ABOUT
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
An intentional discipleship strategy for effective youth ministry
MISSION.
Christian Endeavor exists to INSPIRE, EQUIP and ENCOURAGE churches to Biblically develop youth as Christ-centered leaders.
INSPIRE - CE inspires people in churches around the world to do ministry with youth. Unleashing the Holy Spirit’s power through teenagers’ lives allows young people to grow as they serve. This process also effectively impacts people God places around these young people. CE opens people’s eyes to a discipleship process that invests in building teens into Christ’s likeness. It does this through real impact stories via blog posts, newsletters, email, speaking at public venues, and in any other form the Lord allows. We do this so people all over the world will recognize how “Unleashing Christian Youth” can change the world for Christ.
EQUIP - CE coaches adults to come alongside young people in order to help them lead their ministry. This is done through creating relevant trainings in various formats and writing development resources. These resources all lead adults to the place where they can be prepared to guide young people toward meaningful service living.
ENCOURAGE - People become tired doing the most important tasks. Yes, building disciples follows God’s Biblical directive. However, this work becomes incredibly tiring and can cause depression and lost enthusiasm. God provided each person with courage. We need to “en”-courage people so that they don’t become “dis”-couraged. CE carries out the encouragement step by having team members available to listen or answer questions via various communication forms. CE also encourages by sharing victories that are occurring and reaching out with periodic contact to lift up youth workers who are carrying out CE.
EMPOWER YOUTH IN MINISTRY.
The young people in your church are world changers.
Created uniquely, and surrounded by parents, pastors and other caring adults, these students hold the potential to make an incredible impact on their generation and in their world!
However, because of the pervasive cultural norm of expecting very little of our young people, their abilities and God-given potential often remain buried – undiscovered and underutilized.
Your role – as an adult positioned to love and disciple students – couldn’t be more crucial. As you help young people learn to follow Christ, you’re investing directly in building God’s Kingdom!
But staying focused on deep discipleship is tough. The pressures of ministry, the reality of students' schedules, and the broken nature of our world cause many church’s discipleship efforts to be entertainment-driven, providing fun or cool programming that students will (hopefully) show up to. Many youth workers now recognize that this is not a healthy model for discipleship.
But what other options exist?
Christian Endeavor provides that answer. Since 1881, we’ve been inspiring, equipping and encouraging churches in student discipleship. Our approach isn’t revolutionary (you don’t need another gimmick or add-on to your ministry), it’s tangible, intentional & biblical.
Through a driving belief that “we’re better together”, you’ll have access to a team with over 200 years of combined youth ministry experience and to a global movement that includes over 10,000 churches in over 43 countries around the world. All are focused on developing students who are committing their lives to Christ daily and actively engaging their faith.
INTENTIONAL DISCIPLESHIP PHILOSOPHY
Our one of a kind discipleship strategy helps local churches empower the next generation before and after graduation. CE works with thousands of youth workers in different settings around the globe. God is moving mightily in the lives of young people as local churches become more and more effective at not just providing a ministry for youth, but empowering youth IN ministry.
MATERIALS, COACHING AND TRAINING
CE resources inspire churches toward Biblical discipleship, equip youth to live for Christ daily, and encourage youth workers with the tools they need. CE's practical digital discipleship resources are available in our shop. In addition to materials, CE provides one-on-one coaching, cohort learning, and regional training. Members of the CE team also regularly speak at youth conferences and other national events.
Essential to effective youth ministry is the conviction that 'we're better together.' Networking with other believers is crucial for the growth of God's Kingdom. CE connects churches together for local and regional support, encouragement and training. Churches that partner with CE also have the opportunity to be part of a growing global network of churches that are focused on and seeking to empower youth IN ministry!
DOWNLOAD OUR FREE
CE DISCIPLESHIP RESOURCE!
CORE VALUES.
Kingdom Minded
Intentional
Positive
POSITION.
Christian Endeavor takes a non-negotiable stand on the following three statements:
SPIRITUAL POTENTIAL OF YOUTH - 1 Timothy 4:11-16, Romans 8:5-11, 2 Timothy 1:14, 1 Corinthians 3:16
God has put incredible spiritual potential inside every young person. Unfortunately, because of consumer-based approaches to discipleship, this potential often remains undiscovered or underdeveloped. Christian Endeavor challenges young people to live as creators rather than consumers, allowing their spiritual potential to be unleashed for God’s glory!
LORDSHIP OF CHRIST AND AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE - Colossians 1:15-20, John 1:1-2, 2 Timothy 3:16, 2 Peter 1:20-21
Growing in faith requires belief in Jesus as Savior and complete submission to Him as Lord. Half-hearted devotion will not suffice! In addition, Christian Endeavor believes the Bible shows us God’s character. This provides a guiding lens to understand ourselves, our relationships, experiences and our purpose.
RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHURCH - Hebrews 10:19-25, Ephesians 4:11, Hebrews 13:7,17
The Church is God’s method for advancing His Kingdom here on earth. Christian Endeavor exists “for Christ and the Church”, positioning young people to understand how to ‘be the church’ and to live under the local church’s authority in advancing the unique mission of community.
STATEMENT OF FAITH.
-
We believe the Bible is verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings. The Bible is the infallible Word of God, that it is God’s Holy and inspired Word, both Old and New Testament, and is the supreme and final authority for matters of Christian faith and conduct. John 17:17; Galatians 3:16; 2 Timothy 3:16–17; 2 Peter 1:19–21
-
We believe there is one true God, who is infinite, perfectly holy, and eternal existing in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, each having precisely the same nature, attributes, and perfections. Matthew 28:19–20; John 1:1–2; Acts 5:3–4; Colossians 2:9
-
We believe that the Lord Jesus Christ is fully God and fully man. He was eternally brought about by the Father, conceived by the Holy Spirit, and born of the Virgin Mary. We believe that Jesus Christ died for the sins of the whole world as the substitution for the death we should have died, and that his crucified body was raised from the dead, and that he ascended into heaven to appear before the Father as our high priest, advocate, and mediator. Luke 1:35; Romans 9:5; 1 Corinthians 15:1–3; Philippians 2:6-11; Colossians 1:15–17, 2:9; Hebrews 4:15, 9:24; 1 Timothy 2:5; 1 Peter 1:3, 2:24, 3:18; 1 John 2:2
-
We believe that the Holy Spirit came in a special sense on the Day of Pentecost, indwelling every believer. In this age, the Holy Spirit carries out the ministries of restraining evil in the world; convicting people of sin, righteousness, and judgement; regenerating and indwelling all believers; baptizing them into the Body of Christ; sealing them unto the day of redemption; and empowering them for sanctification and service. John 14:16–17, 16:7–15; Romans 8:9; 1 Corinthians 6:19, 12:13, 28–30; Ephesians 2:20-22, 4:1–16, 30; Hebrews 2:1–4; Titus 3:5
-
We believe that God wonderfully and immutably creates each person as male or female and that these two distinct, complimentary genders together reflect the image and nature of God. We believe God created marriage to be exclusively the union of one man and one woman, and that intimate sexual activity is to occur exclusively within that union. When Adam succumbed to the temptation of Satan and chose to disobey God, sin and its curse was brought upon the human race. Since the penalty of sin is death, as long as people live in sin, we are dead spiritually and face a physical death and eternal punishment in hell. This fall from grace put man in the position of needing forgiveness in order that our fellowship with God might be restored. All human beings, with the exception of Christ Jesus, are born with a sin nature, are accountable for their sin, and need to be born again. Genesis 1:1, 26; Psalm 51:5; Jeremiah 17:9, John 3:3–7; Romans 3:10–12, 5:12; Ephesians 2:1–10; 1 John 1:8–10
-
We believe that salvation was provided for everyone in the whole world and was accomplished solely by the finished work of Christ shedding his blood upon the cross, and no work on the part of any person can merit this salvation. When a person confesses the fact that he is a sinner and receives the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour, through faith, he is born anew of the Holy Spirit. He becomes a new creation, a member of the true Church, indwelt by the Holy Spirit. This salvation is not the result of any human effort or works, but is the free gift of God's grace in Jesus Christ. once for all, forever. John 3:16, 6:37, 10:27–30; 2 Corinthians 5:14; Ephesians 2:8–9; 1 Timothy 2:3– 6; 1 Peter 1:18–19, 23; 2 Peter 1:3–4
-
We believe the Church universal began at Pentecost with the baptism of the Holy Spirit and consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is the Head of the Church, called His Body. The local church is a body of believers in Christ who are joined together under scriptural leadership for the worship of God, for edification through the Word of God, for prayer, for fellowship, for the proclamation of the Gospel, and for observance of the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper. We believe that all who accept God’s gift of salvation should attend and support their local church. Matthew 16:16–18; Acts 1:4-5, 2:42–47, 11:15-16; Romans 12:5; Ephesians 1:20– 23; Philippians 1:1; 1 Corinthians 12:13; 1 Timothy 3:15
-
We believe that all human life is sacred and created by God in His image. Human life is of inestimable worth in all its dimensions, including pre-born babies, the aged, the physically or mentally challenged, and every other stage or condition from conception through natural death. We are therefore called to defend, protect, and value all human life. Psalm 139
HISTORY.
Since 1881, we’ve been inspiring, equipping and encouraging churches in student discipleship. Our approach isn’t revolutionary (you don’t need another gimmick or add-on to your ministry), it’s tangible, intentional & biblical.
Through a driving belief that “we’re better together”, you’ll have access to a team with over 200 years of combined youth ministry experience and to a global movement that includes over 10,000 churches in over 43 countries around the world, all focused on developing students who are committing their lives to Christ daily and actively engaging their faith.
COMMIT & ENGAGE
By God’s providence, amidst a bitterly cold winter season, a church in Portland, Maine (USA) experienced the warmth of revival amongst its young people. Of that time, Pastor Francis Edward Clark wrote, “many young hearts were given to the Lord Jesus Christ; a new song was put into their mouths, and their eager impulse was, as is always the impulse of new converts, to do something for Him whom they have begun to love.”[iii] Intent on inspiring them to grow in faith, rather than fall into apathy, Pastor and Mrs. Clark invited these youth to their home for food, fellowship, and prayer. There, in a spirit of unity, Pastor Clark proposed these young people actively commit themselves to Christ and engage their faith by forming a society (a dedicated group) to “promote an earnest Christian life among its members, to increase their mutual acquaintance, and to make them more useful in service of God.”[iv] Furthermore, Pastor Clark declared, “It was to be first and foremost a Christian society. It was to seek first the kingdom of God.”v Thus, on February 2, 1881, some fifty-youth pledged themselves to launch Christian Endeavor. Little did they know, this action would spark a worldwide movement!
MOVEMENT ADVOCATES
Soon word spread of this intentional discipleship process and in just eight months, the second society was formed, by Rev. Charles Perry Mills, in Newburyport, Massachusetts (USA). Speaking of Pastor Mills, F.E. Clark would later note, “[He] was from that day to the day of his death, a stanch and earnest advocate of the movement.”[vi] Of those early years of rapid growth, F.E. Clark wrote, “Ten thousand pastors were waiting for some practical and successful method of training their young people; and when these plans were presented, they were eagerly adopted by them.”[vii] In fact, history records, in one country 5,000 new affiliated church groups consisting of 250,000 committed and engaged youth were added in one year alone! [viii] INSPIRE “CE touched my life and encouraged me to stay strong in faith and discipleship.” ~ CE Germany
ALIGN TO A COMMON PURPOSE & CORE PRINCIPLES
In short order, the CE Movement spread around the world as more and more advocates took up the cause – to commit and engage. Today, as Christian Endeavor experiences renewed growth, the movement will strengthen as advocates align around our common purpose and core principles.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
AROUND THE WORLD.
CE USA is a part of the global Christian Endeavor movement found in over 43 countries around the world.
There are over 43 countries connected to the global CE network! Every four years we connect as a global community for the World Christian Endeavor Convention. This conference gives us a chance to fellowship, teach, learn and bear in one another's burdens as a global church. Though we're different cultures and denominations, we seek constantly to connect believers from all over the world.
