Upward Challenge is a week-long event that focuses on introducing youth to the person of the Holy Spirit, encourages them to seek a deeper walk with Jesus Christ and nurtures a growing relationship with God the Father. During the week, youth participate in interactive teaching sessions, small group discussions, personal solo times, one-on-one prayer ministry, powerful times of worship, group games, a challenging field trip, and times of wonderful fellowship and service.

Upward Challenge is a unique event that places PRMI’s Dunamis teaching in a camp setting where youth learn by hands-on interaction and activity.

Who is Upward Challenge for?

This event is designed for youth (8th-12th grade) who have a desire to be deepened in their faith and are actively seeking to grow. It is recommended that the youth who attend already have a basic knowledge of Scripture and a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Upward Challenge takes place at the Community of the Cross in Black Mountain, NC. Here, the nations are impacted by the prayers of God’s people and many have been equipped for the work Christ calls us to do. The Community of the Cross is a place of encountering God’s healing and empowering presence.

Upward Challenge is a growing community and service oriented event. Meals will be prepared and served by the attending students and each individual is expected to contribute to the community through clean-up, set-up, participation, and the expression of their individual gifts.

Missio Dei: Border Breaker is where we go next. The 2007 Upward Challenge will focus on missions and evangelism. During the event, participants will seek the answers to questions like: What is God’s mission on earth? How are we, as followers of Christ, to be a part of God’s mission? What role does the Holy Spirit play in missions? How do we interact with the Holy Spirit to advance the Kingdom of God?

With the teaching comes application. During the event participants will be equipped, empowered, and sent out to practically apply what has been taught during the week. Come join us as we dive into the adventure of being a part of God’s mission on earth.

Where teens are gathered, fun and excitement are sure to appear. In addition to incredible times of worship and challenging teaching sessions, youth will find themselves playing games, sharing tents, gathered around a campfire, participating in a service project, interacting with each other in small groups, floating down a river, and playing in God’s wonderful creation.

There is no registration fee to attend Upward Challenge. PRMI is a non-profit organization that is supported by the gifts and prayers of regular supporters and the offerings of those who attend events. To register for the Missio Dei: Border Breaker please fill out the registration form and return it to PRMI. Right click here and choose "Save As", to download the registration form. The Student Leader Application form is here. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader.

A call to prayer for the 2007 Upward Challenge

November 20, 2006

Dear Upward Challenge Participants and Supporters,

It is once again time to begin preparing for Upward Challenge. As I look forward to next summer, I am excited about God’s plans and what He will accomplish. With each year the work expands as the Upward Challenge program grows. Many new and exciting doors are opening for us and the possibilities are vast. Please pray for us as the leadership team begins the hard work of putting together another Upward Challenge.

This year’s theme is Missio Dei:Border Breaker and will focus on missions and evangelism in the power of the Holy Spirit. Please pray that:

• The teaching material will be clear and inspired by the Holy Spirit
• The administration and logistics of the event will run smoothly
• Wisdom and discernment will be given to the leadership team
• God would call and equip student leaders to be a part of the event
• The finances and other practical needs to run the event would be supplied
• The hearts of all who will attend will be softened and prepared by God to hear His voice
• God’s Kingdom would be advanced and His name declared as a result of this event

In addition to the Upward Challenge event at the COC, there are other exciting doors opening for the continued growth of the PRMI youth program, such as new teaching outlets being developed and possible new locations for Upward Challenges. Please pray that:

• God would guide and direct the growth of Upward Challenge and related programs
• God would raise up leaders to run Upward Challenge programs in new locations
• Wisdom, discernment, and creativity would be given to the present leadership team as they seek God’s direction and develop new programs.

But, the biggest prayer of all is this:

That God would ignite a revival in the youth of all nations and that they might be empowered by the Holy Spirit to advance the Kingdom of God for the glory of Jesus Christ so that all peoples will know that our God reigns!

Thank you for your prayers!

For the Kingdom!

Elizabeth Schultz
Director of Youth Ministry for PRMI

Testimonies by youth and leaders who have attended Upward Challenge

Dear Eli

Thank you! Thank you for an amazing experience. It was one of the best experiences in my life. I learned lots of things about the Holy Spirit and obedience. Our solo time was perfect. The praise and worship band was awesome. The friendship between all of us was like family. It was just great. Friday night was just an unbelievable night, I felt the Holy Spirit. It was just an unbelievable experience. Thanks Eli for an awesome adventure. Thank you and hope to see you next year. Thanks.

From Klaudio.

Dear Eli

During my "solo time" this morning, the Lord laid it on my heart to set down in writing my profound appreciation for the Upward Challenge conference. It did a great deal for the kids, Diana and myself. Four of the youth shared with the congregation a couple of their experiences. Three of the four wept, and the congregation was greatly moved. (It was Cecilia who didn't, in case you are wondering). As for myself, Friday night was a day of Holy Spirit visitation. As Brad laid hands on me, my legs went out from under me, and I rested in the Holy Spirit. As I lay on the floor, a hammer was applied to my spinal chord in forceful even strokes. I knew they were from the Lord, and I accepted them. This went on for some time. My was visibly moved with each stroke. When I later shared this with Diana, her interpretation was that the Lord was correcting my ministry. Looking back at this juncture, I believe her interpretation is true. I feel a greater cleanness and purity in the thoughts of my heart. My prayer life has deepened and extended itself. I find myself praying frequently throughout the day and night -- in a manner that was never normal for me previously. I have a greater burden for those who have not yet known the Savior, and their names will pop into my mind and out of my mouth.

I would say that Upward Challenge is the most powerful spiritual experience I have known, since the Lord first came to me 53 years ago. I believe He is opening new vistas of ministry of power (although even to say this leaves me somewhat queasy).

I thank God for the superb staff and the many prayer warriors who worked behind the scenes. We are all looking forward to next year, and expect to double our number of attendees if there is room to accommodate them.

Love and appreciation in Christ,

John Vaughn

Hello, intrepid leader!

This is Danielle writing about my experience at Upward Challenge. At the event I saw believers from many different backgrounds come together and form a community. In light of our ever-more-impersonal society, this was incredibly encouraging. It was also very encouraging to see that everyone interacted humbly, and that differences of opinion were openly discussed with scripture as the ultimate authority (this happened mainly in our small group). We also saw the Spirit come as we engaged in prayer and worship. This was overall a time for youth to see what Christian fellowship should look like as well as realize the power with which, through the Holy Spirit, Christians can fulfill God's calling on their lives. We learned that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can practically impact the world we live in. This is amazing information to carry with us into adulthood.

Personally, Upward Challenge was a time for conviction. Through the solo times, God told me that He wants me to respond more readily to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and during the worship times I was given the opportunity to put this into practice. I ministered to others and was ministered to, under the covering of prayer and of experienced leaders. This was a wonderful time of internal growth and growth in fellowship. Besides, the setting and activities couldn't be better. Keep up the good work! :-)

Also, know that I'm praying for you out there in Oklahoma.

God Bless.

Carpe Aeternitas,
Danielle King