Generation Joshua: Difference between revisions
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'''Generation Joshua''' (Often called "GenJ" by its members) is an [[USA|American]] Christian youth organization founded in 2003<ref name="Washtimes1">Michael Smith, "A new generation of moral leadership.", ''The Washington Times'', [http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20050522-110120-9031r.htm http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20050522-110120-9031r.htm] 23 May, 2005.</ref> |
'''Generation Joshua''' (Often called "GenJ" by its members) is an [[USA|American]] Christian youth organization founded in 2003<ref name="Washtimes1">Michael Smith, "A new generation of moral leadership.", ''The Washington Times'', [http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20050522-110120-9031r.htm http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20050522-110120-9031r.htm] 23 May, 2005.</ref> designed to encourage young people to study and become involved in history, civics, government and politics. <ref name="Whatis">"What is Generation Joshua?",''Generationjoshua.org'', [http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=244 http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=244]2006.</ref> |
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Generation Joshua is a division of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), and is based in Purcellville, Virginia. Generation Joshua is a non-profit 501(c)4 organization. While most of its activities are non-partisan, all partisan activities are funded by the organization's PAC |
Generation Joshua is a division of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), and is based in Purcellville, Virginia. Generation Joshua is a non-profit 501(c)4 organization. While most of its activities are non-partisan, all partisan activities are funded by the organization's PAC.<ref name="PAC">"Contributions" ''Generationjoshua.org''. [http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=35 http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=35] Accessed 3 October, 2006.</ref><ref name="Join">"Join", ''Generationjoshua.org'', [http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=23 http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=23]Accessed 3 October, 2006.</ref> |
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Generation Joshua |
Generation Joshua provides opportunities for kids to study the heritage and the history of the United States of America. It also provides hands-on experience for students in their local governments. Some of the services Generation Joshua provides are an online civics education class, a book club program, and bi-weekly current event chats. It also supports student activism through local clubs, voter registration drives and Student Action Teams, a program that allows students to campaign for political candidates. The organization also offers a college scholarship program, the Ben Rush Awards Program, where students participate in civic involvement to earn money for college. <ref name="Whatis" /><ref name="Join" /> |
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Generation Joshua campaigns for conservative candidates who demonstrate pro-life, pro-homeschooling and pro-family values. <ref name="SAC">"Student Action Teams", ''Generationjoshua.org'', [http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=66 http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=66] Accessed 3 October, 2006.</ref> The group's focus on equipping students to be active in government has led some to characterize its mission as making "Christian nationalism palatable to the MTV generation".<ref name="Cobb">Russel Cobb, "Cracks in the Christian Ascendancy: Why it's too soon to panic about an American theocracy.", ''[[Slate.com|Slate]]'', [http://www.slate.com/id/2144522/ http://www.slate.com/id/2144522/] June 27, 2006.</ref> <ref name="note1">See the organization's [http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Portals/0/GenJBrochure.pdf brochure] for an example of how it seeks to appeal to youth culture.</ref> Generation Joshua sees its primary mission as supporting the principles of freedom, especially religious freedom. |
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Generation Joshua's name is taken from the Biblical character Joshua, who led the nation of Israel after Moses. |
Generation Joshua's name is taken from the Biblical character Joshua, who led the nation of Israel after Moses. |
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==GenJ's Programs== |
==GenJ's Programs== |
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Generation Joshua provides five major programs to members |
Generation Joshua provides five major programs to members: the Civics Education program, local Generation Joshua Clubs, Student Action Teams, the Voter Registration Initiative, and the Benjamin Rush Awards Program. |
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==Civics Education== |
==Civics Education== |
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The eleven on-line civics course allows students to work on each course at their own pace. Each class has between four and ten lessons, with a quiz accompanying each lesson. A list of online classes includes: |
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Introduction to Constitutional Law |
Introduction to Constitutional Law |
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Generation Joshua also offers a book club for nine months out of the year. Students are encouraged to read an assigned book, which they then discuss and and have the option of responding to in a reflexive essay. This essay is then graded by a Generation Joshua staff member. The book discussions are joined periodically by the author of the work. Some of the books being discussed are "Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics" by R. C. Sproul, "The God who is There" by Francis Schaeffer, and "Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring" by Alexander Rose. |
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==GenJ Clubs== |
==GenJ Clubs== |
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Generation Joshua has over 65 local clubs (as of 2008). At |
Generation Joshua has over 65 local clubs (as of 2008). At Generation Joshua Club meetings usually take place once a month, minimum of ten per year. At these meetings members discuss current events, listen to special speakers, pray for the nation and its leaders, and organize community service. The clubs are governed by Robert's Rules of Order and are led by a President and other officers. The decentralized nature of the clubs means that they concentrate on a variety of issues but they are particularly active in their support of traditional marriage, homeschooling, and the right to life.<ref name="NBC">"East Tennessee teens mix politics with prayer.", ''NBC WBIR'', [http://www.wbir.com/life/programming/local/liveatfive/story.aspx?storyid=32295 http://www.wbir.com/life/programming/local/liveatfive/story.aspx?storyid=32295] 28 February, 2006.</ref> |
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==Student Action Teams== |
==Student Action Teams== |
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Generation Joshua, a division of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), involves its members in partisan activities |
Generation Joshua, a division of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), involves its members in partisan activities through the HSLDA PAC. In each election year, 25-100 volunteers are deployed to selected races of endorsed candidates. In 2008, they sent over 19 teams and contacted over 600,000 people with phone calls and door-to-door meetings. As of 2008, HSLDA PAC Student Action Teams have only been deployed for Republican candidates. <ref name="SAC">"Student Action Teams", ''Generationjoshua.org'', [http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=66 http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=66] Accessed 3 October, 2006.</ref> |
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==Voter Registration Initiative== |
==Voter Registration Initiative== |
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The Voter Registration Initiative encourages Generation Joshua members register people to vote in upcoming elections. According to Generation Joshua, “voter registration efforts can greatly impact the outcome of… election[s].” In 2008 Generation Joshua launched a special voter registration program, where participants who |
The Voter Registration Initiative encourages Generation Joshua members register people to vote in upcoming elections. According to Generation Joshua, “voter registration efforts can greatly impact the outcome of… election[s].” In 2008, Generation Joshua launched a special voter registration program, where participants who registered voters in Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Virginia were eligible to win prizes, including gift certificates, i-pods, and laptops. |
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==Benjamin Rush Awards Program== |
==Benjamin Rush Awards Program== |
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The Ben Rush Awards Program |
The Ben Rush Awards Program is open from January through October each year and allows students to become active politically to earn scholarships for college. Students are asked to write letters to their elected officials, visit their elected officials, write letters to the editor, register voters, participate in the organization’s online civics curriculum, and volunteer to work on a political campaigns. Through participation in the program, students can earn prizes valued from $100 to $1000. |
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==Relation To HSLDA== |
==Relation To HSLDA== |
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GenJ's national offices are at the [[Home School Legal Defense Association |
GenJ's national offices are at the [[Home School Legal Defense Association]]. Michael Smith, president of the group's parent organization, the Homeschool Legal Defense Association sees Generation Joshua as part of a larger movement. By providing the opportunity for homeschool students to be active politically Generation Joshua hopes to fundamentally influence the next generation of leaders and "restore a moral framework and return America to its founding principles".<ref name="Washtimes1" /> |
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Revision as of 19:08, 18 December 2008
Generation Joshua (Often called "GenJ" by its members) is an American Christian youth organization founded in 2003[1] designed to encourage young people to study and become involved in history, civics, government and politics. [2]
Generation Joshua is a division of the Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), and is based in Purcellville, Virginia. Generation Joshua is a non-profit 501(c)4 organization. While most of its activities are non-partisan, all partisan activities are funded by the organization's PAC.[3][4]
Generation Joshua provides opportunities for kids to study the heritage and the history of the United States of America. It also provides hands-on experience for students in their local governments. Some of the services Generation Joshua provides are an online civics education class, a book club program, and bi-weekly current event chats. It also supports student activism through local clubs, voter registration drives and Student Action Teams, a program that allows students to campaign for political candidates. The organization also offers a college scholarship program, the Ben Rush Awards Program, where students participate in civic involvement to earn money for college. [2][4]
Generation Joshua campaigns for conservative candidates who demonstrate pro-life, pro-homeschooling and pro-family values. [5] The group's focus on equipping students to be active in government has led some to characterize its mission as making "Christian nationalism palatable to the MTV generation".[6] [7] Generation Joshua sees its primary mission as supporting the principles of freedom, especially religious freedom.
Generation Joshua's name is taken from the Biblical character Joshua, who led the nation of Israel after Moses.
GenJ's Programs
Generation Joshua provides five major programs to members: the Civics Education program, local Generation Joshua Clubs, Student Action Teams, the Voter Registration Initiative, and the Benjamin Rush Awards Program.
Civics Education
The eleven on-line civics course allows students to work on each course at their own pace. Each class has between four and ten lessons, with a quiz accompanying each lesson. A list of online classes includes:
Introduction to Constitutional Law
Campaign School: Successful Campaigning
Revolutionary War Era Sermons
The Federalist Papers
Democracy in America
The Great Awakening
Constitutional Convention
America's Founding Documents
Founding Fathers I
Founding Fathers II
Founding Fathers III (coming soon)
Generation Joshua also offers a book club for nine months out of the year. Students are encouraged to read an assigned book, which they then discuss and and have the option of responding to in a reflexive essay. This essay is then graded by a Generation Joshua staff member. The book discussions are joined periodically by the author of the work. Some of the books being discussed are "Defending Your Faith: An Introduction to Apologetics" by R. C. Sproul, "The God who is There" by Francis Schaeffer, and "Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring" by Alexander Rose.
GenJ Clubs
Generation Joshua has over 65 local clubs (as of 2008). At Generation Joshua Club meetings usually take place once a month, minimum of ten per year. At these meetings members discuss current events, listen to special speakers, pray for the nation and its leaders, and organize community service. The clubs are governed by Robert's Rules of Order and are led by a President and other officers. The decentralized nature of the clubs means that they concentrate on a variety of issues but they are particularly active in their support of traditional marriage, homeschooling, and the right to life.[8]
Student Action Teams
Generation Joshua, a division of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), involves its members in partisan activities through the HSLDA PAC. In each election year, 25-100 volunteers are deployed to selected races of endorsed candidates. In 2008, they sent over 19 teams and contacted over 600,000 people with phone calls and door-to-door meetings. As of 2008, HSLDA PAC Student Action Teams have only been deployed for Republican candidates. [5]
Voter Registration Initiative
The Voter Registration Initiative encourages Generation Joshua members register people to vote in upcoming elections. According to Generation Joshua, “voter registration efforts can greatly impact the outcome of… election[s].” In 2008, Generation Joshua launched a special voter registration program, where participants who registered voters in Colorado, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, and Virginia were eligible to win prizes, including gift certificates, i-pods, and laptops.
Benjamin Rush Awards Program
The Ben Rush Awards Program is open from January through October each year and allows students to become active politically to earn scholarships for college. Students are asked to write letters to their elected officials, visit their elected officials, write letters to the editor, register voters, participate in the organization’s online civics curriculum, and volunteer to work on a political campaigns. Through participation in the program, students can earn prizes valued from $100 to $1000.
Relation To HSLDA
GenJ's national offices are at the Home School Legal Defense Association. Michael Smith, president of the group's parent organization, the Homeschool Legal Defense Association sees Generation Joshua as part of a larger movement. By providing the opportunity for homeschool students to be active politically Generation Joshua hopes to fundamentally influence the next generation of leaders and "restore a moral framework and return America to its founding principles".[1]
External links
See also
- Patrick Henry College
- Home School Legal Defense Association
- National Christian Forensics and Communications Association
References
- ^ a b Michael Smith, "A new generation of moral leadership.", The Washington Times, http://www.washingtontimes.com/metro/20050522-110120-9031r.htm 23 May, 2005.
- ^ a b "What is Generation Joshua?",Generationjoshua.org, http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=2442006.
- ^ "Contributions" Generationjoshua.org. http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=35 Accessed 3 October, 2006.
- ^ a b "Join", Generationjoshua.org, http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=23Accessed 3 October, 2006.
- ^ a b "Student Action Teams", Generationjoshua.org, http://www.generationjoshua.org/dnn/Default.aspx?tabid=66 Accessed 3 October, 2006.
- ^ Russel Cobb, "Cracks in the Christian Ascendancy: Why it's too soon to panic about an American theocracy.", Slate, http://www.slate.com/id/2144522/ June 27, 2006.
- ^ See the organization's brochure for an example of how it seeks to appeal to youth culture.
- ^ "East Tennessee teens mix politics with prayer.", NBC WBIR, http://www.wbir.com/life/programming/local/liveatfive/story.aspx?storyid=32295 28 February, 2006.
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