Youth Evangelism Conference focuses on glorifying God

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ARLINGTON – For the 3,000 students in attendance at the 2012 Youth Evangelism Conference hosted by Texas Baptists, they heard a message from speakers and musicians of what it means to "glorify" the Lord with their lives, the theme for the event.

David Crowder of Waco performs a concert during the Youth Evangelism Conference in Arlington.

"The whole reason we are here is to bring God glory. It's an ancient vision that God has given us," said Leighton Flowers, Texas Baptists youth evangelism director. For those present, Mandy Meeker, YEC coordinator, believes that Romans 11:36, the theme scripture, truly came to life for them.

During the weekend event, 101 students made first-time decisions to follow Jesus. One hundred and thirty-six students made recommitments, and two students responded to the call to ministry.

"It was amazing. There was just a sweet spirit in the atmosphere all weekend," Flowers said.

Meeker agrees, saying it was the best overall YEC they've had.

Jason Castro of Rockwall, former top-five finalist on American Idol, performs a concert during the Youth Evangelism Conference in Arlington.

Everyone – artists, musicians, speakers – they all embodied the theme for the weekend and spoke the gospel," Meeker said.

Jacob Allen, who attended YEC with First Baptist Church in Crosby, was one of the students who accepted Jesus as Savior of his life on Friday night. "It was a great, fun experience. I enjoyed being able to worship God," Allen said of his time at YEC.


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Students heard the testimony of Tedashi, Christian music artist. He shared about coming to know Christ as his savior on the campus of Baylor University, where he attended college. Far From Ordinary, a two-man drama team, challenged the students not to keep hidden the life-saving gift of knowing Jesus as Lord. They demonstrated this in a skit about finding the cure for cancer, saying no one would ever keep the cure for cancer a secret. Keeping the knowledge the students have of Christ concealed is just as unfathomable.

Clayton King and Alex Harris were the guest speakers for the weekend. Both men preached bold messages and asked for bold responses from the students.

"There's no such thing as a private relationship with Jesus. It's a personal relationship. The world needs to know," King said to students Friday night.

Students at Youth Evangelism Conference respond to a public invitation to follow Christ following a message by Clayton King. (PHOTOS/Courtney Wilmoth)

Harris challenged the students to take a look at the fruit their lives were producing, preaching from Luke 6:43-46. He gave students five questions to ask themselves in order to help them see the remnants of faith in their life or the lack there of.

Neither King nor Harris asked the students to repeat any words or quietly pray to themselves during the invitations. In fact, both men asked students to boldly stand up if they wanted to accept Christ as their Lord for the first time.

On Saturday, Harris called those who wanted to know Christ to stand up and yell "Jesus Christ is Lord." And students did.

"It moved me to tears," Flowers said of hearing the students yell "Jesus Christ is Lord."

Shane and Shane led worship both days for students, while David Crowder and Jason Castro gave the concerts on Friday and Saturday.

According to Meeker, the servant hearts of the musicians helped to make each day feel much more like a full worship service rather than a concert.

"It was a well-rounded weekend, and I know the Lord was honored and glorified through all of it," Meeker said.


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