By Brian Blackwell, Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – The Rapides Parish Coliseum, which did not host Youth Evangelism Celebration last year because of COVID-19 concerns, is gearing up once again to host several thousand students at the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists, Nov. 21-22.
“We are fired up to have the big event again,” Louisiana Baptist youth strategist Brandon Lewis told the Baptist Message. “All of us are looking forward to hosting everyone once again in the coliseum and are anticipating what the Lord has in store.”
2020
Last year’s event moved to a regional format, a change from the usual event that draws up to 6,000 students each year. By the end of the three events, more than 1,100 students, collectively, heard the same Gospel message that was proclaimed during the previous 33 YEC events.
The three gatherings combined resulted in 69 students making some type of faith decision: 16 statements of belief, 44 acts of repentance to restore fellowship with Christ and nine commitments to vocational ministry.
2021
Throughout this year’s two-day event, Louisiana Baptist teens will be challenged to celebrate what Christ has done in their lives and to share their stories of how Christ changed their lives, and they will be engaged in multiple ways to experience a message about Him:
— Clayton King, an evangelist from Anderson, South Carolina, the 2017 YEC speaker, will share evangelistic messages
— Jason Lovins Band will lead worship in song
— 321 Improv will offer comedic performances
— The conference will close with a concert by Crowder, an award-winning Contemporary Christian artist.
During the Monday afternoon session, King’s son, Jacob, will teach students a clear, practical way to share the Gospel. After completing YEC, they should be equipped to share the Gospel with their peers throughout the state, King said.
This will be the fifth of a multi-year rotation to equip students with various tools to share Christ. Those who began the training as seventh graders during the 2016 YEC will be familiar with seven different evangelistic tools by the time they are seniors.
“Sharing our faith is what we are called to do as believers,” Lewis said. “We want students to hear the Gospel at YEC and be equipped to share Christ with their friends, family and others. YEC will provide them the tools that will make it easier to share the Gospel.
“YEC has been prayed over and we are excited for how God will use it,” he continued. “For the last 33 years, God has chosen to use YEC in a special way to reach students. We are praying God does the same this year in a big way.”
The event kicks off Sunday, 7 p.m., and is scheduled to end Monday, 10 p.m. For more YEC information, visit labaptistyouth.org/yec
