Youth Conference (Christian)

Youth Conference is a large scale three-day Christian event held in numerous places around the world. The originating event, YC Alberta, is held in Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. YC is a ministry of Extreme Dream Ministries.

YC is unique from other Christians music festivals in that attendees buy tickets to attend all main speakers and concerts, not just the ones they choose.

YC Alberta is scheduled to take place May 22–24, 2015.

History

YC was organized by the Alberta district of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC). The first YC was held in 1994, with a group of 500 students. After being held for several years at the Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta, the conference outgrew the facilities and moved to Edmonton's Coliseum in 2000. In 2009,2010, and 2011, It had a record attendance of around 17500 people. 2014 was YC Alberta's 20th anniversary.

In 2005 YC branched out to hold an event in Ukraine, which was very successful. YC is still expanding, with an event held each year in Winnipeg, Manitoba, St. John's, Newfoundland, Belize and Slovakia.

Format

Each year, YC has a different "theme" that expresses what organizers wish attendees to focus on during the weekend, which starts on Friday, goes through Saturday, and ends Sunday evening.

On Friday, YC kicks off in Rexall Place, usually with a light and fireworks show. Then comes a contemporary worship service, followed by a speaker. Then the evening ends with a concert.

On Saturday morning, there is another worship service, after which two speakers present. At noon, the attendees are released to eat lunch, and browse the many afternoon activities YC offers, like workshops, numerous concerts, indoor games, exhibitors, and a marketplace. Then the evening brings a concert, a worship service with another speaker, and a concert.

On Sunday morning, there is a worship service with a speaker. The afternoon brings similar afternoon events as Saturday's. YC ends differently year to year. Sometimes it ends with a worship service, and a final concert. It also can end with a worship service, and then a speaker.

The event has sold out several times, with over 18,000 people in attendance. In recent years, the event has seen an average of approximately 10,000 people.

YC Alberta

Year Theme Featured Artists Featured Speakers Special Notes
1994 Rebecca St. James First YC
1995 Fear Not
1996 Go the Distance
1997 Be the One
1998 Shine

Reality Check missed their concert due to bus trouble.

1999 Freedom
  • Sam Farina
  • Jeanne Mayo
2000 History Makers First year in Edmonton's Coliseum

Delirious'? song History Maker was used heavily throughout the weekend, and the lyrics were printed on the back of the program booklets.

2001 Transform-a-Nation
2002 Heaven
  • David Nasser
Michael W. Smith recorded his live Worship DVD at YC 2002. The DVD immediately topped the Billboard video charts and became a Gold seller in both the U.S. and Canada.
2003 Believe
2004 Soul Revolution
  • David Nasser
  • Joyce Heron
  • Phil Dooley
  • Glen Berteau
  • Sam Farina
10th YC
2005 Consumed
2006 Tell the World
  • Miles McPherson
  • Zhenya Kasevich
2007 King
    2008 Passion
      2009 Live it Loud
          2010 Audacious
          • Thousand Foot Krutch recorded their first live DVD entitled "Live at the Masquerade" at their Friday night concert. Record attendance of 18000 people. The event was completely sold out.
            2011 Hear the Sound
            • Reggie Dabbs (Closed YC Alberta 2011)
            • Duffy Robbins
            • Eric Samuel Timm
            • Judah Smith
            Mike Love hosted the first ever live webcast of the event, which featured Bluetree, and was the first opportunity to see the YC11 Promo Video.
              2012 Surrender
              • David Nasser (Closed YC Alberta 2012)
              • Danielle Strickland
              • Eric Samuel Timm
              • Panic Squad
              • Seth Franco
              • Bob Stromberg
                2013 This is Love
                2014 Hope
                • David Nasser (Closed YC 2014)
                • Danielle Srickland
                • Bob Goff
                • Adam Browett
                • Ben Woodman
                • Brett Ullman
                • Brian McConaghy
                • Chris Polachic
                • Dave Overholt
                • David Pedde
                • Ellen Hunter Wolf
                • Eric Samuel Timm
                • Joanna Hyatt
                • Jonathen Strome
                • Joyce Rees
                • Matt Tapely
                • Miles McPherson
                • Randy Carter
                • Ron Powell
                • Sean Cullen
                • Vlado Zak
                • 20th anniversary of YC Alberta. The mayor of the city of Edmonton (Don Ivasson) proclaimed "YC Days". So the weekend that YC is on it is also YC days.
                2015 Unstoppable
                • Duffy Robins
                • Elijah Walters
                • Eric Samuel Timm
                • Danielle Strickland
                • Jeff Vanderstelt
                • Robert Madu*
                • Omega Lavine
                • Still many more artists & speakers to be released.

                YC Ukraine

                Youth Conference Ukraine, or YC Kiev as it has been called, is a branch-off of YC Alberta held in Kiev, Ukraine. Around 5500 people attended the first 3-day event in summer 2005. Delirious? was a featured artist there. YC Kiev was run by Extreme Dream Ministries in its inaugural year, but the project is now being undertaken by the Alliance of Ukrainian Youth Leadership team.

                YC Manitoba

                Youth Convention Manitoba, or YC Manitoba is an annual Christian Youth Convention held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2005 YC Fusion, the original Convention name, had Mike Love — founder and president of Extreme Dreams Ministries as their keynote speaker at the conference. As Mike later recalled, he felt that Manitoba was a new mission field ready for an awakening. When the 2005 conference came to a close, Rob Bedard, the YC Fusion Director announced his position was ending which led to the announcement of Extreme Dreams Ministries future role in the conference. Changing the name from YC Fusion to YC Manitoba, Extreme Dreams Ministries and Mike Love led the way with a well-received 2006 conference and continues to do so.

                Year Theme Featured Artists Featured Speakers Special Notes
                2001

                John 10:10

                • Steve Osmond
                2002

                1 Peter 2:11

                • Steve Osmond
                  2003
                  • Phil Cann
                    2004

                    Crave

                    • Shawn Roberts
                      2005

                      The Leap

                      • Mike Love
                        2006

                        Tell the World

                        • David Nasser
                        • Bob Stromberg
                        • Mike Love
                        • Extreme Dream Ministries took over the conference
                        • Name change to YC Manitoba—previously called YC Fusion
                        2007

                        King

                        • Reggie Dabbs
                          2008

                          Passion

                          • Reggie Dabbs
                          • Bob Stromberg
                          • Ben Cantelon
                          • Matt Tapley
                          2009

                          Live Out Loud

                          • Roosevelt Hunter
                          • Matt Tapley
                          • Preston Centuolo
                          2010

                          Audacious

                          • Brett Ullman
                          • David Overholt
                          • Matt Tapley
                          • Preston Centuolo
                          2011

                          Hear the Sound

                          2012

                          Surrender

                          • Elijah Waters

                          YC Newfoundland & Labrador

                          YC Newfoundland & Labrador is the first branch off the original YC, held every year during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, which is usually around the second weekend of October. It's held almost on a rotational basis in the largest centers in the province; Mount Pearl's Glacier (2000), St. John's Mile One Centre (2005 & 2007), Gander's Community Centre (2002, 2004 & 2008), and Corner Brook's Pepsi Centre (2001, 2003 & 2006).

                          YC Newfoundland & Labrador was first held in front of 1500 attendees at The Glacier in Mount Pearl. It has grown to attendance figures of 3000 - 3500. It is organized by a committee from Newfoundland & Labrador. The director of this group since the beginning of YC Newfoundland is Pastor Dean Brenton. YC Newfoundland & Labrador Official Web Site

                          Past Guests at YC Newfoundland & Labrador

                          Year Dates Theme Featured Artists Featured Speakers Location Notes
                          2010

                          October 8–10

                          Audacious

                          • Preston Centuolo
                          • Reggie Dabbs
                          • Eric Samuel Timm
                          Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          2009 October 9–11 "Beyond" Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          • For the first time YC has been at the same venue as the previous year.
                          2008 October 10–12 re:Generation
                          • Bob Lenz
                          • Chris Hill
                          • Phil Cann
                          Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          • For the first year yet, a ministry guest was announced along with the date and venue at the previous year's YC.
                          • Bean & Bailey's and Bob Lenz's second appearance.
                          • Vicky Beeching's third appearance.
                          2007 October 5–7 Reign
                          • Bob Lenz
                          • David Nasser
                          Mile One Centre, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          2006 October 6–8 SHOUT!
                          • Roosevelt Hunter
                          • Mike Yankoski
                          • Bob Stromberg
                          Pepsi Centre, Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          • NTV broadcasts the final Sunday session LIVE across the province and the world via satellite
                          • Sam Glenn was originally promoted to appear, but canceled due to illness. Mike Yankoski, who the YC committee was originally trying to book for the following year's YC, appeared in his place
                          2005 October 7–9 Believe
                          • Mike Pilivachi
                          • Duffy Robbins
                          • Panic Squad
                          Mile One Centre, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          • YC moves to the largest indoor facility in the province, and partners with the BGEA to put off a Sunday Night Concert which sold out the arena.
                          2004 October 8–10 Uncontained
                          • Roosevelt Hunter
                          • Steve Osmond
                          Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          • YC exceeds 3000 people for the first time - doubling in attendance in just four years.
                          • Those 3000 people raised an offering of over $40,000 to build a house at the Village of Hope in Malawi
                          2003 October 10–12 One
                          • Judah Smith
                          • Phil Cann
                          • Darian Kovacs
                          Pepsi Centre, Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          • Charlie Hall originally promoted to be at the event, but canceled a few days prior. Steve Fee appeared instead
                          2002 October 11–13 Vertical
                          • Mike Pilivachi
                          • Sam Glenn
                          • Jeanne Mayo
                          Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          2001 October 5–7 Revolution
                          • Phil Cann
                          • Randy Friesen
                          • Canada Games Centre (Currently Pepsi Centre), Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          2000 October 6–8 History Maker
                          • Paul Oakley
                          • Capstone
                          • YC House Band
                          • Judah Smith
                          • Wayne Northup
                          The Glacier, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland & Labrador
                          • Very first YC NL, with an estimated 1500 attendees

                          YC Belize

                          YC Belize was announced on May 28, 2006 at YC Alberta by Mike Love. The event was not officially announced but it was mentioned that Extreme Dream Ministries planned on collaborating with other youth missions groups to hold a Youth Conference in Belize. The event will run February 23–25, 2007 in Belize City, Belize. Two teams consisting of youth and young adults from Bethesda Christian Fellowship and Strathcona Christian Academy will assist Extreme Dream Ministries in facilitating the event.

                          YC Africa

                          YC Africa was announced on May 5, 2007 at YC Manitoba by Mike Love and consists of a conference in Zambia and Malawi, Africa. Extreme Dream Ministries has secured a 30,000 seat soccer stadium for YC Zambia.

                          YC Malawi

                          YC Malawi was announced on October 6, 2007 at YC Newfoundland. This YC took place on August 8, 2008 at the Silver Striker Stadium in Malawi, Africa.

                          External links

                          Website for YC Slovakia