January's Preacher of the Month is Krista Phillips, a student at Hanover College in Indiana. Krista is a member of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and her mentor is Michelle Bartel of Madison, Indiana. Krista is also a member of the Academy's Leadership Team.

"My experience on the Leadership Team has been a blessing.  I have met young men and women who not only love the gospel, but have come to know and love one another.  We have had many group conversations where some or none of us agree with one another, yet we are able to speak to one another in love and open each other's hearts and minds to the fact that God is at work doing new things in our minds."

At the 2011 National Festival, Krista will preach about the use of the Ten Commandments and scripture.

"So often I have been taught ways to use the Ten Commandments as a way to guilt people into becoming followers of Christ," she says. "Instead, I ask how we might benefit as the Church if we saw the Ten Commandments as a gift from the God who brought us out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery to be used to contribute to the wholeness and holiness of our world.  "

Krista hopes that Young Preachers will come to the National Festival with open hearts and minds to experience the ecumenical celebration of gospel preaching.

"I pray that Young Preachers will step out of their comfort zones and drop denominational barriers to listen to one another and engage in meaningful dialogue about the work God is doing through them and at this event," she says.

"I also hope that each Young Preacher will use the time and resources at the Festival to spend time in discernment. It will be easy to go from sermon to sermon, fellowship circle to dinner and not stop to listen, but great things will happen if we all take a little time to stop and reflect on the amazing things that God is doing in our lives and at this Festival."

The time is fulfilled! The Festival is here! Hear this good news!

One hundred thirty Young Preachers, called of God to announce and embody the Kingdom, are coming to Louisville, Kentucky.  They are coming to preach, to listen, to inspire, to support, to learn and to grow.

Not that this gathering of Young Preachers is going to usher in the kingdom: but now and in the years ahead, what happens this week in Louisville will impact the lives of multitudes of people.

There is no event like this in the United States.  Yes, 22,000 young people are at Passion, in Atlanta, this week, and this thrills me also. But the difference in the two events is significant.

First, in Atlanta, young people will mainly listen to singers and speakers; in Louisville, young people will dominate the platform--they are the preachers.

Second, in Atlanta, the young people come primarily from the evangelical wing of the American church; in Louisville, it is Evangelical, Catholic, Orthodox, Pentecostal, and Protestant.  It may be the most ecumenical event in American Christianity this year.

God will infuse the whole community of faith with a new zeal for the gospel and the kingdom.

Pray for us. Attend with us. Support us with your prayers, your blessing, and your gifts. (We are still awarding scholarships to help these young people come and preach; we need your help.)

May the true and living God be present in peace and power this week at the National Festival of Young Preachers. 

-Dwight A. Moody, Founder & President