We live in challenging times and our kids are paying the price. What was considered unthinkable a few years ago is now considered normal. 

• Parents are told to affirm their child’s so-called “gender identity,” whatever it may be, and to support them wholeheartedly in “transitioning,” even if that includes irreversible hormone treatment and the mutilation of healthy body parts. 

• The worldview ideas of critical theory infect every segment of society, from education to entertainment, from business to government. Kids are taught that identity (and therefore, their value) is found in their skin color, gender and/or sexuality and the result is malicious identity politics and constant societal conflict. 

• Our young women are told their right to “reproductive healthcare” includes taking innocent life through abortion. 

Friend, we are in a battle. As the Apostle reminds us, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh.…” (2 Cor. 10:3). Make no mistake, the culture is constantly coming for our kids, and many are being taken “captive” by the false ideas of our secular culture. 

We may be tempted to respond with anxiety, fear or even despair. However, Paul continues by giving us the proper response: “We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ” (v.5). We are not to run from the battle of ideas, but to face it head on with God’s truth. Indeed, “the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds” (v. 4). God’s truth is powerful to capture and re-capture the hearts and minds of the next generation. And that encapsulates MAVEN’s mission: 

MAVEN exists to help the next generation know truth, pursue goodness and create beauty, all for the cause of Christ, and to equip those who teach and train them—parents, youth workers, pastors and educators—to do the same.

So, while the task seems daunting at times, we always remain hopeful. We know that through the power of the Holy Spirit, God’s truth will not only protect us and our young people from being “conformed to this world,” but will also transform us by the “renewing of our minds” (Rom. 12:2). 

MAVEN’s training programs—our Virtual Training, Live Events and Immersive Experiences— equip students, families and churches with the truth of the Christian worldview so they can navigate the ideas of a perilous culture and reflect the light of Christ in a dark cultural moment. The result? TRANSFORMATION. 

We hear the enthusiastic testimonies from students like Ellie: “I just wanted to thank you so much for the MAVEN Conference! I have been craving to go deeper in my relationship with God and have been making an effort to put Him first, so this weekend was such a great experience and the speakers were amazing. Thank you for putting so much work into this event.” 

God’s work through MAVEN to transform young lives continues because of YOUR generous partnership. When you give to MAVEN, YOUR generosity reaches students, parents and church leaders in the cultural trenches. YOU protect young hearts and minds from being taken captive by the culture and YOU provide confidence and courage to help the next generation stand firm in Christ. 

Will you give a year-end gift to bolster MAVEN’s efforts as we move into a new year of ministry? Your financial support is absolutely necessary as we look forward to another year of transformation in the lives of students across the country. Thank you for your partnership in this Kingdom work!