We decided to suspend Retro Day this week in favor of this interview because making you wait an extra day just seemed mean. (Don’t worry, Retro Day will resume next week.)

By RTF Media Editor Jamin Goecker

JG: What went through your head when you heard that your music was becoming so successful?

CM: “Nunh unh… For real?!…Who says?” (more…)

By RTF Media Editor Jamin Goecker

Chris McClarney’s first CD, Introducing Chris McClarney, is coming out this January — but he is not new to having his music appreciated. With absolutely no marketing dollars behind him, his songs found their way onto the iTunes charts and have touched the hearts of Christians around the world.

Jamin Goecker: Chris, when did you develop an interest in music?

Chris McClarney: I have been singing for as long as I can remember. We had a piano at the house and I was playing as soon as I could reach the keys.

Sometime around 13-14 years old I decided that guitar would be the better instrument for impressing the ladies, and mostly due to its portability (you can’t exactly carry a baby grand in your trunk), guitar became my primary means of making music. (more…)

by RTF Staff Writer Jamin Goecker

Last month about 1900 students from local high schools and youth groups listened to fellow students give their testimonies and challenge them to live for Christ at an event known as Fields of Faith. About 200 teens accepted Jesus as their Savior, 200 rededicated their lives, and 100 requested prayer.

Sally Higgins, 18, is a senior in high school, and she shared her testimony in front of everyone who came. (more…)

The story of Eileen Rufenacht as told to RTF Staff Writer Sarah Rupp

Eileen limped down the hall of the hospital on her way to see her dying mother, maybe for the last time. All her siblings were already in the room, but Eileen struggled to get there. I really need get my leg worked on by the chiropractor.

A Problem
“I thought something was wrong with my leg, because it wouldn’t work right.” Eileen says. But when she went to the chiropractor, he sent her to the doctor for an MRI. “I thought it was for my leg…it turned out they wanted to see what was going on in my brain.”

After an MRI, the doctor found a non-cancerous growth in her brain, which needed to be surgically removed. Doctors educated her about the brain surgery, even stating she would be back to work in six weeks. “I thought if I could have a baby and come back within 3 weeks, I thought I could have this [surgery] and come back in 3 weeks.” Eileen says.

But things did not go as planned. (more…)

By RTF Staff Writer Jenn Joshua

[Read Monday's post to see part 1 of this interview...]

JJ: How do you think that involvement in missions could help other teens learn to think outside of themselves?  How did this change your own life?

AY: Learning that there was a big, big world out there filled with people who have very real needs was, quite frankly, shocking.  It is easy to acknowledge the orphans or impoverished in other countries, and quite another thing to actually see them.  Living with these children, truly experiencing their life (even for those few short weeks), opened my eyes like nothing else.  Even if a teen doesn’t want to become a missionary, I think that gaining a global perspective is an extremely important part of developing into a well-rounded person. (more…)

By RTF Staff Writer Jenn Joshua

Jenn Joshua: So, Andrew, when you’re not busy setting yourself on fire, I’ve heard that you also have a passion for missions work.  More specifically, working with orphans in China.  It seems like a lot of teens go through the “I-want-to-be-a-missionary-to-China” stage.  For you, it obviously wasn’t just a stage. You’re studying Chinese in college.  You have plans to move to Beijing after graduation.  Can you tell us a little more about the work that you do with Chinese orphans and the program you work through while you’re there? (more…)

This week RTF  editors B.J. Hamrick and Halee Matthews played a short game of Truth or Dare. They both opted for truth… from paying for meals with quarters to being mistaken as drunk at a Bible study… you can find the whole truth here.

(To read Part I click here.)

• BJH: What’s your Favorite color?

HM: Green, of various shades. My kitchen is lime-y green, but I love dark green too, along with various shades of blue-green (teal, turquoise, etc). Yours?

We have this weird connection — obviously — because we both love green. Or maybe we’re just artists. Yeah. We’re just artists. (Because to be honest, I embarrass Halee too much for us to have a soul-connection. Just ask her about the time I invited her to lunch and paid entirely with quarters.) (more…)

By RTF Editors BJ Hamrick and Halee Mathews

Our new partner at Real Teen Faith, Halee Matthews, agreed to humor me by answering some questions…. under one stipulation:

I had to answer hers, too. I guess you could call it sort of like a really rough round of Truth or Dare.

Which wouldn’t be so bad if I hadn’t shared some of my most embarrassing moments ever with her…

• BJH:What drew you into RTF?

HM: See, I have this really crazy friend (*cough* BJ *cough*) who said, “Hey, you like to write. Wanna help me with this?” And being the wonderful friend that I am, I of course said yes because it was clear she needed my help. At least, that’s my interpretation. How about you? (more…)