FAQ

Q: What is Challenge

A: Challenge is the EFCA Reach Students national youth conference that happens every two years. It is a week filled with captivating & challenging messages, worship concerts, afternoon options involving ministry & outreach opportunities, biblical training options and recreational activities (see Afternoon Options FAQ below). Take a conference, retreat, concert, outreach/service activities, fun activities, about 7,000 JH/SH students, shake well and stir…and you have challenge!!

Q: When are the dates and cost for Challenge?

A: Challenge begins on July 1 and ends on July 6. Cost is $850/student and includes conference registration, hotel, food, and airfare. Additional monies would be for optional food and souvenirs and is to be determined by each family. We will do significant fundraising to help our team reach the team goal, and it is our hope that each student will only need to contribute between $100 – $300. This is dependent upon each family’s commitment to and involvement in fundraising efforts & contributions. Please see separate section entitled “Finances”.

Q: Who are the speakers and bands?

A: Speakers are: Francis Chan, Craig Gross, Nick Hall, Eric Mason and Bryan McWhite. Kristian Stanfill is leading worship. Other performers are Eric Samuel Timm, Emory Colvin, Propoganda and DJ Promote. For more information on each, visit http://rootsyouth.org/challenge/speakers-artists

Q: How will we raise money?

A: We will have 2-4 specific fundraising “team events”, as well as sell “Samaritan Saver Cards” (discount shopping cards) along with fundraising letters that are sent by each team member going.

Q: How old do you have to be to attend Challenge?

A: Graduated 7th grade – graduated 12th grade students.

Q: How will we travel?

A: By plane.

Q: How do I sign myself (or my child) up?

A: STEP 1: complete paper application (download at http://rootsyouth.org/resources/challenge-application.pdf). Both student and a parent need to review and sign.

STEP 2: make a deposit (if you’re financially able)

STEP 3: complete online registration form

You’re all signed up!

Q: Where is Challenge and Where will we stay?

A: Challenge is in New Orleans, Louisiana and will be held at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. All youth groups will stay at one of the three conference hotels (Hilton New Orleans Riverside, Doubletree Hotel, Embassy Suites) and will be determined on availability at the time of our registration. All hotels have Challenge curfew policies in effect and security provided by challenge volunteers. Roots Youth will most likely stay in one or two groupings of rooms, with about 1 leader assigned to every 2 rooms (give or take, depending on our numbers). Any room grouping that is not with the main group will have at least 2 leaders assigned to them.

Q: How many chaperons will there be?

A: We will have a 1 Leader to 6 Student (gender-specific) ratio.

Q: What is a typical day’s schedule?

A: Monday through Thursday (non-travel days) Schedule

7-9am | Breakfast
9:30am | Morning Gathering (Theme: Everything’s New. Everything. Every day. Forever.)
11:00am | The Huddle. A breakaway time for Roots Youth to talk as a smaller group and respond to what was heard during the morning gathering.
11:30am-1:00pm | Lunch at NOLA Convention Center
1:00-5:00pm | Afternoon Options. Each afternoon there are opportunities for Ministry and Outreach, Biblical Training and Recreation (see afternoon options FAQ below).
4:45-6:30pm | Supper at NOLA Convention Center
5:42pm | Student Prayer Army. Students may participate in daily prayer time throughout the week.
7:00-9:00pm | Evening Gathering
9:00-9:45pm | The Huddle
9:45pm | Evening Options
11:30pm | In Hotels
Midnight | Quiet and in rooms

Q: What are afternoon options?

A: Challenge provides great afternoon options for students. Roots Youth students will be required to be involved in at least 3 afternoons of ministry and outreach or biblical training, with the other day available for recreational activities. Students must be involved in at least one afternoon of ministry and outreach and one afternoon of biblical training.

Ministry and Outreach | The CHALLENGE 2012 team is gearing up for ministry and outreach opportunities for students during the week of July 1-6. Our goals are to:

Strengthen existing churches in New Orleans.
Partner with 5 EFCA church plants in the New Orleans area.
Strategically send the students out into the city with the truth and love of Christ.

During the week, we will partner with Urban Impact Ministries, EFCA Touch Global, and REACH NOLA (the EFCA church planting initiative in New Orleans). We will also do ministry with prayer stations, strategic acts of kindness, Katrina relief, sports ministry and evangelism.

Our prayer is that the ministry opportunities might awaken the students’ missional understanding and imagination to Christ’s specific call on their lives to live intentionally for Him and His Gospel.

Biblical Training | There are 2 types of training each afternoon:

Equipping Labs –These training sessions are interactive, media rich equipping environments that are designed to help your students learn to live out their faith back home. No pre-registration is required for the equipping labs.

Training Tracks – Training Tracks are an integrated training/ ministry experiences that are tied together. Tracks will allow your students to focus on specific topic for training and them they will able to head out and put into practice what they have learned. Pre-registration is required for the training tracks.

Recreation

Basketball, ultimate Frisbee, volleyball and others will be offered for students to get exercise and simply enjoy playing together. Participating and cheering for peers can be great team building time for groups.

Q: What is NOLA

A: NOLA is simply an abbreviation and slang for New Orleans, Louisiana.

A: Most dates are provided here and on the application, and each person will be added to a Challenge texting list. There is also a specific “challenge calendar” page at http://rootsyouth.org/challenge/calendar. You are responsible to manage your calendar, and check here often for dates that may be changed or added.