About 4DSM Movement
4DSM exists to see every one of the 56,612 middle school and high school students in the Des Moines metro hear the Gospel from a friend. We believe God has already placed students in the hallways, locker rooms, classrooms, lunch tables, and neighborhoods where this mission can happen. The Gospel doesn’t spread most powerfully through events or stages. It spreads through ordinary conversations between friends who are willing to speak about Jesus (Romans 10:14–15).
4DSM is a student-led movement supported by a network of youth leaders and churches across Central Iowa who share a common conviction: students are not just the future of the church, they are a vital part of its mission today. Scripture calls believers of every age to represent Christ where they live (2 Corinthians 5:20), and even young believers are called to set an example in their faith and life (1 Timothy 4:12).Our role is to equip, encourage, and unite students to confidently share the good news of Jesus with their friends, trusting that God uses simple acts of courage to transform lives, and advance His Kingdom.
We believe the mission is both urgent and possible. If students across Des Moines begin praying for their friends, caring for their community, and courageously sharing the Gospel, an entire city can hear about Jesus. One conversation at a time, we are asking God to spark a movement where students step into the mission He has already given them.
Our Vision
Our vision is simple:
Every student in Des Moines hearing the Gospel from a friend.
There are more than 56,000 middle school and high school students across the Des Moines metro, and many of them have never heard a clear explanation of the good news of Jesus. Yet God often spreads His message through ordinary believers sharing with the people around them (Acts 1:8).
We believe God has already placed students in the exact places where this mission can happen - classrooms, sports teams, clubs, and friend groups. As students pray for their friends, care for their friends, and courageously share about Jesus, they are living out Jesus’ command to be His witnesses wherever they are (Acts 1:8). Our prayer is that God would ignite a movement where the Gospel spreads across our city one conversation at a time.
Our Strategy
We believe the most effective way to reach students is through other students. Throughout the New Testament, the Gospel spread as ordinary believers shared Christ with the people around them in everyday life (Acts 8:4). Instead of relying primarily on programs or events, 4DSM focuses on equipping and mobilizing students to share the Gospel where they already live their lives.
We partner with youth ministries across Central Iowa to train students in simple, clear ways to explain the Gospel (1 Peter 3:15), encourage them to pray for their friends (Colossians 4:2–4), and help them take intentional steps to start Gospel conversations. By working together across churches and youth groups, we unite around one mission: helping students confidently share Jesus with the friends God has already placed around them.
Our Beliefs
This movement is a growing and diverse community. As we work together to see every teen in Des Moines hear the Gospel from a friend, we intentionally focus on these 5 truths that unite us in those efforts and not on issues that might divide us.
GOD -
We believe in one God, eternally existing in three Persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. He is eternally self-existent, sovereign, righteous, compassionate, holy, loveing, and so much more!
Deuteronomy 6:4, Matthew 3:16-17, Galatians 1:1, Ephesians 4:6, Romans 9:5, Colossians 2:9, John 1:1, Acts 5:3-4, Exodus 3:14, Isaiah 6:3, 1 John 4:8
GOD’S SON -
Jesus Christ is the second Person of the Trinity. He has always been fully God and became fully human when He was conceived in Mary’s womb by the power of the Holy Spirit. He lived the perfect life we could never live and died the horrible death we deserved. He rose physically from the dead, victorious over sin and Satan. Forty days after His resurrection, He ascended physically into the heavens. He is interceding for us at the right hand of God the Father. He will come back to establish His Kingdom on Earth and rule and reign forever with those who have trusted in Him.
Isaiah 7:14, Matthew 1:23, 1 Timothy 3:16, John 1:1-14, Philippians 2:6, 1 Corinthians 15:3-7, Romans 8:34
GOD’S SPIRIT -
The Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Trinity, who was fully active in the creation of the world and is fully active in the regeneration of those who put their faith in Jesus. He indwells believers at the moment of salvation and is with them continuously until the day of redemption. He empowers believers to live a life full of “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). The Holy Spirit gives spiritual gifts to believers that allow them to serve others, and He empowers them to clearly and confidently share the Gospel with unbelievers.
Genesis 1:2, John 14:26, Acts 1:8, Acts 5:3-4, 1 Corinthians 12:4-13, 2 Corinthians 3:17-18, Ephesians 1:13-14, 1 John 2:20
GOD’S WORD -
Scripture was written by men but inspired by God. This means that every word, passage, and chapter of the Holy Scriptures, though penned by humans and retaining the writing style and personality of the human authors, was inspired by God Himself. The human authors came from various backgrounds and lived in many different places and time periods, but the Holy Spirit guided each author as he wrote. God’s Word is reliable, not only in matters of faith and practice, but on every matter it touches.
Psalm 19:7-11, Psalm 119, Matthew 5:18, Luke 24:44-46, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Hebrews 4:12-13, 2 Peter 1:20-21
GOSPEL -
The Gospel is the Good News of Jesus. It tells the whole story of creation, from Genesis 1 through Revelation 22. The Gospel is the good news that God created us to be with Him, but our sins separate us from God. Because sin is so serious, it cannot be removed by good deeds, works, or religious efforts. In love, Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins by dying on the cross and rising three days later, defeating sin and death. Everyone who trusts in Him alone receives forgiveness of their sins and eternal life. When we place our faith in Him, life with Jesus starts now and lasts forever!
Genesis 1:27, Psalm 100:3, Romans 3:23, Romans 6:23, Ephesians 2:8-9, Isaiah 64:6, Romans 5:8, 1 Corinthians 15:3-4, John 3:16, John 14:6, John 10:10, John 17:3
Contact us
If you’re a youth leader in the Des Moines area, we invite you to join the movement. 4DSM exists to unite churches around one shared mission: equipping students to confidently share the Gospel with their friends. When youth ministries work together instead of in isolation, we can see the Gospel reach every one of the 56,612 students in our city. Join us as we pray, collaborate, and equip the next generation to live on mission for Jesus every single day.