GYC 2006: By Every Word

As Norman says, Merry New Year! Since I begin my Psychiatry rotation tomorrow, I thought I had better post something before things get busy again.

GYC 2006 was powerful this year. Almost 2600 young people registered for the conference and 4000 attended on Sabbath. (I mention this to debunk the rumor that 5000-6000 people were present on Sabbath morning. This is not true!) Compared to last year, the quality was improved all around, and many have been heard saying that it is perhaps one of the best conferences we've had yet (except for maybe the first one at Pine Springs Ranch). The theme was "By Every Word" and emphasized the need for the Word of God in all aspects of our lives. All the speakers were excellent as were the seminars and plenary sessions. Highlights included:

1. Stirring messages and appeals from Peter Gregory and David Asscherick each morning and evening;
2. Ted Wilson's plenary session where he exhorted GYC to continue to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem;
3. Hearing James Black, the NAD youth director, saying positive things about GYC. Of course, he also promoted Just Claim It (a conference organized by the NAD Youth Department that is similar yet so different);
4. Attending the Waters' seminar (one of 17 different simultaneous seminars) on relationships which I thought was well done. It's nice to see people who are practicing what they preach;
5. During the networking session, praying with 30-40 students from various Adventist college campuses around the country for their schools and for GYC;
6. A much more efficient registration process thanks to Alistair Huong, Rob Durkin, Addison Huong, and their team;
7. Seeing several Adventist campus student leaders whom I worked with while in the Adventist Intercollegiate Association now giving their lives to God's work and getting involved in GYC;
8. Seeing people beginning to break out into spontaneous prayer sessions or Bible studies just like we used to in Pine Springs Ranch and Ann Arbor;
9. Giving the opening night welcome on Wednesday evening and the Something Is Happening segment on Thursday evening;
10. Seeing and spending time with my family.

For a sampling of pics, click here.

To view various videotaped plenary sessions, click here.

GYC 2007 will be held in Minneapolis, MN on December 19-23. You really won't want to miss it. Plan to BE there!