My name is Josh, and I am a part of a beautiful generation--a generation of creators, imaginaries, innovators, dreamers, artists, and hopefuls. But I am also a part of a broken generation, a generation of lonely, insecure, self-hating, judged, angry, jaded, pressured, unloved, and purpose-less people. We are a people hungry to see healing, a generation hungry to be healed. That's why I do this--that the lives of my generation, along with those we encounter, might be moved towards healing through the life God has for all of us. Although a more accurate way to put it might be; that's why I want to do this. At times I find myself pushed by the hollow motivations of self and success. But God continues to change me, and as He does, I see more lives changed along with my own.
Since 2000, this has been my purpose, and the means to that has taken many forms along the way, including working in churches in the Chicago-land area and the brilliantly weird city of Austin, where Kristen and I now call home.
Currently, I write and speak full time, primarily to my generation and its leaders, which means anyone who is, or is leading, people 15-35 years old, or so. That means that I spend a lot of my time at conferences, colleges, churches, camps, and high schools around the country and it's such a blessing, because every time I do I feel like God does more in me than He could possibly do through me, and to be honest, if that ever changes I should probably stop doing it. As far as writing goes, I'm excited to partner with Baker Publishing Group on my first book, "My Generation: A real journey of change and hope", which will be released October 1, 2009. To pre-order a copy, click click here.
But I don't want to be a guy who seeks to bring change through speaking and writing, and doesn't seek to bring it in my everyday life. Actually, that's where I want to seek it most. So if you think about it, pray for Kristen and I, that we wouldn't be the selfish people our hearts so easily lead us to be, and that broken people might get a glimpse of our loving God through us.
"Josh Riebock is one of the most relevant and anointed young men with a message for this generation that I have encountered. Josh has been captured by the heart of God for this generation and has been raised up as a voice for them. His pertinent message coupled with a life that reflects the character and nature of Jesus Christ makes Josh a speaker worthy of your attention."
"Josh is a gifted communicator and leader who knows how to make the message of Jesus connect with those who feel far from God, while challenging Christ followers to live passionately for God. I've seen how his story of authentic faith, forged in the fire of the trials of life, has inspired students and adults, regardless of where they are in their faith journey."
