by Debra Weiss, RTF staff writer

When Hannah Farver and Lindsey Wagstaffe started Beauty from the Heart, it was a small blog devoted to encouraging girls to seek real beauty. But God had big plans for these two teenage girls!

The blog grew into a thriving website that quickly became one of the most popular sites for Christian girls on the net. Even more doors opened, and Hannah and Lindsey began speaking at conferences, sharing the message God had put on their hearts.

Today, Hannah Farver and Lindsey Wagstaffe sat down to talk to Real Teen Faith about beauty, plastic surgery, and femininity.

Debra Weiss: Hi Lindsey and Hannah! We’re so excited to have you here at Real Teen Faith today. What led to you two to start Beauty from the Heart? Did you both wonder if God could use ordinary girls like yourselves?

Hannah: Well, when Beauty from the Heart began, it was just a blog. We had different contributors and definitely enjoyed that stage of posting; but as time passed, we knew that Beauty from the Heart would eventually step extend outside the web. When I was sixteen (in 2006) I began writing a book based on the ideas we’d worked through on the blog. Five drafts later and three years afterwards, we’re working with a literary agent on publishing that book. (Yay!) (more…)

Debra Weiss interviews Laura Farrar

Laura Farrar is part of a courageous generation determined to reach out and do something about the problems they see in the world around them.

Because Laura Farrar has struggled with eating disorders, depression, and self-injury, she understands the pain and secrecy they bring. Discontent to just talk about these issues, Laura is determined to do something.

In 2008, Laura started the Dancing in the Rain Foundation. Through her organization, Laura hopes to start a shelter for hurting teens where her organization can offer crisis and intervention services to hurting adolescents so that they may experience God’s mercy and love while receiving the help they need.

Debra Weiss: First of all, Laura, it’s great to have you here at Real Teen Faith. I loved the name of your organization, Dancing in the Rain Foundation, as soon as I heard it. What’s the story behind the name?

Laura Farrar: Thanks, Debbie for having me! Our name was inspired by a few quotes I’ve heard over the years. One of those is “Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass. It’s about learning to dance in the rain.” That’s the heart of what we believe in. The storms of life bring rain and hardship to our lives, but there is hope–we can learn to dance, cope, thrive and heal even in the midst of the pain. (more…)

Big Daddy Weave’s Mike Weaver wants to lose some LBs in 09. He calls it his 90in09 challenge.

Want to lose some LBs of your own. If you go to 90in09, in addition to signing on with “Team Mike” and following Weaver’s progress, fans can also join the health challenge by uploading their own photos and tracking their successes.

Participants will have access to healthy food recipes, exercise techniques and more wellness information. Individuals can further meet the 90 in ‘09 support team including renowned wellness leaders Dr. Asa Andrew, also known as “America’s Health Coach,” and Scott Reall, YMCA Restore Ministries’ founder and executive director.

Wow, it’s almost here! In May tons of awkward looking hats will be thrown in the air at graduations all over the country. Maybe you’re one of those people. Are you trying to figure out where you want to go to college?

ChristianCollegeGuide.net gives the scoop on colleges, how to pay your way, with great links and resources, as well as articles from people in the know about higher education, how to find the right school for you, and what to do once you get there.

Underoath

• The Band
  Aaron Gillespie – Drums/Vocals
  Tim McTague – Lead Guitar/Backing Vocals
  Spencer Chamberlain – Vocals
  James Smith – Rhythm Guitar
  Christopher Dudley – Keyboards/Synthesizers
  Grant Brandell – Bass
   
• The blog – Aaron speaks out about the Invisible Children in Uganda
• The MySpace 
• Buy their tunes
•  Watch the videos 

Where do you begin? You can find it all on Tangle. Funny videos of cats synced to Hawk Nelson’s tunes. Teaching. Preaching. Youth groups from around the nation. Spoofs. Celebrities. Musical artists. Teens trying to change the world.

Here’s one Tangle video that is just for fun.

3rd place finalist on “American Idol,” Season Six
Released “Melinda Doolittle” Album in 2007
Released “Coming Back to Youth” Album in Feb. of 2009. Currently 3rd on US Independent Chart.

“I was tone deaf all the way up until 7th grade. The chorus teacher would invite me to sing because I looked like I knew what I was doing. They’d tell me to stand in the middle and just mouth the words. ‘Don’t you dare sing out loud!’ I loved music so much; I would pray that I got better.” Melinda Doolittle, The Winning Edge Interview

Do you feel the call to change your generation? Do you sense that God wants to impact your friends and you don’t want to wait around for someone older to make it happen? Do you look in the Bible and see God reaching down and moving history by working through the lives of people like Timothy, Jonathan, David, Mary, Esther, and a lot of others in their teens? Catalyst is focused on a new generation of church leaders. They are helping teens and twentysomethings be the church instead of just going to church.

This October, over 10,000 young leaders will gather again to experience Catalyst up close. Will you be one of them?

Catalyst Space