East Coast International
Youth Conference

September 2-6, 2009

by Stephanie Davis

The 38th annual International Youth Conference (IYC), formerly held in Brooklyn, New York, was held for the second year at the Sandy Hill Camp and Conference Center in Northeast Maryland. The theme was “Living the Mission: Eternity Focused,” and it was designed to challenge the young people to look at life from an eternal perspective.

The opening general session for all ages set the tone and was aptlynamed “The Great Commission…KingdomBuilders.” An eye-opening video clip inspired a closer look at little children who were much more receptive to the Gospel than the adults, and pointed out that young children can be effective witnesses for the next generation. Theattendees were encouraged to do their part in building God’s kingdom and to work and fellowship with other Christians to fulfill the Great Commission. It was brought out that this can be accomplished by inviting friends to church, testifying about their salvation, living as a light to others, praying for those in the mission field, and passing outGospel literature.

In the children’s session titled “Impacting Peers,” the storyof the threeHebrew boys was reenacted, and the children were encouraged to take a stand for eternity. The teens (ages 13-16) took part in “Practical Approaches to Keeping Christ First,” and were reminded that they can have victory because God is fighting for them. The young adults (ages 17-29) compared the long-term effects of decisions made by Joseph and Samson (both called by God) in a session titled “Decisions, Priorities, and Consequences.” In a session on “Identifying and Slaying theGiants in Life,” the adults (age 30 and above) learned that there will be “giants” in their Christian walks, and it takes prayer and faith to slay them.

During the evening worship services, the young people’s enthusiasm was evident in every area of participation, including the congregational singing, musical specials, and altar services. On Wednesday evening, those seeking their deeper experiences were identified for prayer and encouragement. The guest speaker for the conference was Leroy Epps, a minister from Kingstree, South Carolina. His first sermon was on the Prodigal Son, who after wasting his substance returned to his father’s house and received the unexpected blessings of a fatted calf and feast. Leroy said that God also has a feast of blessings for those who would seek Him in prayer.

On Thursday evening, the young people were admonished to be obedient to God’s Word, just as Peter was when Jesus told him to “let down your nets for a draught” (Luke 5:4). The point was made that even though Peter had fished all night and caught nothing, obeying Jesus’ command made the difference and brought enormous results.On Friday, Leroy used Habakkuk 2:1-4 for his text, focusing on “the just shall live by faith.”Encouraging the young people to increase their faith, he used the example of Elijah praying for rain, stating that they should also be willing to tarry in prayer to receive the blessings they desire.

Saturday was a day for relaxation and recreational activities—basketball, volleyball, football tournaments, canoeing, and speed boat rides provided fun for all. Both the young and “young at heart” enjoyed the beautiful weather and fellowshipping with one another. On Saturday evening, a praise and worship concert was enjoyed by all. Johnny Wyatt, from theBronx, New York, concluded with a powerful exhortation to the young people. Using the example of Jonathan and his armor bearer in 1 Samuel 14, he admonished the young people to trust Jesus to provide the weapons for winning their spiritual battles.

The closing service on Sunday morning started with selections from the orchestra and choir. Remarks from the visiting pastors and the IYC president, Reverend Eugene Segres, encouraged the young people to hold fast to their faith. The theme for Leroy’s sermon was “I Am Up on the Wall and I Cannot Come Down.” Using Nehemiah 6:1-4 for his text, he emphasized the importance of standing firm in the Gospel. He encouraged the congregation to build on what they had received from God and take a stand to not back down.

The Spirit of God was poured out during the conference, and the young people returned to their churches testifying of having received many blessings, includingsome receiving the baptism of the Holy Ghost! The youth conference was an encouraging time to get to know God and meet with like-minded young people. Those who attended were assured that as they remember God “in the days of their youth,” they can expect much from God in this life, while keeping their focus on eternity.