UNITED STATES: URBAN TEENS MAKE POSITIVE CHANGES

Leadership Training Ministries connects students outside of school with Scripture-based training through Bible clubs, an interactive website and social media. Teens in this Teen Club at Gilliam Collegiate Academy in Dallas, Texas, are learning basic discipleship.

COMPLETED PROJECT Low-income and immigrant teens in urban areas often lack access to resources for improving their lives. As a result, they are at higher risk of turning to gangs, sex and other risky activities to give them a sense of belonging. Urban youth need help and direction to make wiser lifestyle choices. Parents need resources so they can correct dysfunctional behaviors in their families.

During the third phase of a three-year project, Leadership Training Ministries (LTM), formerly known as Otra Onda, Inc., engaged at-risk youth and their parents in Texas, Georgia, Kansas and Illinois with biblical tools. LTM provided Caring Loving All Youth (CLAY) Bible-based leadership seminars to students at public schools. Outside of school, LTM connected students, their parents and youth group leaders with in-depth, Scripture-based training via Bible clubs, classes, an interactive website and social media. Youth, their parents and ministry leaders received Bible tools to strengthen and increase their Scripture engagement.

This project exceeded two of its impact goals and achieved a third goal, earning an overall rating of “Exceeded.”

TRACK RECORD Since 1997, LTM and its predecessor Otra Onda, Inc., have implemented programs for multicultural, at-risk youth and their families. In the first phase, from 2007 to 2008 (ABS-1007-2), the project fell below expectations. That phase reached 5,318 people through the CLAY program and Parent University. Performance improved in the second phase from 2009 to 2010, when LTM achieved or exceeded its goals by working more closely with school and community leaders. In this third phase, LTM reached 10,195 people, including 8,395 people who demonstrated a willingness to engage with the Scriptures, 1,500 people who grew in their understanding of the Bible and 300 people who took action inspired by God’s Word.

In August 2010, LTM launched LiderazgoJuvenil.com and had 700,000 visits that year, including 29,000 visits from people in the United States. LTM also operates an online radio station called Otra Onda Radio.

DEFINITION OF RESULTSExceeded Implementer exceeded goal by more than 20% Achieved Implementer solidly achieved the goal +/- 20% Below Implementer partially achieved the goal Not achieved Goal was 100% not achieved

PROJECT PERFORMANCE BELOW ACHIEVED EXCEEDED

LEADERSHIP TRAINING MINISTRIES (LTM, FORMERLY OTRA ONDA)

PROJECT PROFILEAmount requested $200,480

Actual budget $115,789

Expected cost per beneficiary $53.36 (total budget)

Actual cost per beneficiary $15.98 (total budget)

Expected cost per beneficiary $14.17 (ABS portion)

Actual cost per beneficiary $3.75 (ABS portion)

Location United States

Portfolio Outreach

ID 73114-0308

Evaluation July 2011 by Lindsay Reilly

God’s Word helps youth and their parents lead better lives

United States

ASSESSMENT & RECOMMENDATIONThis is the third phase of a three-year project, and LTM has effectively changed its program from year to year in order to better reach at-risk youth.

In this phase, LTM got more than 30,000 at-risk youth, youth leaders and parents to engage with Scripture-based materials. By providing CLAY Bible-based leadership seminars, LTM was able to mobilize youth leaders and parents to engage with their students or children. The program also connected students, parents and youth group leaders outside of school with in-depth, Scripture-based training via Bible clubs, classes, an interactive website and social media.

The original program design focused on reaching at-risk youth with print materials, but during implementation, LTM decided to offer Scriptures online through social media platforms and its website, www.liderazgojuvenil.com (Youth Leadership). The website, started in 2010, focuses on reaching youth and youth leaders in Latin America. From August 2010 through February 2011, the website averaged 2,634 monthly downloads. LTM also utilized social media platforms, such as Facebook, to successfully recruit and engage with youth by linking the site to its website, which offered Scripture-based materials.

LTM measures and tracks website activity through Google analytics, but the level of engagement experienced by youth for understanding was not clear. LTM reported a total of 75,000 youth engaging with materials on its social media websites. Engagement, as reported by LTM, included views of status updates, comments on websites, e-mails, “likes” and comments on Facebook. The total figure is measured by Google analytics, but without a thorough breakdown and review of all of types of engagement, this larger number cannot be counted as evidence of an individual’s ongoing interaction with the Scriptures. Facebook loosely defines the activities that qualify a person to be included as a Monthly

Active User, but at present there is no current way to capture whether or not someone engages more than one day in a seven-day period.

The CLAY Bible-based leadership seminars were active in four states: Texas, Georgia, Kansas and Illinois. Due to a delay in signing the MOU, the start of the CLAY program did not correspond with the school year, hindering enrollment efforts.

The following are key risks that need to be addressed prior to future funding:

Program design. The original program design focused on reaching youth with printed materials, but that changed to reaching youth with web-based materials during this phase. As LTM continues to develop the most effective ways to engage at-risk youth and their parents, clear indicators of engagement must be identified for all web-based ministries. In addition, measures need to be put in place to avoid double counting youth and parents who interact solely through online materials.

Financial control. LTM employs three of its board members. Another LTM board member is a vice president of American Bible Society (ABS), as required of the partnership between ABS and LTM. Also LTM’s chief financial officer is also on the ABS Board of Trustees.

Global Scripture Impact recommends this project for future funding, with a strong recommendation that LTM work with Global Scripture Impact to define the digital indicators for Scripture engagement.

Elias DeLeon (standing in front of the screen), a youth pastor at La Primera Asamblea de Dios (The First Assembly of God) in Garland, Texas, teaches a discipleship class to young people.

[++] EXCEEDED A total of 23,382 people increased in their willingness to engage with the Scriptures, including 2,727 students who attended CLAY training, 430 parents who attended Parent University and 20,225 youth who engaged with LTM’s social media network and website to read God’s Word. LTM was able to reach a larger number of youth by successfully integrating its Facebook profile with its website.

[+] ACHIEVED A total of 4,013 people grew in their understanding of God’s Word, including 120 students who joined after-school Bible clubs, 501 youth leaders who received youth ministry training and/or implemented the CLAY program in schools or churches, and 3,392 youth who engaged with materials on the LTM website by downloading materials and posting comments. LTM actually reported an estimated 75,000 youth who engaged with materials on its social media websites, but it is unclear as to the degree of engagement that took place. LTM reported that some examples of engagement were “likes” on Facebook*, comments on Facebook, views of status updates, comments on its websites, and e-mails — as measured by Google analytics. Although 4,013 does not meet the 20 percent margin to receive an “achieved” rating, it would need only a fragment of the Google measurements to reach the 4,800 required for this rating.

[++] EXCEEDED A total of 3,598 people took action inspired by the Scriptures, including 501 youth leaders/pastors who used Scripture resources and 3,097 youth who demonstrated more positive behavior by reducing risky behaviors, attending youth group, completing a Bible study or getting better grades at school.

* GSI methodology for impact indicators for digital engagement does not consider “likes” on facebook actual engagement.

Anticipated Actual Expectations/Comments6,250 PEOPLE demonstrate increased willingness to engage with the Scriptures, including 1,650 students who attend CLAY training, 1,000 parents and 600 siblings of students who attend Parent University, and 3,000 youth who use social media and LTM’s website to read God’s Word

6,000 PEOPLE grow in their understanding of God’s Word, including 350 students who join after-school Bible clubs; 650 youth group leaders who receive youth ministry training, engage with the materials or implement the CLAY program in schools or churches; and 5,000 youth who download Bible-based trainings and engage with the materials

1,900 PEOPLE take action inspired by the Scriptures, including 400 youth leaders who use Scripture resources with their groups and 1,500 youth who demonstrate more positive behavior by reducing risky behaviors, attending youth group, completing a Bible study or getting better grades at school

23,382 4,013 3,598

© 2011 Global Scripture Impact - Impact Report Version 3. All rights reserved. Do not duplicate, reproduce or rewrite without written permission. All opinions expressed in this document are informed judgments based on research, but no warranty is offered or implied as to the performance of the project. This proprietary report was prepared for Global Scripture Impact clients.

Global Scripture Impact1550 Liberty Ridge DriveSuite 330Wayne, PA 19087484-654-3490www.gsimpact.org

Global Scripture Impact serves the American Bible Society and the greater American Christian

philanthropic market by providing independent research and evaluation of Scripture ministry projects around the world, and supplying this

information to interested supporters.

IN THEIR OWN WORDS

“Mainly the discipleship program has been a great blessing in my

life. It has helped me establish a relationship with God in a pure

way. During the first week of the program, we learned what it

is to love God and to put it [in]to practice. It was a fascinating

experience and then we learned how to love others and to put to

practice the fruit of the Spirit.”

— Kamila Bautista, 21, Kansas City, Mo.

“It has helped me to understand the real meaning of a disciple

and I have learned about the talents and ministries that God

has given us, and I have learned the many ways we can study the

Word of God.”

— Damaris Astudillo, 15, Kansas City

“The discipleship program has helped in my Christian life

because it has taught me how to practice and study the Word of

Jesus Christ. Also, I have more interest now in reading the Word

and I feel closer to God.”

— Joseph Diaz, 16, Kansas City

finance report

BUDGET ITEM REQUESTED LOCAL/OTHER RECEIVED LOCAL/OTHER Scriptures $89,000 $82,800 $45,3091 $29,250 Program staff $60,000 $444,800 $30,000 $273,028 Leader training (virtual and onsite) $25,000 $20,000 $10,000 $15,000 Research and evaluation $21,480 $21,480 Radio and web $3,000 $3,696 $5,000 $35,1002 Media $2,000 $3,208 $4,000 $27,0002 TOTAL $200,480 $554,504 $115,7893 $379,378

REQUESTED TOTAL: $754,984 ACTUAL TOTAL: $495,167

NOTES:

1 fewer funds were needed for Scriptures when LTM chose to switch from printed materials to web-based materials; purchases include 2,500 English student Bibles, 1,500 Spanish student Bibles, 2,500 English parents Bibles, 1,500 Spanish parents Bibles, 4,000 Elementz of Life Scripture magazines and 5,000 discipleship Scripture Portions

2 reflects that the original budget line items for radio, web and media were monthly estimates, not annual — an error that LTM acknowledged in its reporting

3 awaiting clarification on how the difference was used

PROJECT RECAP

ID - ABS-0211-1Timeline - 12 monthsRequested - $200,480Modified - 101111

To fund a project, contact an advisor, 800.549.3328 or write to:advisors@AmericanBible.org