Challengers is an organization that targets young men and works to help them encounter God, then lead them to develop an "on-mission" lifestyle with God. Challengers provide an opportunity for building relationships between Christian men and teenagers that will encourage the young men to grow in their Christian commitment through a mentoring process.
Challengers is best described as "a mission accountability group for young men." Accountability is a necessary element for any group whose members are to develop an on-mission lifestyle. Accountability assumes a commitment has been made or a goal is required. The Challengers Commitment Statement sets the goal forth in the form of a personal and group commitment that each member signs and then is encouraged, supported, and held accountable to keep.
Challengers – Two Possible Descriptions
Challengers is a mission accountability group for Christian young men. Challengers are becoming leaders in the area of working with God and other Christians in accomplishing His purpose in the world. They are being trained rather than entertained. They are learning to be responsible and accountable. A challenge and a mission worthy of their time and attention attracts them. They lead others to faith in Christ. They challenge their youth group and church to be on mission with God.
Challengers, a group of young men being led by men who are on mission with God, working creatively to build relationships with teenage young men in the context of church-related activities. They are leading young men to a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. They are leading and encouraging young men toward discipleship and spiritual maturity. They use a variety of interest activities to attract young men to participate. They lead the group to do worthwhile projects in the community. They point out and provide models and examples of people who have committed their lives to Christ and who are growing and living for God.
Challenger Commitment Statement
As a Challengers member, I will . . .
- Gather regularly with other youth for fellowship, mission study and mission action.
- Encounter God daily through a time of personal prayer and Bible study.
- Discover my own calling to and gifts for service, witness and ministry.
- Participate in ongoing mission and ministry opportunities through my church.
- Give willingly to support missions around the world through the Cooperative Program.
- Become an informed and responsible follower of Christ.
- Celebrate the Christian life through commitment to weekly worship in my church.
Challengers Membership
The Challengers program provides an arena for meaningful relationship and encourages Christian fellowship. It gives young men a chance to take part in ministry and missions. Through its meetings and activities it gives them a sense of belonging.
Membership in Challengers is generally limited to young men in 7-12 grade or whatever age is considered to be eligible to be included in the youth ministry of their church. Students in junior high or middle school (7-9 grades) are called Younger Challengers and students in high school are called Older Challengers.
Membership requires each student to complete the following:
- Challengers will review the Challengers Commitment Statement and agree to, and sign a commitment statement they will follow as members of a Challenger group.
- Challengers will become familiar with the Challenger logo.
- Challengers will memorize 1 Corinthians 15:58
- Challengers will have a personal time alone with God using the Challengers Vigil and show their leader that they have completed the vigil.
Challenger Vigil
The Challenger Vigil is a personal time alone with God. It is a periodic spiritual checkup to help a Challenger examine how he is doing in keeping his on mission commitment to God as expressed in the Challengers Commitment Statement. Each Challenger should complete this "watch with God" as a membership requirement and at least annually thereafter. Challengers should keep the completed copies of the checklist in their Challenger Notebook.
There are two Challenger Vigils available. One Vigil is found in the appendix section of Leading Challengers. The other Vigil is available from the state office. Click here to download a copy of the Challenger Vigil.
Challengers Logo
The logo contains the organization name, key verse, and motto. Downloadable image files of the Challenger logo in color and black and white are available on our Challengers Resources page.
Challengers: Challengers are those who are commissioned to challenge non-Christians to trust and follow Jesus Christ. They also challenge fellow Christians to be on mission with God.
Mountains: The mountains on the logo represent the challenges in a teenage young man’s life. These are the academic, physical, emotional, social, as well as spiritual challenges of growing up in today’s world.
1 Corinthians 15:58: "Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." (NIV)
"Where Missions and Ministry Meet": Our mission is to join God in His Mission of reconciling the world to Himself. Ministry is meeting human needs all around us in obedience to Christ'’ command to love our neighbor as ourselves. The Challengers motto indicates that we will use ministry as a method of going to the world with the gospel.
Colors: The colors of the Challenger logo represent four disciplines of the Christian life. They are:
Red = sacrifice
Green = growth
White = purity
Blue = loyalty