Today, Nate Onstott is known as "a force to be reckoned with, infectious with passion and energy," but this was not always his story.

"How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news...." (Isaiah 52:7, NIV).

A desire to be of service to others, especially the materially poor, is a recurring theme among short-term missions alumnae.

A recent blog post challenged readers to consider what they'd tell their teen selves now that they're older.

The joy of ringing in the new year comes with a ton of celebratory noise and hoopla--naturally! But somewhere in the midst of it all, as 2012 comes in, can we find even an hour of silence?

Word Entertainment artists give OC readers a insider-look into their holiday celebrations, fave memories and more.

Participating in the annual church Christmas pageant gave me the erroneous impression that the humble barn where Jesus was born was a quiet setting. The crowning moment of each December's extravaganza was the Nativity scene.

I'm often asked to explain what childhood sexual abuse does to a person. My initial response may seem odd, but it typically starts with this analogy: It is like caging a bird that is meant to be free.

Torry stars as head of IT in behind the scenes parody of "The Office" for Taylor Swift video.

Let’s take a moment to salute the real hero in the music world: Christmas music.

Move over, Chuck Norris. You’ve been Tebowed, my roundhouse kicking friend!

I've never missed a family holiday until this year. I'm not complaining much. Instead of celebrating it with family around the table covered with the usual mouth-watering dishes, I'll be traveling from Paris to Munich.

As Christians, we are called to contentment, even when things don't go our way.

When you're getting into trouble and thinking, I hope I don't get caught, there are people praying that you do.

Amber Weigand-Buckley, editor, previews the Fall 2011 issue which is focused on Campus Missions. Use this video as a resource highlight for your group or class.

"If you can do something to change someone's life, don't be afraid to speak up. God can give you the words to say."

This year, I wore a costume for the first time in my life.

When someone says to you, "Tell the truth," what runs through your mind? Maybe your first reaction is something like, "Uh oh, what did I do?"

Mathew 19:26, a popular verse among Christians, reads, “…with God all things are possible” (NIV).

From The Story of Your Life by Matthew West and Angela Thomas

Un pour tous, tous pour un! If your French speaking skills are a bit rusty, this is translated inversely as All for one, and one for all!

Lord, what am I doing here? This is just one of the many questions Tyler Morey found himself asking after only a few weeks on the campus of Clemson University in South Carolina, a school 15 hours away from his Wisconsin home.

When Jill was little, she would often play at a neighbor's house. One such day, a man who was visiting her neighbor quietly led Jill into another room and sexually abused her. Here are some questions you might be asking if you are victim.

Last school year, 12-year-old Hannah Mason started a Youth Alive (YA) club at Garret Elementary School in her hometown of Montgomery, Alabama.

If I was just another dusty record on the shelf,
Will you blow me off and play me like everybody else?  --"Stereo Hearts"

Graci Phillips was only 7 when her cousin, Rachel Scott, was matyred for Jesus as the first victim in the 1999 Columbine High School Massacre. Eight years later, Graci found herself in battle when she decided the porn magazines in a local convenience store needed to take a hike.

Here are some of Jeff Devoll's practical ideas for making your SYATP event a success and taking that momentum beyond the pole.

“I never set out to be a speaker or painter....” says Eric Timm, nationally known Jesus painter and speaker.

By now, you have probably heard some of the classic Chuck Norris facts, right?

Students reflect on the events on 9/11 and how that forever changed a generation.

If you were over the age of 6 or 7 in 2001, you most likely remember the first reports of the terrorist attacks and hearing many ask this question: Where was God and what was He doing on that day?

The sound of gunshots ripped through the night air, alerting Eva to trouble.

School is back, and you've been served up nine months of papers, projects and performance evaluations!

Quick test for you: There are two cowboys in the kitchen. Which one is the real cowboy? The one on the range.

I was sixteen, I was invincible and I was on my first Ambassadors in Mission (AIM) trip.

As a kid, I spent the sunny months exploring the woods around my house, barefoot, snacking on watermelon.

You're just a click away from watching the 1972 film that continues to change thousands of lives all over the world.

When I graduated high school and could no longer attend Fine Arts Festival as a participant, I began my six-year campaign as a Fine Arts Nationals volunteer...

In August, students from around the nation will converge in one place to put their God-given gifts to the ultimate test...

It's one degree on a Wednesday morning in January, and Reggie Dabbs is climbing into a church van for a day of public school assemblies in Michigan.

Christians are sometimes described as narrow-minded people who claim that anyone who does not believe as they do will be punished forever.

Have you ever awakened to morning sunlight glaring through your window?

Do you, like most people, hate final goodbyes?

In his mug shot, the man’s vacant stare gives the illusions that he’s never been anyone other than the dazed, forty-something drug addict he was in that moment.

How much do we really know about the signers of the Declaration of Independence? Who were--and what happened to--the men who dared to extend their pens to fight for the freedom we celebrate every 4th of July?

Did you know that around 20 percent of Americans surveyed believe that the Apollo moon landings were hoaxes?

It’s not unusual for the lead singer in a successful rock band to step outside the group and record a solo album...

If you could choose any superpower to have, what would you choose? Your answer sure says a lot about you, doesn't it?

Getting my wisdom teeth out has pointed out another facet of the tooth: when they try to fit where there isn't room, it gets painful.

If you're reading this, the Rapture didn't end up happening on May 21. Bummer that we're not seeing Jesus face to face, but at least you can go check out the latest swashbucklin' high seas adventure with Captain Sparrow and his band of ruthless raiders.

It would be nice if Harold Camping was written off as yet another Bible math junkie with way too much time on his hands, but unfortunately the May 21, 2011, Rapture Day billboards and pamphlets have way too many people camping out on Harold's prediction.

Raise your hand if you’re aware of the terrible and heart-wrenching natural disasters that are plaguing our nation.

The word “armor” is a description of the metal coverings formerly worn by soldiers or warriors to protect the body in battle.

And now, a rare glimpse inside the mind of the typical Christian.

Here we debunk five common misconceptions people tend to have about the Holy Spirit.

What does Easter make you think of? Eggs, bunnies, jelly beans? Hopefully the empty cross and the risen Lord. But how often does the stone -- you know, the one that covered the entrance to the tomb -- come to mind?

After more than 700 hours of studying this subject, and thoroughly investigating its foundation, I have come to the conclusion that the resurrection of Jesus Christ is one of the most wicked, vicious, heartless hoaxes ever foisted upon the minds of men, or it is the most important fact of history.

Connection, authenticity, belonging--all essential needs in the life of every person, but what do they mean for today's teenager?

We all prefer when our friends tell us the truth. But what if the truth is more painful than a lie? Do you want the truth that hurts?

Do you possess the traits necessary to be a student leader? Are there a few things you need to work on or improve? 

Can discipleship begin before a person gets saved? 

Scotty Kunkel came from a broken home and a life of partying, but God is using him to challenge his peers everyday. 

Bethany Hamilton went through tribulations that most people cannot even imagine in their worst nightmares, but she emerged with a victory greater than people could believe. 

Church, Sunday School, youth group, Christian schools - all places we pretend are immune to the distractions and evils of the real world. But even Christians can end up playing the role of the bully.

Israel is the only country ideally situated between three continents. Its geographic location provides a perfect setting for tourists of diverse tastes and travel pre-requisites.

I don't know any of their names, nor have I seen any of their faces. They are not people that most folks would have characterized as heroes, but the Fukushima 50 are way beyond tough.

If you believe in free will...  If you believe in chance... If you believe in choice...  Fight for it.

Ever play with Dominoes as a child? Did you prefer arranging them into letter or shapes, and then watching them all fall after tipping only the first one? This Domino effect is taking place in the Middle Eastern part of our planet.

What would you do with a fatal diagnosis that gave you two years to live? Some might see it as a chance to ramp up the completion of their 'Bucket List' before it was too late. Then there would be a few who would choose a "breaking bad" approach.

I love Valentine's Day. I love the stale chocolates, the 10,000 "be my valentine" cards and declarations of "love you" from people I hardly know.

The director of “Yellow Roses” and founder of The 5 Stones Group recounts the story of his God-led journey to helping others through documentary filmmaking.

In the seventh grade, my fellow girl scouts and I were to meet at a local pizza place to celebrate our badge achievements for the year.

Sunday, February 6, 2011 - 6:30pm ET on FOX...No, this isn't an ‘official' holiday, but it is officially estimated that there will be well over 170 million viewers from 200 countries around the globe.

I was privileged to grow up in a household with parents, who from the earliest years of my life, told me I could be, or do, anything I put my mind to. 

"Dad and Mom, I feel called to be a missionary to (a Middle Eastern country closed to the gospel)."

There's something about writing 2011 for the first time that shocks me into reality.

So do you think you'll become a TRON-ie when the popularity of "TRON: Legacy" grows as fast as a rampant computer virus?

Fox's Tuesday-night hit about quirky teenagers seeking acceptance through singing can bring a smile to your face and a song to your lips with the mention of one word: "Glee."

Christmas is many things to many people. Christians know and cherish Christmas as a time set aside to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. During the celebration we give gifts to those we love, and likewise, we receive gifts from those who care for us and want us to know it during this special time.

"I'm stuck here doing battle with Eustace Clarence Scrubb, if anyone so deserves a name," Edumond protests in the opening scene of "The Voyage of the Dawn Treader." If you miss this voyage on the big screen, you'll definitely regret it. 

When I think of sharing, I think of the time I offered half my cookie to a friend. She snatched the biggest half and asked for the second.

When I announced to my family and friends that I had decided to become a living kidney donor for a woman I had met only once, the variety of responses ranged from, "I'm so proud of you" to "You are crazy."

Is it November already? I don't know how to enter into this holiday season with joy.

I pray all your dreams never come true.
Just know wherever you are, honey, I pray for you....
A lot of people who can relate to Jaron and The Long Road to Love's sentiments.

To think about human progress from a material perspective is to be astonished at the advances in the last century alone. From travel by horse and communication by letter carrier, we now fly commercial jets and take the internet for granted. How did these advances happen? People studied physical laws and applied the knowledge to making our lives better.

You've seen it on "Smallville": Superman wants to do what's right and save the day. But some evil villain has placed a chunk of Kryptonite on his heart and Superman's powerless.

I never would have imagined that coming to my friend’s home for a “healing service” would have resulted in me being asked about something that occurred 17 years earlier.

I never trick-or-treated. I am sure that sets a new Halloween standard in the Guinness Book of Records.

You checked it this morning, you'll check it later, then right before bed ...

Is there anything more awkward than getting on a crowded elevator?

Can you picture the shores of New Jersey? Crystal clear waters lapping up on flawless sands ...

At midnight, September 11, 2001, Ann Van Hine learned her husband was missing in the Twin Towers.

A week in Detroit may not have been on the agenda for parents and youth leaders when it was announced last year that National Youth Convention 2010 would take place in the Motor City, but it proved to be a powerful time of ministry for those who participated in the Ambassadors in Missions outreach

You know how you watch a trailer for a movie sometimes, and you feel like you know the whole movie? (The girl thinks the boy is in love with another girl because she saw them hugging but really it was his long lost sister and the only thing they don't show is the last kiss and final credits.)

I started my journey through colleges months before August.

The power of God is moving - moving in streets ... in hotel rooms ... in restaurants. Through hands. In faces...

In the midst of abandoned buildings and people, there is a Spirit of hope and renewal in the lives that are being touched as the first day of Detroit 2010 came to a close.

I grew up in the middle of war. From six years old, all I knew was gunfire, bombs, racial prejudice and civil war in my native Afghanistan.

A missions trip almost proves deadly, but Christian band Bluetree turned out to be the wrong kind of people in the right place at the right time.

I was born in the Breakfast Cereal Capitol of the World--Battle Creek, Michigan--about two hours west of Detroit.