Church of the Brethren Newsline
February 8, 2018
Registration opened in mid-January for the 2018 National Youth Conference (NYC) planned for July 21-26 in Fort Collins, Colo. As of Feb. 8, 1,067 youth, advisors, staff, and volunteers have registered–but many more are expected before registration closes on April 30. NYC is offered every four years for youth who have completed ninth grade through one year of college (or age equivalent) and advisors.
The NYC office has announced the list of speakers for the event. The speakers, including new and familiar names this year, will address the theme “Bound Together, Clothed in Christ” (Colossians 3:12-15).
The NYC speakers are:
Michaela Alphonse, pastor of Miami (Fla.) First Church of the Brethren and a former mission worker in Haiti.
Jeff Carter, president of Bethany Theological Seminary.
Dana Cassell, pastor of Peace Covenant Church of the Brethren in Durham, N.C.
Christena Cleveland, an author, speaker, and professor at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, N.C.
Audrey and Tim Hollenberg-Duffey, pastors at Hagerstown (Md.) Church of the Brethren. Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey was one of the coordinators for NYC 2010.
Eric Landram, pastor at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.
Jarrod McKenna, a minister and activist from Australia. He was a hit at the 2014 NYC, where he coined the term “Dunker punks” to identify youth who take part in the Brethren heritage of radical discipleship to Jesus Christ.
Laura Stone, chaplain at an Indiana hospital and a former Brethren Volunteer Service worker.
Ted Swartz, a Mennonite actor and comedian, and Ken Medema, a Christian musician, are teaming up for a joint performance.
Medema has re-written lyrics to his song “Bound Together, Finely Woven” to fit the NYC theme. The winner of a youth contest to cover the song will perform during NYC. See www.brethren.org/yya/nyc/documents/2018/song-cover-contest.pdf . Entries are due by April 1.
A youth speech contest also is being held. The winner will present their speech at NYC. See www.brethren.org/yya/nyc/documents/2018/speech-contest.pdf for guidelines. Entries are due by April 1.
More details and registration are at www.brethren.org/nyc. All registrations, fees, and forms are due by April 30.
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