YouthQuest for the holidays

Beginning in 1978 and continuing to the present, Christmas break within the Brethren in Christ has been synonymous with Let Youth conventions and later, YouthQuest. This year, BIC youth will head for Niagara Falls and four fun-filled, faith-inspiring, fellowship-packed days along the U.S.–Canada border.

December 27–30, 2006 sounds far in the future during the steamy dog-days of summer, but the YouthQuest team suggests it’s not too early for churches to begin planning for and promoting the event with their teens.

Specifically, church leaders are encouraged to:

Begin talking now about Youth Quest. The more advance notice that youth and their parents have, the easier it will be for them to fit YouthQuest into their families’ holiday plans.
Look for creative ways to assist youth with the costs of attending YouthQuest. Many churches sponsor fundraisers (e.g. auctions, car washes, spaghetti suppers, etc.) to assist young people with registration and travel costs. A NOTE TO GRANDPARENTS: Picking up the registration fee for your teenage grandchild(ren) makes a great Christmas gift.
Plan to send young people, even if your church doesn’t have a regular youth program. Teens from smaller churches depend on YouthQuest as a life-changing opportunity to connect with other BIC youth.

When BIC youth converge on Niagara Falls in late December, they will create networks of friends that cross borders and link congregations, creating a solid foundation for the church of the future. As Bishop Ken Letner (Susquehanna Conference) puts it: “The vision for YouthQuest has changed from year to year. 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.”

For more about YouthQuest, check out the official website. And to read a short history of the BIC youth convention, go to Seeking more online.

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