Reflections on NYC’04 by a youth convention cynic

“Tom, you’re here; I thought you hated youth convention type things.”

A fellow youth leader greeted me with these words at NYC’04, the national youth convention of the Mennonite Brethren Church. I’m not quite certain how such a reputation precedes me, but perhaps it’s closer to the truth than I would like to admit. I tend to be cynical of any sort of large-scale event, and often think the cost is not worth it.

So if these are my thoughts about conventions, why would I even attend NYC’04?

It certainly wasn’t that I had a huge group of students wanting to go. In fact, I took only one student. It wasn’t simply because I was asked to lead one of the workshops, though I thoroughly enjoyed doing that.

Reasons to go

My reasons for going were three-fold.

Main session speaker, Dave Overholt

First, this was an event sponsored by the Mennonite Brethren Conference. While it may seem an antiquated notion, that fact alone causes me to want to support it. As Mark Johnson stated in his workshop entitled “Quit dating the church,” we are “guerrillas” of change by involvement, not by disengagement.

While it’s easy (and perhaps therapeutic) to remove oneself and simply throw stones, these actions do not bring life. I’m a member of an MB church, and we are part of the Conference; that fact remains in spite of what I may think about it. I feel I ought to attend events put on by the Conference because it allows me to speak life into our Conference.

My second reason: Toronto. Previously our national youth convention was held in Alberta. With my already cynical attitude toward conventions, it’s quite a feat to attend one three provinces away, even if it is sponsored by the Mennonite Brethren.

However, since our Conference finally decided to begin moving the youth convention from province to province, and this move fell just an hour-and-a-half’s drive from me, distance no longer became a viable excuse.

My final reason for attending is also the reason I would consider attending future conventions whether they are in my home province or not. I’ve come to realize that the tapestry of a youth convention – the speaker, the worship band, the workshops, etc. – are all just a pretext for what makes the travel and costs worth it: relationships.

The speaker, Dave Overholt, pastor of Hamilton’s youth-targeted Church on the Rock, was engaging and elicited responses from his audience. The worship band, Starfield, engaged the majority of the students. One student I spoke with referred to Starfield as the most talented worship band they have seen.

(I imagine that the concert headlining Thousand Foot Krutch was also engaging; I opted to visit some friends instead and then found a very engaging hot tub back at the hotel – my tastes in music are somewhat different than the musical stylings of Thousand Foot Krutch).

These factors, however, would not be reason enough for me to want to attend future NYC events. “Dynamic speakers” are quite accessible, and my students, especially those who attend Eden (a local Christian high school) are constantly bombarded with speakers. Tastes in music also are far too diverse among students (and among adults for that matter) to carry an event. The student I accompanied felt Starfield was too loud, a comment I would dare not make for fear of sounding old.

All about relationships

Various speakers engage various people, and various music styles engage various people. Everyone, however, is longing and looking for relationships. This is something NYC offers and ought to build upon. This is what will bring me to future events.

I think of my newfound Quebec brothers and sisters. There was Étienne, a 15-year-old Quebec MB whose excitement during the Starfield concert kept me at the event. His excitement (and constant jumping up and down) allowed me to be engaged and moved by the event.

I also recall Sydney, whose father spoke at my church’s annual mission weekend this past year. (The “Menno game” even works with French Canadian MBs). He’s now on my MSN contact list and I value getting to know him.

Finally, I remember Dave, one of the Quebec team leaders, who let my student and me stowaway aboard their bus, rather than walk from the hotel to Convocation Hall. It was good to learn from him about the various differences in dynamics and language for Quebecois. Youth ministry has its nuances. This group warmed my heart and was a blessing to me.

I think also of a group from Manitoba (especially young Richard) who made the mistake of inquiring about my “Menno Simons My Man” T-shirt and who were then so “privileged” as to get to hear a historical synopsis of Menno Simons and the beginnings of the Anabaptist movement whether they liked it or not!

I must also mention the joy of seeing my own beloved fellow Ontarian MBs. Since the event was in Toronto, there was solid Ontario representation. But we are a very widespread group geographically and don’t spend nearly enough time together. I’m especially thankful to Amanda Baese, Richard Wall and the rest of the Port Rowan crew who were so kind as to accept my student and me as one of their own.

“Tom, you’re here; I thought you hated youth convention type things.”

Messages are easily forgotten and music tastes are diverse. Relationships, however, are profound. NYC’04 caused me to cross paths with and experience a faith community that is much larger than my home church, region or even province. This is worth more than I can express.

Tom Friesen is youth pastor at Scott St. MB Church, St. Catharines, Ont. and youth representative for the Ontario MB Conference.