Archive for the 'real story' Category

March 3, 2008

At the beginning of the school year, 6th grader Aidan DeMuth decided to run for class treasurer. In his speech, he wrote that if he were to become treasurer, he’d help raise funds for wells in Africa. The day of the election, he came home, head down. “I didn’t win.”

“It’ll be okay,” his mom said. “I know it’s hard to lose an election.”

“You don’t understand,” he told her. “God has burned in me a desire to dig wells in Africa, and I can’t get it out of my heart.” Aidan equated winning the election with being able to provide clean drinking water. (more…)

Filed under: faith in action, real story, teens making a difference, real links, real issues

December 17, 2007

What a Horrible Friend!
I felt betrayed when Jennifer gave away my perfect gift.
by Christy Heitger

Ignite Your Life - Campus Life, December, 2007

The bell rang loudly.

It was the sound I’d been waiting for all day—the bell that not only symbolized the end of the school day, but also the start of Christmas break.

I scooped up my books and bolted from class. With Christmas carols ringing in my ears and peppermint lingering on my lips from eating candy canes, I flew down the hallway, bursting with holiday cheer. Little did I know that my giant yuletide bubble was about to burst.

“Hey, Christy!” my friend Stephanie shouted from her locker. “Look what Jennifer gave me for Christmas!”

I ran over, eager to see what Stephanie was so excited about. But when she revealed the gift, my heart broke into a million pieces. There in her hand was a silver swan ring holder—the same ring holder I’d given Jennifer for her birthday. I was certain of it. There couldn’t be another like it. I’d looked everywhere for this unique gift and finally found it in a city several miles from the town I lived in.

My cheeks burned hot with anger.

(read rest of this article)

Filed under: real story

November 27, 2007

Rough youth was a path to teen ministry

Greg Stier’s Dare 2 Share

By Electa Draper
The Denver Post - 11/24/2007

Excerpt: One of Greg Stier’s earliest and most vivid memories is of his mother taking a baseball bat to smash a car and then bloody the man inside it, one of a string of husbands. Stier, founder of the Arvada-based international youth ministry Dare 2 Share, later converted his own fierce mother to Christianity.

(more…)

Filed under: real story, youth worker resources, real quote, real articles, real links, real issues

November 7, 2007

What is your faith story? Has Jesus impacted you, or your life, or your family? Do you want to share it with thousands of teens who visit RTF each month?If so, send it to us. It might be published here.

If your story is chosen, you’ll receive an autographed copy of Making It Real: Whose Faith Is It Anyway?

Filed under: real story, RTF books

October 16, 2007

By Lydia Rule, RTF Staff Writer

Bright orange Halloween pumpkins. Gaping sores. Cackling, costumed corpses holding bags full of sweet treasures. It was a familiar scene… especially to me. I lived in a world of death, tombstones, and flesh mangled victims.

(more…)

Filed under: real story, lydia rule

September 19, 2007

A few years ago Bekah Hamrick lost a friend who meant a lot to her. She shared her feelings about that amazing friendship, and her loss in a poem titled Sunrise, published in Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life.

Where is Bekah now? (more…)

Filed under: writing, real story, faith, RTF books

August 29, 2007

Real Teens, Real Stories, Real Life was my first book, published in 2002. I met so many teens as I wrote this book. Many of their stories were powerful. One of those most amazing and difficult story was written by a teen named Nichole.

In her story, on page 69, titled “A Place to Call Home”, she shared what it was like to be raised in a home where dad raised marijuana, where they were kicked out of their home, or ran from police.

One day her parents took all of their belongings to a storage shelter. They left behind all of their furniture, but they also left something else very important behind at that storage building:

Eleven-year-old Nichole. (more…)

Filed under: real story, abuse, real interviews, family

June 13, 2006

Looking for a Father by Ashley P., Guest Writer 

By the time I was three my parents were divorced and my dad was already remarried. It’s hard when your parents separate, but harder when your three and one of them tells you that it’s all your fault.

Growing up, I wanted what everyone else seemed to have. A Father. Someone who would look out for me, hold me on bad days, and tell me I was his little princess.

(more…)

Filed under: real story, Guest Writers, abuse