Youth challenged to ‘meet the people at their well back home’

By Lauren Urtel

DAYTONA BEACH—(FBC) Ignited by the hope that Florida Baptist youth could impact the state for Christ, more than 700 middle and high school students gathered July 27-29 at the First Baptist Church of Daytona for the 2007 Youth Evangelism Conference.

“I hope youth recognize the mission to reach the lost is not just for their parents and grandparents but it is for them, too,” said Jeff Hessinger, director of the Personal Evangelism Department at the Florida Baptist Convention which sponsored the event.

“I want the youth of our churches to be passionate about their love and obedience for Christ. They can be a radical presence of God leading their peers to Jesus.”

The three-day event was highlighted by a three-part sermon series by Ergun Caner, president of Liberty Theological Seminary at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Va.

The series, designed to show students their importance in the church and build their confidence in evangelizing, began with the Biblical story of the woman at the well found in John 4.

Just as God used the broken woman to reach her community, “He can use you to reach your generation,” said Caner as he addressed the youth.

Caner continued, “God did not save you to isolate you from the world that needs you. He designed you to meet the people at your well back home.”

Anonymity in a world of notoriety was the topic of Caner’s second sermon.

“Christianity marches on the shoulders of the anonymous,” said Caner, using the verse John 6:9 as his reference. “If you think God can’t use the anonymous, you are ignoring God’s calling for your life.”

Caner asked the youth to remember they have special place in the life of the church.

In his final address, Caner called the students to be leaders in their congregations. “If we are going to see revival in America, it has to be accompanied by uninhibited worship and you, the youth, will have to lead the way for the older generation,” said Caner.

When called to make commitments to their faith, 34 youth made spiritual decisions, 11 for believer’s baptism.

“I feel stronger in my faith because of this conference and Dr. Caner’s message,” said Kimberly Pridgen, a 14 year-old youth from Mount Saber Baptist Church in Lakeland. “I feel more on fire and I want to evangelize.”

Renee Allego, youth leader at South Patrick Baptist Church in Satellite Beach, attended the conference for a second year in a row after see positive results with her youth after the first.

“After last year’s conference the students became more involved in the church and are bringing more people. They help in the nursery, with the children and with the elderly,” said Allegro. All 10 of the youth she brought to the conference this year made decisions for Christ.

Worship during the conference was led by Christian group Big Daddy Weave.

In addition to worship and the sermon series, breakout sessions were offered for youth and their leaders. These included such topics as “High Definition Youth Ministry,” a leaders-only session led by Hessinger, and “Modest is Hottest,” a girls-only conference teaching young women to honor themselves.

“The conference challenged and prepared youth to embrace the Great Commission as faithful Christian witnesses,” said Hessinger, who concluded the conference with a Sunday morning sermon at the First Baptist Church. “Increasing the value of our youth in congregations will only occur when we challenge and prepare them for the task at hand.”