National Youth Conference

Theme: "More than meets the Eye"

The theme for National Youth Conference 2010 is “More Than Meets the Eye.” Chosen by the National Youth Cabinet, it is taken from 2 Corinthians 4:6-10, 16-18. It reminds us that God does great things through each person. In troubled times we are challenged not to lose heart because God is the rock that will help us overcome. Even though we may seem like simple jars of clay, with God’s light we are more that meets the eye.

"…we have this treasure in clay jars, so that it may be made clear that this extraordinary power belongs to God and does not come from us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed but not driven to despair; persecuted but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies…because we look not at what can be seen but at what cannot be seen; for what can be seen is temporary, but what cannot be seen is eternal." (vss. 7-10 and vs. 18  NRSV)

"We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives. That is to prevent anyone from confusing God's incomparable power with us. As it is, there's not much chance of that. You know for yourselves that we're not much to look at. We've been surrounded and battered by troubles, but we're not demoralized; we're not sure what to do, but we know that God knows what to do; we've been spiritually terrorized, but God hasn't left our side; we've been thrown down, but we haven't broken…There's far more here than meets the eye. The things we see now are here today, gone tomorrow. But the things we can't see now will last forever." (vss. 7-10; vs. 18 The Message)

Questions? Please e-mail 2010nyc@brethren.org