Under the direction of Erik VanDenburgh, a team of 23 Arizona Youth Rush literature evangelists spent nine weeks this summer knocking on doors in Phoenix, Prescott and Tucson.

For most, selling books to spread the good news of Jesus was a first-time experience. A few were back for a third or fourth summer, working to pay academy and college tuition expenses.

The literature they sold, called MagaBooks, featured titles such as Desire of Ages and Steps to Christ, and were attractively presented in a magazine-book format, thus the term "MagaBook." These were offered on a "suggested donation" basis, allowing many people to receive the gospel message at an affordable price.

Students came from Nebraska, California, Nevada, Hawaii and Arizona and were required to carry a radio device for communication and safety. They were in constant contact with team leaders.

To help with the challenge of providing housing, bathing facilities and food for the group, the local YMCA opened its doors for early morning showers. The students helped in food preparation, and host churches provided sleeping quarters.

Five percent of their earnings were available for the students' day-to-day expenses. Fifty percent of the earnings are given to the student or the school of his or her choice at the end of the summer. Some participating schools match these funds up to 100 percent.

Work days began at 7:30 a.m. with bathing, food preparation, worship and training sessions and ended around 8:45 p.m. Fridays were filled with errands and laundry, and Sabbaths found the Youth Rush participants sharing the excitement and miracles of their ministry with local churches.