Gospel Journey Teens Dare 2 Share

They settled on Grace Church and had their first service on March 12, 1989, for 23 people in a friend's living room. But Grace Church grew so quickly that it would move six times over the next dozen years before settling at its current home at 69th and Sheridan, where it ministers to a congregation of 2,500.

Greg started out as the church's preacher, but it soon wasn't enough for him. His passion was teenagers, and he wanted to reach them on a massive scale. "Kids are more open to considering new ideas and thoughts," he says. "They're more revolutionary.... Dare 2 Share was kind of in my blood."

Greg keeps building the drama on the first night of the Survive conference. When the kids return Saturday — for a full thirteen hours of evangelical training — he wants them to feel a sense of urgency.

"Do you know what the last words of Jesus in the Bible are? 'Behold, I am coming soon,'" he says. "We don't know exactly when he's coming.... There will be signs.... Wars and rumors of wars and Christians are going to be hated and persecuted, hunted and killed because of their faith. You may be thinking, well, not in America.... Let me tell you, that could happen here one day, but I am convinced that if that day ever does happen in the United States of America, that believers in Jesus Christ — teenagers — will still stand up for the name of Jesus Christ.

"What you're about to see on this stage has some scenes of violence, but I believe these scenes of violence are necessary to paint a clear picture of what it could be like.... Rivet your eyes to the stage.... Allow the spirit of God to break your hearts for your friends who don't know Jesus...."

When Greg finishes his prayer off stage, two characters are on stage screaming. One is pinned to the floor with a folding chair over his neck and chest. "Is this what you want? Is this what you want to die for?"

"At least I'm willing to die for something. What are you willing to die for?"

The stage goes dark and a narrator's deep voice fills the arena while the screens lining the stage show images of war and destruction: "Five years from now, America has been decimated by terrorism, and fear grips the nation. But instead of flying planes into buildings, Islamic extremists detonate explosives in Christian churches across the country. Thousands are killed. But a small group of Christians choose to fight back. They call themselves the Elect.... Many Christians from every denomination join the underground resistance. The Elect target and execute key Muslim clerics and officials. A holy war begins in America.... The Federal government gathers thousands of Christian and Muslim leaders to begin peace talks, which conclude in the conception of the National Interfaith Administration, a federal branch which confines religious activity to national security standards. Anyone practicing religion outside the NIA is considered a threat to national security and tried as a traitor. Now, the NIA and the Elect are going into battle for the last few followers of Jesus."

The stage lights come up, illuminating the inside of a prison cell that holds four people. Max is puking — he's just watched his friend Eric be executed for saying his first loyalty was to Jesus and not the country. With Max is his girlfriend, Amy; his brother, Casey; and his former high school basketball coach. Over the next ten minutes, Max learns that his coach is working for the NIA as a spy in exchange for money and drugs, and his brother is a Christian terrorist with the Elect.

"I had no choice, Max," Casey tells him. "They've taken everything from us: our history, our dignity, our faith. This is the only hope we had for taking back this country for God. I'm not a traitor, Max. I love this country, and I won't stand by and watch this evil government take away everything I believe in. This is a Christian nation. We had no choice. We had to fight, and now God has finally raised up an army strong enough to cleanse this wicked nation."

"What have you done?" Max yells. "Christians are supposed to forgive people, not murder them."

"Forgiveness is God's job. We just set up the meetings."

Max attacks his brother with a chair and accidentally kills him — then learns that Amy is a government spy.

"Max, we had to know if you still had Christian ties," she says. "Any religion that claims to be the only way into heaven is a serious threat to our national security.... I have this one chance to prove your innocence. They have more than enough to convict you."

"Of being a Christian?"

"Of being a traitor. Christians put their allegiance to God above the government, and they will kill you, Max, right here."

Two guards with guns are in the room now. One pays the coach for his help, and he throws the money down. "I'm not a teacher anymore, but I once was, a long time ago.... My heart and my allegiance is to Jesus, so you can keep your filthy money. Max, son, what's it gonna be? Are you going to save your life or lose it?"