Generation of Youth for Christ 2009

GYC: An experience of a Lifetime

Overwhelming and fabulous. These are the two words that I have used to describe my first GYC experience. Going into the weekend I knew nothing about the definition of GYC and didn’t know many details about the conference. God had many things waiting for me.

Generation of Youth for Christ, GYC, began in 2002. A group of young Adventist adults going to secular universities began to meet to discuss the basic beliefs of Adventism. They decided to start a ministry of young people to get back into the Word, preaching and sharing what they knew, getting excited about God. The first GYC had 400 people attend. This year there were over 6000 people in Louisville for Sabbath services.

Let me begin by saying that if you do not know what GYC is, I encourage you to go. It is truly a lifechanging experience. Let me begin with the overwhelming. I arrived on Thursday night and caught the last of David Asscherick’s sermon. The first I had seen of him in person. I walked in to over 3000 people knowing two, Chris and Kurtis. That first night was a bit of a whirlwind meeting people and beginning to get a feel for the conference. Overwhelming.

I believe the fabulous started the next morning. Sebastian Braxton was speaking for the morning devotionals. He is an amazing speaker, and you can see the beauty of God when you watch him speak. Speakers like him are what remind me of the personalities and love for the truth that drew me into this church. He began each morning with a rendition of “Oh How I Love Jesus.” When you begin your morning with a song it truly lifts your spirit.

Friday afternoon was outreach. Everytime I think about this part of the weekend I smile. I didn’t want to go. I had never done anything like outreach before in my life. A very good friend of mine encouraged me to go. And it was a wonderful experience. Adri, my outreach partner and I shared our stories in between knocking on doors for two hours in the freezing streets. And it was perfect! After many houses, when we got the first person to sign up for a bible study, I wanted to dance. There was one lady who needed prayer and we were there because God led us there, to the right place, at the right time. At the end of outreach, Adri and I were friends and we got a couple people to sign up for bible studies. It is amazing what we can do if we let God take control!

Sabbath was a day of worship. Mark Finley spoke for worship. There were two question and answer sessions where young adults could ask real questions and get real answers. Paul Howe gave an amazing testimony of what God is doing in Ethiopia. Looking back the whole weekend was a bit surreal, and I wouldn’t change a thing.

I can’t imagine a better way to bring in the new year than at GYC. Worshipping and fellowship with other believers. A small taste of heaven. I came out of the weekend with new friendships, old friendships were stronger, and I feel closer to God.

Romans 1:16 “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also the Greek.”

(sermons can be found at http://www.audioverse.org/)