More than 1,200 students inspired, challenged, encouraged at Youth Evangelism Conference in Montgomery

More than 1,200 students inspired, challenged, encouraged at Youth Evangelism Conference in Montgomery

The anticipation was palpable as the animated chatter of more than 1,200 students grew louder and louder with each second that ticked by.

Unable to contain their excitement for the start of the Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) 2012, they joined in the countdown with 20 seconds left on the clock.

19 … 18 … 17 … 16 … Each number heightened their exhilaration and the volume of their voices.

By 10 the air in the Vaughn Forest Baptist Church, Montgomery, sanctuary was buzzing with their pent-up energy, making it impossible not to join in the countdown. 5 … 4 … 3 … 2 … 1.

Jubilant screams erupted as the growing wave of excitement broke, each student knowing that the time to be inspired, challenged and encouraged in their Christian walk had finally begun.

‘More than an inspirational weekend’

The two-day conference, hosted by the office of collegiate and student ministries of the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM), is more than just an inspirational weekend, said Keith Loomis, an associate in that SBOM office.

“We see YEC as a gathering of students to be a catalyst to go back home equipped and inspired to share the gospel,” Loomis said. “This event is not the end product.”

The theme for the weekend was “Inside Out,” challenging students from more than 80 churches to genuinely experience a “change of heart, mind and attitude that, in turn, changes actions,” Loomis said.

Dave Rhodes, co-founder and speaker for the interchurch resource ministry Wayfarer, set the stage for this change to occur as he opened the conference in prayer, asking God to give students “the audacity … to be the answer to Jesus’ prayer.”

Students flooded to the edge of the stage as the lights dimmed and the band Rush of Fools emerged onstage. With hands raised and eyes closed, students raised their voices together in worship, singing, “Let our shout be your anthem; Let your fire fall down.”

‘What are you fighting for?’

As Rush of Fools wound down nine young people lined up on the stage to share their testimony, answering the question, “What are you fighting for?”

One by one they came forward and summarized their fight in one word: dependence, love, acceptance, trust, pleasing, security, racism, beauty, control. With each testimony students cheered their support and understanding for the nine who had the courage to reveal their struggles to a room full of strangers.

Chris Brooks, college minister of Calvary Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, then took to the stage to help students understand that living a “gospel life” is possible.

“What you value will determine how you live your life,” Brooks said, using the parable of the pearl in Matthew 13:46 to show students how value determines what direction their lives take.

Time is the most valuable possession one can have, Brooks said, because it is cumulative. He explained that if you value a specific talent, activity or portion of your life, then you will invest more time in that area.

As a college pastor, Brooks has seen countless students “squander the time, investment and resources [they] have been given” when they get to college. He urged students to value their relationship with Christ, not throw it away for the sake of a different experience.

To illustrate his point, Brooks used a bowl of pearls and a stuffed animal pig.

Christians so often waste the pearls they have, Brooks said, whether it is because of addictions, discontentment, judgmental attitudes, etc. With each reason Brooks threw a handful of pearls at the pig, showing the students how quickly they can lose all that they value (Matt. 7:6).

‘Jesus is your hope’

“Jesus is your hope,” he said. “He is the pearl of great price who offers us grace and mercy beyond comprehension.”

In closing Brooks encouraged the students to repent of whatever sin was holding them down. He wanted no altar call, no heads bowed or eyes closed. He simply asked the students to stand at the count of three if they had sin that was hindering their walk with Christ.

When he reached three, dozens of students stood throughout the auditorium, many with tears in their eyes.

As the repentant students filed out, Rush of Fools returned to bring the evening session to a close.

Before intermission everyone in the crowd received a pearl as a reminder of what they have and what they should hold on to.

And thus the weekend began.

“The pig and the pearls was a great explanation on how we get caught up in ourselves,” said 16-year-old Seth Stafford of Southside Baptist Church, Dothan. “I was convicted to not just throw things away, but to live for Him.”

Comedic duo Bradley Bean and Jackson Bailey ended the night on a light note, making students and adults alike laugh with their humorous delivery of practical advice.

Day two of YEC kicked off at 9 a.m. with a morning session where Rush of Fools again led a time of worship.

Guys, girls and adults then went their separate ways to participate in the “breakout” session. This was the first time the conference has divided attendees in this way.

Courtney Reichley, director of connections for 3DM, led the girls’ session as Brooks led the session for guys. By splitting up the genders Reichley and Brooks were able to talk about specific issues affecting their audience.

During this time Rhodes walked the leaders through the 21-day challenge for students and the correlating three-week Bible studies for student groups.

The follow-up studies build on the “Inside Out” theme and prompt students to look up to God, look in at themselves and look out to their missions field.

“The students go home to the greatest missions field — their school campus,” Loomis said. His hope is to get students involved in an intentional ministry to impact the world, starting at home and cascading outward.

Kevin Cobb, youth pastor of Southside Baptist, agrees that the school campus is a vast missions field, as Southside’s youth group consists of students from several different schools.

“[YEC] allows us to gather in one place and then disperse and use our diverse locations as a way to spread the Word,” Cobb said.

Rhodes wrapped up YEC 2012 by speaking about the parable of the talents (Matt. 25:14–30) during the final session.

In the parable the foolish servant buries the bag of gold his master gives him, believing the master to be a cruel tyrant when, in reality, he is generous.

“The tragedy of the man in this parable is that his fear and security are based on (his) deception of the master,” Rhodes said. “Satan wants you to keep believing the wrong things about God.”

Each student present has the opportunity to maximize his or her life, he said. God empowers His followers to be faithful and make the most of their lives.

“The tragedy of today is that students believe that God is something that He isn’t, [and] that keeps them from maximizing their life for Him,” Rhodes said. “The biggest barrier to some of us living extraordinary lives is a faulty view of who God is.”

Rhodes brought the weekend to a close by asking the question, “Does your view of God compel you to live your life to maximize it for Him?”

SBOM plans to host YEC again next year. For more information, contact Loomis at kloomis@alsbom.org.