rebelling against low expectations

A Statement From Our Co-Founder: The End of a Chapter, But Not The End

By Brett Harris
4 months ago
52 comments
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After 19 years, the era of TheRebelution.com as an active website has come to a close.

TheReb started in August 2005 as a humble Google blogspot run by teenage twin brothers, Alex and Brett Harris (me). It grew to become the most popular Christian teen blog on the Internet, serving as the online hub for a movement of young people rebelling against low expectations and doing hard things for the glory of God.

Over the years the site has featured articles from over 550 Christian young people and been stewarded by three passionate young Editors-in-Chief: Jaquelle Ferris, Christopher Witmer, and Sara Starkey. It has also helped launch half-a-dozen books for Christian teens:

With Sara’s upcoming retirement, we have chosen to close the website to further submissions, while leaving it up as a long-term resource for young people, parents, and youth workers.

Over the next month, we plan to celebrate together and reflect on the Lord’s faithfulness by posting testimonials from rebelutionaries and doing a “Rebelution Rewind” of our best content over the years.

We hope to culminate our celebration with a live webcast featuring Alex and myself (and maybe some other special guests). We’ll share more details on the webcast soon.

By the end of August, the website will be closed to further submissions, but the message and movement will continue… as all of us pursue faithfulness and step outside our comfort zones to serve God, love others, and grow into stronger, healthier, and happier versions of ourselves.

Here’s how you can participate in this next month of celebration and beyond:

  1. Share a short testimonial of how the message of The Rebelution has impacted your life. Click here to submit a testimonial.
  2. Subscribe to our email list to make sure you don’t miss our live webcast and rewind of our best content. Click here to subscribe to our email list.
  3. Purchase Do Hard Things University at 90% OFF. 100% of the proceeds will go to our hard-working team as a “thank you”. Click here to claim this special offer.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

With a change like this there is understandable sadness for all of us. And even as we celebrate the impact of TheRebelution.com over the years, you may have questions.

Here are answers to a few of the questions we anticipate:

Why not select new leadership to keep the website running?

Selecting new leadership was our first preference, but we needed unanimous agreement and have extremely high standards for entrusting our young audience to someone.

In the end, our search for new leadership didn’t result in anyone all of us felt confident about, in large part because I insisted on having a meaningful personal history with anyone we selected, just like I had with each of our previous Editors-in-Chief.

At the end of the day, we believe we will answer to the Lord for how we stewarded this website and the young people who engage with our resources. At this time, I cannot provide the level of oversight needed to feel responsible handing the website over to new leadership.

Does this mean we are moving on from the message of “Do Hard Things”?

Absolutely not. Our current Editor-in-Chief, Sara Starkey, is stepping down upon the arrival of her first child. She is transitioning into a new season of “doing hard things” as a wife and mother.

Our Managing Editor, Tabitha Bell, is also moving into a season where she needs to focus her time on doing hard things in a new way. As Sara shared in her announcement post:

“One might think that leaving a position where your job is literally challenging teens to do hard things for God’s glory might mean that your own hard things are about to decrease. But actually, I think the opposite is true for Tabitha and I. Because what we’re pursuing is faithfulness and obedience. We’re not leaving so we can stop doing hard things for God’s glory. We’re stepping back so we can continue walking in obedience to the Lord, growing in Him, and faithfully doing all He’s set before us with excellence and intentionality.”

For myself, I will continue to “do hard things” in my personal life, within my marriage, church, and community — as well as working directly with young people, equipping them to do hard things in the areas of writing and entrepreneurship, through The Young Writer’s Workshop and The Author Conservatory.

And Alex continues to “do hard things” as a husband, father, attorney, church member, and attorney, as well as through his speaking and writing on how Christians can engage more faithfully in politics and the public square.

This is our prayer for you as well. That you would never stop rebelling against low expectations and doing hard things for the glory of God and the good of others. And that this website can continue to be a source of encouragement for you in the months and years ahead.

Don’t forget to grab Do Hard Things University for 90% off the regular price! It’s our most comprehensive and practical guide to being a rebelutionary. These videos can serve as long-term encouragement and motivation for you moving forward.

Click here to claim this special offer (Expires August 31st).

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About the author

Brett Harris

is co-founder of TheRebelution.com and co-author of Do Hard Things, along with his twin brother, Alex. He is married to his best friend, Ana, who blogs at AnaHarrisWrites.com. He is the founder of the Young Writers Workshop — an ongoing coaching program for serious writers.

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52 comments

  • I think I might cry, but I pray that God will lead all of you in his perfect way.

  • I almost cried. This totally changed my life. I found the book almost 6 years ago and then the website 3 years ago. I absolutely loved this and I’ll miss it so much! I hadn’t even tried to submit anything yet. I’m disappointed that I can’t (1 month is too soon). Thank you to everyone who was involved somehow. This is one of the most amazing sites ever and I’ll miss all the articles.

  • My siblings and I have looked forward to The Rebelution each week and eagerly discussed the content. Thank you to all those who took time out of their lives to put it all together. You have been a blessing to us and many others. May the Lord bless the next steps you are about to take. Thank you, Brett and Alex Harris, who did hard things and in doing so impacted so many lives. Your message of ‘Do Hard Things’ will live on and is being shared.

  • Nooo!!!! That’s SO SAD!!! I’m beyond grateful for the many years I had on DHTC and being involved with The Rebelution website, including posting an article! Praise God for all He has done. While this may be farewell to the Rebelution website, the Rebelution movement still runs strong and the OG DHTCers are still very good friends! 🙂

  • I too wanted to submit something, but I haven’t gotten the chance yet. But I’m excited to see what God is going to do with this change.

  • Nooo! This is so sad! I’m so grateful to all of you who have spread the message of Do Hard Things and pushed me and countless others to be more than a lukewarm Christian. I pray that, even though this blog will no longer be active, the Rebelution’s movement and message will continue to reach the ends of the earth.

    I’m not certain if this is the time or place for this question, but I have to ask: Could the blog one day run again? If, in time, someone qualified, trusted, and committed were found to run it?

  • Thank you for all that you’ve done for teens across the globe, showing how doing hard things for the glory of God can make a difference.

  • Wow….I found this blog a few years ago and as a young writer having my first piece of work published on this website was amazing. And every time I publish another one, it has always been extremely exciting. I am so, SO sad about this, but understand the reasons behind it. Thank you for the opportunity to write for The Reb, I will miss publishing my articles and continually checking for new content:) God bless you all as you continue to do hard things for His glory!

  • Thank you so much for all the time you all have poured into this website. It has truly been a blessing to me, and I’m grateful to you all for your faithfulness and doing what’s best for this community!

    Here’s to continuing to do hard things for God’s glory!

  • As much as I am sad about this update, it is encouraging to know that you all have taken leadership seriously. It’s hard, especially in these times, to trust the leadership people have appointed. Even for my personal youth group, it’s been hard. But I know that the Rebelution will not end! And that in its self is encouraging! Especially for me 🙂

  • This is so sad to see the Rebelution coming to an end. I know that I speak for so many when I say thank you for all of the work that you have put in, the Reb has truly impacted my life and I am sure, the lives of so many others for the glory of God.

  • I am so sorry to see the Reb go! This website has been a huge blessing to me and I look forward to every post! God has greatly blessed many people through the Reb, and I thank everyone for all the hard work they have put into the Do Hard Things community! I will miss this site so much.
    Will the Reb remain on the web, and the posts available for access?

  • Oh no, I’m so sorry! I really liked reading these devotions, it’s a shame it has to end😢 Thank you for deciding to make a huge impact, not just for me, but for the whole world. I’m praying for you guys 🙂

  • Praise God for this movement and the impact it had on so many young people – I can’t wait to see what He will do next! But oh, I will miss the articles and Sara’s weekly content round-up messages. *sniffs*
    Do hard things y’all. <3

  • I am so sad to see the Reb close, but I know that God has great things ahead of you. 🙂 Thank you, thank you for your faithfulness in serving these young people. We appreciate SO much how much you all have poured into us. 🙂

  • I am so sad we are losing this amazing blog. I will miss the constant updates, but I am so excited for the next chapter for all of y’all! Y’all are all in my prayers. God bless!

  • The articles will stay, but the website will no longer be active and open to submit content.

  • Thank you all so much for the encouragement and truth you’ve poured into all our lives <3 I'm so grateful to be able to say I wrote an article for you once before you closed, even if it was only one 😉 wishing you all the best on your new journeys!!

  • I kinda want to start a blog to temporarily replace TheReb, but I don’t personally have the time for that

  • I had the same question, Anna. I really hope that the Reb could maybe run again someday.

  • I’m so so sad to see the Reb closing. I’ve been reading articles on here for a little while now, and I’m sad that there will be no more. I loved having the opportunity to read articles full of godly wisdom, written by teens with the same goal as me—we are all striving to be more like Christ.

    Thank you to the awesome team of staff—and to all who wrote articles—for the time and effort you poured into this website, and therefore into so many young people. We are extremely grateful for all you’ve contributed!

    I am really sorry to see the Reb go. I don’t know if this is a possibility, but I hope that perhaps one day we may see it run again.

    Thank you again for everything. Best wishes to all the staff as you move into new stages of life, etc.

    – Lily

  • This is so surreal 😭 I remember being 15 reading stuff on this site, now I’m 21 with a baby. It was a good run, so thankful to everyone, and especially Brett Harris for everything. Wishing everyone well.

  • I was thinking along similar lines! We have so many excellent writers in our midst…and so many of them are already bloggers it seems like we could somehow join forces and conglomerate to create a temporary replacement. Not that the Reb could be replaced but with a little thought and organization and a lot of prayer it could be a viable option.

  • Wow. So much good has come of the Reb’s time on the web, in my own life, and in so many’s lives.
    I’ve been reading the stuff on the Reb for the last couple of years personally, and I am sad to hear this season has ended.
    Thankfully, all of us are still here.
    Nothing is stopping us. The Reb is proof of what God can accomplish starting with two teens.
    I’m one teen myself.
    I know a couple more.
    Imagine all that we can do, if we just listen to His voice.
    Thanks to everyone on the Reb for the godly wisdom you’ve poured into our lives. It’s priceless.
    I’ll keep doing hard things.
    Goodbye for now.

  • Like Brett kind of expressed, running a blog is a big responsibility, but as Victoria already said, with a lot of prayer, I think it’s totally a possibility! And I’d love to have a place where young people can continue encouraging one another to do hard things and live God-glorifying lives. I don’t know, does anyone with a blog think they could lend us a post to discuss this project idea in more depth? Thx

  • I’m so sad to see the Reb. come to an end, but so thankful for all y’all have done to help me with my walk with the Lord!Thank you and bless y’all

  • I am new to the Reb, but I’m going to miss it. Having a “replacement” would be amazing to read. I’d love to see the link if anyone decides to discuss this!

  • Wow….. this is sad news. I was introduced to the Reb and the whole concept of Do Hard Things through YWW… and it changed my life forever. I toyed with the idea several times to write for the Rebelution and never really took that opportunity. I will miss this and I know so many of you all will as well. Thank you to the Rebelution team that has kept this going and made this a happening place for so many years. I’m thankful to you all. <3

  • I fifth this. lol I don’t have a blog yet but I will write articles for a new site if someone starts it.

  • If anyone is interested, I run a blog (Summerculver.wixsite.com/sweet) and if you would like to email me at [email protected] about publishing a post on my website, I would be open to that! My blog’s purpose isn’t to replace The Reb, but I’m interested in having young writers contribute a few articles to my website so I would be happy if there is interest in perhaps publishing something on mine:)

  • I will always be grateful for The Rebelution! All my love to the team. Can’t wait to chat later. ❤️

  • Where can I find the modesty survey??? Thanks so much! Just found this website yesterday and love it, so sad it’s going inactive 🥹

  • Hey Kaitlynn! Glad you’re here (: As far as I understand, the results of the survey aren’t available anymore, but if you type ‘modesty’ in the search bar, there’s a couple articles on that topic!

  • Not exactly sure that’s what you’re looking for, but I hope you find something there anyway (:

  • Thanks for sharing, Summer (: Will definitely keep that in mind! (PS. I think your blog’s so pretty!)

  • Hey guys, I have an idea for a ‘hard thing’ (other than the one you all came up with) that takes collaboration. I wondered if I could recruit you if you’re reading this. Go here to know what I’m talking about and scroll down all the way to the comment by Sara (yours truly lol) dated August 19: https://www.therebelution.com/blog
    Reply and I’ll see your comment. 😉

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By Brett Harris 4 months ago
52 comments
rebelling against low expectations

The Rebelution is a teenage rebellion against low expectations—a worldwide campaign to reject apathy, embrace responsibility, and do hard things. Learn More →