Resource for HS Grads Hopes to Help Them 'Keep the Faith'
by Jim Brown
May 19, 2006
(AgapePress) - - For 15 years, a youth ministry group has been offering a gift for high school graduates that's designed to help them keep their faith strong when they leave their church youth group for college. "ConGRADulations!" is a "transition tool" for high school seniors that comes in the form of a CD and DVD. This year's CD includes an online graduate devotional journal, interactive scrapbook, links to campus ministries, and 11 contemporary Christian songs that deal with the issues graduates are facing. It is put out by an organization called Interlinc, which works with 60,000 churches helping youth pastors use music and media in evangelism and discipleship of students.
The group's founder and president, Allen Weed, says ConGRADulations! targets young people who often leave their parents' faith to find one of their own.
"Traditionally, books have been given [as graduation gifts]," says Weed. "We've found over the years that kids just -- well, all they need is one more book when their leaving high school. They're going to [think], 'I've been in the books all these years.'"
Weed contends what graduates really need is the content of those books. "But the question is, is there another way to formulate that message in a way that will be relevant to them and useful to them?" he notes. That is where ConGRADulations! comes in.
"It's a real deep project," Weed explains. "It's sort of a book in songs and video. It's got a lot of biblical content that we believe will get used. A kid might leave his books at home when he leaves home to go to school, but he's going to take his music collection and his DVD collection with him."
Weed says this year's project is titled "It's Time for Me to Fly," and features music and advice from bands like MercyMe, Building 429, P.O.D., and SuperChic[k]. It is sold in all Family Christian Stores and in the DaySpring card section of other Christian bookstores.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
