RICHMOND — With transformation as its theme, Virginia Baptists' 20-year-old Youth Evangelism Conference (YEC) has been transformed and is now Youth EnCounter 2007. The new YEC features a new name, new location, new schedule and more quality programming to transform and impact the lives of teenagers.
According to Ken Dibble, youth ministry strategist for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, as YEC approached its 20th anniversary, the time was right to transform this Virginia Baptist tradition. “A revisioning team was formed to cast a new vision for transforming and refreshing YEC in order to take it to the next level to reach today's youth,” he said.
Youth EnCounter 2007, to be held Aug. 2-3 at the Richmond International Raceway Complex in Richmond, will have more music, more speakers and more fun and interactive elements designed to engage students and leaders. Kings Dominion is no longer part of the YEC program, but students and leaders can enjoy a day at Kings Dominion the day before or after YEC at a discounted rate of $25 per person.
“This change will allow students to experience 100 percent of the Christian content and quality programming that they have come to expect at YEC,” Dibble said.
Dove Award nominees Skillet and Krystal Meyers, as well as five-time Vibe Award winner Starfield, are scheduled to perform. These musicians are known for their desire and determination to reach youth in new ways through inspirational music.
According to Starfield, “There's a tide within the church that I believe is changing — a new understanding of what it means to be a Christian in the postmodern world. This generation is searching for identity and relevance within that structure, for a Christianity they can sink their teeth into.”
YEC 2007 also features speakers Doug Herman, Taylor Mason and Craig Tackett.
Herman is an international speaker and author who shares his life story about losing his wife and daughter to AIDS contracted through a blood transfusion. “My wife and little girl didn't have a choice, but you do!” Herman says. Herman's message encourages teenagers to maintain purity in all of their relationships with God and other people.
Taylor Mason and Craig Tackett use their own brands of communication to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with national and international audiences. Mason is a master ventriloquist and improvisational comedian who makes audiences laugh with his “G”-rated comedy in an “X”-rated world. He has performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.
Tackett is a gifted youth communicator and no stranger to Virginia Baptists. His energetic personality and message attract people of all ages, allowing him to share God's love with today's generation. Tackett has spoken several times at Eagle Eyrie.
Each of these speakers and musicians has their own personal testimony to share with people around the world. “My faith means everything to me,” Krystal Meyers says. “It's who I am. It's the basis of everything I do. Jesus Christ is everything. He's given me peace and joy that is so unreal that I just have to sing about it. It comes out in my music. I have to share what I believe!”
“The passion of YEC is to deliver God's message to a wide audience,” said Dibble. “We want to reach those who already know Christ, so they will leave more deeply committed to live a transformed life, and we want to encourage those who don't know him to experience the ultimate transformation.”
Additional program and registration information for Youth EnCounter 2007 is available at www.yec.org or by calling (800) ALL.BGAV (255.2428), ext. 2250.
Special to the Herald