Battle Cry Calls for All to Stand: VC Students Gather at SBC Park
"Are you ready to go battle for your generation?" - Ron Luce, developer of Battle Cry
By Chris McElhatton

Thousands of people crammed into a crowded stadium with rain pouring on top their heads. People just outside the wall have banners and signs protesting the very presence of those inside. A scene like this is intense.
This was the backdrop for the Battle Cry stadium event in San Francisco. Among the thousands of teenagers attending the concert/worship event were dozens of Valley Christian students. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors all came together for two days of meeting with God.
The event started Friday night with speaker Ron Luce driving up on stage in a Hummer, jumping out to declare that we are in a state of war. Surrounded by an enormous crowd of people, Luce went on to describe the war that we are in, and how it affects our generation.
Centered around teenagers, the entire event empowered the new generation to stand for their beliefs. Everywhere young people look, they see all aspects of popular culture working against them. It is time to change that. Everything from the worship to the dancing to the message embodied this idea that students should not be influenced by their culture- students should influence their culture.
Another integral part of the event was the concept of the prodigal son. Luce described this generation as one of lost children, who “live with the pigs” instead of with their own Father. Because of the brokenness the past generations have handed down, the current one suffers. For some, this brokenness may be depression, a broken family, or something as simple as failure. Things like this consume too many teenagers, and end up perpetuating the problems that already exist. By living with these problems, and not being liberated by the love of God, the current generation takes after the prodigal son and is forced to “eat the pods” of the pigs.
Ron Luce thinks that it is time to change that. Instead of watching everything go from bad to worse, it is time to stand up. It is time to fight back. Teenagers are one of the most influential demographic groups in America, and yet their voices are not heard. Instead of remaining silent, teenagers are called by God to affect change in their time, and to make things right. It is time to fight back, use their voices, and time to be loud. Let out your Battle Cry- the war has begun.