CHRISTIANSBURG, Va. — On April 23, 280 students and adults representing over 22 churches attended the Christiansburg Youth Encounter at Christiansburg High School.
The praise band from Virginia Tech’s Baptist collegiate ministry led students in worship, Bluefield College representatives rallied the crowd with t-shirt giveaways and an iPod door prize, and artist/speaker Ben Glenn moved the crowd with his testimony, chalk drawing and presentation of the gospel.
The planning, prayer and preparation paid off. Two students made professions of faith and eight students made commitments to full-time Christian service. Many other students raised their hands indicating they were rededicating their lives to Christ.
This collaborative effort began over a year ago. Beginning in February 2009, a committee composed of youth leaders in the New River Valley met , prayed, brainstormed, set the budget, planned logistics and organized the evening’s events. Ken Dibble, youth ministry strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, provided support and experience with contract negotiations, publicity, graphic design and financial support.
The event was one of three held the weekend of April 23.
Another highlight of the evening was the VBMB themed offering, “Change Matters.” Throughout the year students from across the state are given the opportunity at Youth Encounters and conferences to give change in their pockets to make a difference for a mission cause. Last year students gave over $7,600 to provide access to clean drinking water for a South African village and to provide indoor plumbing for the first time to a home in southwest Virginia.
Students from Bonsack Baptist Church in Roanoke were able to put hands and feet to this effort and travel to South Africa to help with the building of this well over spring break. This year students have embraced the cause of world hunger and are giving freely to Change Matters. Acteens at Cambria Baptist Church in Christianisburg held a pancake breakfast to raise money to give to this offering during the Youth Encounter.
Leaders said there are several benefits in conducting regional instead of statewide youth events. The first is that more students are willing to attend an event close to home, especially when it is provided free of charge. In addition, youth leaders in the region get to know one another better and talk about the needs of their students, and develop a willingness to work together on future events that can bring youth together. Participants also learn that Virginia Baptists have a vision of evangelism and touching lives and are eager to work with local churches and offer support to make reaching the lost and hurting a reality.
Finally, students are empowered to do more than they thought they could do. Students are giving to an offering and putting hands and feet behind that effort. Following the Christiansburg event, more students expressed an interest in participating in a mission trip next year with the Change Matters offering, and three students who wanted their friends to experience a youth conference were able to bring it to them in their own hometown.
Carrie Bradshaw is minister of youth at Cambria Baptist Church in Christiansburg.