Who says that Sunday morning can't be loud? Definitely not
Tedashii. He opened the morning brilliantly with a set of past hits including "Riot," "Dum Dum" and "Make War." He shared his moving testimony of surrendering his life to Christ on the campus of Baylor University after being broken physically and emotionally. He ended the set with a couple tracks off of the new album
Below Paradise, which releases on May 27.
Bluetree was back to lead worship, once again Bluetree frontman, Aaron Boyd, engaged the crowd in heartfelt worship and brought us all to a place where we would be ready to receive from God.
There was no painting from Eric Samuel Timm in this session, probably because he didn't want to be all sweaty and worn out before he had to preach. He delivered an incredible message of hope to everyone in attendance. As with any conference, there seems to be a type of "hangover" that happens. You get on a conference high for a few weeks after the event and then you fall back into old habits. This message was predicated on getting in front of that, on telling the youth in attendance that the hope found in this weekend is something that can be held onto for life.
The morning session ended with Bluetree leading an extended worship session. They provided some extra time with God to allow Him to water the truths that had been planted with His Holy Spirit.
Due to my busy interview schedule on Saturday, I was unable to take in any side-stage shows. Since I got to see Tedashii on Sunday morning, I satisfied that check box, and even though
Propaganda had opened on Saturday morning, I still needed a little more hip hop. Propaganda was on his a game during his set. He included several songs from his latest album
Crimson Cord, but the big highlight was closing with "Raise The Banner." It became apparent to me that this market is at least a year behind in Christian Hip Hop when the songs Propaganda performed from the 2012 album
Excellent garnered more response.
The evening opened up with
Building 429. Rumor has it that the final session is usually fairly low energy on the part of the crowd due to everything that has happened over the weekend. If this was low energy, then I would be scared to see what defines high energy. The crowd stood and was more than cooperative as the guys opened up what promised to be an exciting night.
As the guys performed their hit single "Where I Belong," I looked across and up from my seat on the floor and could see my daughter worshiping Jesus. I had not had very much time to spend with her over the weekend, but this extremely special moment became my personal highlight.
The worship continued as
Ben Cantelon led the final worship set of the weekend. As he opened it felt as though there was an urgency in the air, as though now was the time when hope would come and we all had to be prepared.
David Nasser closed out the weekend with a message about how Jesus is the true picture of hope, and when we see hope, we see Jesus. The focus was on being ruined by God as Isaiah was in
Isaiah 6:1-5. In verse 5 he says, "woe to me, I am ruined." It was a powerful message that concluded the weekend nicely.
For the grand finale, Ben Cantelon came back to lead us in a celebration. As we praised and danced the confetti canons were brought out, and everyone celebrated in this wonderful truth of the hope that is found in Jesus Christ.
Some final facts about
Extreme Dream Ministries, the group that produces YC:
- 20 years – 43 conferences – 10 nations
- 9,500 volunteers
- Over 315,000 students impacted
- 96 short term mission teams
- More than 25,000 salvations
- $1.5M raised for international ministries
- More than 4,000 children sponsored at YC Events
This was my first YC, however, it will not be my last. With an two more daughters who are still 4 and 11 years away from being able to attend, I will be going for the foreseeable future as this conference continues to impact the lives of teenagers and those who are blessed to come into contact with them.
