In the mid- to late ’70s, the BIC Board of Christian Education had a bright idea: to provide an experience for the youth of the denomination that would focus on vocational calling. So, in 1978, the appropriately named “Let Youth Begin” convention was held over Christmas break in French Lick, Ind. Needless to say, it was a huge success, and although the names, faces, and places have changed throughout the years, the BIC youth convention has become a staple of denominational life.

In 1978, Bishop Ken Letner was just starting out in youth ministry at Lancaster (Pa.) BIC Church. He attended Let Youth Begin that year, and got hooked. Since then, he’s directed and co-directed a number of conferences, and he’s missed only one. In the beginning, he explains, the speakers most often came from inside the denomination—prominent church leaders and pastors who encouraged the teens in attendance to examine God’s calling on their lives.

By 1990, the BIC youth convention had reestablished itself with a new name—YouthQuest—and a new location: a resort in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania.

As it grew, the convention began incorporating live bands and outside speakers, maintaining BIC perspectives and beliefs, but taking on more of a youth culture.

During the ’90s, the YouthQuest leadership baton was passed to experienced youth workers Dan Houck, and later Mike Wright, who continue to direct the convention, and are working hard on this year’s event. Bishop Letner, who continues to attend YouthQuest with the other six bishops, is grateful for the leadership of Houck and Wright: “To Dan and Mike’s credit, the bar has been raised big-time, and it has been raised awesomely.”

In addition to gifted speakers and powerful worship, over the years YouthQuest has offered sports tournaments, live concerts, in-depth seminars and workshops, theme dinners, and lots of fellowship time.

Time worshiping, playing, and learning together with 900 or so other teens may, in fact, be the most valuable aspect of YouthQuest. “The vision for YouthQuest has changed from year to year,” Bishop Letner reflects. “But the underlying purpose has remained the same: to draw the young people of the BIC together for a common experience—under a common banner—and to give them a one-church experience.”

As BIC youths converge on Niagara Falls this winter, they will create networks of friends that cross borders and link congregations—pouring the foundation for the church of the future.

Register your youth group for YouthQuest ’06!

Read John Byers’ 2003 reflections on YouthQuest (PDF)