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By Kent d Curry and Sarah k. Holland
August 13, 2007

The United Pentecostal Church’s North American Youth Congress has now ballooned dauntingly large. Held August 8-10, 2007 in Charlotte, NC, it overwhelmed the highways and byways of Bobcat Arena and much of the surrounding city.

This is how big it was—the people attending NAYC were visiting our Youth Congress 24/7 blog via the arena’s internet café to find out what was going on at NAYC. Our team of nine bloggers was run ragged trying to capture the sights and sounds of Pentecostal young people praising and playing.

The very real question the General Youth Division (GYD) will have to answer in the near future is, how many venues in the United States can hold more than 17,000-18,000 people worshipping God in Spirit and in Truth, in words and in actions?

Judging by Youth Congress 2007, the future is bright for both this event and those participating in it. To God be the glory!

The Congress Theme

Officially it was, “To Be Continued”, but it actually wasn’t. There was an obvious emphasis on reminding everyone that it’s not enough to have the Holy Ghost, you have to do something with it—even if it means leaving the church building to do it.

Danny Rivers powerfully placed the challenge for community involvement (with Project 22:39 scheduled after lunch) and General Youth President Todd Gaddy closed it with a personal message to individual hearts, not a public proclamation to the masses, asking each to leave the comfort of the church building for the lost outside it. (He’s living this message by starting a home missions work in Maryland at year’s end.)

There were numerous spiritual and monetary successes (see the accompanying article), and great acts of love over those three days. Not that everyone is catching the vision. As Danny Rivers was finishing, an acquaintance came up and told me, “I’m sad. My youth group just left for lunch. They said they wanted to beat the lines. And they’re not even participating in Project 22:39!” Disappointing.

When I first heard Congress was headed east to Charlotte, I remember feeling a bit disappointed, thinking, “Who would be willing to drive or fly to the far side of the country?” The answer is that approximately 17,000 young people were willing to do so, making this perhaps the most successful Congress ever.

The city of Charlotte turned out to be a beautiful metropolis with good eating and shopping within a close driving distance. (Unfortunately, there wasn’t such good shopping within walking distance.) The downtown area was quaint, with small shops, and eateries, but the intense heat kept many people from discovering this. (Can 102 F really be considered a low?) Southern hospitality was at its best, as all of the event staff were polite and welcoming.

That said, there were numerous ugly incidents at area restaurants obviously unprepared for the onslaught of hungry teenagers. Did our Charlotte contacts not get the word out or did they just not believe 17,000 people would appear at their door around 11:30 p.m. for 3 straight nights. Restaurants, even in the suburbs, closed at strange times and even ran a youth group out that was bussing dirty tables to facilitate management.

The Bobcat Arena was a nice venue, but in truth the bottom bowl seemed small. This may be because the lobby seemed less populated this year.

One obvious upgrade were the number of booths. Besides the typical GYD, PPH, and Bible colleges, there were several ministry booths, and even some set up for several of the bands. Kudos goes to Gateway, who had a full drum kit and sound system set up, as well as to the GYD and PPH booths, who were more like portable stores and less like tables with product on them.

If anything remains the same, it dies. NAYC featured at least five significant additions to its usual lineup, including:

Frontrunner Focus—Todd Gaddy interviewed a number of Pentecostal young people who were using their imagination and talents for His kingdom in unique ways. This covered everything from an imaginative Sheaves for Christ project (that ended up in the Guinness Book of World Records) to a high school senior making the most of his physical disabilities to the voice behind Dora the explorer.

“b” Event—Uneven is the best word to describe this “intentional gathering to foster networking among 20somethings.” The fashion show delighted everyone, with many observers marveling at the classy, modest clothing that was highlighted. The fact that around 600 people crammed into The Big Chill for music, chat, and finger foods underscores the interest in this type of 20something event. The maiden voyage Thursday night just seemed to lack a cohesive identity. It’s potential, however, is great.

Project 22:39—This is about loving your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:38) in a public gesture. So P22:39 got over 1,500 people registered (the Parks service told us to stop getting volunteers, they were maxed out) to participate in changing Charlotte. From food banks to senior citizen projects to beautifying the parks, Pentecostals were everywhere showing God’s love through service. Yes, there were glitches, but to pull something off on this scale is unheard of. Kudos to Christie Ponjican for leading us into the community.

Side Stage Interviews—So, we were involved and have no way of knowing exactly how riveting the interviews of the different NAYC speakers and guests actually were, but crowds gathered and rushed by throughout the 30 minute segments. After the “b” event was promoted, they basically sold out, so that was a good sign.

The Commune-ity Sound Stage—Despite Satanic heat, Pentecostal musicians and vocalists sang and played for God’s glory in front of the arena beneath a tent. Judging by admiring crowds, and the clarity they could be heard in the neighboring bus station, this worked well.

The service music jumped to the 21st century and caught up with what teens and twentysomethings are actually listening to. Jonathan Dean, in relatively casual clothing during the day, led a band of the most talented musicians in Pentecost. The sound was much rockier than in year’s past, as the band played the newest in Christian music, as well as updated versions of older songs. Praise and worship stood spread across the four sides of a squared platform, the middle of which was sunken in true orchestra pit form for the many members of the band. The band often opened the services, and then came back to set the stage for the preaching preaching.

This year was noticeably minus choirs (or anything from our Black Gospel roots), as most church youth conferences currently are, and specials were done by the various Bible Colleges. The special groups who sang during were rewarded with enthusiastic response when they sang fresh songs. We hunger for the new of substance. The P&W songs were strong, but few, getting right to the heart of service and the preaching.

This Pentecostal Supergroup set the new standard for Praise & Worship music. CDs should become available here.

Once again, the Pentecostal Music Association offered 15 talented people/groups the opportunity to win $1,000 and win a recording contract (thanks to Zion Recording and Daywind Records). The winners were:

Group: Exodus (1st); Fallen Chains (2nd); Total Praise (3rd)

Male: Mark Crowder; Bryce Allard; Ryan Johns

Female: Don’t shoot us, but the winner in this category garnered so much applause we couldn’t hear the name! (Someone send it to us!); Ashley Webster; Kristen Sharp

We took pictures, so many pictures, of the classic and not-so-classic outfits that were worn over the 60 hours of Youth Congress, but overall:

The dress outfits were modest to an astonishing degree.

Hairdos seemed to be wildly divergent, from a number of guys in Mohawks (yes, real spiked Mohawks) to females curling it like the 1930s to lacquered craziness. I’m not qualified to tell you what that means.

There were allmost no women in hats of any kind.

On the casual mornings there were enough, not many, but enough to be noticeable, guys in knee-length shorts running about.

In the midst of 17,000 young people, radical music, friends that haven’t been seen for ages, and the occasional upsetting event, it’s easy to forget the real reason behind it all. Yet, as I strolled with my friend after service on Thursday evening in search of his youth group, I was reminded. 

We found his youth department and ministry in a fountain.  Yes, in a fountain.  My first thought is always one of chagrin—why are they in the fountain?  That’s when God showed me the real reason for it all.  As we walked up to them we heard a pastor say “In Jesus name” and then a young person go under the water and come up again. 

In the middle of a city street, in downtown Charlotte, NC, they were baptizing young people in a local fountain.  That one was the first, and soon two others had been baptized and their sins wiped out by His blood.  There, in the midst of all the craziness, was the real thing.

As effective as it was, Youth Congress wasn’t perfect. Herewith are some suggestions:

Project 22:39 should be immediately after a service, not after lunch. Two 90&9 bloggers waited with a sweating group of volunteers for 30 minutes in front of the Bobcat Arena because there was an empty van awaiting a different group and the sweating group was without a van. Asking people to find food, then return quickly, raises a hurdle of difficulty that blunts effectiveness in some areas.

Was there an Apostolic Youth Corps booth? If so, no one seemed to be able to find it and many were asking.

The split sessions in the Convention Center confused many. It just wasn’t clearly communicated to enough people. Perhaps including instructions in the program, as well as better signage would help.

Anything planned for outside, be it music or P22:39, needs to take into consideration the heat. August heat is going to remain a serious factor in almost any American city.

Even as everyone honored the Gaddy’s for their four years of service, many minds couldn’t help but wander to the inevitable question—Who’s next? In October the vote for General Youth Division President will take place, and the question begs will it be the hardworking Shay Mann or the hugely popular Wayne Francis? And what will it mean to the GYD when that question is answered?

From a Bible Quiz Coach: “I’ve slept with five different people in five nights and none of them are my wife.”

In his interview, Joel Urshan said there were 30 youth from his church in attendance, but three needed the Holy Ghost. All three got the Holy Ghost the night he preached – a special thrill for him. He also admitted

Late Friday night, to those who were left, Wayne Francis was handing out the unsold white NAYC t-shirts to whomsoever would.

Of course Bible Quizzing began the week, so we honor the winners of this year’s tournament here.

Are smart girls in now? There seemed an obvious trend among many guys away from the overdressed ditzes for the females of substance.

We saw you! A guy ran into one of those huge metal arena trash cans because he was glancing sideways at a passing female. It was a huge clatter. He tried to cover up by bumping into the next two, but sorry - we saw you!

Most speakers included some type of visual component beside PowerPoints of scriptures, be it video clips, photos, or some type of graphic.

Friday night had the most obvious visitors.

“Yes, I am a nerd.” –Jonathan Walker after revealing his $79.99 Batman mask purchased on the internet. He spoke to high school seniors about not wearing masks to the world. The next night he said about 50 people had called him Batman in the hallways.

There was more for 20something young adults to enjoy. They made up a much larger number of attendees than in years past, so that’s a positive trend on both fronts.

Bishop T. F. Tenney told the other speakers, “We’d get more people at General Conference if we did it like this (Youth Congress).

The behind-the-scenes crew did an amazing job of service. Those 20somethings busted themselves to serve in jobs that are at best, unnoticed, and at worst, unglamorous. Well done crew!

 

The Youth Congress 24/7 Blog is here and here.

Thanks to the talented group at Apostolic Entertainment Ministries, GYD highlighted some spectacular Infomercials for their programs. Watch them here.

Flickr Sets

Youth Congress

NAYC

NAYC2007

From The Charlotte Observer

Coverage of Thursday night’s service.

The Event information (they stole my headline!)

What does it mean to be “on Fire for God” video.

© 2007, Kent d Curry and Sarah k. Holland

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Kent d Curry is an executive editor of ninetyandnine.com. Sarah k. Holland is an associate editor for ninetyandnine.com. Both were too tired to compile this article.