Take the plunge into faith and fun this summer |
 Summer . . . a time that kids pine for during the school year and parents may anticipate with something akin to dread. Fearing refrains of “I’m bored” or hours spent on the couch playing video games can make moms and dads nervous about the long, hot months stretching before their family. Focus on the Family’s Odyssey Adventure Club offers an answer, encouraging parents and kids to embrace faith and fun with the Take the Plunge Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse magazine’s Summer Challenge.
The Take the Plunge challenge features:
The Take the Plunge challenge helps families memorize at least five verses, engage in fiveactivities together and share their faith with five people before the school doors swing open again. Those who sign up will receive an 11-week plan with suggested verses to memorize, activity ideas (such as visiting a war memorial) and ways to witness (such as passing out popsicles at the park with an invitation to your church), making this challenge the perfect tool for parents who want summer to be a time of spiritual and social stimulation for their kids.
“Research tells us that the more senses we involve when teaching children a principle, the more likely it is to stick,” Plugged In editor and Adventures in Odyssey podcast host Bob Smithouser says. “Bible memorization by itself is great, but it becomes even more powerful when put into action. Know it. Share it. Live it.”
Families who sign up to take part in the challenge at www.whitsend.org/summer will have access to weekly verses to memorize, ideas for family fun and suggestions for service projects that allow a family to share their faith. Additionally, anyone who signs up to participate in the Take the Plunge challenge will receive a free scene from the latest Adventures in Odyssey album, as well as a free story from the book Strange Journey Back.  For the month of May, families can get their first month’s membership to the Odyssey Adventure Club for just $1. OAC offers 24/7, on-the-go access to more than 800 episodes of Adventures in Odyssey, as well as a new, members-only episode every month. OAC is a safe, fun environment where children can explore, create and imagine, all while developing their faith and learning biblical truth.
To learn more about the Take the Plunge Challenge and the Odyssey Adventure Club, visitwww.oaclub.org, Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest. Â About the Spokespeople: Â
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Jesse Florea has worked at Focus on the Family for more than 21 years. For the past 18, he’s been the editor of Adventures in Odyssey Clubhouse magazine (for boys and girls ages 8 to 12). Florea is currently the editorial director for youth publications where he overseesClubhouse and Clubhouse Jr. magazines. He also co-hosts the biweekly “Official Adventures in Odyssey podcast” that often exceeds one million listeners. Additionally, Florea has written or co-written more than a 20 books including The Case for Grace for Kids, The One Year Father-Daughter Devotions and The One Year Devotions for Active Boys. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in communications from Wheaton College, Ill. He lives with his wife, Stephanie, in Colorado Springs and enjoys hanging out with his two adult children.
Bob Smithouser has served at Focus on the Family for nearly 25 years and spent the majority of that time pioneering and expanding the media review ministry of Plugged In – including 16 years as editor of its award-winning magazine and four as host of the popular podcast. A columnist, speaker, author and proud dad, Smithouse has also co-hosted the Official Adventures in Odyssey Podcast since 2006. His love for Odyssey and teaching children about Jesus led him to accept his current position, producer of the Odyssey Adventure Club. He earned a master’s degree in communication studies (and minored in basketball fanaticism) at the University of Kentucky.
Christi Lynn has served at Focus on the Family for more than 12 years. In her current role as Marketing Director for Kids & Culture, she enjoys working with Adventures in Odyssey and Clubhouse magazine including Odyssey Adventure Club where kids can learn and grow in Jesus. She also serves part-time on staff at her church in Colorado Springs as the children’s ministry director. Lynn has been married to her husband, Scott, for more than 20 years, and they have two children, Katie and Matthew.