“The National Youth Workers Convention” by Jake Hill
“If you seek him, he will be found by you . . .”
1 Chronicles 29:9a
That verse sums up everyone Trey and I met at the National Youth Workers Convention held by Youth Specialties in Atlanta, Georgia. It was literally thousands of youth workers seeking God’s counsel through fellow youth workers, workshops, worship, and prayer, and finding answers, including us.
The diversity of the denominations represented and backgrounds of the youth workers present was amazing (United Methodists, Baptists, Assembly of God, along with men, women, younger, older, 1st year professionals, decade long veterans, volunteers, etc), but what was more amazing were the similarities of the challenges we face in our ministries across any labeling lines. Sitting next to complete strangers in workshops ranging from how to utilize media in your youth ministry to how to make disciples rather than “youth group kids” and realizing we were all here for the same reason gave me a sense of comfort that we are not alone in our challenges, as well as inspiration to continue to minister to youth in high gear.
My favorite event of the conference was the Saturday evening worship service. An unannounced appearance by Jeff Foxworthy was entertaining and to hear a little bit about his faith was great. He was actually filling in for his daughter who was to be one of three teenagers who came and spoke about their faith in action (she couldn’t be there because she had taken an opportunity to work at an orphanage in Siberia). The other two teenagers spoke of what God was doing in the world through them, their faith, and faith community. To hear a fifteen year old speak about how he and his friends had raised over half a million dollars to help abolish slavery in the world, and to hear a 16 year old speak about her “shoe drive” to collect shoes for a village in Kenya with a goal of 150 pairs of shoes achieving to collect 4,200 pairs culminating with her flying to Kenya to be a part of the distribution process was a testimony that God can do anything through anyone willing to answer the call. At the end of the evening, a children’s choir made up of 25 seven to ten year old orphans from Kenya led us in music. They were so energetic and passionate that I could not help but be touched by their devotion to the Lord.
In all, it was a wonderful experience. It was well worth the time and the miles of walking we did around downtown Atlanta. It is an experience I will want to repeat next year and will never forget.
-Jake
