SOAR…

Positive TV programming for teens might be scarce these days but the show Check the Sound is a great option that stands out and rocks for God. Aimed at reaching today’s generation, Check the Sound is a music and faith-filled half-hour program showcasing some of the hottest bands and performers in Christian music. The concert-style show is taped in front of a studio audience and the three young hosts and siblings, Rachel, Jonathan and Rebecca Lamb, also sit down with the artists to ask them questions about their music and faith journey.

Past artists featured on the show include: Canton Jones, Ayiesha Woods, PureNRG, Group 1 Crew, Niyoki, Lecrae, Brandon Heath, Leeland, Mandisa, Britt Nicole, Barlow Girl and many more.

The show comes on Friday and Saturday nights at midnight, and the featured music artist for Saturday, February 20 is music artist Krystal Meyers.

Where to Watch: Check the Sound is produced and aired on the Daystar Television Network. Daystar is available on a variety of different systems such as cable and satellite (including DirectTV and Dish Network). Contact your local provider to find out if they carry Daystar as part of their available programming, and check to see if it’s available where you live by clicking here.

You can also watch past episodes on the show’s website: http://www.daystar.com/checkthesound.

Below is an interview Check the Sound did with rapper Trip Lee a few months ago, where he talks about how he got started in music ministry:

This edition of Picks and Clicks is a little shameless plug for another youth project I am a part of and edit. DreamerENT.com isn’t specifically a Christian site but it is a positive project aimed at motivating teens to reach their dreams in entrepreneurship, higher education and a variety of careers. The site also has inspiring posts about creativity, positive entertainment, interviews with successful people, from entrepreneurs to all types of artists and performers, and listings for opportunities like scholarships, internships, and more.

I was led to launch the site because I know when I was younger growing up in a difficult neighborhood I was inspired by my faith in God and by stories of successful people who made it through to reach their dreams. Specifically God led me to a path of entrepreneurship starting in elementary school and onto high school and brought me to many opportunities – being able to start my own business at a young age and take part in several organizations, being transformed from a shy girl to a more confident young woman, and being blessed with successes in those ventures as well as in my educational endeavors.

Being that “to whom much is given, much is expected,” (Luke 12:48) I wanted to share that journey with other young people and recently I was able to receive a grant to start a program for youth. DreamerENT.com was born out of that – through God’s guidance and blessing. Check out the site if you want to be motivated in following your dreams, along with visiting the “Soul Dreamer” section of Dream in Soul.

Check out a recent interview and some of the latest posts from Dreamer ENT below:

Interview with Young Entrepreneur Jasmine Lawrence

Jasmine Lawrence is a young successful entrepreneur who has definitely been soaring and growing toward her dreams. It all sprouted when she was 11-years-old, after she mixed together natural ingredients to create her own hair oils for her broken, damaged tresses. By age 13 her hair was flourishing, and she was selling her hair products to friends. At 15 she shared her story with Oprah and other major news outlets, and began discussing distribution deals with Wal-Mart – all while striving to get her homework in on time.

Jasmine spoke to Dreamer ENT about her amazing experiences, what motivates her to keep going, and how other young people can bring their dreams to fruition…

Click Here to Read Our Interview with Young Entrepreneur Jasmine Lawrence

More Posts: Read More »

Our first media pick for Girls Who SOAR is SUSIE Magazine. SUSIE is a great resource for girls 13-22, featuring inspiring stories, and tips about everything from faith, family, boys, beauty, and everything in between. The goal of the magazine is to ” lead girls into intimacy with Christ, guide them in developing healthy relationships, showcase positive entertainment choices, provide healthy role models and teach positive self-image.”

As a teen I loved reading Brio Magazine, another Christian teen girls’ magazine which my sister got me a subscription to. The magazine provided a void in the teen magazine world for content that had substance and related to a girl’s walk with God. Unfortunately the magazine was discontinued by the publisher Focus on the Family in 2009. The former editor of Brio, Susie Shellenberger, recently launched Susie Magazine, and SUSIE is even better then the magazine I remembered.

Each month the magazine presents cover interviews that show a more personal side of performers and other women role models, and their walks with God. Some of the past interviews have featured singer Ayiesha Woods, actress, singer and dancer Alyson Stoner (featured in Disney’s movie Camp Rock, and several Missy Elliott videos), singer Francesca Battistelli and January’s feature interview with actress Debby Ryan (from Disney’s show “Suite Life on Deck”).

The vibrant, glossy pages are also filled with devotionals, life and wellness advice, and lots of other fun features. If you subscribe you’ll also have access to the SUSIE online community where teens can interact with other girls and view video devotionals among other features. SUSIE is great for every teen girl who wants to get closer to God and take part in the “global sisterhood” and fellowship provided.

Visit www.susiemagazine.com to access the online features and to subscribe; you’ll be sure to love it!

Our positive media pick for young people is STREETBRAND, a magazine for Christian teens. Aimed at 14 to 22 year olds, the print STREETBRAND Magazine (published three times a year) and website www.streetbrand.com is “the mouthpiece for a generation of media savvy, forward thinking, spiritually minded young people who love God and do not embrace dead religion.” The STREETBRAND website is full of articles for teens on everything from dating to prayer, features news on a variety of music artists, has a social networking community for members, and a load of great content.

Check out STREETBRAND at www.streetbrand.com.