In a lot of ways the nearly 5,000 youth who filled the Montgomery Civic Center July 25–26 for the Alabama Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) looked like any other crowd of teenagers gathered for a concert or sporting event. They clapped, cheered, stomped, did the wave, danced in the aisles as the music reverberated, and, instead of donning the T-shirts given to them upon entering the arena, some used them for mild horseplay, snapping them at each other.
But those same teenagers attending the conference sponsored by the evangelism department of the Alabama State Board of Missions (SBOM) differed from the crowds who normally fill the arena in some significant ways.
For example, a lot of them came with Bibles in hand, apparently eager and prepared to open God’s Word. And an even greater number seemed to show up with God’s truths already hidden in their hearts.
The teenagers often broke into spontaneous, earnest applause during a speaker’s remarks, demonstrating mature and deep understanding of what it means to be a follower of Christ. When state evangelism director Sammy Gilbreath said things like, “Jesus did not say, ‘I am a way.’ He said, ‘I am the way’” or “We do not work to be saved, but we ought to work because we’re saved,” they clapped in response.
And by the end of the two-day conference attended by youth groups from across the state, 80 teenagers who came without Him went home with Jesus in their hearts. Another 153 resolved to give more of their hearts to God, and 78 surrendered their lives to Christian service.
YEC is an annual event sponsored by the SBOM since the 1960s with a loyal following of churches from across the state, according to Rob Jackson, assistant director of evangelism and conference organizer.
Jackson said there are four reasons for organizing YEC, an event made possible by Cooperative Program gifts from local churches.
Jackson said the first goal “first and foremost is to bring glory to God.” The theme for this year’s conference was “For Whose Glory?” based upon 1 Corinthians 10:31.
The second goal is to inspire youth, according to Jackson, who noted that some live in small towns or are members of small churches. Coming together in a large crowd of young people from across the state reminds them that there are other Jesus-loving teenagers who are like them out there.
A third goal is to give the students an opportunity to see and hear testimonies of other youth involved in missions work so they will be inspired to go back to their churches and emulate them, Jackson said. He noted that 92 percent of Southern Baptists never share their faith. Each session started with a video segment showing ways a particular Alabama youth group has been sharing its faith. The Friday night session featured youth from Danville Baptist Church as they witnessed on the beach.
A fourth goal for YEC is to give students opportunities to hear the gospel and receive Christ. The SBOM urges youth groups to bring unsaved friends and pray for them by name ahead of the conference. A team of counselors, headed by FAITH leaders at Vaughn Forest Baptist Church in Montgomery, was enlisted to counsel with any who made decisions.
To prepare for YEC, Jackson said he starts organizing about 14 months ahead of time, booking speakers and musicians.
Blue Floor, Big Daddy Weave, and Ten Shekel Shirt led this year’s musical worship. Drama featured Adam Ragsdale, youth minister at Victory Baptist Church in Guntersville. Speakers included Brent Gambrell, student evangelist from Nashville and leader of Orlando’s Metro Bible Study, and David Nasser, youth evangelist in Alabama and founder of D. Nasser Outreach.
Gilbreath spoke on Friday night, dropping into the arena after rappelling from the ceiling in a spotlight as Mission Impossible music blared. Appreciative students greeted him with delight. “I think we’re fortunate in the state of Alabama that we have a director of evangelism that’s a wild man for Jesus,” Jackson said.
The students in attendance came from across the state, according to Jackson. Youth groups from 243 churches pre-registered. One church with a congregation of only 50 brought 20 students with them. “They were just so excited.” Jackson also credited the support of local churches with helping make the event a success.
Cullman representation
Fifteen students from West Point First Baptist Church, Cullman, attended with their youth minister, Matt Buerhaus. “It was really, really good,” he said. “I loved it.”
Although Buerhaus said he understands that taking lost youth to the conference is a goal, the small group of students who attended from West Point were “kids who are all sold out. They love Jesus.”
Therefore, for them the conference wasn’t about an opportunity to share the gospel but for fellowship and encouragement. “For us it was a time for a small group getaway.”
After returning home to Cullman, one student reported how much the conference meant to him as an opportunity of fellowship. Another student attended yet another youth rally a few days afterward and surrendered his life to full-time Christian service.
“It’s just a continuation of what happened at the Youth Evangelism Conference,” Buerhaus said.
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