I attended the General Youth Conference (GYC), December 27–30, in Baltimore, Maryland. According to official and unofficial estimates, there were about 3000 young people and others attending during the week, swelling to around 5000 attendees on Sabbath. The main emphasis of this conference seemed to be on missions, much like the focus of previous GYC events. Overall the conference was a great source of inspiration, while being at times tiring and challenging as well.
The highlight of this year’s conference, judging by most accounts, was the messages by David Asscherick, although there were also great messages by Samuel Korangteng-Pipim, Peter Gregory, Gerard Hasel, C. D. Brooks, and others. David seems to be an unusually gifted speaker, someone who has mastered the art of communicating truth to this generation. He has a powerful style of delivery, one that is articulate, entertaining, Biblical, hard-hitting, and well paced. He is one of my favorite presenters, and judging from the audience responses, he is on the right track with lots of other people as well. I learned a lot just by observing him. I think I have the knowledge and refinement to be a good speaker (and have been told I am a gifted teacher), but unfortunately my brain doesn’t work as fast as his does! Still, the experience of hearing him at GYC has prodded me to have more boldness and drive.
The young people eagerly responded to David’s appeals, coming forward by the hundreds each night. In some ways the response was almost “too much,” because in such appeals there is a lot of peer pressure to go forward even without a personal commitment, which is a recipe for spiritual problems later on. I would be more happy if there were fewer but more pointed or specific appeals at GYC (such as the call by Jeffrey Rosario for more Spanish-speaking youth to rise up and be counted). I responded to several of David’s appeals myself, and enjoyed the opportunity to pray with others who went forward.
As much as I enjoyed David’s messages, I must admit I had a couple reservations about them. First, I felt his message, “What Do You Expect?”, which dealt with God’s power in the here and now, never came round to answering the question of what we should expect. He clearly indicated that God is able to do as much now as ever, alluding to such things as Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead. But he never said what this means for us at GYC. For example, why waste time with community surveys if we could just go out and raise dead people, heal the sick, restore sight to the blind, and so forth? I can almost hear someone responding that God doesn’t want us to focus on miracles so much — but then, in the light of David’s message, what is it that we are to expect from God? The answer to this question was never clearly fleshed out.
Second, I disagreed with David’s definition of faith as “seeing as God sees.” While seeing as God sees is a valuable skill, it is still true that faith is often most needed precisely where we cannot see as God sees. That is, faith is not so much about seeing (awareness, knowledge) as it is about trusting and accepting with intent to obey. Faith is, as Ellen White said, “the eye that sees,” but it is not like the all-seeing eye of God. Christians are often led “by a way they know not.” They walk in faith, not because they see as God sees, but because they trust the sight of God who leads them. I would rather hear someone say that faith is “accepting and living by that which God reveals.” Having said all that, it is undoubtedly true that we need spiritual vision to see beyond the material world, and live in the light of eternal realities. To that end, I appreciated David’s message very much.
The Sabbath afternoon outreach was a highlight of the conference. I joined hundreds of young people who went out into the greater Baltimore area to sign up people for free Bible studies, in preparation for evangelism to come. Our bus signed up 20-some people, which seemed to be about average, besides leaving many more sign-up cards at houses which other residents may respond to later. In all, more than 700 people requested Bible studies, a very good result for an hour’s worth of work, especially in Baltimore. It was very satisfying to see how eagerly some people desired studies; one man cheerfully approached us, almost demanding we come to him, even though he did not live in the community.
I enjoyed working at 3ABN’s booth a little. My friends Greg and Jill were the ones officially manning the booth, but I dropped in a couple times to help out for short periods. It was fun interacting with visitors. Sometimes I felt like an almost ignored nobody among the crowds at GYC, but working at the booth I found that people passing by actually smiled and acted friendly. It was a welcome experience. I can tell why Greg and Jill enjoy doing it!
I also pitched in at the prayer room a few times, leading out once. The number of participants was always small, averaging about five or so. But we had great times sharing with one another, and it was another way I could feel I was making an impact at the conference, however modest it might be.
The seminars and networking session were, frankly, only so-so. I did enjoy a seminar by David Asscherick on recreation, but it was an overflow seminar, and without a place to sit I was among many who were asked to leave. Another seminar by Lewis and Richard Walton was well-presented and thought provoking. I had high hopes for the networking session, but it was tediously presented and it seemed the “networking” aspect would never materialize, so I left. (A number of friends in the same session stayed for greater or lesser lengths of time, but also left eventually for the same reasons.) There could have been a very meaningful and productive dialog; I can only hope the other networking sessions fared better. I am tempted to volunteer for next time, because I am certain I could have done a better job.
I believe GYC is nearing its maximum size. At this conference there were signs that long-standing principles of GYC are fraying at the edges. This is no fault of the GYC leadership, but simply reflects the limitations of their personal influence, values, and policies over such a large and diverse group. The current mission focus is popular, and draws a much wider audience than the previously stronger personal holiness focus. (Obviously both are needed. It is the tip of the balance that I am drawing attention towards.) The potential for drift lies in the likelihood that GYC attendees will trickle into leadership roles. Without fortifying of GYC’s core values, this will result in gradual compromises. This is a hard thing to spot until it is too late. For example, the response to the conservative music at GYC might lead an observer to conclude that the attendees have conservative musical tastes. But I can extrapolate from personal experience that a significant number of participants at GYC have musical tastes that would make certain GYC leaders’ hairs stand on end! This is just one example. If GYC is to continue growing, the leadership will need to strengthen the degree to which their values are represented by the attendees and, more importantly, by the more active and involved participants. This is the only way to avoid the slippery slope. But I have confidence in the current leadership, and hope they will move wisely.
I cannot close without mentioning the social aspect of GYC. It was great to see many friends and acquaintances. As with previous meetings of this type (GYC, ASI), there are many people to see, and precious little time to visit with them all. I also made a few new friends, but it is doubtful whether I will see them again, or, if I do, whether I will remember their names! Going from southern Illinois to GYC is like being taken from a little fish bowl and being dumped into a tank at the Baltimore Aquarium. Suddenly there is a bewildering array of choices, most unfamiliar, and by the time I start to feel oriented, it’s over. I can only hope that someone will launch an online community for GYC-types, so the networking can continue after the event is over.
In 2007, the next GYC is scheduled to be in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (The travel headaches are already flashing before me.) If you’ve never been to a GYC event, and want to grow spiritually with lots of other sincere young people, I highly recommend it.
I didn’t take many photos at GYC this year, but here is a handheld, no-flash photo taken from the trenches:
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