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When asked about things involving the future, whether it be the environment, nuclear weapons, electoral politics, or how to keep a traditional organization like the church relevant, the answer seems to steadily point to the youth. If the decisions of leaders are not done on the youth's behalf, its done "because" of the youth, or better yet "for the sake of the" youth. So speaking of youth "What's [a] better way to get to the heart of the nation's youth?" According to Franklin Graham, son of Evangelist Billy Graham; its through an "evangelical summer concert tour". The "Rock the River Tour", aims to reach young Christians through music, while encouraging them to bring their "un-churched friends", and receive the timeless message that God has a plan for their lives. The tour starts in Baton Rouge Louisiana, makes four stops and ends in St. Paul Minnesota in mid august. In full youth inquisitive mode [insert an eager raised hand here], question: What happened to the rest of the United States. Are all of the young evangelicals and their rock/hip hop loving un-churched friends living in this selective space, or are they all required to migrate there like missionaries for the tour? All of the advertisement efforts to reach out have mostly been done via smart phones and social networking sites. Even the Graham press kit has been tweaked to appeal to the "star struck, athlete idolizing youth". Franklin Graham's biography is included in the kit, entitled "How a Rebel Began to Preach". In which Grahma talks about his "rebillious" years when he supposedly had long hair , rode a Harley, and smoked. Will this work? Perhaps. The youth generally speaking, can be unpredictable and more receptive to new approaches (see the election of Barack H. Obama). For all the bad press that the evangelical movement may receive, their effort in this regard at the very least should garner some notice.
