The Revolution has been an experimental grassroots Jesus-movement led by Jeremy Berg uniting Christian leaders and teens of the Mound community around a common vision to use fresh, creative ways to reach teens with the life-transforming Kingdom message and mission of Jesus Christ. What a great ride it has been! Please take a moment to read the “Story of the Revolution” and view the Video below for a glimpse of the many amazing moments and memories from this truly revolutionary ride.
Long live the Revolution!
Jeremy Berg
Highlights Video Slideshow
History & Vision
The Story of the Revolution began with a burden for the teens of Mound and a vision Jeremy received during a prayer walk to reach the teen culture more effectively by uniting leaders and teens from local churches together for fresh, innovative ministry events. Following several years of involvement in the high school as sub teacher, basketball coach and driver education instructor, Jeremy accepted a part-time youth director position at Bethel Methodist Church upon graduation from Bethel Seminary in the Fall of 2005. Bethel would soon become the home base and launching pad for the Revolution the following Fall. 
For the next two years God faithfully brought together leaders and youth from several area churches to pool time, energy and resources to pull off many successful, crowd-drawing events such as the popular Battle of the Bands and monthly Coffeehouse Live at Ground Zero which both drew teens in crowds over 150. Many talented Christian musicians joined the Revolution and formed the Elevate Band. The Elevate Band (Joe Timm, Bryan Royle, Melissa Norman, Rachel Hull, & Greg Marsh) led several community-wide worship celebrations drawing youth and adults together from area churches for high energy worship in the Little Theater at MWHS. The weekly Way of the
Revolutionary Bible Study met at the Berg’s home on Monday nights and drew a diverse group of students from a dozen different local churches and denominations. This group of high school teens became the core group of committed Revolutionary disciples who met weekly for Bible Study, prayer, support and to seek new ways to becoming more faithful followers of Christ.
Faithful supporters and leaders of the Revolution have included Pastor Chad Dvoracek and his staff at Mound Assembly of God, who have opened their doors to host events and have
given endlessly of their time to make Revolution events successful. Freshwater Community Church has generously provided equipment and rehearsal space for the Elevate Ministry. Calvary Memorial Church has brought leaders and have been great promoters of Revolution events. The people of Bethel Methodist came behind the vision of the Revolution and provided Jeremy with a part-time position and salary making the Revolution possible. Sound equipment for many large-scale music events has been provided by Alex Stave and family without cost. Finally, God has brought a group of young, revolutionary followers of Jesus together to form the backbone of this revolutionary Christian community who are too numerous to mention by name – but you know who you are!
What did God accomplish through us?
The Revolution attempted to shatter negative stereotypes teens have of “church” – i.e., a boring place centered around empty, archaic rituals; a safe, comfortable place where old people gather for lasagna, etc. – and tried to recapture the revolutionary character of the early Christian movement led by a strange, peculiar prophet named Jesus who challenged the status quo, questioned the powers that be, and gathered a rag-tag band of ordinary folks around him and began living life according to a whole new set of values and priorities. This new, revolutionary kind of life Jesus invited others into he called “The Kingdom of God.”
For two years we saw teens who had become bored with church, skeptical toward Christians, bitter toward organized religion, etc. opening their hearts to hear afresh the revolutionary message of Jesus. Furthermore, we saw teens from various churches uniting together around a common commitment: following the Way of Jesus. We saw many Christian teens finding a place where their God-given talents and passions can be showcased for God’s glory. We saw other teens far away from God flooding the church basement to hear his invitation. We saw ordinary youth group kids from various churches becoming extraordinary witnesses for Christ in their school – i.e., starting a Thursday Bible study at school, organizing events to raise money for great causes (e.g., Invisible Children, WeCAN), serving the poor in our neighborhoods, and more.
The future: What’s next?
My (Jeremy) sole desire for the Revolution in Mound has been to inspire a radical, revolutionary kind of faith in the teens I have encountered. Everything changed for me when I first caught a glimpse of the adventurous, life-long journey that is the Christian life. The church is not just a place to go on Sunday mornings; it is a revolutionary movement of people following one King and Savior, depending on one Holy Spirit and seeking to honor and reverence one Father and Lord. If God has used me to stir up this revolutionary “spirit” in the hearts of bored and weary teens tired of safe, domesticated religion then I rest content.
But the Revolution continues. It began 2,000 years ago. It’s loyal participants are scattered across the entire globe. We are all united by a common call to put to death our old life, turn from our sins and receive God’s gift of forgiveness and new life – being born again into a new and glorious life, following the peculiar Way of Jesus as we’re enlivened and empowered by the Spirit.
“For our citizenship is in heaven,from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Phil. 3:20).
Are you part of the Revolution? Or just a spectator?
VIDEO: Battle of the Bands II – Live at GroundZero
MAKING MUSIC & LOCAL HEADLINES!
