By Dan Sullivan
Catholic Herald

Youth attend rally in Solon Springs

SOLON SPRINGS -- During his youth, Steven Springer spent many summers on or near the waters of Barnes and Solon Springs. On March 5, as an adult, Springer returned to Solon Springs. This recent trip was not about enjoying the area's natural beauty. He and his wife, Rene, were joined by members of their AdvanceK ministry team. The group traveled from Madison to conduct a youth rally with a Christian message of hope.

"This area is part of my roots," Steven Springer told the Catholic Herald prior to AdvanceK's performance at the Solon Springs Community Center. "It's exciting to be able to come home and bring the message of the Gospel."

Rene Springer added, "It's a beautiful area. We come up every summer and really enjoy it. Everybody is always so welcoming and we have great connections with so many people in this area."

Jan and Dan Pilon, members of the St. Pius X Parish in Solon Springs, had met Springer's parents, Pat and Butch Springer, who are Catholic and have a summer home in Barnes. The couples had discussed their concern over the lack of outreach for today's youth.

"You just don't see many kids in our churches any more," Jan Pilon said. "We need to reach out to the youth and this is what AdvanceK does."

Pilon said she was impressed at the willingness of parish leadership in the Solon Springs, Gordon and Minong parish cluster to try something different and agree to welcome AdvanceK.

"At least we are doing something with the youth in mind," she said.

In their full-time missionary ministry, the Springers and AdvanceK members travel the world to spread God's message.

"We've been to India, Africa, Russia, London and Mexico," Steven Springer said. "The Lord has taken us to all different places. We also have a heart for the United States and feel there is a mission field here that God is awakening."

Rene Springer explained that before traveling the globe to spread the word of God, the couple worked in the modeling industry.

"We traveled internationally as models," she said. "Our passion for travel has been redirected by the Lord and now we travel for a different purpose."

After responding to God's call, Steven Springer said he wanted to share God's message.

"My heart was awakened and people need to hear about Jesus," Springer said. "I took the word of God literally when it said to go out and preach the good news."

He said it is vital to spread a message about God to young people.

"This is a generation where many come from broken homes and they are looking for truth," Springer said. "They want to know that people will love them. As we go places, we bring forth the love of the Father and about our savior Jesus Christ."

Rene added, "The message we bring is one of hope and even in our brokenness we can find that hope. Like Jesus, we bring a message in words they can understand."

In order to share their message, AdvanceK used a variety of sources, including multimedia video presentations, live music, dance, dramatization and personal testimony.

"We have an MTV generation and they need to be stimulated at all times," Steven Springer said. "Why not bring this message in a way that presents the Gospel in its simplicity and (in a way that) they can relate to. It's more than a talking head, but gets everything involved to bring the message of Christ."

A large portion of the evening was filled with live Christian music. AdvanceK members also told personal stories of their own walk of faith. Ron Walters, lead singer for the AdvanceK band, said that he discovered the Lord at age 17. "Coming to Christ changed everything for me," Walters said.

Shad Macum said that before he started going to church and developing his relationship with God, he thought his life was all together. He asked those in attendance, "Do you take off your coat when you go to church or are you just going through the motions? It's not just about going to church for an hour. What do you do during the other days of the week at work or at school?"

Joe Guglielmo explained that even though he grew up the son of a minister and knew about God at an early age, he made wrong choices and became addicted to alcohol and drugs.

"I was messed up and thinking that I was in complete control," Guglielmo said. "I encourage you to make good choices. I went from a burned out drug dealer to finding a life worth living."

In closing remarks, Steven Springer said there is an enemy out there.

"That's why we came to Solon Springs," Springer said. "God wants to awaken each of us to his reality. It's not just for pastors or priests or even people like us (the AdvanceK team). It (the message of Jesus) is for everyone. God wants to create something special in each of your hearts."

Springer said God is inviting people to take a step across the threshold.

"God sees this group in Solon Springs, Wis., being awakened to his love," he said. "God wants us to be caught up in the beauty of who he is."

AdvanceK was sponsored by the Solon Springs, Gordon and Minong parish cluster. The cluster received a $250 grant from the Catholic Aid Association to help put on the rally.

"The youth are looking for guidance and the church can provide that," said Michael Kirchoff, a Catholic Aid field representative from Cloquet, Minn. "This evening is a way for the youth to bond together in a healthy and constructive manner."

Besides their global ministry, AdvanceK also sponsors a water sports camp in the Madison area. Called "Lesson on water and lessons on life," it not only teaches teens to water ski, but shares a Gospel message with them.

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© Superior Catholic Herald, 2005