Josiah Road

Josiah Road Extends It’s Reach

posted by staff 23Jul

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—As a part of its effort to call students to “influence, stand, and lead,” the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission announced a new partnership with NavPress and Student Leadership University in promoting the ERLC’s Josiah Road initiative.

Josiah Road was launched in 2007 as an Internet-based ministry and has expanded into a suite of products including a five-week Bible study, weekend discipleship kit and trade book.

Richard Land, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, and Jay Strack, president of Student Leadership University, announced the new relationship between ERLC, NavPress and Student Leadership University at a Student Leadership University event at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. July 16.

Student Leadership University (SLU) works to equip and empower students to change their world for Christ through a series of intensive, hands-on educational efforts. The ERLC partners with SLU in their student education work in D.C.

Land said the Josiah Road resources focus on the biblical account of Josiah — “one of the greatest young leaders ever to come along in history.” The SBC exec emphasized much of the Josiah Road material was written “by a young person for young people.”

Student Leadership University was instrumental in expanding the Josiah Road initiative, Land said, explaining that it was through the innovative ministry to students that high school student Luke Harper sensed God’s leading to write and speak.

“One of our students felt led to begin to make a difference and now it has resulted in an exciting project and a fascinating product that churches and Christian schools are using across the country,” Jay Strack explained at the SLU conference.

Luke and his father, Harold Harper, executive vice president at the ERLC, authored the study and its various components. The spiritual development initiative is based on the life of Josiah who became ruler of the Southern Kingdom of Judah at the age of eight.

At the time of King Josiah’s reign, people were corrupt and worshipped idols and false gods. The account tells of the boy king’s faithfulness as he led his people back to the one true God.

Land encouraged the students to follow Josiah’s lead and not shrink back from serving God. “Don’t put limits around what God may want to do in your life,” he said.

Luke Harper told Baptist Press students will be introduced to a powerful Bible character through the study, adding that those who truly grasp the Josiah Road message will be the “students who will exceed expectations in doing what God has called them do.”

Luke described Josiah as a young man not afraid to call his nation back to God.

“Everyone has a chance to be a positive influence on someone else, everyone can take a stand, and everyone can lead,” Luke said, recounting the Bible study’s three-part focus. “My prayer is that out of all this God will call a new generation of Josiahs who will be obedient to do things for Him that no one can imagine.

Said Strack, “Those who dare to travel along this Josiah Road will be taking one of the most exciting journeys possible. Students who study and gain an appreciation for the obstacles facing King Josiah will be motivated to also allow Jesus to make a difference in their life, their family and their community.”

“When students decide to participate in Josiah Road,” Harold Harper said, “they will be challenged to take risks, seize opportunities, defy the odds, and pursue God’s purpose for their life like never before.”

The weekend discipleship segment of the resource was field-tested at First Baptist Church of Atlanta, as well as at several other SBC churches. Maclane Forbus, student ministries pastor at FBC Atlanta, said he liked the study and the way youth responded.

“The Josiah Road Bible study is biblically sound, well-written and easy for student pastors and leaders to use in any format,” Forbus said.

NavPress, a Christian book publisher founded in 1975, will publish the Josiah Road resources.

In his remarks at the SLU event Land noted that not only will NavPress play a large role in marketing and disturbing Josiah Road resources, but also he said all the royalties from the sale of the products will go to Student Leadership University’s scholarship fund to allow more students to experience the ministry’s leadership programs.

“Our mission is to advance Josiah Road’s calling by publishing life-transforming materials,” said Barry Sneed, vice president of NavPress. “We are committed to serving people by facilitating and motivating spiritual growth through products that are biblically rooted, culturally relevant and practical.”

The five-week Bible study is designed for students and student leaders to go through in small groups. It will be available for purchase in spring 2011 in bookstores across the country.

The initiative’s trade book and additional resources will be available between 2012 and 2013 for purchase. The weekend kit and related ministry tools are available for review and purchase online at josiahroad.com now.

—30— Elizabeth Wood is a writer for the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

The Blob

posted by Luke Harper 8Jun

I finished my junior year of high school last month. Summer is finally here! I can’t wait to do everything I’ve got planned – especially not going to school. One thing I love to do during the summer is go to the lake with friends. We tube and I attempt to ski, wakeboard and kneeboard. (I fail at all three.) We fish, swim or just ride in the boat. The list never ends. The lake is perfect during the summer.

One thing I’ve done on the lake is called “the Blob.” I will never forget it. Now, who invented this “thing,” I don’t know. Why did they invent it? I don’t know that either. But I do know how it works.

To have a successful blob experience, you need three things: first, a blob, which is basically this giant inflatable Twinkie in the water; second, a place to jump onto the blob; and third, two people. One person sits at the end of the Blob and the other jumps onto the opposite end – sending shockwaves through the Blob, launching the other person 50 feet in the air and into the water.

My first experience with blobbing was at a summer camp in Missouri. I was on a roll. I was at the end of the Blob, and no matter how many kids jumped on it, I never went in the water. I felt invincible. I sat at the end thinking, “Who’s next?” (I was Mr. Big Stuff.) Then a counselor, who must have weighed 400 pounds, decided to climb up to the jump point. I knew this wasn’t going to end well.

The massive college student cannon balled onto the Blob, sending a shockwave that launched me into what I thought was outer space! Unfortunately, this high-flying experience came to an end – and that end was my face hitting the water. Suddenly, I no longer felt like Mr. Big Stuff. There would be no more blobbing for me that day.

Looking back on this experience got me thinking. Those little guys barely fazed me, but the big dude made a huge mark on my day. The Blob is like life. When we live our life for Christ, it can be like jumping onto the Blob. And the more we live for God, the bigger the spiritual impact we have on our friends, family and school. Just like that big counselor’s jump launched me higher, I want my life to help my friends soar! I want people to say, “Man, they made a huge impact for Christ that sent shockwaves through the community!” about this generation.

Let it be said of us what was said about Paul and his friends “…These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.” (Acts 17:6) Let’s turn the world upside down, let’s live in such a way that people feel the shockwaves!