BMH Editor's Blog

Teens Praise God Enthusiastically as BNYC Closes

Posted by Terry White on July 28, 2006  |  No Comments

The big tent on the south field of the Biola campus was billowing and rocking as Brethren National Youth Conference 2006 came to a close last evening (Thursday).

Led by Todd Proctor and his band, the 2,000+ teens exuberantly praised God as the week came to a close.

The closing evening’s program included a threefold communion service with feetwashing, Love Feast, and bread and cup. Jeff Bogue, pastor at the Akron Grace North campus, gave the closing challenge.

Teens were leaving all night–some to catch red-eye flights, some to spend Friday on the beach before returning home.

For more complete stories, to browse 7,000 photos of the week, and to catch the flavor of what God did in many lives, log onto www.bnyc.net.

Scott Distler Helps Teens Deal With Sexual Temptation

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2006  |  No Comments

Scott Distler, pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Lititz, Pennsylvania, was the featured speaker for the Thursday morning general session of BNYC06.

His assigned topic was to help teenagers deal with contemporary culture without letting media and other influences lower their standards and “pull them down.” He gave a number of practical, biblical techniques for dealing with sexual temptation, in particular.

Lee Strobel Advises Teens on Doubt

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2006  |  No Comments

Author/apologist Lee Strobel spoke to the Brethren National Youth Conference Wednesday evening in the main session. A former newspaper editor, pastor, and journalist, Strobel gave the teens some good advice on how to deal with doubt and how to obtain answers for the questions they and others may raise about Christ and the Christian faith.

Who’s Behind the BNYC Cameras?

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2006  |  No Comments

With more than 3,000 photos from BNYC now available for browsing on www.bnyc.net, it’s obvious there are some skilled photographers at work.

Perhaps a dozen are contributing but the majority are from Jeanine Russell from the Mukilteo, Washington, Grace Community Chapel and Jenna Hollinger (pictured), from the Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church. Jenna will be leaving in August for a year of professional photography school.

Youth Groups Meet to Discuss General Sessions

Posted by Terry White on July 27, 2006  |  No Comments

Following each of the evening sessions, teens split into small “youth groups” with others from their church or district.

The BNYC printed program has discussion guides for the youth groups, and much of the discussion revolves around the evening session and lessons or questions issuing from it.

Teens Do Serious Business With God

Posted by Terry White on July 26, 2006  |  No Comments

A number of teens are doing serious business with God at this year’s Brethren National Youth Conference. As the conference draws to a close tomorrow, prayer supporters are asked to pray for specific and lasting commitments on the part of many teens. If you have not signed up to pray in a specific time slot, you may still do so at www.bnyc.net.

Posted by Terry White on July 26, 2006  |  No Comments

Rich Yauger, youth pastor at Grace Community Church in Goshen, Indiana, and his wife, Carol, gave a workshop in the Heritage Courtyard of the Biola campus entitled “Untouchables.”

The couple discussed some of the “untouchable” issues in today’s world such as eating disorders, cutting, sexual abuse, pornography, addictions, and homosexuality. The workshop was part of the “PowerTrax” held at 9:30 a.m.

Posted by Terry White on July 26, 2006  |  No Comments

Sing it, Pastor Wayne! Wayne Ayer (blue shirt, middle), pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Norwalk, California, loves to sing along with the Youth Choir as they practice and perform in the services at Brethren National Youth Conference.

Francis Chan Urges Teens to Let God Take Control

Posted by Terry White on July 26, 2006  |  No Comments

Francis Chan, in his final address to the BNYC audience this year, challenged teens as to who was in control of their lives. Using a model car and a toy duck to illustrate, he forcefully made the point that even if we think we may be in control, God actually has all things under His control. At the conclusion of the service, a number of teens indicated making a commitment to the Lord during a reverent time at the conclusion of the service.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

Posted by Terry White on July 26, 2006  |  No Comments

During the “Rescue” time this afternoon, approximately 100 of the BNYC students visited a Sikh temple and talked with officials there to explain the tenets of the Sikh religion. Here one of the students who participated reported to the BNYC audience in the Tuesday evening service. (Jenna Hollinger photo)

On the Road Again. . . the Grace Race

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

It’s “off to the races” once more as the Grace College racecars came back out on the track this evening during “hangtime” between sessions. Yesterday the racing was furious–this evening’s pace was much more leisurely.

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

“Rescue Lifesavers” in the signature highliter yellow packaging from Grace Brethren International Missions covered the tabletop of the GBIM display under the trees. Giveaways and advertising novelties assured “stopping points” so teens could engage in conversation with representatives of the various Grace Brethren national organizations and ministries.

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

Janelle Armstrong (kneeling, left) of the Grace Brethren International Missions staff used water and a sponge to apply a temporary “Rescue” tattoo to various body parts of teens attending BNYC. The GBIM tent is one of many organizational displays set up under the trees on the main walkway through the Biola University campus in LaMirada, California.

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  1 Comment

A mime group from the Brookville (OH) Grace Brethren Church performed in the pre-service prelude in the 6:15 p.m. session at Brethren National Youth Conference today. NAC competition and quizzing is occurring each afternoon, and many of the entries and contestants are used as pre-service performances for the main sessions.

Jeremy Kingsley Urges Intimacy With God

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

Jeremy Kingsley (center, blue shirt) was the speaker for this morning’s main session, with the topic “Apathy to Intimacy.”

Kingsley, who for 11 years has been in his own ministry of traveling and speaking, is a graduate of the Clinton, Maryland, Grace Brethren Schools. He is based in Chapin, South Carolina, and more information may be obtained at www.jeremykingsley.com.

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

Hundreds of teens knelt at the front of the main meeting tent this morning at the conclusion of Jeremy Kingsley’s address on “Apathy or Intimacy.” The teens, who were counseled by adults for followup, were indicating a desire in their lives to move from apathy toward God to a more intimate relationship with Him. (Jenna Hollinger photos)

Josh McDowell Addresses Adults in ‘Generations’

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

Josh McDowell spoke this noon to the “Generations Luncheon” at Brethren National Youth Conference. Generations is for adults and subjects discussed are parenting, mentoring, and ministry to the generations in a family structure.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

McDowell spoke on “The Last Christian Generation,” which is the topic of his latest book. He will be speaking for the main session this evening.

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

Noted author, youth analyst, and apologist Josh McDowell is speaking to several smaller groups on campus today at BNYC, and will be the main session for the Tuesday evening meeting. More information on his ministry is available at www.josh.org.(Jenna Hollinger photo)

Francis Chan Urges Teens to "Enjoy God"

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

Francis Chan, pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Simi Valley, California, and a perennial favorite speaker for BNYC, was the featured speaker at the 8:30 p.m. main session this evening. Chan emphasized the aspect of “enjoying God,” and helped the teens view sharing their faith as an enjoyable, not dutiful, thing to do.(Jeanine Russell photo)

Posted by Terry White on July 25, 2006  |  No Comments

Jordan Byers, a teen from the Winona Lake (IN) Grace Brethren Church (Heartland District) sang a vocal solo in this evening’s main session of the Brethren National Youth Conference, meeting on the BIOLA University campus in LaMirada, California.