Here at Acquire the Fire, there is a team of young adults who are dedicated to reaching the teenagers in your area.  They have devoted a year of their lives to mature in their relationship with Christ and grow in their leadership abilities at Teen Mania’s year-long internship.  At the same time, their desire is to see the rest of their generation be reached for the Lord and to draw closer to Him.  They help make ATF possible by working faithfully to get the word out to youth leaders about the event and providing resources and support for those interested in attending.  ATF would not be the same without them!

From Jonny:

Hello friends. My name is Jonathan Rosser, and I am the team lead for the Richmond event. I love music, volleyball, and my big family. I am so blessed to have the opportunity to reach out to youth pastors and give them the opportunity to ignite a passion for God within their youth groups. It is truly amazing to have the opportunity to spend my working hours helping to advance the Kingdom. This team has truly developed a heart for the youth in the city of Richmond and stand in faith that God is moving in mighty ways there. Our hope is that this event will raise up some dedicated warriors who will answer His call. We pray for you continually, and hope to see you there!

From MaKayla:

Hello!  My name is MaKayla.  I am 18 and am from Stuarts Draft, VA; originally from Yuba City, CA.  I am fascinated with motocross racing and spending time with my friends. I’m glad I have had this opportunity to serve you guys through whatever was needed to get you to this Richmond event.

From Tony:

Hello my name is Tony Herrera.  I am from Chicago, IL, and I am currently attending Teen Mania Ministry’s Honor Academy.  So far I have been assigned to the Chicago event and was able to work as a head usher at the event.  Now I am working for the Richmond Acquire the Fire, and am hoping to see you there as I will be working the event.

From Josh:

Hey guys!  My name is Josh Armstrong.  I’m from Canyon Lake, Texas.  In my spare time I play music - mainly piano, but I also play guitar and some bass.  My heart however is to see this generation turn back to Jesus.  I was so happy when they told me I would be an ATF caller because this is a chance for me to impact my generation in a unique way.

From Arielle:

Hi!  My name is Arielle Burroughs, and I’m from Virginia Beach, VA, and I was so excited to be assigned to this event. Not only does it have a special place in my heart (the 2004 Richmond event was my first ATF), but I am passionate about the Richmond youth because it is my home state. I am very excited about the lives that are going to be changed through Jesus Christ at this event.

From Jocelyn:
Hi Everybody! My name is Jocelyn Ray, and I am from Front Royal, VA. My favorite thing in the world is to dance for God and hang out with my friends. God has called me to share His heart with my generation, and to reach out and let them know that God loves them. Hope to see you in Richmond!

Hey youth pastors!  This year we want to encourage you to bring the parents of your teens.  Unlike recent years we are going to have a special parents-only session where they will be given practical tools that will help them “build a culture in their homes that is stronger than the culture of the world.”  We will be using Ron Luce’s new book, Recreate, which I’ve read and was very inspired by (even though I’m not a parent).  We know that in order to reach this generation, we must all work together.  This is not a battle for just youth pastors, but for parents as well.  Therefore, we want to equip them to effectively reach out to their teenagers. The session will be held Saturday morning for the parents, and Saturday afternoon we will have a session for teens and parents.

If you are a parent, we would like to invite you to come as well, even if your teen is not part of a youth group.  Feel free to find a local youth group who is attending the event and join them, or just come as a family!  I guarantee that you will not regret it!  Not only will you be able to experience what your child is experiencing, but you will also receive valuable training to handle those tough teenage years!  In fact, you will get a chance to meet other parents from your region who are as passionate about raising godly children as you are!

A few of you have been asking for information on hotels for ATF this year.  We have 3 hotels that we have worked discounts with for those attending ATF in Richmond this spring.  Feel free to use these if you would like, or find your own.  There is limited space, so be sure to reserve rooms soon, and don’t forget to mention that you are with ATF when you do!  Here they are:

Holiday Inn Express

201 East Cary Street

Richmond, VA 23219

804.788.1600

Distance from Venue: 1.4 miles

Rate: $99.00

Reserve By: 01.09.09

Holiday Inn – Central

3207 N Blvd

Richmond, VA 23230

804.359.9441

Distance from Venue: 3.2 miles

Rate: $70.00

Reserve By: 01.15.09

Doubletree

301 West Franklin Street

Richmond, VA 23220

804.521.3400

Distance from Venue: 0.9 miles

Rate: $99.00

Reserve By: 01.06.09

Also, I am looking for churches near the venue who would be willing to allow another youth group to stay overnight at their church.  If that is you, let me know!

Here Comes Trouble 08-09 Schedule

Friday PM

6:30-YP Event Briefing (lay out tracks for YP’s, parents)

6:51-Pre-show - “May I have your attention please?”

7:00-7:30-Worship

7-30-8:20-Session 1: Troubletown

8:20-8:50-Ministry time

8:50-Concert

9:30-End Friday night

Saturday

8:30-8:40-Session 2: The Trouble with the Opposite Sex

8:45-9:35-The Trouble with Girls, The Trouble with Guy (separete girl/guy talks)

9:45-10:20-Worship

11:00-11:30-Session 3: The Trouble with Living The Letter (Parent workshop begin)

11:30-12:00-Session 4: The Trouble with Being a Christian

12:15-1:45-Lunch Break -optional fast in workshop room

1:45-2:05-Worship

2:05-2:50-Session 5: The Trouble with Parents (YP workshop AACC)

3:25-5:00-Bands\YP \training tools workshop (attendance highly recommended)

5:00-6:30-Dinner Break

6:45-7:20-Worship

7:20-8:00-Session 6: Calling all Troublemakers

8:00-8:50-Ministry time

8:50-9:00-Finale and send off