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World Vision and Youth Specialties, a support ministry for Christian youth workers, have teamed up to mobilize teens in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Called One Life Revolution, the program encourages young people to get together and raise funds for practical, useful items benefiting children and families in Zambia
affected by AIDS.
Mike Yaconelli, owner and co-founder of Youth Specialties, explains the motivation behind this new youth movement:
What is One Life Revolution?
It’s a call to this generation of kids who are looking for something to give their lives to. It says to them,“Don’t wait for the adults to get around to figuring [HIV/AIDS] out. By the time you wait for that, another 40 million people will have died.” One Life Revolution says to the student, “You can take your one life and make a difference in somebody’s life in Zambia or in another place in the world.”
Why do kids need a cause?
We’ve become so secular. We’ve told our children that the purpose of education is to get a job so they can make more money. It’s the Church’s job to say to young people, “Listen to the voice of God. And when you discover your calling, you will discover — as Jesus said — that part of it is to minister to the poor and the orphan, to the prisoner and to those in need.” It’s not creating more noise and busyness; it’s creating more silence and more solitude so that young people can hear the whisper of God in their lives.
Why World Vision for a partner?
World Vision is willing to go outside the lines, to take a chance on a little group of youth workers like us. I like that they are willing to step up to the plate and push people to extremes, to say that [the response to AIDS] is urgent and needed.
What’s the mission you’re presenting to kids?
It’s more than just earning money to send someone a goat. It’s saying,“Why would you send someone a goat? How does that help AIDS?” Well, because of the ravages of AIDS, children end up raising their brothers and sisters because mom and dad are dead. Having a goat gives them milk and nutrition so that they can survive a little bit longer. They can make it.And if we tell [American] kids that, we allow them to enter into some suffering. The goal isn’t just to give money, although that’s important. It’s also important that kids suffer a little bit.
“Revolution” implies a deep and radical change. Is that what you’re aiming for?
When you deal with suffering, suddenly all the categories you had nice and neatly organized in your mind get all mingled up, and they don’t seem to matter any more.That’s wisdom. That’s growth. That’s maturity, depth. When you get involved in other people’s lives, and in serving others, you get in touch with the human dilemma. You get in touch with what really matters in life. And suddenly that alters everything else.
To find out how to get your youth group or family involved in One Life Revolution, go to www.oneliferevolution.org.
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