Youth Conference (Christian)

This article is about the Christian conference held in Canada, Ukraine, and Belize. For theHong-Kong Youth Conference, see Youth Conference (Hong Kong).

Youth Conference is a large scale three-day Christian event held in numerous places around the world. The originating event, YC Alberta, is held in Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta. YC is managed by Extreme Dream Productions, a division of Extreme Dream Ministries.

YC is unique from similar Christians music festivals like Creationfest in that attendees must buy tickets to attend all main speakers and concerts, not just the ones they choose.

YC Alberta 2007 was held on May 25-27, 2007 at Rexall Place.

History

YC was organized by the Alberta district of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC). The first YC was held in 1994, with a group of 500 students. After being held for several years at the Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta, the conference outgrew the facilities and moved to Edmonton's Coliseum in 2000.

In 2005 YC branched out to hold an event in Ukraine, which was very successful. YC is still expanding, with an event held in Winnipeg, Manitoba and one planned in Belize as well.

Format

Each year, YC has a different "theme" that expresses what organizers wish attendees to focus on during the weekend, which starts on Friday, goes through Saturday, and ends Sunday evening.

On Friday, YC kicks off in Rexall Place, usually with a light and fireworks show. Then comes a worship music service, followed by a speaker. Then the evening ends with a concert.

On Saturday morning, there is another worship service, after which two speakers present. At noon, the attendees are released to eat lunch, and browse the many afternoon activities YC offers, like workshops, numerous concerts, indoor games, exhibitors, and a marketplace. Then the evening brings a concert, a worship service with another speaker, and a final concert.

On Sunday morning, there is a worship service with a speaker. The afternoon brings similar afternoon events as Saturday's, and YC conclude with a final worship service, and a final concert.

YC Newfoundland

YC Newfoundland is the first branch off of the original YC, held every year during the Canadian thanksgiving weekend, which is usually around the second weekend of October, its held almost on a rotational basis in the largest centers in the province, It was first held in front of 500 attendees at The Glacier in Mount Pearl, It has grown to attendance figures of 3000 - 3500. It is organized by a committee from Pentecostal Assemblies of Newfoundland & Labrador, the head of this group since the beginning of YC Newfoundland is Pastor Dean Brenton

MYC

The maritime Canadian version of YC which is usually smaller than the other ones, averaging about 600 attendees. It is usually held in New Bruswick or Nova Scotia.

YC Alberta

YC Ukraine

Youth Conference Ukraine, or YC Kiev as it has been called, is a branch-off of YC Alberta held in Kiev, Ukraine. Around 5500 people attended the first 3-day event in summer 2005. Delirious? was a featured artist there. YC Kiev was run by Extreme Dream Ministries in its inaugural year, but the project is now being undertaken by the Alliance of Ukrainian Youth Leadership team.

YC Manitoba

Youth Convention Manitoba, or YC Manitoba is an annual Christian Youth Convention held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2005 YC Fusion, the original Convention name, had Mike Love — founder and president of Extreme Dreams Ministries as their keynote speaker at the conference. As Mike later recalled, he felt that Manitoba was a new mission field ready for an awakening. When the 2005 conference came to a close, Rob, the YC Fusion Director announced his position was ending which led to the announcement of Extreme Dreams Ministries future role in the conference. Changing the name from YC Fusion to YC Manitoba, Extreme Dreams Ministries and Mike Love led the way with a well-received 2006 conference and continues to do so.

YC Belize

YC Belize was announced on May 28, 2006 at YC Alberta by Mike Love. The event was not officially announced but it was mentioned that Extreme Dream Ministries planned on collaborating with other youth missions groups to hold a Youth Conference in Belize. The event will run February 23-25 2007 in Belize City, Belize. Two teams consisting of youth and young adults from Bethesda Christian Fellowship and Strathcona Christian Academy will assist Extreme Dream Ministries in facilitating the event.

YC Africa

YC Africa was announced on May 5, 2007 at YC Manitoba by Mike Love and consists of a conference in Zambia and Malawi Africa. Extreme Dream Ministries has secured a 30,000 seat soccer stadium for YC Zambia.

See also

• Rexall Place
• List of music festivals
• Extreme Dream Ministries

External links

• YC Alberta Website
• YC Manitoba Website
• YC Newfound Land Website
• Extreme Dream Ministries Website