Domestic True Foundations Ministry

In the United States, Josh McDowell has served the local Body of Christ through addressing challenges and crises facing youth and offering events and resources to help teens, parents, pastors, youth leaders, and others. Examples include:

1987 – 1991 “Why Wait?”
(Addressing the need for sexual purity)

1992 – 1994 “See You At The Party”
(Emphasizing evangelism outreach by teens)

1994 – 1999 “Right From Wrong”
(Focusing on the need for moral absolutes and choices)

1999 – 2001 “Project 911”
(Addressing issues of alienation, disconnection and corresponding relationship challenges)

In 1999 an additional emphasis was launched with a gathering of Christian leaders to take a deeper look at the issues influencing youth in the culture and in the Church. Statistical studies by George Barna paralleled the experience of Christian leaders – even Christian youth were falling prey to an increasingly godless culture. There were places where good work was being accomplished, resulting in sporadic spiritual growth, but overall the values of secular culture were eroding the faith of Christian youth.

Barna reported that:

• 63% of Christian youth believed Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and Jews all prayed to the same god. 
• 58% believed that all religious faiths were equally valid and true.
• 91% did not believe in absolute truth.
• 51% of Christian youth surveyed said that Jesus died, but did not rise from the dead.

It was clear that most young people did not understand what they believed or why it was true – and many did not understand how faith should influence their behavior. As a result of this gathering, a new emphasis was developed to join with the local church across the nation and the world in an effort to inspire a spiritual awakening to raise up a generation of transformed, purpose-driven, mission-focused followers of Christ who know why they believe and how to live out what they believe. The Beyond Belief/True Foundations campaign was launched in 2002 to address this challenge.

Rather than simply touring through cities with events and products, the decision was made to form deeper partnerships through a long-term strategy to produce sustainable changes for youth, families, and local churches. The plan for this campaign was developed in three phases:

Phase 1: Reintroducing the Relevant Christ to this Generation 2003-2005
Phase 2: Revealing the Reliability of Scripture to this Generation 2005-2007
Phase 3: Proclaiming the Resurrection of Christ to this Generation 2008-2009

The idea for this campaign, which has included the publication of new Josh McDowell resources such as Beyond Belief and The Last Christian Generation, is to come alongside parents, youth workers, pastors and churches to help reclaim the current generation of young people for Christ as well as to ground future generations in the truth. The campaign is made up of a wide variety of resources, an e-community support base, training, and live events such as church staff briefings, “Belief Matters” seminars and the “Bold Truth” youth tour.

As with past campaigns that target youth in North America, the resources needed to launch and operate these initiatives are generated from domestic sales of campaign-related books and products as well as tour events.

To make a donation to this cause, click here.