Nearly two years ago, Erik VanDenburgh arrived in Arizona with a youthful enthusiasm for life and ministry. He came to launch Arizona Youth RUSH — a program where youth and young adults work during the summer in literature evangelism, witnessing for Jesus by selling special editions of Adventist literature in a magazine format called "magabooks."
Nobody had to create an agenda or write the script for VanDenburgh. He had worked for many years in California doing the same type of program, working his way through academy and then paying for his specialized training in airplane mechanics.
He received his Airframe and Powerplant License and planned to be a missionary pilot. Flying was always a passion. For a year, VanDenburgh worked in remote parts of Venezuela as a missionary, flying and doing aircraft maintenance while taking the gospel to the nationals. While there, he learned to make a house from bamboo and banana leaves and became adept at sleeping in a hammock strung between two palm trees.
Comfort was never a necessity. It got in the way of succeeding in the many goals he set for himself. VanDenburgh met Jana Faber when she came through one of his summer programs in California in 2002. Faber moved to Arizona and graduated from Souls West, an evangelistic training school on the campus of Thunderbird Adventist Academy. Upon her completion of the program and graduation, the two were married. Now they work side-by-side, leading youth in literature evangelism.
In November, VanDenburgh became the associate youth director for the Arizona Conference in addition to his literature evangelism duties. "One of the greatest things about working with Pathfinders and Adventurers is seeing these young people develop a personal relationship with Jesus," explains VanDenburgh. "With that foundation, they will be ready to serve Him and will hopefully avoid some of the pitfalls that will come their way."
This past summer, VanDenburgh and his team of 20 youth knocked on doors in the Phoenix and Tucson areas with their magabook program. They reached people one-on-one — offering Bible studies, prayer, personal witnessing and genuine friendship.
The results were outstanding, with $80,000 in magabook sales — plus many opportunities to witness for Jesus and help lead people to Christ. "The best part of my summer," he recalls, " was witnessing the incredible changes in the lives of the 20 youth who participated in the 10-week program. Sleeping on floors in borrowed spaces from local churches, bathing in specially invented outdoor showers, and working together to prepare meals created a great bonding experience. They will never be the same." In addition, the students were able to earn significant scholarships for their school expenses for the coming year.
VanDenburgh and his team concluded the summer with a three-day spiritual retreat on Lake Pleasant where they combined Bible study and praise services with water-skiing, swimming and lots of food and fellowship.
