Youth of the Nation Conference
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2008) |
| Youth Of The Nation Conference | |
|---|---|
| File:YOTN8.jpg | |
| Genre | Christian |
| Location(s) | Wanganui, New Zealand  |
| Years active | 2004 - present day |
| Website | http://www.yotn.net.nz/ |
Youth Of The Nation is an annual Christian Youth Conference held in Wanganui, New Zealand. Unlike many other Christian conferences, this event is not held by one specific church or denomination. Youth Of The Nation Conferences are hosted by the Wanganui Christian Youth Workers[1] collective, a group of Christian youth pastors & workers from different denominations & churches across the city of Wanganui. Youth pastors are represented from Anglican, Apostolic, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Open Brethren, Catholic, Incedo (YFC) NZ & Presbyterian. The conference also has support from churches, where the youth workers are not able to attend meetings, due to various circumstances, including Christian Outreach Centre, Elim, Salvation Army, & Non-denominatial.
Vision
Youth Of The Nation (YOTN) aims to encourage and empower Christian young people to pursue Jesus Christ with a zeal that will impact their generation. As an event, the goal is to provide a 3-4 day event that is affordable for more New Zealand young people, while maintaining the standards & excellence of some of the leading national conferences.
The vision to hold YOTN came from Wanganui A/G youth pastor, Ben Hoyle. In 2003, Ben approached the local city youth workers to hold the conference as a city. He recognised that for one church to put on such a large event was too much, and that together the city could pull its resources and achieve the goal. With many of the city youth workers on board, plans were made to hold the very first conference in July 2004.
Each year YOTN has gained momentum. Each year attendance grows and more young people leave excited about their faith.
"YOTN continues to build in its momentum, magnitude and excellence. It is great to see more and more young people coming and leaving radically changed. The greatest thrill for me is seeing the hunger in the younger generation for the reality of God and a deep desire to walk in God's ways. Long may it continue." - Ps Iliafi Esera (Faith City Church A/G, Wanganui)[2]
History
Conferences
Starting with Youth Of The Nation 2004, the conference has been held annually.[3]
| Year | Title | Dates | Venue | Featured Speakers | Featured Artists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Youth Of The Nation 2004 | 2 - 4 July | Faith Community Church A/G | Ps Graeme Brock (The Tribe, Masterton NZ) Timo Tagaloa (Athletes in Action, Auckland NZ) Ps Tim King (Advance Ministry Training College, Auckland NZ) |
Wash (Auckland NZ) Rapture Ruckus (Wellington NZ) Colliding Traits (Auckland NZ) |
| 2005 | Youth Of The Nation 05 | 8 - 10 July | Central Baptist Church | Ps John Cairns (Power & Light Ministries, Melbourne AUS) Ps Paul Saunders (Global Task, Auckland NZ) Justin Duckworth (Global Education Centre, Wellington NZ) |
Moped (Wellington NZ) Agent'c (Wellington NZ) Assorted Sweets (Wellington NZ) |
| 2006 | Youth Of The Nation III | 30 June - 2 July | Central Baptist Church | Ps Don McDonell (Albany Christian Centre A/G, Auckland NZ) Adrian Bates (Creation Ministries International, Auckland NZ) Ps Daniel Paikea (Teen Challenge NZ, Palmerston North NZ) |
Do Or Die (Auckland NZ) Calling Elijah (Auckland NZ) Fallen State (Wanganui NZ) |
| 2007 | Youth Of The Nation IV | 29 June - 1 July | Central Baptist Church | Ps Don McDonell (Albany Christian Centre A/G, Auckland NZ) Ps Neville Bartley (Central Baptist Church, Wanganui NZ) Ps Iliafi Esera (Faith City Church A/G, Wanganui NZ) |
Zebulun (Auckland NZ) Arms Reach (Hamilton NZ) Calling Elijah (Auckland NZ) |
| 2008 | Youth Of The Nation V | 16 - 19 July | Central Baptist Church | Ps Ben Houston (Hillsong Northern Beaches, Sydney AUS) Dave Wells (Bible College of NZ, Auckland NZ) Ps Sam Bayly (Gospel Inc., Wellington NZ) |
Outta Exile (Tauranga NZ) Dave Wiggins (Auckland NZ) Zero-T (Gisborne NZ) Tom Watts (Wanganui NZ) |
| 2009 | Youth Of The Nation 6 | 9 - 11 July | Central Baptist Church | Ps Christoph Zintl (South City Christian Church, Christchurch NZ) Ps Sam Bayly (Gospel Inc., Wellington NZ) Ps Levi Marychurch (Arise Church, Wellington NZ) Ps Daniel Paikea (Teen Challenge NZ, Auckland NZ) Ps Shane Meyer (City Church, Tauranga NZ) |
E.M.T. (Auckland NZ) Calling Elijah (Auckland NZ) A Kiss Goodbye (Tauranga NZ) |
| 2010 | Youth Of The Nation VII | 8 - 10 July | Central Baptist Church | Ps John Cairns (John Cairns Ministries, Melbourne AUS) Michael Jones (Former All Black, Auckland NZ) Julia Wright (Christian Broadcaster, Auckland NZ) Ps Kem Price (Kem Price Ministries, Auckland NZ) Ps Levi Marychurch (Arise Church, Wellington NZ) |
The Frisk (Auckland NZ) Dave Wiggins (Auckland NZ) Jury & The Saints (Auckland NZ) |
| 2011 | Youth Of The Nation 8 | 21 - 23 July | Wanganui City College | Ps David Katina (Koinonia Christian Center, Hawaii USA) Ps Al Furey (Al Furey Ministries, Sydney AUS) Ps Scott Bell (Albany City Church A/G, Auckland NZ) Ps Steve Dunne (Richmond Baptist Church, Nelson NZ) Ps Christoph Zintl (South City Christian Church, Christchurch NZ) |
Tokyo Keys (Auckland NZ) Sio Vaelua (Palmerston North NZ) Asher (Auckland NZ) |
Speakers
Youth Of The Nation Conference has been blessed over the years with some great speakers from across New Zealand, along with many of the gifted ministers from Wanganui itself. Here is a list of all those who have spoken, either in main sessions or electives, over the years:
| Speaker's Name | Organisation/Church | Conferences |
|---|---|---|
| Kerran Bartley | Central Baptist Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 2004 YOTN 05 |
| Neville Bartley | Central Baptist Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 2004 YOTN III YOTN IV YOTN V YOTN VII |
| Asher Bastion | Life FM (Auckland NZ) | YOTN 6 |
| Adrian Bates | Creation Ministries International (Auckland NZ) | YOTN III |
| Sam Bayly | Gospel Inc. (Wellington NZ) | YOTN III YOTN IV YOTN V YOTN 6 |
| Ivan Beets | Wash (Auckland NZ) | YOTN 2004 |
| Scott Bell | Albany City Church A/G (Auckland NZ) | YOTN 6 |
| Graeme Brock | The Tribe (Masterton NZ) | YOTN 2004 |
| Murray Brown | YouthTrain NZ (Palmerston North NZ) | YOTN 05 YOTN IV |
| John Cairns | John Cairns Ministries (Melbourne AUS) | YOTN 05 YOTN VII |
| Andrew Campbell | Christ Church Anglican Parish (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 2004 |
| Lorne Campbell | Christ Church Anglican Parish (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN V |
| Matt Collier | City Church A/G (Tauranga NZ) | YOTN III |
| Patrick Coneglan | Equippers Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN III |
| Paul Cornish | Central Baptist Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN IV |
| Malcolm Delamare | Porirua Christian Life Centre A/G (Porirua NZ) | YOTN 6 |
| Andy Dickson | Calling Elijah (Auckland NZ) | YOTN 6 |
| Justin Duckworth | Global Education Centre (Wellington NZ) | YOTN 05 |
| Iliafi Esera | Faith City Church A/G (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN III YOTN IV |
| Dallas Eves | Ingestre Street Bible Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 05 |
| Julia Gaze | Citywestchurch A/G (New Plymouth NZ) | YOTN IV |
| Sam Harvey | Soul Survivor NZ (Wellington NZ) | YOTN IV |
| Beki Hayward | Soul Survivor NZ (Wellington NZ) | YOTN V |
| Justin Holm | The Base City Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN III |
| Travers Hopkins | Equippers Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN VII |
| Ben Houston | Hillsong Northern Beaches (Sydney AUS) | YOTN V |
| Ben Hoyle | Faith City Church A/G (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN V YOTN 6 |
| Aaron Jackson | The Street City Church (Wellington NZ) | YOTN 05 |
| Michael Jones | Former All Black (Auckland NZ) | YOTN VII |
| Eugene Katene | Te Puna O Wai Ora (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN IV |
| Tim King | Advance Ministry Training College (Auckland NZ) | YOTN 2004 |
| Nick Kirk | Christ Church Anglican (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 6 |
| Tawhe Mark | Christian Outreach Centre (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 05 YOTN 6 |
| Levi Marychurch | Arise Church (Wellington NZ) | YOTN 6 YOTN VII |
| Braden Matson | Harvest Christian Church A/G (Auckland NZ) | YOTN IV YOTN V |
| Don McDonell | Albany Christian Centre A/G (Auckland NZ) | YOTN III YOTN IV |
| Chris McKenzie | St Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN IV |
| Andrew McKerrow | Salvation Army (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN VII |
| Shane Meyer | City Church A/G (Tauranga NZ) | YOTN 6 |
| Rachel O'Connor | Youth For Christ (Wellington NZ) | YOTN III |
| Daniel Paikea | Teen Challenge NZ (Auckland NZ) | YOTN III YOTN V YOTN 6 |
| Kem Price | Kem Price Ministries (Auckland NZ) | YOTN VII |
| Scott Rosene | Youth For Christ (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 05 YOTN III YOTN IV |
| Glen Rowe | Colliding Traits (Auckland NZ) | YOTN 2004 |
| Paul Saunders | Global Task (Auckland NZ) | YOTN 05 |
| Vivian Schwartfeger | Why Ministries (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 05 YOTN VII |
| Kent Somerville | SALT Church (Palmerston North NZ) | YOTN VII |
| Andrew Stanbrook-Mason | Faith City Church A/G (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 2004 YOTN V |
| Timo Tagaloa | Athletes in Action (Auckland NZ) | YOTN 2004 |
| Iliesa Tamaniyaga | City Ministers Association (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN V |
| Rob Thompson | Central Baptist Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN V |
| Greg Tichbon | Youth For Christ (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 2004 |
| Lyndon Tongs | Christian Family A/G (Palmerston North NZ) | YOTN III |
| Dave Wells | Bible College Of NZ (Auckland NZ) | YOTN V |
| Stephanie West | The Base City Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 2004 |
| Paul White | Levin A/G (Levin NZ) | YOTN VII |
| Dave Wiggins | Comedian (Auckland NZ) | YOTN V YOTN VII |
| Annette Williams | St Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 2004 YOTN 05 |
| Simon Williams | St Andrew's Presbyterian Church (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN 2004 YOTN 05 |
| Melody Winters | Incedo (Wanganui NZ) | YOTN VII |
| Julia Wright | Christian Broadcaster (Auckland NZ) | YOTN VII |
| Christoph Zintl | South City Christian Church (Christchurch NZ) | YOTN 6 |
Youth Of The Nation: InFocus Event
YOTN InFocus is a special promotional night that is held in Term One of the school year. It serves as the first combined city youth service for the year and also gives young people a taste of what the actual conference in July will be like.
| Year | Title | Date | Venue | Speaker | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | YOTN InFocus | 11 March | Faith City Church A/G Wanganui | Ps John Cairns (Power & Light Ministries, Melbourne AUS) | Wanganui band Fallen State performed |
| 2007 | YOTN IV InFocus | 15 February | Faith City Church A/G Wanganui | Ps Don McDonell (Albany Christian Centre A/G, Auckland) | This was the first full meeting Ps Don ministered at following his quad-bike accident in Nov 2006 |
| 2008 | YOTN V InFocus | 22 February | Christ Church Anglican Parish, Wanganui | Ps John Cairns (John Cairns Ministries, Melbourne AUS) | |
| 2009 | YOTN6 InFocus | 5 March 6 March |
St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Wanganui Life City Church A/G, Wainuiomata |
Ps Daniel Paikea (Teen Challenge NZ, Auckland) | The first InFocus held outside of Wanganui was held in Wellington. |
| 2010 | YOTN VII InFocus | 6 March 24 April |
Salt Church A/G, Palmerston North Life City Church A/G, Wainuiomata |
Ps Scott Bell (Albany City Church A/G, Auckland) Ps Christoph Zintl (South City Christian Church, Christchurch) Ps Levi Marychurch (Arise Church, Wellington) |
The first InFocus held in the Palmerston North. These were whole day events. |
| 2011 | YOTN8 InFocus | 25 February 26 February |
Equippers Church, Wanganui Hutt City Baptist Church, Lower Hutt |
Ps Braden Matson (Chiesa Evangelica Bethel, Bari ITALY) |
YOTN Championship
Youth Of The Nation strives to bring in different elements to provide a different kind of event. In 2008, the conference added a sports extension. The YOTN Championship is a sports tournament where the different churches/youth groups attending the conference enter teams to compete for the YOTN Championship Trophy. It is a fun competitive event.
| Year | Conference | Venue | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | YOTN V | Wanganui City College Gymnasium | St Paul's Presbyterian Church (Wanganui) | Faith City Church A/G (Wanganui) |
| 2009 | YOTN6 | Wanganui City College Gymnasium | Levin A/G (Levin) | YOTN6 Worship Team (Wanganui) |
| 2010 | YOTN VII | Wanganui City College Gymnasium | Faith City Church A/G (Wanganui) | Levin A/G (Levin) |
| 2011 | YOTN8 | To Be Confirmed | To Be Played | To Be Played |
External links
Websites
- Youth Of The Nation - official website
News Articles
- Young folk full on at meet in Wanganui - article in Challenge Weekly Vol 63 Issue No 30 Page 5
- Youth Of The Nation Conference 05 - article in Empowered Magazine Spring 2005 Edition Page 13
- Youth Of The Nation III Conference - article in Empowered Magazine Spring 2006 Edition Page 14
- Youth of The Nation IV Report - article in Empowered Magazine Spring 2007 Edition Page 10
- Youth Of The Nation V - article in Empowered Magazine Spring 2008 Edition Page 7-8
- Youth Of The Nation - article in The Wanganui Chronicle Saturday 11 July 2009 Page A4
- Youth Of The Nation VII Conference Wanganui - article in Empowered Magazine Spring 2010 Edition Page 31
References
- ^ The official Youth Of The Nation Website http://www.yotn.net.nz/mainindex.html
- ^ quoted from "Youth of The Nation IV Report" Empowered Magazine Spring 2007 Edition Page 10
- ^ The official Youth Of The Nation Website: History Page http://www.yotn.net.nz/history.html