn’t want to hear what I was saying. But, I have not given up on her, because her soul depends on it. It will take me out of my comfort zone, but Greg, and the Dare 2 Share speakers and playbook will help me. Thank you, Greg, and Dare 2 Share, I cannot wait untill next year!
Permalink to Shannon's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 6:27 pm Heather Smith said:

Hey Greg, The messages preached at the Dare2Share Conference really got me thinking about everything that has been going on in my life. I have so many things that are appraoching way to fast. The conference helped me to slow down and just think about where my life is heading. I am from the church across the street. I also helped out with the conference earlier in the day. While at the conference i decided to sponsor a little girl who lives in Kenya. I got home and was very excited about my child, but my parents got angry at me and we like "why would you do that" and kept telling me how i am trying to save money for college and a new Horn and "do i really need to be doing this." Then he told me that our youth pastor was going to talk to us about the Compassion people and that they shouldnt be at youth conferences pressuring kids to sponsor children. But i really felt that this is something that i should be doing because i work for 4 hours at my job every month and i can pay for this child to get more than she would have if i wasnt sponsoring her. Also, I took the 48 hour challenge and my friend (her name is Christina) is Catholic and she already believes there is a God and she attends church every Sunday. I am still concerned for her though because you can tell where someone’s heart is by looking at the way that they live their life and their actions. I just dont know exactly how i would approach the situation and i am afraid that i wont have enough time because she is graduating and going to college in a few months. I am not sure how much i will see her after she goes away to college. I hope to hear from you soon. Heather
Permalink to Heather Smith's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 6:39 pm Heather Smith said:

i just posted and i noticed that you dont have anything about the Catholic religion on the religions webpage.
Permalink to Heather Smith's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 6:41 pm chelsea P said:

So I attended the dare 2 share conference, and it totally blew me away. The realization of Hell and MY FRIENDS going there just made tremble. I never knew the urgency of telling my friends about Christ. I told my friend that I was praying for her and (because I couldn’t talk to her right then) I said that we need to talk and whatnot. I brought a friend to dare to share and it was amazing for her to ( as she told me today at school ) find her purpose in life, which was telling others about Jesus Christ. Sunday night, one of my friends ( from youth group) brought a friend to church. Him and our leaders were talking to her and that night she put her trust in GOD! PRAISE GOD! This whole experience has opened my eyes, thank you.
Permalink to chelsea P's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 7:41 pm Ashley Buckner said:

Chicago beat Seattle for the biggest first conference ever. Dang. Oh well, I’m glad it was so successful. Signing off, Ashley
Permalink to Ashley Buckner's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 7:44 pm Allison said:

i thought chicago was amazing! i also thought u might like to hear my story =] well for the past 2 or 3 months ive been getting really low. ive been battling depression ever since school started in the fall but since february things got worse. i lost all trust in God. i believed he was there but I was confident that He didnt care about me at all. I told him I hated him and that things were "through" with us. He was just putting me through too many hard things all at once. My friends said, "he’s trying to make you strong" but i was convinced that he was pushing things too far. Especially since I considered cutting and a week before Dare2Share I almost overdosed. I tried to back out of Dare2Share but I think my parents sensed I needed it, so they made me go. I’m so happy I went! Friday night I burst into tears when the drama was done because I realized that I had rejected God and I knew that if I had died that night, I wouldn’t have been going to heaven! I realized how much he loved me, and absolutely everything (the hugs random people gave me, the music Starfield played, the excitement, the teaching…etc) touched me in a way that made me feel loved. I reaccepted God into my life. And I’m crazy happy! =D as for the 48 hour challange, I tried it! I wore my Starfield Shirt (I want to Hold the Hand that Holds the World) to try and help me get conversations going, and it worked! (Thanx Starfield!!!!) A lot of people were asking me about it, and a few people that I’d actually thought didn’t believe in God admitted that they did. Don’t get me wrong, things went bad too! Some kids told me "God was overrated" and one girl actually got REALLY upset when I tried talking to her. I asked her the questions "Why don’t you believe in God?" & she said "There’s no proof" and i guess I shoulda said "Do you want me to get proof?" but instead i said "What if you are wrong?" and she got really mad. That’s pretty much where the conversation ended but I’m gonna be praying for her now! Sorry this was so long. But thanks so much for a great weekend!
Permalink to Allison's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 8:13 pm Richard said:

Greg, I enjoyed the conference and thought it was God-honoring and well produced. Your humor does well to grace the atmosphere. I saw some of the youth I was with call their friends and seek to explain the Gospel to them and I thought it was equally excellent to hear you focus on different approaches to it as well. Proverbs tells us that there is wisdom in the winning of souls and Jesus so often modeled this by His acts of love paving the way for spiritual conversation and challenge. He often evangelized by asking questions with questions as well. I did want to write and say that I just called a friend whom I have witnessed to and talked to over the years who’s health has taken a turn for the worse and gently challenged his claim to faith because of his immoral lifestyle which has been a pattern for a decade. He claimed that he was born again and that is what counts in "getting in" but I challenged him with "he who has been born of God does not continue in sin" from 1 John and Matthew 7 and "he who does the will of my Father in heaven" enters into Jesus’ kingdom. But before all of that I explained the conference and the skit with the 2 girls at the judgment and the details of their lives etc. The conversation concluded by the person saying the immoral lifestyle was "fine by them." I will be continuing to visit this person because I care. Thanks for the motivation and "stirring us up to good deeds."
Permalink to Richard's comment

On April 2, 2007 @ 8:49 pm Mark Wittenmyer said:

Hey Greg, Loved the Gameday conference in Chicago! I’m a senior pastor who works with our youth. We brought 11 kids and they were fired up after this weekend….churches services were rocking Sunday morning with excitment and enthusiasm. I talked a little and little the kids do the Via la stretchie pants skit….what a riot! I also showed the video of our kids doing their outreach time. Every one in the congregation loved the service. Our kids took the 48 hour challenge and I’m waiting to hear what they did. They want to do the outreach to our community now and are working to develop an e-team. They are wanting to invite their friends so that we can bring a group of 30-50 next year God willing. keep praying for my group. The skit on Friday was really moving for not only my group of kids but it impacted the entire leadership (5 of us)…we are so excited, keep up the great work that you’re doing for Christ.
Permalink to Mark Wittenmyer's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 12:34 am joyful said:

Yep, I was someone who took the 48-hour-challenge at the dare 2 share conference in the Chicagoland area this past week-end. There were so many people I wanted to talk to in my life. But God totally was working out who HE wanted me to talk to. I was at the dr today and at the end of my appointment i asked my dr how i could pray for her. Was she surprised! she asked me to repeat what i just said, b/c she couldn’t believe what i just said. she shared something she was concerned about in her life. and then…she asked how she could pray for ME! we talked for only a minute or so, and when i was about to leave she said "remember, together we live for Christ!"
Permalink to joyful's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 10:39 am Brody Thompson said:

Hey Greg, just want to say thanx for the life changing experience. i set up a day to talk to my boss about Christ. would’ve done it on Monday night but he is in arizona. I’m gettin ready to go talk to one of my good friends about everything that Christ has done for me in the past few days. i’ve been a Christian for 9 years but i haven’t been a good one. Gameday really opened up my eyes to what is important in life. thanx alot to everyone who is on the Dare 2 Share staff. I really appreciate everything you all do.
Permalink to Brody Thompson's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 11:10 am Miriam said:

so on saturday we were sent out to go and share our faith with people door to door. we were all excited but i was pretty terrified. when we were in the car i was praying as hard as i could. i started to really feel ready. all of a sudden it started to rain. me and another guy in our van both said that it really seemed like a devil thing. like he wanted to put a damper on us sharing our faiths. so we all just broke down and prayed. i was praying in my head and then we prayed as a group. we stopped at a gas station real quick to get fuel and go to the bathroom. within a minute of our prayer…the rain completely stopped. it cleared up so fast. it was such a God-thing. i had never really seen God work like that but right then and there i knew he was all-powerful. he controls the weather and has power over everything in this world. so often i dont trust him with my life and right then i decided to turn that around. if God is able to control the weather he should definitely be powerful enough to control any other thing in my life. thanks so much Greg. this whole conference was amazing and you challenged me in so many ways.
Permalink to Miriam's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 12:18 pm Godsgirl11 said:

Hey, Dare2Share in Chicago Land was spectacular! I was changed so much, and I am ready to go and tell my friends about Christ. I did the 48-hour challenge, but didn’t get it done. I am not going to give up though. Just because the "average" teen doesn’t do it after 48 hours doesn’t mean I just have to give up. So, I am waiting for my friend, Taryn, to get onto AIM. Please pray that she will have an open heart and will listen to what I have to say. I really want her to become a christian. She is a good friend and I will spend a lot of time with her in basketball. But, I don’t want to spend time with someone when I know I could be telling her about the best thing in my life. So, please pray for me. My sister just moved to California and I won’t see her for a couple months. Thanks so much for such a great weekend! I am totally changed!
Permalink to Godsgirl11's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 12:31 pm swmr4god said:

that is so amazing all the things that happened there!!i cant believe how far D2S has come !!! Last year at the ”Revolution” tour ,99.5% of my youth group gave their lives to Jesus (the other .5% was me!!) ( the youth leaders daughter) .Thank you Dare To Share for all that youve done with my youth group!! PEACE,Christy fuller P.S. 100% GAVE THEIR LIVES TO CHRIST THIS YEAR!!!!!
Permalink to swmr4god's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 7:42 pm sean said:

hey well i ministeredto a girl named amber andshe believes in science and knowledge well i told her my beliefs and shes prettystrong on hers but i did my best i will continue to pray for he. dare2share was soo amazing i turned to christ then and wow greg u r amazing soo yeah thank u for everything man u rock. but yeah soo yah thanks again.
Permalink to sean's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 9:46 pm Xiomy said:

I went to Chicago’s Dare2Share with my youth group (I am a student leader), and beforehand I was praying really hard for the teens that go to my church. Many of them know of Christ, but they don’t know Him. They haven’t taken their faith seriously. I was cryign out to God to give us all a passion and a fire for Him. We are a new church (just three months old), but I have known most of the teens for a long time. This was the first time we attended Dare2Share, and what impacted them the most of the whole weekend was Friday night, during the drama and when you spoke. 6 out of the 19 teens that went accepted Christ that night! Many of them were challenged and inspired by that night, and are really excited about being serious about their faith. I just wanted to thank you for everything you have done with this ministry! God is using you in BIG ways, and I see that in the change many of the teens experienced that weekend. God is amazing!
Permalink to Xiomy's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 9:55 pm Tyler F said:

hey greg. just want to say whateveryone else is saying that gameday was flippin awesome!!! i just wanted to let you know that i took your 48 hour challenge and talked with 2 people about christ and asked if they knew they were going to heaven and about the gospel and everything but after that question and they want to know how, i just completely blacked out. i had no idea what to say and i just left the subject alone, what should i do? please help me. when you told us to call our friends for four minutes i called most of my friends the problem with them was that they had already accepted christ into their life which of course isnt a bad thing but i really just didnt know if it was because of me that i didnt know for not showing my faith or if it was them. my whole story or like testimony is that i was a lier a poser not of christians but of people i thought were better than god at the time. since i was 6′ in 6th grade, and 220 pounds i really didnt fit in. so i started to lie about how rich my family was and that we were the most awsomest family ever. then in 8th grade i started lieing about what i had done with girls and how far i went and that i "struck a homerun" which hadnt of course( none of the girls in my school are tall enough lol). i was 6′5" at the time. some people still beleive that i "did the BIG it" as i like to prefer it as. then i started to say that i saw my brother shoot himself in the head and that my dad was really sick. after that i started well not cutting but i eraser burned my hand and my arms. my teachers got really concerned about me so they called my parent to talk about me seeing my brother get shot but they said that he was living happily in mi8nnesota which is the true story. so went to the guidence office and talked to the councelor but when i left i felt like i confessed all of my sins to god not my councelor. i didnt realize it then but i do now. couple weeks after that i met my best friend Jordan P he just moved to the area. him chelcey j and alexis vb dragged me into edgewod communitychurches youth group and i started going to yg with them and three weeks afterwards i accepted christ into my like with the help of Bob a volunteer leader. i accepted christ into my life May 15 2006. now moving to the present. a little before gameday i was given a fifty dolar bill for volunteering to stand infront of our youthgroup. it was a lesson about how god will always love you. he crumpled the 50 and threw it into a bag of dirt and stomped on it. and since it was donated by my youth pastor i was going to use it for a good cause. so after gameday i forgot my free worn out bible at the hotel. so bob and i decided that i should go and get a new bible. so thats what we did. i got a bible especially made for teen guys and a devotional that would acctually be mine. but i just wanted to thank you for an awesome weekend. i put about 7 notes under the chair. so just thank you for helping me accomplish sooo much that weekend. i may never meet you i may never talk with you imay neer lagh with you i may never hug you but i do love you for what an inspiration youve been in my life. god bless you Tyler F. Waupun WI a little prayer request if you dont mind my cousin was diagnosed with many tumers on most of her vital organs right after she had just gotten married to an awesome guy and given birth to a beautiful baby girl. they gave her 1yr with cemo. please just pray for her. and my uncle was diagnosed with cancer in his colon (so at the moment he has no poop bag lol) just please pray for him to. thank you sorry just one more thing a joke called fart football: so this elderly couple gets into bed they both say goodnight to eachother. and all of a sudden the husband farts and yells out,"7 points" his wife asks him," what was that?". he replies"fart football, 7 points". so his wife gives off 2 farts. and yells in his face,"14 Points!". well of course he wants to show her up. but he cant, he wasted it all on his fisrt one. he just wanted to make a funny. so he pushed and he pushed. his face was so constipaded he lookedlike he was giving birth. all of a sudden he gave off the biggest fart imaginable. his wife asked him,"what the heck was that?" well of course with all the effort he put into it he craped the bed. so then he replied "half time switch sides"……. that is my favorite one hope you like it.
Permalink to Tyler F's comment

On April 3, 2007 @ 9:59 pm Tyler F said:

and i hope to see you on stage and survive next year DARE 2 SHARE ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Permalink to Tyler F's comment

On April 4, 2007 @ 11:53 am Wesley said:

I was at chicago and i had a lot of fun and learned a lot. When me and my friend Sam got home at like 1 in the morning we went to this gas station near his house in madison, wi. We were making an attempt to witness and go through with the 48 hour challenge. There was this older guy working the late night shift, and we tried to talk to him and he didnt really want to talk so we tried one more time. he stilled didnt want to talk to so we decided we would leave. But ya it was such a great time and i had a blast and i cant wait til next year really looking forward to it — Wes
Permalink to Wesley's comment

On April 4, 2007 @ 6:20 pm dana1422 said:

Greg I am so glad I went to D2S again. It was my third year and each time it gets better and better. I loved the addition this year about calling a friend that you wanted to tell about Jesus. I called one of my old good friends John who used to be a frequent church attender, but for the past few year has strayed. I used to be best friends with this guy, but as he seperated from the church family, our friendship did the same. I missed him so much, I knew he was the one I had to call, so I did. He did not answer the phone so I left him a voicemail as if I was actually talking to him. I told him about teh Gospel and all that, but at the end I added that I loved him, always and forever (as a christian brother). Its been four days and I still have not gotten a call back. I wish he did call back sometime to rejump our friendship but I know thats not the point. As long as he heard the message, my job is done. I want to thank you for everything this D2S AND I cant wait until next year! -Dana
Permalink to dana1422's comment

On April 4, 2007 @ 6:31 pm Caitie McCormack said:

Hey Greg- The Chicago Conference WAS amazing, and my friend accepted Christ when I called him that night!!!! I was wondering if there was any way that I could get a copy (video) of that Judgment Day drama presentation. Possibly mail it? Send it though email? I started a Christian club at my public school at the beginning of the school year, and I would love to show that presentation to them!! Let me know as soon as possible! Thanks! (cbmccr@yahoo.com) God bless. Love from your sister in Christ, Caitie
Permalink to Caitie McCormack's comment

On April 5, 2007 @ 9:40 am Greg said:

Hey Caitie,

Unfortunately we don’t make the videos available. Sorry!
Permalink to Greg's comment

On April 5, 2007 @ 7:03 pm Amy said:

I took 12 eight grade students to Chicago D2S; all 12 made decisions after the drama to the effect of "I want to take my relationship with God seriously and serve Him with my life." Three of my junior highers together made one "phone call" during the night to their friend and shared the G.O.S.P.E.L. with her. One of my junior high boys took the 48 hour challenge and talked to a friend online Monday night and shared the G.O.S.P.E.L. with her; she had to go but wanted to talk more about it, so he called and talked to her the next night and discussed some of her questions about Jesus, salvation and church. He is so excited about having this ongoing spiritual conversation. One of my quieter junior high girls took the 48 hour challenge and wrote me this note: "Thank you for taking me to Dare 2 Share. I had a really good time and I learned a lot. I thought it was awesome of you to do that for us. I hope their will be more experiences like that again. After the fact I have started to tell my catholic non-Christian friend about the Lord, and now every day at lunch we talk and she wants to hear more! I think she will come to Christ really soon. Thank you so much for the opportunity to go to the conference because now I may have started to get my friend to Christ!" Thanks for inspiring and challenging our students!
Permalink to Amy's comment

On April 7, 2007 @ 8:47 am Jessie Reid said:

Hey Greg~ My youth group and I came all the way from Northern Michigan to D2S in Chicago! Is was the first D2S I had ever been too. It was Amazing! I have been a Christain for many years now and grew up in a christian home… and thought I was doing alright, in my walk~ But then Christ helped Reality of where I am at hit home with this Conference! I have been on MANY Mission Trips in and outside of the U.S. and want to be a missionary and be over sees in the next couple years. So, the Evangelizing was not new or hard for me… I could not Get sercive in the building we were in, so I didnt do the phone call to that one person… but then later that night at the church my youth group was staying at, I went off and tried calling my friend Marcie… I got her voice mail so I left a message… And sense I have been home I have seen her 3 times and and ashamed to say I still not said anything to her… But I am going to hang out with her today, and I would just ask for prayer to give me the strength to just say it and talk about it and stop beating around the bush! I will Be Commenting Back later to hopefully tell you how it went! *GOD BLESS* Tootles~ From Your Family In Christ, Jessie Lee Reid
Permalink to Jessie Reid's comment

On April 7, 2007 @ 9:14 pm bryce vaughn said:

…. i wasn’t at chicago. i was at seattle. but i love chicago pizza! and pi. 3.14154685456465464648465846…..! bye
Permalink to bryce vaughn's comment

On April 8, 2007 @ 12:16 pm Brynn Lamb said:

Oh My Gosh!!! Dare2Share was AMAZING!!! Greg Stier, YOU helped me accept Jesus into my life!!! YOU did! Thank You! See You Next Year! And in Heaven!!! I am Sharing the gospel on the internet. I was at Dare2Share in Chicagoland, and i am supporting a child in Compassion named Manuel. Love Always~ Brynn Lamb
Permalink to Brynn Lamb's comment

On April 9, 2007 @ 10:00 pm Valerie Eenigenburg said:

Hey Greg, Thank you again for the honor of being at the Dare2Share in Chicago. Kevin and I were just checking it out this year to see if it would be something for our Youth Group. Well before we left we commited to 15 tickets for next year. We can’t wait to be able to share the same kind of experiences with our teens. Its amazing to see so many lives make a commitment to a life with Christ what a Awesome thing. Not to mention the growth it made in our own life. Just because we are youth leaders, we still have issues and we don’t have all the answers, but I do feel so much more comfortable talking about the Lord and not being so scared of not having all the answers. I hope you know the sincere thanks we have for you and your volunteers for putting on such an event. Nothing we have been to yet can compare. Thanks Again!! Valerie & Kevin Eenigenburg, DeMotte, IN
Permalink to Valerie Eenigenburg's comment

On April 11, 2007 @ 6:34 am Judith said:

Hi Greg, I want to make you aware of a situation during the conference and don’t feel that this is the place to write it. How can I get ahold of you otherwise? I’m not very computer savvy and don’t know where else to go on your website (I was a chaperone).
Permalink to Judith's comment

On August 8, 2007 @ 9:31 am Heather Hollingshead said:

Hi Pastor Gre,How are you doing?My Pastor is Jason Stevens.How your Mom doing?My family has delt with friends and family that had cancer.
Permalink to Heather Hollingshead's comment

Categories

Favorite Websites

Current Music

Current Books

Syndicate

Chicagoland was grand!

Posted on Sunday 1 April 2007 by Greg @ 12:25 pm
Filed under: Rants

56 Comments for 'Chicagoland was grand!'

Information for comment users

gregstier.org

Categories

Favorite Websites

Current Music

Current Books

Syndicate

Chicagoland was grand!

Posted on Sunday 1 April 2007 by Greg @ 12:25 pm Filed under: Rants

56 Comments for 'Chicagoland was grand!'

Information for comment users

Posted on Sunday 1 April 2007 by Greg @ 12:25 pm
Filed under: Rants