"Dare to Be a Daniel" Program Helps Counter-Cultural Teens Proclaim Jesus
"These are good Christian kids. They are active in youth group, love Jesus and are passionate about their beliefs, but maybe they don't know exactly what to say if given the opportunity to share their faith with their friends. Dare to Be a Daniel equips them to do that."
(Charlotte, NC)—"Dare to Be a Daniel" —that's the challenge to counter-cultural teens made by the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) in a bold program to help them 'go against the grain' of cultural norms with Jesus.
In a world where the pervasive attitude is that 'kids will be kids' and where drinking, drugs and promiscuity are considered a rite of passage, thousands of young people are rebelling against these messages by taking a stand for their faith after completing Dare to Be a Daniel, a special training program from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.
Two of these dynamic teens, Darius Bego of Charlotte, N.C., and Allee Keener of Albany, N.Y., are the subject of the next Billy Graham Television Special, which began airing on national Christian networks June 14. The reality-style program focuses on their bold faith as both teens accept a challenge to find a unique way to share the Gospel with their friends.
"My relationship with God is the biggest thing in my life, and knowing how amazing it is to have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ—I really want my friends to experience the same thing," said Allee, as the cameras chronicled her preparations for a party she hosted for her friends. She used the event as an opportunity to tell them about her faith in Jesus Christ.
Darius chose to approach his youth pastor about giving his testimony in front of his youth group, and also encouraged his church to use Dare to Be a Daniel to train the other young people in the group. "I saw how the program helped me with my life and my faith walk, and then immediately after, I'm sharing my faith," said Darius. "So I know that as soon as the kids get to learn about this, they'll be able to do that."
According to a media release, Dare to Be a Daniel is a training resource designed to equip 'tweens' (ages 9-14) to take a stand for their faith in Jesus Christ and share Him with their friends. The program—inspired by the Biblical story of Daniel—features a Web site (www.daretobeadaniel.com), literature teaching Christian principles and Bible verses, and an interactive CD-ROM that includes music, videos, practical tips and the entire Bible. Dare to Be a Daniel is available as an individual training kit or a 13-week curriculum for Sunday school classes and youth groups. A five-session resource will soon be available.
Since the program launched in 2006, more than 12,000 young people (approximately ten per day) have successfully completed the course and are now making an impact by sharing their faith.
"These are good Christian kids," said Chad Miller, director of Dare to Be a Daniel. "They are active in youth group, love Jesus and are passionate about their beliefs, but maybe they don't know exactly what to say if given the opportunity to share their faith with their friends. Dare to Be a Daniel equips them to do that."
