Worship at National Youth Conference 2026: A sacred space

By Rachel Johnson

Worship is an essential component of the National Youth Conference (NYC) experience. It is the one time where everyone is gathered together during the week. Read on to learn a bit of what to expect during worship at NYC:

Worship at NYC is a sacred space.

Ruesch Auditorium (where worship will take place) is hallowed ground.

It is a place where we metaphorically “remove our sandals” (Exodus 3:5) as we enter, in expectation that we will experience God.

Twice a day—morning and evening—we pause from the busyness of the day’s schedule to gather together in worship. Our quick pace slows and our focus sharpens. Song, prayer, scripture, messages from our speakers, drama, and video are all components of our worship. Sometimes we’ll shout, dance, and leap for joy! Sometimes we’ll laugh; sometimes we’ll cry. Sometimes we’ll sit in holy silence. But we journey together, with Christ as the focus of our worship and as the guide for our lives.

Each of us enters this space bringing along different backgrounds, thoughts, experiences, and beliefs. You may hear from speakers who share the same thoughts and experiences as you. You may also hear from speakers who bring a new perspective to a familiar story or hold a different viewpoint. Yet in this space we come together as a community of believers with the desire to learn more about our faith and how we want to live out our faith.

You are invited to this space, to this moment—to worship, to reflect, to imagine, and to be part of a community. Come with an openness to the Spirit; allowing the Spirit to work in you and through you so that together we can share the Light Within Us with those around us.