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Photo courtesy of the NYC office
The NYC coordinators monitor registrations for National Youth
Conference 2014, on the opening evening for online registration: (from
left) Katie Cummings, Tim Heishman, and Sarah Neher. |
By Lucas Kauffman
Highland Avenue Church of the Brethren youth and advisors were among
the groups that got together Jan. 3 for a National Youth Conference
(NYC) registration party. The youth at Highland Avenue Church in Elgin,
Ill., decided to hold their party so that they would be among the first
to register for NYC 2014.
They were just seven of more than 200 people who registered in the
first two hours after online registration for NYC opened at 7 p.m.
(central time) that Friday evening.
The group of Highland Avenue youth started off the party enjoying a
meal of pizza, chips, cookies, cake, and drinks. After watching the
YouTube video about how to register online, they split up in three
different rooms, sitting at different sets of computers, and went to
work.
Nathaniel Bohrer and Elliott Wittmeyer were two of the youth who
registered. Bohrer is looking forward to seeing old friends while at
NYC, and playing some Ultimate Frisbee. Both Bohrer and Wittmeyer are
looking to take away several things from NYC. Bohrer is hoping to create
new relationships, and receive a new understanding of how the church
works. Wittmeyer is looking to have some fun, while also learning some
history about the denomination, and listening to sermons that teach him
something.
NYC coordinators hold their own registration party
While Highland Avenue youth were registering NYC coordinators Katie
Cummings, Tim Heishman, and Sarah Neher were having a registration party
of their own at the denomination’s General Offices. They were joined by
Becky Ullom Naugle, director of Youth and Young Adult Ministries, and
Sarah Ullom-Minnich, who is on the National Youth Cabinet.
After
eating pizza and getting everything ready, they each logged on to a
computer to watch the registrations come in. They counted down from 10
seconds, to the official registration opening time. It took five minutes
for the first registration to be received. A few minor problems had to
be dealt with over the phone. They left the offices a little after 9
p.m.
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Photo by Lucas Kauffman
An adult advisor looks on as one of the Highland Avenue youth uses the online registration process for NYC 2014
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Heishman says he is looking forward to everything, as an NYC
coordinator. “I’m looking forward to seeing all the names come in, and
meeting as many people as possible during NYC. I’m excited about all of
the speakers, the bands (Mutual Kumquat and Rend Collective Experiment),
and especially the worship services. It will be so exciting to see
everything come together this July.”
More than 400 register over the weekend
Some of the churches where youth registered for NYC on the first
weekend: Wakemans Grove Church of the Brethren in Shenandoah District;
Ambler Church of the Brethren and Little Swatara Church of the Brethren
in Atlantic Northeast District; McPherson and Wichita First Churches who
teamed up in Western Plains District; Manchester Church of the
Brethren in South Central Indiana District; Gettysburg Church of the
Brethren in Southern Pennsylvania District; Oak Grove Church of the
Brethren in Virlina District; West Charleston Church of the Brethren and
Cristo Nuestra Paz who teamed up in Southern Ohio District.
As of Tuesday morning, Jan. 7, 464 people had registered for NYC.
That is up from 366 people in about the first four days of online
registration for the last NYC in 2010.
Good reasons to go to NYC
There are several reasons why youth should sign up for NYC, according
to Heishman. “NYC is a place where you can meet Christ and hear your
calling as a follower of Jesus,” he said. “It is often the spiritual
highlight for many youth during their high school years.”
Another reason to sign up? Heishman says that NYC will be a blast.
For more information and to register for National Youth Conference,
which takes place at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.,
on July 19-24, go to
www.brethren.org/nyc.
-- Lucas Kauffman is a senior at Manchester University in N.
Manchester, Ind., and a January term intern at the Church of the
Brethren News Services office.
Source: 1/10/2014 Newsline
The
National Youth Conference Office has announced its list of 10 speakers
for NYC 2014, to be held July 19-24, 2014, in Fort Collins, Colo. The
NYC Office also is encouraging all congregations to plan NYC
registration parties for the evening of Jan. 3 when online registration
opens at 7 p.m. (central time). Youth groups are encouraged to plan a
fun evening of food and games, and register together when the clock
strikes seven. Party ideas are available on the registration page of the
NYC website at 
Call of Conscience, a Church of the Brethren web-based curriculum, is available to download from