Reasons NYWC is cooler and more powerful than other professional conferences (in no specific order, based on my attendance of 4 NYWC's and information received about upcoming professional conferences):
1) 5,500 "wingnuts" who love teenagers and love God
2) Wii, Guitar Hero, DDR (Praise version) and Super Mario Brothers for everyone to play
3) Freedom to take care of your soul
4) Places to reflect on your life, your story and relationship with Christ- Labrynth, Prayer Chapel, Notebooks in the Store and Poster boards from the Encouragement Team.
5) Freebies on our seats at every general session
6) 7 General Sessions
I was talking to a coworker after arriving back about the recent professional conference she attended about the seminars. After she told me that she went to four I hung my head a little and said I only made it to one and bought two on cds. Since she has a youth ministers friends and has heard about the convention before, she thought to ask "how many general sessions are there?" We quickly figure out there were alot more general sessions at NYWC
7) 80+ Seminars by respected leaders
In my new field you can send in a program proposal to present at a conference...not so with NYWC which guarantees that you will have a quality seminar, even if it doesn't fit your context and you don't like the speaker, it will be quality.
8) If you miss one of the above 80+ seminars you can buy in via mp3, cd or tape.
9) Fire Breathing Speakers
10) 74 Year Old Woman Challenging and Inspiring us- Phyllis Tickle
Tony Myles talks about her talk
11) Staff who is approachable and knows you
A couple cool things were talking to Marko briefly and Mindi remembering me from previous conference because in that space it's not them/us, it's all of us together in this!
12) All The Bands
The top question I've gotten since I've been back after "how was it?" is "what bands were there"? Ok, so here is the run down: Flatfoot56, Family Force Five, Chris Tomlin, Desperation Band, Steve Fee, David Crowder Band, Leeland, Third Day, and Lost & Found.
Third Day rocking out
13) Comedians and Unique Entertaiment just for us
Yea, that's a guy upside down, his strength is amazing.
14) Needing a separate suitcase for all the freebies you come back with
Between the exhibit hall and general sessions, oh, plus the purchases I made, I definitely needed my other suitcase. Even when you are trying to not get stuff and in one case tell the vendor "I already have this" you get three more.
15) Youth Workers Gone Wild
This is what happens when you give youth workers foam finger darts
16) L.T. Making Announcements
Come on, you won't find Little Tic many places
17) People coming together to serve a city through donations of blankets and children's books
18) The ASL Community
It was super cool watching Ang sign especially during Family Force 5 and then watch the Skit Guys mess with her and her cosigner (is that a word?). Since I met Ang at dinner one night with Jeff & Staci since she was a former volunteer of theirs, I observed the interpreters more after that.
19) The weird stuff in the exhibit hall
Kissing Grandma
Band Showcase
Leepin' Lizard
20) The opportunity to get up and dance on stage-
This would be Lisa rocking out with them... for more on her FF5 experiences.
21) Quick Exits from the insanely long convention center
When the line is too long for the excalator, make your own way
22) Special Speakers such as Michelle who was a Compassion Child and has now started her own ministry & sponsors a child and Zack Hunter who is working to abolish slavery.
23) Time with friends, actually in all fairness most professional conference have this, but I can't find MY friends at those conferences.
24) Tons of Late Night Options
Between shorter seminars, comedians, musicians and drama there was plethera of options
25) God
It's hard to put into words everything that God has shown, reassurred me of and challenged me with right now or the peace that comes from being with people who completely understand you without saying a word.
During the last general session we were giving space to pray and write about what was the title to the chapter of our life that God revealed we were in or the next chapter coming up.
Posts
