A New Online Christian Community for Youth

By   •   September 15, 2010

Boosting its online presence and capabilities, youth evangelism ministry Dare to Be a Daniel has launched a new Web resource for Christian students who want to learn how to share their faith.

DaretoBeaDaniel.com, the ministry’s online training site, now offers greater interactivity – allowing students to “friend” each other, as with Facebook – along with a customizable user experience.

“We saw the need to take our site to the next level,” said Chad Miller, director of Dare to Be a Daniel. “The features added to the site make it a fantastic place for youth to live in community and encourage each other in the vital work of sharing Jesus Christ with their friends.”

In addition to its sleek new design and more user-friendly interface, the site still serves as a valuable information resource for students. It includes the same training for sharing one’s faith, a host of engaging videos featuring athletes, popular music artists and others, and a range of articles on various topics to help students understand and live out their Christian faith. They can also submit their own spiritual questions, which are addressed with biblical guidance.

“The new website is great!” said 17-year-old Allee Keener, of Troy, N.Y., who went through Dare to Be a Daniel training in 2009. “The layout on every page is simple and organized. The background is vibrant and makes the website grab the viewers attention. The feel you get when you first go onto the website is excitement, which I personally believe is perfect to get young teenagers/preteens excited about the program.”

A ministry of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), Dare to Be a Daniel began in 2006 as the vision of BGEA President and CEO Franklin Graham to help Christian students share their faith and make a difference in their schools. The training, targeted at youth ages nine to 14, or “tweens,” examines the story of Daniel as a biblical example of how a life dedicated to God in the midst of a decadent culture can affect an entire nation.

Across the country, more than 17,000 youth in all 50 states have gone through the training in one of its various forms. Trainings are offered as a 13-session and 5-session curriculum designed for Sunday schools, youth groups or summer camps, and as an online individual Bible study.

“Now, more than ever before, young people count their friends as having the most significant influence in their lives,” continued Miller. “Our hope is that the interactions students have with one another on DaretoBeaDaniel.com will push them all to become more like Jesus in everything they do.”

In addition to the new site, Dare to Be a Daniel also offers a Facebook page and a Twitter feed.