The collective is beginning to sign up for Christ In Youth, summer conference 2007. We’re going to be attending the Anderson Indiana conference (IN 1), which runs from June 11th - 16th. If you’ve never been to conference, you might be wondering exactly what is CIY? In brief, an international Christian organization known as “Christ In Youth” takes over a host of college campuses and hosts high school students from all over the country. During our week long stay on the campus you’ll find yourself engaging in some of the most powerful worship, mind expanding study, and fun fellowship you’ve ever been privy to. No amount of explanation ever does it justice.

So what do we do every day at CIY? After meeting up with your youth group for a fantastic breakfast, Each day kicks off with a corporate session called “Encounter” that introduces the theme of the day and what Scripture has to say about it. After a bit of morning worship and listening to a phenomenal speaker, we go out and do individual devotions (provided in a student booklet) on the theme. From there we go into D-Groups, which is basically a group of 10-12 students and an adult teacher or two that will collectively explore the day’s theme more deeply. The lessons provide a lot of interaction and discussion centering on a deep and challenging study. In the early afternoon there is either a General Session where everyone gathers together to hear a comedian or a powerful speaker, or take an elective class time with several different options to choose from (sessions like: A Christian Appoach to Dating, World Religions, Evidence for the Existence of God, Spiritual Disciplines, Talking to Friends About God, etc.). The rest of the afternoon is free time. There is no organized recreation at CIY. Our teens typically do anything from join a pick-up game of basketball to take a nap or hang out with friends (we usually take over one of the dorm lobbies for the week, which then functions as a center meeting place for our group, and a place where an adult is always on hand). After free time and dinner, begins the evening session. The worship is incredible! And CIY flies in speakers from all over the country, who always prove to be challenging and interesting. After the evening session, we go back to our reserved lobby and have a discussion time with just our youth group. It is the last meeting of the day, and involves fellowship and sharing from the whole group about what we learned and what we did during the course of the day. Then it’s back to the dorms to try and get rested and ready to go again! No matter how well I describe it though, it will always come across as underwhelming compared to the actual fun and intensity of the event. If you want testimony to how incredible conference is, just ask those who’ve been before.
You do not want to miss CIY!!!

For more info see www.ciy.com or contact one of your youth sponsors.