Bobby Bosler: Welcome to the Thee Generation Podcast. I’m Bobby Bosler and I am thrilled that today is episode 100 of the Thee Generation Podcast. 

I’m joined here for this very special episode with Jim Van Gelderen, who you know very well here on the podcast. He is the director of Minutemen Ministries, which is the organization that has helped the generation get off the ground. 

And Ryan Swanson. Every single one of you has heard his voice many, many times before. He is the voice of the generation. You’ve heard a couple of podcasts from him. But what we’re going to be doing here today is a number of different things. This is going to be a little bit longer than normal, a little bit longer than my podcasts. But we’re going to be just talking a little bit about Thee Generation, where it came from actually. And then we asked you to send in some testimonies and we’ve got those and we’ll be playing some of those for you and reacting to them. So Dr. Jim, maybe just start things off when it comes to the background of Thee Generation? 

Jim Van Gelderen: Sure, this is something that really God was in and there’s so many people that were a part of this coming to pass that if you start naming names you’d miss somebody for sure but I think we all would begin it at a prayer meeting several years ago. There was an all-day prayer and fasting meeting with several pastors. I was not there but I’ve attended meetings like that and with some of the same group of men but I was told that during that prayer meeting there became a deep burden for the youth of the country and a lot of fervent prayer and some of the men who walk with God said that they knew God did something that day. A transaction of faith was made. For a couple of years after that, I think we all believed it. We didn’t know what it would look like. And to make a long story short, God began to burden different ones and the generation was born. Now, Thee Generation is not an organization of, okay, we want you to come along and be a part of a movement. No, we believe the movement had already started. 

Bobby Bosler: Yeah, actually, if I can say something about that. I was in those prayer meetings, and there was one prayer meeting that was a really important time, but there were even other prayer meetings after that where God stirred our hearts with the promise, which was a promise God was stirring our hearts with. In many ways, in Acts chapter 2, I will pour out of my spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy. God wants to raise up our young people to turn the world upside down by declaring the truth of God. And I remember being in that prayer meeting it was like God’s gonna do it. Well that’s what it says, God’s gonna do it. And like you said we were praying for God to do something and believing it because God told us that’s what he wanted us to pray for and through his Word and then we started looking around realizing, oh, he is doing it. Amen. Amen, and I know, for instance, a pastor here at Falls Baptist Church, and of course a very local church-oriented ministry, but he got burdened for a youth conference. Long story, that became the youth conference, the Thee Generation Youth Summit, and we even wrestled over the name, and it was like afterwards, we all wrestled through the name. We spent hours on it, thinking, well, duh, this is the Thee Generation Youth Summit. And that began the thing, and of course it was immediately blessed by God.

And then of course we were trying to package it, how’s it gonna look like, name, et cetera. And I think even Joe Mueller is a friend of this ministry. He came up with a byline, total surrender, total dependence. Not so simple, I had probably a more complex byline I’d given him, but boy, as soon as I heard it, I said that’s it, total surrender to the will of God, total dependence on his grace. Yeah, amen. And you know, that’s actually formed the backbone of what the call to be a part of the regeneration is. And it’s been thrilling to see, I mean I know God’s used it in my heart, it’s been thrilling to see, especially think of that first the first Youth Summit particularly. God’s done exciting things every time but I know for me that final service, just asking the young people do you want to totally surrender to God, do you want to totally depend on him? If you do, go to the back, sign the sheet, and it felt like everybody went back. It was over 100. It was just a moving time where, I know for me, it was a realization. I mean, just seeing it. God is doing what we asked him to do so many years ago, what he led us to pray for so many years ago, he’s on the move, he’s doing it right now. 

Jim: Amen, and the thing that I think has been exciting is those initial things were very encouraging, but even like the podcast, the analytics there, why don’t you share what God has done? It’s just remarkable that it’s not a movement that’s on the decline, it’s just continued to really amaze us.

Bobby: We’ve been doing this now, of course, this is episode 100, including the battle plan for victory, episodes, a couple bonus episodes along the way. But we’ve had 97,045 as of this moment, listen. Just crossed 97,000 today. We just crossed 97,000. And those are from all over the world. We’ve had them from all over the place, really every continent, I believe. And it’s been just thrilling to see how this has taken off. 

Ryan: In fact, this month was our record, all-time record. That’s right. Do you have the stats there? 

Bobby: Yes, so August 2018 was our highest month on record, 8,245 listens just from that month alone. And so we’re pressing forward on this and we’re thrilled. And again, numbers aren’t everything, but it is a reflection of the movement that God is doing. And I wanna thank you young people. And again, listening on their own is not the greatest thing that thrills us, it’s the testimonies of what God is doing in your hearts and As you know, I travel the country. Dr. Jim travels the country and I know about him, but everywhere I go I feel like I’m meeting people who say oh I listen to the podcast God challenged me about this Or God was working on my heart about this through this podcast here And so it’s those things that kind of at least in my heart I thought man I want to extend the invitation for you all testimonies of what God’s doing in your life. 

And so that being said, we do have some testimonies here, if we can segue into that here at this time, from you. And so why don’t we go ahead to the first one, and then we’ll just maybe offer some reflections after we hear it.

Testimony from Carissa: Hi, my name is Carissa and I live in Cincinnati, Ohio. I simply wish to say thank you for doing the V-Page Generation podcast every week. It’s so refreshing to listen to and extremely helpful for me, and keeping my focus where it should be. I especially appreciate the podcast with the mission focus. It’s incredibly encouraging and inspiring to hear what God is doing right now all over the world. Thank you very much. 

Bobby: Amen, Carissa. 

Jim: Yeah, it’s good to hear that. We certainly will try to keep that in mind to keep more abreast. We hear good things all the time and God is working in many fields. He sure is. Very good. Why don’t you go ahead with the next one there.

Ryan: Okay, we’re looking at Fletcher, just sent in a testimony via your story section on the website.

Testimony from Fletcher: I have been so glad to have a reliable source “‘like the Thee Generation to direct new believers “‘to spiritual growth. “‘Don’t ever let this ministry stop,’ he says.” 

Bobby: Amen.

Jim: That’s a blessing. Well that’s encouraging. That’s why we have some young guys because it won’t stop for a long time. Now I’m an old guy here, but anyway, I hope it’ll go long beyond me. 

Bobby: Amen, amen. Here’s one from Jessie. 

Testimony from Jessie: Hi, my name is Jessie and I’m from Marion, Indiana. Thee Generation podcast has helped me in so many ways. After each one, I’m like, wow, I have another area to work on. But the main thing that has consistently convicted me is being bold to the Lord and not worrying about what others think of me. I think one of my favorite things is the podcast 88 by Matt Weber on Act 26:18, which is, To open their eyes and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the tower of seat and unto God, but they receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance among them, which is thanks God by faith that has been made. It’s been so nice to be encouraged and challenged in this area, and I’ve grown a lot. So thanks so much for all you do. It’s truly a blessing. 

Bobby: Amen. You know that that boldness is something I’m constantly challenged by. We need to be bold and you know  in your area I think I’ve done a Cola Clash there for you all. You need boldness God. God is gonna use you all there and he is using you. 

Jim: Amen And also say Matt Weber’s testimony there. It’s one of the earlier podcasts as I remember. All of them been great But that is just you got to listen to that if you haven’t already. 

Ryan: I think that one is called “You Have an Amazing Story” podcast number 4. That is one of our highest for listeners to podcasts. So definitely go back and listen to that if you haven’t heard it yet. 

Bobby: Yeah, good, good. Here’s one from Joshua here. 

Testimony from Joshua: Joshua Thompson, Germantown, Wisconsin. The Thee Generation podcast has really been a blessing to me. It has helped me in so many different areas of my life. I can say when people thought that I was doing okay, I really wasn’t. I was really bitter at my dad and always angry all the time. But then a man from the college came and he asked me, he really challenged me just how the steps of life were going and asked me those questions, you know, if I had anything that he wanted me to pray for. And I did and I told him that I had a problem with my dad and that I was bitter at him. I told him about that and got it right with him and he prayed for me.

And I was really excited about that. And Mr. Bosler spoke on bitterness in one of the podcasts and Dr. Jim also spoke at the New Life meetings this week about it. And I’m so thankful for that, that he just gave that testimony about that and gave that message to us teens about that. So I’m very excited I got everything right with God. I also had a very bad anger problem that I just was getting so upset and so mad at my family. And I am thankful that I got that right with God this week. And I just wanted to praise God for that. Thank you for the Thee Generation podcast. It’s just been such a blessing for me. I thank you for all the work that has gone into that for this episode 100. And I’m thankful for that. And thank you for letting me share this. 

Bobby: Amen. You know, there’s a lot of issues that are deep down inside and Dr. Jim did speak on some of those things here this week. He referenced the New Life meetings. We’ll put a link in the description so if you’d like to listen to some of those sermons, you can, but I know this has been a powerful week for a lot of us. But bitterness is an issue. 

Jim: Yes it is. It’s a big issue among teenagers. Probably the number one issue we deal with in our War of Special Forces which is primarily geared to Christian schools. So I’m glad that Josh gave a testimony of that. And young people, if you’re struggling. You can be just like Josh, you can be free and you don’t have to be marked by past issues that you’re struggling with. 

Bobby: Yeah, good. Well, Ryan, you had a neat Missions Trip this summer, your internship. You may wanna briefly say something about that before we introduce some of the testimonies from that. Yeah, just briefly, I gave a podcast, let’s see, the first one was White Harvest in a Concrete Field, which will be referenced in a couple of these testimonies. And that kind of sums up, if you haven’t listened to that, kind of sums up some of what God had been doing at that point, both in Australia and in my own heart while I was there, and it was definitely a neat, encouraging time. And really the gist of that was confidence in evangelism. And specifically in Australia, where it’s been said that doing evangelism in Australia is like trying to plow a concrete field. And I know that’s not unique to Australia because… There’s places in the US you go to and it’d say the same thing. I know I’m from New England and they would say the same thing about New England and really wherever you go, there’s going to be unique challenges to give in the gospel and in the churches there. 

So that was one thing the Lord was teaching me. Just no matter where you go and no matter how hard or or difficult the field may be to plow, there’s still white harvest. And no matter where it is, and I believe and I came to believe at that point that within our reach wherever we’re at there is someone ready for the gospel. 

Bobby: Amen. You know, God didn’t just have your missions trip for the individuals that you were able to reach, but I know God used the testimony of that trip throughout the country and really in many who are listening to the podcast. Here’s one testimony here. 

Testimony from Alex: My name is Alex Rohof from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. And I’m sharing a short testimony just how God used the podcast given by Ryan Swanson about his ministry in Australia to really encourage me that God can work in any field. Canada has been described as a hard field as well and the analogy of going soul winning in a concrete field is something I can give testimony to that I can identify with. That the fact and the reality that God is able to work based upon faith and his promise that there is a white harvest encouraged me that God can do it even in a place like Canada and I was super encouraged from that one testimony and it’s it’s strengthened my faith that God can use me back in my hometown of Edmonton, Alberta. 

Bobby: Good. Here’s another one. You’ll get to hear an Australian accent for this one. This is gonna be good. 

Testimony from Evie: G’day, my name is Evie and I’m from Australia. I’ve been really blessed by the podcast and especially the ones by Ryan Swanson. I was encouraged to keep sharing the gospel even though all around me feels like a concrete field. If I go in dependence on God, I’ll see souls saved and God working mightily. 

Jim: Amen, 

Bobby: Amen. That is thrilling. You know what Evie, you all there in Australia, the gospel is the power of God and salvation. And it thrills me to think that God could use something like a podcast and a simple testimony to inspire people all over a country to go out and give the gospel. Amen. 

Ryan: And in a country where it’s more unheard of even than in the U.S. You know, she’s going against her culture for sure. 

Jim: And even Christian culture. Yeah, yeah, definitely. Yeah. Good. Well, we’ve got another one here from Australia.

Ryan: This one you will not hear the accent because I’ll be reading it to you. By the way, that’s a different Australian accent than I heard when I was there. I think she’s from a different part of Australia. That’s Victoria so it’s another state in Australia so that’s good. All right this one is this is from Reese who was at a Christian camp that I was at when I was there. 

Testimony from Reese:Throughout my time at that camp I found myself facing trials that I felt like they were too strong to overcome. But something that I found was that I started venting to people and Ryan was one of them. The more we spoke, the happier I was and I had no time to think about any tests or trials. And then during one of the sermons that week, Ryan came up and talked about a website where people could share their testimonies and give godly advice. What I thought at that point was that I would give it a go by signing up and if I didn’t like it, I would resign from it. But just after the first podcast, which was done by one of my mates, Dean Holmes, he said straight away, my heart was lifted by the Spirit of God that was within that man. His testimony was so powerful and inspirational that I started to thrive more. So every time I receive an email from Thee Generation, I know that I am about to be moved spiritually by whoever is speaking. Thee Generation has helped me to learn more scripture and share it with the world around me as well as hear powerful testimonies from wonderful people and from there I know who to pray for more. 

Ryan: I appreciate that Reese. Reese actually has quite a testimony himself and I don’t have time to go into that but he’s come a long way and the Lord saved him out of quite a background.

Bobby: Amen that’s thrilling let me read this one here this one here is from Julie. She sent in a text testimony. 

Testimony from Julie: God used the podcast on how to strengthen your faith by Dr. Jim. Abraham staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief but was strong in faith, giving glory to God. The act of thanking God before a promise is fulfilled is what I need to do. The episode When the Wheels Fall Off was also helpful in being able to get through a hard time. I just need to count it all joy as the Bible says, the trying of our faith does work patience. It expands my faith. The Bible says to let patience have her perfect work is much easier to jump ship, but God definitely has a lesson for me to learn. All right, this next one will be from Luke.

Testimony from Luke: Well my name is Luke and God used podcast number 86, How to Want what God wants in My Life.

Bobby: I remember that podcast, that was when I did this the summer on Colossians two, it’s in the midst of a study there. And you know, what are you really after? Because what you’re after is what you’re gonna get and if you’re after Jesus and the treasures and riches you have in him, you’ll get it. Good. Here’s another testimony, a phoned-in testimony from a young man named Ryan. 

Testimony from Ryan: Hey, my name is Ryan Tomich. I’m from Brookfield, Wisconsin, go to Falls Baptist Church. I just want to testify to the things that God has done in my life, specifically using the Thee Generation podcast. Podcast that God has used in my life is a godly fomo, a godly fear of missing out on eternity. I’ve learned to prioritize my time and thoughts by replacing those other desires, which should be my desire to grow in my relationship with God. By reading his Word, talking to him and listening to him when he tells me to do whatever he wants me to do and obeying him in every area. Again, the Thee Generation podcasts have been really impactful in my life. A consistent weekly tool of God has been used to change my mindset and to change The way I think and correct my wrong thinking about God and about having faith To do what God wants me to do and to change this world for Christ.

Bobby: Amen. Ryan, God will use you to change the world for Christ. Okay, we have one from Serenity

Testimony from Serenity: It’s only been a month since I joined the Thee Generation, but I just wanted to say how much episode 22 has encouraged me. I learned the reason I’m not seeing souls saved is because I did not ask, believing that he would do it. That’s good. The expectation is important. 

Bobby: Good. Well, here’s one more we’ll give here from a young lady named Violet. 

Testimony from Violet: Hi. My name is Violet Ward and I’m from Delta, Pennsylvania. And I just want to thank you all for making the Thee Generation part of my life and making a podcast that I can listen to every week. And I always look forward to listening to it every Sunday morning while I get ready for church. But I just wanted to thank you and tell you that I have really grown through it, especially in areas of being more bold and courageous. And not letting myself be controlled by the fear of man, I really learned to run my life the way I believe God would want me to and be spirit-led. I have also grown in my patience and really learned to live my life based on the statement “What would Jesus do?” And I ask Him every day to give me the strength to get through the day and to live it for Him. And He always gives me what I ask for in that way. Thank you for doing it for the years I’ve been a teenager. And just wanted to tell you that my favorite episodes were the Girl and the Headhunters, Fourteen Girls and Your Life Has Worth, and Truck Stop Miracle. Thank you. Bye. 

Bobby: Amen. Those are some of my favorite episodes too. Dr. Gibbs knows how to tell a good story. What good. Well, praise the Lord. You know, young people, thank you for your testimonies. Thank you for being willing to share those with us. And thank you for letting the Lord work in your heart. You know, honestly, statistics, analytics, all of that stuff, it’s encouraging, but as I said the most encouraging thing to us is to know that you are responding to the Lord and that you’re surrendering to Him whatever that might be, no matter how difficult or challenging that might seem, no matter how impossible it might seem when He’s calling you to do your surrendering to it depending on Him thank you so much for listening to the Thee Generation Podcast…

Jim: Wait! You gotta end with the buy line. 

Bobby: Oh yes, that’s right. 

Jim: We end every podcast a certain way. So you go ahead. 

Bobby: Total surrender and Total Dependence to turn the world upside down with the gospel of Jesus Christ.