I Need Something Other Than A Book To Give To My Grads

Editor’s Note: This is one of a series of 30 Stories that appeared in the 100th edition of Youth Leaders Only. Make sure you check out the other great stories  from this special edition celebrating 30 years of YLO. 

We have done over 50 music-based ministry projects: Centrifuge Camp Music Projects (1988-1992), More Than Gold (1996, 2000, 2002), Insiders Guide To High School (1999), Surviving Middle School, Fatherlove (1987), A Mother’s Love (1988), Pump’d Workout Music (Fellowship of Christian Athletes), Soundtraxx (for Assemblies of God Youth Sunday School Curriculum Companion), and tons more. This story told by our long time Team interlinc Member Chris Renzelman is probably our favorite.

“One day I was sitting at our church library table with two interns who both happened to be recent graduates. We began discussing the needs of students in the transitional season of life and what resources were available to them. We were actually looking for a graduation gift beyond the smorgasbord of book options we historically offered each senior. We hoped for something more culturally engaging that would encourage our grads along their path toward adulthood. I had benefited from the Jesus Movement music of the 70’s (Second Chapter of Acts, Love Song and others) and as well as the resources provided from my association with Word Records northwest field representative Jim Brady. As the three of us met that day in 1989 we wondered if such a collection of grad-theme related music might be compiled for use as a gift for graduating seniors. It was launched for the Class of 1990. The ConGRADulations! music-based graduation gift was born!”