NYC 2007

I don’t know where exactly to begin my story but the best place I can think of is the day we left for NYC. Everyone was telling us that this was going to change our lives forever and that there was no way we could go through that week without seeing God. I remember sitting in my chair thinking that there was no way.

You see, I was raised in a church environment, and always had God as a part of my life. However, I realized that even though I had asked Jesus into my heart as a child, it wasn’t necessarily something I believed. It was just something that I went along with because it was what I was raised to do. At that point I was angry with God, unable to let certain parts of my past go, and not wanting to go on some youth retreat with my church. If I had been given a choice, I would not have gone, but the money had been paid and there was no getting out of it.

So, off I went to Saint Louis, and I will admit, I had a wonderful time, but throughout the trip I was still fighting God. I had done the shorter weekend retreats, always coming home “changed” for a few days before returning to my prior self, and I did not want to do that again. I knew I would feel like I had let myself down if I accepted God and dropped him again. I realized that if I was going to accept God, it would have to be with all of my being, and I wasn’t ready for that. Or so I thought.

Throughout the week I watched people change. My roommate became one of my most respected friends, and as I watched her change and grow in Christ, I began to realize that if what she had was a true relationship with God was, I wanted it. So, finally I began to pray, asking God to come back into my life.

On one of the evenings my district was on floor, they called an altar call and my roommate I mentioned before ran past me, tears streaming down her face, to go to the floor. I decided to go with her and there on the floor I felt God. I felt him like I have never felt him before, and wonder if I ever will again. I realized that I needed to give my life to Christ once and for all. And so I did.

I asked for God’s forgiveness and to be a part of his holy church, to be his completely. Then someone in the stadium started singing. I believe it was “I Surrender All” and I can’t tell you how perfect that song was for me. Soon the whole stadium was singing with me right along with everyone else. And you know what? I meant it. I did surrender all, and later I felt God’s call for Africa.

I remember thinking “Me God, new believer? I’m not ready!” and then remembering that I had just told God I’d give everything up for him, so I agreed. I remember repeating over and over, “God if you want me to go to Africa, find a way for me to get there, and I will.”

Now I have been invited to spend my next summer with a missionary family in Kenya. I will be going around and talking in the high schools about purity and abstinence, in hopes of helping with the AIDS epidemic. I will also be working in their orphanages, which are now overrun with children, and doing all that I can to help those with little hope. It will be hard for me to earn the money to get there, but I am obeying God and I know that he will provide.

I am so grateful to what NYC has done for me. It helped me find God, and now I pray that through me, others will be reached and some kind of difference can be made. No matter how small, things will change. In fact, they already have.

I remember one of the speakers saying how so many people would return and go back to their old lives, but a few of us would change, and how those few would make a difference. I am one of them. I hope one day I will go to heaven and God will look down at me and say, “Good job Amber. With you I am well pleased.”

At NYC, it was an amazing experience. It was a once and a life time thing. I met amazing people who actually care about God. You go to a place were everybody is worshiping the love of God. When you are singing, nobody is afraid to just put their hands high up and just praise God. God will change you just like that if you are willing to make that sacrifice. Every time I went to a Christian event to change me to a better Christian, it never worked. I never changed. Finally the week before I left for NYC I prayed deeply to God begging him, "Please God, please let this be it please change me I want to change". I kept going on and on about this to God. I didn't believe I would change, but I went and my whole entire life was turned around. My life isn't hectic anymore. I actually feel the love of Jesus Christ in me now.

I started out the NYC week not really knowing what to expect...not really looking forward to it actually because the group going from my church weren't that close...Everything was going wrong, the two tracks I wanted were both filled so I just Stuck with Multiple Topics. At NYC all of that changed. Everyone from our group met with God more than once that week...which brought us all closer. On a personal note, I truly met with God and it was incredible. I left realizing that before, I didn't even start to begin to realize how big and glorious God really is.

The Night of David Crowder our district was on the floor of the dome. That was the night that they asked everyone to stand up and individually say "I CHOOSE TO FOLLOW GOD!!!" See everyone do that and knowing how everyone had come from all walks of life and completely different stories...but ALL of us in that dome at that moment were making a person dedication that we would not live to the worlds expectations anyone was probably one of the most amazing moments and I will not soon forget.

As a whole I can truly say that God was there...not once...not twice...but ALL THE TIME!!!!!!

I will never forget my experience at NYC, I did not leave on a "mountain top experience" with God...but I did leave changed...forever.

NYC was amazing! Youth from all four corners of our United States and Canada gather for a once in a life time experience. My brother and sister went to this conference in Houston, Texas four years ago; however, I was too young to go at that time. I overheard them express to others how their lives changed and they grew immeasurably in their walk with God. When my youth pastor announced two years ago that the next NYC would be held in Missouri at St. Louis Rams Dome I jumped at the chance to go.

Three large buses full of tired teens rolled out… clueless of what NYC was going to be like. We did know a couple things: the theme, Water, Fire, Wind. Our suitcases were ready to feed about five thousand families, and a life changing experience awaited us in the next eight hours. The trip to St. Louis was relaxing watching movies, sleeping and being with friends. This started my trip off with a fun time.

As we arrived at our destination we received more announcements about taking our suitcases of food and walking them to the dome. Carrying our suitcases really wore our arms out, since walking to the Jones Dome felt like an eternity; although it really was only about a ten minute walk. We distribute the canned goods to the appropriate boxes, and the feeding of what we thought was five thousand families turned out to a much more huge number.

That first night as we walked into the Dome and I looked around, it sent chills down my spine. Just seeing ten thousand kids striving to be like God every night, made me grow. Throughout this conference I learned about Water, Fire, Wind in regards to our spiritual walk. Water represented playing in the pool of Jesus’ grace. Fire stood for getting out of that pool and walking to what God has in store for you. The last day we talked about wind and the changing effect it can make on our lives. It symbolized reaching out to families in need. That day I was shocked to hear that instead of five thousand families feeling the impact of our generosity, ten thousand families would not starve because of the suitcases of food we donated.

Youth from all four corners of our United States and Canada gathered for an once-in-a-lifetime experience. This experience helped all of us grow closer to God, be more open about our faith and to realize that the grace of God impacts each of us everyday.

NYC was amazing! It was the farthest that I had ever been from home, so I was a little scared, but it was such an awesome experience. I loved the worship services, and how I was surrounded by thousands of people that were worshipping the same God. God totally changed how I look at other people, myself, and just life in general. I was able to surrender my life totally to him. It was an amazing experience. I encourage everyone to go if they didn't get to. It was truly life changing.

Reggie Dabbs said don’t let your past dictate your future. I have screwed up so bad and I’ve always thought that I would never be able to escape from those mistakes but I now know that I can. That statement amazes me still because yea sure we cant be perfect no one is but with God’s help we will be perfected. Wow. Starfield then led worship and those songs, ugh, those songs were so real. Like the words completely related to my life. Indescribable. David Crowder played that night and they were amazing. I mean at first they were just songs. Then they became so real. And at that moment in time there wasn’t anyone else in that dome but me and god. I met JESUS for the first time. I mean don’t get me wrong yea I believed in him but I had never experienced him. He showed me that I am worth something and that I am important and He made me for a reason. I am not a mistake. I don’t know how to put in words how incredible that feeling was it was like ...ugh... I was just ...

ugh... One of the chaperones took a picture of me without me knowing, she told me that she wasn’t sure if I was gonna start to fly or if I was gonna collapse and quite frankly I wasn’t sure either. Right after it was over one of our chaperones that was with me took me and re-introduced me to my youth pastor as a girl who now knew that Christ was there and I was bawling. I ended up having to go sit down and I sat there for a good half hour. I will NEVER forget that night. I could not stop smiling. Even in the picture that was taken where I’m crying I have a grin from ear to ear on my face. I haven’t been the same since that night. I seem to be more open to things and I don’t get as angry as easy. Wow. I don’t even know how else to describe it. I mean this doesn’t even begin to describe how that day was. Wow

For the most of this year I have had a problem drugs and there has not been more than two days in a row when I have not been high. I did quit on my own terms with out the help of god, for I had turned my back on him, I no longer believed. During the month I quit, I had terrible cravings and wanted to go back to the drugs, but I didn't for NYC was coming up.(I cant explain why I did not go back to the drugs but I didn't) The Whole trip for me was a chance to get away and not to become closer to God, but that all changed on Tuesday night when Greg Stier spoke about what it was to be a real Christian and not a "Religious Suit". God spoke to me and I broke down and cried, I asked for my forgiveness and I was for given. But it went further than that, God spoke to me through the entire week. He has plans very great for me. He gave me visions of what is to come in my life, he wants me to go to Africa and Thailand and do missionary work, To build homes, to give my entire life to helping others. Well this is still in the works, but I can feel Gods love surging through me, giving me strength for the things to come. On Saturday night I went up to the front to pray as I had down every other night, beside me was a girl crying. I could hear her cries but I thought that one of the sponsors would help her, but no one came. I thought just to comfort her I would put my hand on her shoulder (to show her that someone was there), then she put hers on me and in the end we embraced each other and I prayed for her. A complete stranger, I will probably never meet her again, but we prayed with each other like brother and sisters. How the power of god can connect two people so strongly, if only for a few minutes is a miracle in its self, this is when I felt my calling to be a pastor. Well after the week was over, I arrived home and told everything I am telling now in front of my congregation, this has only given my more power to accomplish what is set out before me, for

I have there prayers and through prayer you can do anything and everything. If it was not for NYC I feel that I could be dead right now from overdosing on something, but this will not happen because I have God on my side. Thank you for all your help and prayers, God bless you all.

Hey!! Wow is the only word that can describe what I been through at NYC! When I got there I was like "this is going to be a fun week! Guys every where!! Just like heaven!" just kidding! As the week went by my heart, soul, and mind were changed! On that Thursday, I think Barlow Girl was there that night, God spoke to the guys at my youth group. Later that night when we had small groups there were explaining how God and the devil were literally fighting for some of them. Others God was yelling at them like with thunders and stuff like that, and another guy he thought he was having a seizure (I can’t spell sorry!) And I was thinking God talk to me!! HELLO??? I’m right here I wanted to you to talked to me! The guys didn’t even want God to talk to them, but I’m here ready to be spoken to!! Maybe I wasn’t listening. Later that week on Saturday morning with Princess Zulu, God spoke to me! Way before my mom say I was going to be a missionary and go to Africa, but Me in Africa come on!! I thought never is going to happen! That morning I fought and argue with God! I was like no, there’s no way I’m going to Africa! Sorry no! But the end of that service I was broken at the altar, bawling, crying out to God, if He wants me to that I’ll do it!! I’ll go!

God completely changed my life at NYC. I had never experienced what I felt at NYC. It was amazing to watch as God changed people around me and how many youth, just in my district group, were being called to full time ministry of some sort. God spoke to me the night Dr. Warrick spoke, and told me I had been like the girl in one of the skits. She tried to give Jesus her life, but she kept trying to take it over again. That was how I was and God told me I needed to give him all of my life and let him control it. I was sanctified that night and set completely on fire for God. I immediately started telling people after the service about what God had done for me, and then I called my parents who in turn spread the word to everyone else. God has put a fire in me to change the world. He calls us all to the ministry. We should make everything a ministry for Him. He calls us all to live our lives completely for Him, and glorifying him in all we do. It was amazing to be able to hold the hands of the people around me and have everyone in the stadium connected, to each other and God. It was amazing how God was there and its something I can't and won't forget. My only regret is that I can only go once as a student.

Ok, my story actually starts the day, actually night, after NYC. Our district, NEO, stopped at a hotel in Springfield, MO on the way back not knowing what would happen there. The Monday night after NYC, we met in the upper room of the hotel we were staying at, this is where I begin. Acts 1:13 of the NIV says "When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying". This is what we did, we went to the upper room where we were staying. Acts 1:15 of the NIV says "In those days Peter stood up among the believers a group numbering about a hundred and twenty". Now, this would seem rather insignificant except for the fact that in our district, meeting in the upper room, was a group numbering about one hundred and twenty! If you think that's crazy this will blow your mind. Acts 2:1-2 says" When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house were they were sitting". The crazy thing about this is the fact that practically everyone in the room heard some kind of a wind, some heard a breeze gently calling their attention, others heard a wind as if being in a hurricane impossible to ignore. I did not necessarily here the wind, but i could not ignore the cooling relief of such a hot day. Not only the relief did I feel, but that tugging and pulling at my heart , and the feeling that God was going to use me that night and transform so many, me included. The service turned into something only put well into words by the Pentecost. I saw my friend with his head bowed and remembering praying that week and well before then that God would move in him. I went over and put my arm around him, never experiencing such joy! I cannot remember a time I have been happier! After a while of praying for him and trying to take in what was really happening, he asked me to pray for him , by this time about fifteen friends, "framly", having a hand on him, I started to pray. A friend behind me had one hand on me and one hand on the friend I had been so longing to pray with. He was praying silently as I was out loud. He later told me his words in his prayer were "do not let Conor speak but speak through him". After I had finished praying I realized I hardly remembered any of if. Shortly after I went into song out loud, of course, " I Surrender All" was one of them. One guy from our district stood up where he was previously sitting and announced he accepted Jesus Christ! What joy it brings me as I type now! It was as if the doors of heaven were strained to breaking point and this night they burst open! You must also come to understand that the theme of NYC was wrapped up in this service. During the survive it was raining outside: water, the Holy Spirit was making a wind in the service: wind. Where is fire, you ask? It is in the name of the restaurant below us "Fire and Ice"! How can God be contained just in the week of NYC? He can't! Our district, I believe, will NEVER be the same! This is not all I have, but it is all I will write for my brain may pull a muscle, and my heart may skip a beat because of the indescribable beauty, and the overwhelming majesty of my Lord and savior!!!!

Well, I've always heard that God talks to a lot of people while at NYC. So going into all the fundraisers and stuff, I thought that this was going to be my time to listen to God and hear what he has to say. The week started and I didn't right off hear anything. I began to get a little upset at the thought of this. So I started to listen harder and harder. Finally, on Saturday night, the speaker told us to close our eyes and just let God speak to us. Well, he did just that. It scared the mess out of me, but I have been getting better about dealing with it. As I closed my eyes, I saw me dancing with little children from Africa. I told my parents who were with me and immediately after we got home they began to plan a trip to Africa. Most likely this Christmas we will be traveling to Africa to stay with Tim and Michelle Eby. We will be working in an orphanage and providing Christmas for the children there. Please keep as in your prayers as we fulfill this dream.

Wow! What can I say about NYC...well I can start by saying it is one of the best experiences of my life and I just think that feeding that many people is totally amazing and it goes to show what God can really do to change lives like those families and us youth as well. I think this trip saved my life because I look back at how much time I really gave to God and it wasn't enough, but this trip showed me what it is really like talking to God on a different level. I loved the people and the environment was great. NYC is the best thing that ever happened to me and though it cost a lot to go and it is hard raising the money...it was worth every penny and I am really thinking about going again as a sponsor or something like that just something to get me back. LOL!

-Joe, Student

When I got home, I was talking to him. I randomly felt like I should tell him what I had done. I told him how I prayed for him and how I wrote his name down. He was quiet for a moment, and I said I felt like I needed to tell him that. Then he said "It's amazing. I gained my Faith back yesterday." "Really?" "Yes, thank you for doing that, I think it is why that happened"

God helped me when I felt like I could not help my friend. This really helped my walk with God. I have little Faith sometimes, and this really helped me believe more.

- Molly, Student

I was impacted heavily be stepping into Africa through the One Life exhibit and taking on the identity of Timothy. As I listened to his life story I began to realize there are other people in this world other than myself, my church, my students, and my family. And, those other people outside of my little bubble don't have all the luxuries of the United States. We can receive medical care any time we need it. However, Timothy is HIV positive, has lost his parents to AIDS, and no one rescued him! In those brief moments I spent in that exhibit, I became him. I was HIV positive, I had no parents, I was not rescued, I was all alone on the streets of Africa. My eyes were opened to a whole different world and my heart was changed forever. Thank you to World Vision and Nazarene Compassionate Ministries for shaping who I am today.

The Feeding of the 5,000/10,000 made me want to come home and eat less so others can have more. I sat around the lunch table and attempted to swallow my porridge that so many in other countries eat. As I pushed my bowl away from me because I could not swallow anymore, a lump grew in my throat when I read the story of Tsa-Jin in China. I began to weep. My life is so extravagant and I have it so easy. But, prior to this experience, I had no stinking idea. On our bus ride home I only ate kiddie meals because I wanted to make sure I ate all that was given to me, but that I didn't eat too much.

I stepped onto the bus to come home reluctantly. For the first time in my life I understood why students never want to leave camp or retreats. Life is easy when we're playing church. But, it is when we step back out into the world that we really have to think about whether or not Jesus will be our 'embarrassing friend' as Greg Stier said it so well. Oh, if you could see me writing these words! You\'d know I don\'t want Jesus to be my embarrassing friend anymore. I want to pray with others when the Spirit prompts me to. I want to give what I have to those who need it. I want to go hungry so others can eat. I want my newly adopted little boy in Bangladesh to know that he will have food to eat, water to drink, a roof over his head, medical aid to keep him well, and a school to educate him for the rest of his life.

So, thank you to every person who worked NYC 2007. You are a part of my transformed lifestyle. As I love to say, "Thanks for the kick to the head and to the heart." I get it. It\'s not about me, but about Him! What you taught me is being carried on into the lives of those in my local church and community. My experiences are not staying with me but being shared with anyone who will listen. Well done,

- Emily-A transformed youth pastor

NYC was a great experience. I had several face to face meetings with God and it truly has changed my life. But God, in his splendor has not let NYC only permeate the few days I was in Missouri, He has continued to show his hand now that I am home. The first night, the speaker had asked if Jesus was your embarrassing friend and also to write down names of our friends that we would pray for and that others would pray for as well. I circled a name of my friend Jay and vowed to tell him about the gospel within the 48 hours that I came home. This made me a little nervous because Jay is very adamant that he is agnostic and doesn't like religious conversations. I didn't know how I would bring it up to him.

I arrived home and stayed there for a day before heading off to another camp and wasn't able to talk to Jay. But it just so happened that Jay was going to be at the camp I was going to. I wasn't really enjoying the camp, but I had this feeling that I was there for a bigger mission then just 'going to camp'. The Holy Spirit was speaking to me and telling me to just be His hands and feet. On the fourth day of the camp, Myself, Jay, and a few friends were throwing a Frisbee around when a conversation of selflessness came up. This led into a discussion about God, because there was no way for me to explain my servant’s attitude without expressing the Gospel and why Jesus has called us to be servants. Jay and I had a deep conversation where he would challenge my way of thinking and I would challenge his. During the entire conversation I just felt God speaking through me. Never have I have been able to explain the Gospel in such simple terms to someone. Not to mention I had the perfect answers to his challenging questions. We played Frisbee with our friends and they were able to hear about the gospel as well. The conversation continued throughout dinner and I had five people just leaning in at the table trying to hear about Jesus. They were all asking questions about miracles and faith, and other religions and Satan. God was right there with me and He gave me bible verses to tell them and life experiences that matched perfectly with their questions. The next day was Sunday and the camp offered a non-denominational service before breakfast, and me and three of my friends who I had talked with the day before all wanted to come to church service. We sang songs and they were up on their feet doing the motions and enjoying themselves.

As I look back on it, I realize what a huge miracle this was. God had taken me, a simple girl just wanting to do His will, and gave me the tools and strength to tell my friends about Jesus. That night, I asked God, why he didn't remove the scales completely from Jay's eyes and then Jay could have accepted Jesus as his savior. But God in his power told me, that it will be all in due time. It was my job to plant the seed of who Jesus is and God will bring maybe me, or someone else to harvest the seed when the time is right.

God is amazing. He is so much bigger than I could of ever imagined and the name I wrote down on the first night at NYC has heard the gospel and has began opening the door to God. I know that the prayers of the sponsors and students at NYC has been why this miracle could happen. I will continue to be diligent at being God's limbs and pray that other students will have the same impacts on their friends as they are back in their hometowns.

- Melanie, Student