Students from across state attend youth conference

Approximately 3,600 filled the seats at the Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex for the 2001 Alabama Baptist Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) July 20–21. When the two-day event concluded, lives were changed forever and decisions made for Christ.
   
The Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM) reported the following recorded decisions: 31 accepted Christ as their personal Savior, 60 rededicated their lives, seven committed to Christian ministry and 13 others made miscellaneous decisions.
   
Sara Jones, a member of Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Dothan, said the conference was an event she will never forget. “It was awesome. I learned about how you can’t let the world impact you,” said Jones, who is a tenth-grader at Dothan High School.
   
The two-day event was filled with Christian singers and bands, drama and challenging messages. Nationally known artists LaRue, Salvador and Rebecca St. James appeared in concert while Brandon Morgan led the worship. The Alabama All-State Choir also sang at the event.
   
The Shiloh Baptist youth and Adam Ragsdale performed drama. Speakers Wade Morris and Antjuan Marsh delivered powerful testimonies to the group.
   
Breakaway Ministries played a significant role in the YEC. Morgan, Marsh and Morris were among those from Breakaway Ministries at the conference.
   
“The presence of God was unreal. To be up on the stage was almost unbelievable,” said Breakaway Ministries President Eddie Nichols.
   
Nathan Dewberry, youth minister at First Baptist Church, Lanett, said Marsh was the best part of the entire event. “He was so blunt about his beliefs,” explained Dewberry.
   
Jeremy Patterson agreed, saying Marsh “seemed to appeal to the audience.”
   
Rob Jackson, associate in the SBOM office of evangelism, said it took 15 months to prepare for the YEC. He promoted the event through The Alabama Baptist, Christian Happenings magazine, radio stations and mail-outs.
   
Though the event was challenging due to a limited budget, the conference was a success.
   
“The youth were moved by the spirit of God,” said Jackson. “I was impressed that most of the youth brought their Bibles and were attentive throughout the YEC.”
  
Jackson added that the preaching by Marsh was superb. “The power of the Spirit was evident. During one message, the crowd broke into applause,” said Jackson.
   
“I also thought Ragsdale did an excellent job, along with drama before his message, which connected with the youth,” Jackson added.
   
Jackson said next year’s YEC is already three months into the planning stages.
   
He said the SBOM is considering moving the event to Montgomery. This is due to the fact that the city is closer to many of Alabama’s southern cities.