(March 27, 2015) Metro Maryland Youth for Christ presents its Impact high school conference at the Ocean City convention center on 40th Street this weekend where there will be live music, speakers and multiple workshops to choose from with a variety of topics.
“Students are surrounded by 2,000 others who have faith in God, which helps show they are not alone in making faith a part of their daily life and it encourages them to continue when they return home,” said Chip Pierce, conference director and chief operating officer for Metro Maryland Youth for Christ.
The theme of this year’s conference is “Limitless,” which focuses on how “God’s love is limitless, which gives these students options and power to make a difference in the world,” Pierce said.
Highlights of the Impact weekend include performances by worship band, Bellarive, and a Saturday night concert from Rapture Rukus, an energetic band that plays a mixture of genres.
An exhibit hall will feature information for students and leaders from colleges, universities, local camps and organizations.
In addition, there will be activities set up for students to indulge in between sessions and during their free time including video games, a picture booth and about 10 games of Gaga Ball, a unique twist on Dodgeball, Pierce said.
Nick Hall, keynote speaker at the conference and creator of the PULSE movement, travels around the world talking about his faith in God. He has a strong passion for younger generations making a difference in the word, he said.
Another speaker, Eric Samuel Timm, will be painting on stage for the students while Bellarive performs.
“You can’t tell what he is painting until he rotates the canvas, it could be Christ or the cross,” Pierce said. “He completes his painting in four minutes and it’s a neat experience for the kids. The paintings eventually get auctioned off.”
Leaders and youth can participate in a variety of workshops. Students will be able to choose from a dozen topics including leadership and issues they face in society during breakout sessions on Saturday and Sunday morning.
“It gives the students an option to participate in issues or topics that interest them,” Pierce said. “These workshops have smaller rooms for more interaction, which facilitates question and answer sessions.”
In its 27th year, the Impact conference has grown from 300 who attended its first year to thousands of youth and adult leaders. It draws attendees from across the mid-Atlantic region, with more than 1,800 pre-registered for this weekend’s activities and around 2,000 people expected.
A second conference, ALIVE, is held in Ocean City during November for middle school students, Pierce said.
Doors to the convention center open at 6 p.m. Friday, where pre-registered attendees can pick up their information packets and others interested in attending can register until 9:30 p.m. The conference runs from 8 p.m. Friday to noon on Sunday.
The Impact High School Conference costs $95 for the entire weekend, $45 to attend Saturday and $20 for the morning session on Sunday, Pierce said.
For a schedule of events and more information visit http://impact.mmyfc.org/2015/ or check out its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/impactyouthconference.
