Church of the Brethren Newsline
\nFebruary\u00a08,\u00a02018<\/b><\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.brethren.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2018\/09\/logo-for-national-youth.png\"){kind=logo}
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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cBound Together, Clothed in Christ\u201d (Colossians 3:12-15).<\/p>\n
The NYC speakers are:<\/strong><\/p>\n Michaela Alphonse<\/strong>, pastor of Miami (Fla.) First Church of the Brethren and a former mission worker in Haiti.<\/p>\n Jeff Carter<\/strong>, president of Bethany Theological Seminary.<\/p>\n Dana Cassell<\/strong>, pastor of Peace Covenant Church of the Brethren in Durham, N.C.<\/p>\n Christena Cleveland<\/strong>, an author, speaker, and professor at Duke University Divinity School in Durham, N.C.<\/p>\n Audrey and Tim Hollenberg-Duffey<\/strong>, pastors at Hagerstown (Md.) Church of the Brethren. Audrey Hollenberg-Duffey was one of the coordinators for NYC 2010.<\/p>\n Eric Landram<\/strong>, pastor at Lititz (Pa.) Church of the Brethren.<\/p>\n Jarrod McKenna<\/strong>, a minister and activist from Australia. He was a hit at the 2014 NYC, where he coined the term \u201cDunker punks\u201d to identify youth who take part in the Brethren heritage of radical discipleship to Jesus Christ.<\/p>\n Laura Stone<\/strong>, chaplain at an Indiana hospital and a former Brethren Volunteer Service worker.<\/p>\n Ted Swartz<\/strong>, a Mennonite actor and comedian, and Ken Medema, a Christian musician, are teaming up for a joint performance.<\/p>\n Medema has re-written lyrics to his song \u201cBound Together, Finely Woven\u201d to fit the NYC theme. The winner of a\u00a0youth contest to cover the song<\/strong>\u00a0will perform during NYC. See\u00a0www.brethren.org\/yya\/nyc\/documents\/2018\/song-cover-contest.pdf<\/a>\u00a0. Entries are due by April 1.<\/p>\n A\u00a0youth speech contest<\/strong>\u00a0also is being held. The winner will present their speech at NYC. See\u00a0www.brethren.org\/yya\/nyc\/documents\/2018\/speech-contest.pdf<\/a>\u00a0for guidelines. Entries are due by April 1.<\/p>\n More details and registration are at\u00a0www.brethren.org\/nyc<\/a>. All registrations, fees, and forms are due by April 30.<\/p>\n