Oasis Compel – Youth Conference!

Wow!  I have never been to a Christian Youth Conference before this weekend.  Marek is now a junior high student and beginning his confirmation classes and participating in the Junior High Youth Group and Sunday school class.  Friends recommended this weekend conference as inspirational, motivating and fun so we decided to attend.  No one from our church had ever attended so we weren’t really sure what to expect.  Most chose not to attend.  Marek and Laura were game to try it though so we set out towards Manhattan to investigate and experience a youth conference.  First, I just have to say that the drive to Manhattan on I-70 is one of my favorite drives EVER!  It is gorgeous every season of the year.  We were working to get to the conference for the early registration so I chose not to stop for photos.  Anyway!  The theme for the weekend was Compel.  Taken from the bible 2nd Corinthians 5:14-15.  For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.  And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again. 

Ultimately we are compelled to serve others – or, we should be!  The weekend of motivation began with a pretty cool band, an absolutely mesmerizing artist and a compelling speaker.   The artist was fascinating to me, I’m a visual learner and watching him create these giant canvases on stage in the middle of a band surrounded by 400 plus youth singing and dancing was amazing.  Each of the four paintings that I observed were really awesome.  He is also a gifted speaker and was compelled to share about his Mission Project  No One Underground and his cool not for profit agency Painting Hope and his cause Compassion International.  Pretty amazing guy.  His wife is also part of No One Underground, she is a writer and speaker – looks pretty interesting on their website.  Eric  was funny, kind, straight forward and connected with the kids from the stage – best part was that he also made himself totally available to the kids before and after each performance and at the hotel.  The main speaker was a man named Anthony Inchaustegui who currently lives with his wife and family in LA.  He shared personal stories that illustrated how Jesus can help get you through difficult times as well as emphasizing the them of being compelled to serve.  All of these folks talked about how we each have something to give – from the youngest to the oldest and from the most complex skills to very basic skills that many of us take for granted – we are compelled to serve others.  Nice!  Motivating and inspiring weekend full of love and caring. 

The band was the Jordan Howerton Band.  They were great.  Good beats and he did a really nice job incorporating explanation and prayers into the performance.  They are putting out a new album soon so we heard their new songs.  They have only been playing together for three years (I think) and have really evolved quite a bit stylistically.   They are pretty Indie Rock sounding at this point which is cool with me.  They were also very available to the kids.  Each of them took the time to talk and laugh with the youth.  They were very in tune with the kids.  Marek loved both JHB and Eric Samuel Timm and was very impressed with the fact that he was able to have a conversation with each of them.

Both Marek and Laura said that they would go back again.  They would like it if more youth from our church or just more youth that they know would attend with them.  They are at an age where social time is pretty important and group experience is key.  I enjoyed the weekend with Marek and the opportunity to get to know Laura and her dad Mark a little more.  We all left feeling positive about the experience.  There were a few bottom lines… Love Jesus as your Savior, Follow Him – He compels us to do so and to serve others, there is nothing you could do that would ever make Him stop loving you!  Everyone is forgiven, just ask!  And, that sums it up!  Good times!  I see some additional youth gatherings in our future! 

God loves you and so do I!

~ Denise

PS These pictures take us through the weekend with 290 on Saturday and 291 on Sunday!! 

PPS AND We arrived home to find that Marcus was cleaning the garage!!  Yay!!

PPS I also just want to point out that I posted all of these picts so that you could get an idea of the progression of the paintings.  Each was complete within about 5 minutes max!