{"id":1985947,"date":"2023-07-29T18:23:02","date_gmt":"2023-07-29T22:23:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/36000-young-christians-gather-in-st-louis-to-find-purpose-identity-in-gods-word\/"},"modified":"2023-07-29T18:25:17","modified_gmt":"2023-07-29T22:25:17","slug":"36000-young-christians-gather-in-st-louis-to-find-purpose-identity-in-gods-word","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/36000-young-christians-gather-in-st-louis-to-find-purpose-identity-in-gods-word\/","title":{"rendered":"36,000 Christian youth gather in St. Louis to seek &#8216;Purpose &#038; Identity in God&#8217;s Word&#8217;."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2F36000-young-christians-gather-in-st-louis-to-find-purpose-identity-in-gods-word%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1985947&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>North American Youth Congress: Finding \u2064Purpose and Identity in Faith<\/h2>\n<p>North American youth face a growing identity crisis: over 300,000\u200d American teenagers <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/transgender-young-people-in-u-s-have-nearly-doubled-recently-report-shows\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">identify<\/a> as the opposite sex, while drug overdoses and suicide are the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/injury\/wisqars\/animated-leading-causes.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">leading causes<\/a> of \u200bdeath \u2064for \u200cyounger \u200dAmericans \u2014 \u200dclaiming over 72,000 young lives in 2020 alone \u200d\u2014 as loneliness <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/why-gen-z-is-turning-to-dating-apps-to-find-friends-fight-loneliness\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">spreads<\/a> \u2064among Gen \u200dZ.<\/p>\n<p>These social contagions are fueled by declining numbers in church attendance nationwide, especially among\u2062 young people. Surveys by \u200d <a href=\"https:\/\/news.gallup.com\/poll\/341963\/church-membership-falls-below-majority-first-time.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Gallup<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pewresearch.org\/religion\/2019\/10\/17\/in-u-s-decline-of-christianity-continues-at-rapid-pace\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pew Research<\/a> \u2062show that increasing majorities of Millennials\u2062 and Gen \u200bZers do not belong to \u200da \u200bchurch \u200dor attend services at\u2064 all, and a sizable minority are now \u201creligiously unaffiliated\u201d \u2014 leading one writer to \u2063question if Gen Z should be called \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/generation-z-generation-atheist-paul-bois\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Generation Atheist<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet, in the midst \u2064of these problems, many youth have found\u2064 purpose and\u2064 identity in something greater \u2014 36,000 teens and young adults from across the continent gathered last \u2063week for <a href=\"https:\/\/northamericanyouthcongress.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">North American Youth Congress<\/a> \u200c (NAYC), a <a href=\"https:\/\/upci.org\/nayc-2023-downtown-st-louis\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">biennial event<\/a> \u2063 that seeks to inspire young people to find purpose in faith and community service. NAYC is organized by\u200b the <a href=\"https:\/\/upci.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">United Pentecostal Church International<\/a> (UPCI).<\/p>\n<h3>A\u200d Beacon \u2064of Light and Hope<\/h3>\n<p>\u201cThe teenagers and young adults who attend NAYC give us hope for the future,\u201d\u2064 said \u2063UPCI <a href=\"https:\/\/upciyouth.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Youth Ministries<\/a> \u200b President Michael Thomas. He said NAYC \u2064is \u201ca beacon of \u200clight\u200c and hope in \u200ca world \u2062that is being overrun by\u2063 problems and strife.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The event took place last Wednesday through Friday in St. Louis, consisting of worship services, practical training\u200d sessions, and a community service project, in which attendees packed\u2062 thousands of disaster relief buckets in\u200b partnership with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.reachoutamerica.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Reach Out America<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Thomas described\u2063 the event as a \u201ccounterculture\u201d \u200bin that \u201cwe try \u200dnot to allow societal trends to \u200dmold or shape our thinking and beliefs\u201d \u200dand directly <a href=\"https:\/\/fb.watch\/m2li1AI2Vf\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">addressed<\/a> transgenderism at\u200d the event Wednesday night, stating that \u201cBiblical holiness\u201d\u2062 protects against \u200d\u201cgender confusion.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHow you were born is how you were intended by your Creator to be.\u201d Thomas passionately proclaimed. \u200b\u201cGod did not put a question mark after your DNA \u2014 God put an exclamation point after your DNA! The Word of God \u200bsays you were fearfully and wonderfully\u200d made. \u200bDon\u2019t let the world erase how God made you!\u201d<\/p>\n<p>UPCI Superintendent Dr. David\u2062 K.\u200d Bernard contrasted \u200dthe event\u2019s attendees with broader American \u2064culture, which he described as \u201cincreasingly secular and even hostile to Christian values.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite the\u200d overall decline of religiosity in American youth, Thomas said his organization is experiencing rapid \u200dgrowth, especially \u200bamong teenagers \u2062and young adults.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, author\u2064 and NYU professor Johnathan \u200cHaidt <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/nyu-professor-says-fragile-gen-z-causing-national-crisis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">points to<\/a> \u201cextraordinarily\u2062 high rates \u200bof anxiety, depression, self-harm, suicide and fragility\u201d among Gen Zers \u200cas a \u201cnational crisis.\u201d Haidt\u200c linked the rise of \u201cisolating\u201d activities like \u2063social \u2062media use to increased \u2062rates of \u200cdepression, particularly among teen\u200c girls.<\/p>\n<p>A 2016 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5127763\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">study<\/a> by the\u200b National Institute of Medicine, however, suggests \u2063that membership in a \u200dreligious group can decrease one\u2019s risk of depression and\u2062 other mental health problems.\u2063 NAYC\u2019s organizers and attendees echoed the study,\u200c saying the conference helps youth connect with others and find their purpose in faith.<\/p>\n<p>When\u2064 asked about the\u200c mental health crisis,\u200d Thomas\u200c said that for these young\u200d Christians, \u201cpurpose\u200d and identity can be found in the Word of \u200bGod.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis purpose and \u200didentity are given to us by a loving Creator,\u201d Thomas told The Daily Wire. \u201cIn a world\u2063 of increasing loneliness\u2062 and isolation, this event solidifies to a young person \u2064that they \u200bare not alone in their journey or their walk with God.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNAYC \u2062helps me find community \u2026 in the power of coming in unity\u2064 with people from \u200call over the United States and \u2062worshiping the \u2062same \u2062God,\u201d said 15-year-old Kayleigh Stephens. \u2063Anita Sullivan Lewis, of Cross Plains, Tennessee, told The Daily Wire that NAYC \u201cgives my nonverbal son\u2064 who has Down Syndrome and autism a sense of belonging.\u2062 All the kids in our youth group include him,\u2062 pray with him, make room for his wheelchair, and give him high fives to let him know he\u2019s loved.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/onelink.to\/dwapp\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILY WIRE APP<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Back\u2063 home, many of\u2064 these students and \u200c<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/36000-young-christians-gather-in-st-louis-to-find-purpose-identity-in-gods-word\/\" title=\"36,000 Christian youth gather in St. Louis to seek 'Purpose &#038; Identity in God's Word'.\">parents face intense cultural battles<\/a>\u2064 in their \u2063school districts. Recent protests have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/christians-and-muslims-unite-in-michigan-to-fight-sexually-explicit-material-in-school-libraries\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">broken\u200d out<\/a> over new <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/watch-muslim-and-christian-parents-show-up-in-force-to-protest-lgbt-books-at-maryland-school-board\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">mandates<\/a> in favor of teaching \u200btransgenderism and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/masterpiece-cakeshop-christian-baker-on-trial-again-this-time-sued-by-transgender-activist\/\" title=\"Masterpiece Cakeshop Christian Baker On Trial Again: This Time Sued By Transgender Activist\">sexually explicit material<\/a> to kids,\u2064 uniting Christian and Muslim parents alike. Meanwhile, other religious \u2064 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/church-of-england-allows-blessings-for-same-sex-civil-marriages\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">groups<\/a> openly embrace Left-wing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/more-than-100-florida-churches-fleeing-denomination-over-lgbtq-issues\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">ideologies<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt \u2063is through our relationship with God and His Word that certain questions about our identity can be settled, our\u2063 direction and purpose in life \u2062can be answered, and we can \u2063live \u2063the\u2062 whole and \u2062complete life we were \u2062intended to\u200d live,\u201d\u2063 Thomas \u200dconcluded.<\/p>\n<p>As \u200dcultural battles\u200b intensify across the\u2063 country, many people of\u2063 faith are conflicted about how to\u200d proceed. Yet, the organizers of NAYC see a path forward.<\/p>\n<p>Dr. Bernard said that Christians can be both \u201cloving and \u2063firm\u201d\u200c in these \u200cbattles. \u201cWe should seek to\u2062 uphold important values \u2063for \u200blife, \u2064marriage, family, and society; and we should partner \u2063with others who share these goals,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe should respect \u2063everyone as\u2063 created in God\u2019s image and as \u2064souls for whom \u200bChrist \u200ddied.\u201d he continued. \u201cWe\u2064 shouldn\u2019t be antagonistic, \u2064harsh, hateful, or bigoted, even when \u2063provoked. At the same time, we\u200c [should] \u200dbe firmly committed \u200dto\u200d truth, and doing so \u200bisn\u2019t bigotry.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Thomas echoed Bernard\u2019s call for\u2064 a firm stand for Biblical values while loving \u2064those with whom \u2063they\u2062 disagree. He said that \u201cJesus showed us the perfect model for this in the New Testament.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJesus told us to love everyone, but this does not mean \u2064we condone\u2063 or endorse their\u200b lifestyle if it is \u2064contrary to \u200dHis Word.\u200b Every word and action that \u200dwe as Christians display should \u2064be motivated by and saturated with love,\u201d Thomas said. \u200b\u201cDisagreement should never\u2064 become hatred.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This \u200bform of love resounds\u2063 with\u2063 young\u200b Stephens, and she \u200dsaid her mission as she returns from \u2064the conference is \u201cto impact my community and school by showing the \u200dlove and compassion of Christ,\u2062 to see \u200dpeople filled \u2062with His Spirit, \u200d [and] their families renewed and \u200crestored. \u2026 I \u2063want lives to be changed and miracles to be performed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Amid the cultural <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/middle-schoolers-accused-of-homophobia-after-chanting-usa-tearing-down-pride-decorations\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">battles<\/a> in public schools across the \u200ccountry, attendees told The Daily Wire how NAYC\u2063 inspires them to be strong in their faith despite facing <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/news\/bible-pulled-from-utah-school-district-libraries-because-of-vulgarity-or-violence\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">opposition<\/a> \u2062 in their schools.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI have been inspired\u200c in many ways,\u201d said Talyha Bonny, 14, of\u200b Worcester, Massachusetts, who teaches Bible studies at her school over fierce ridicule by her \u200dclassmates. \u201cNAYC inspired me to put God\u200c first because when I do \u200cthat, I \u2064will be \u200dstrengthened, and I won\u2019t be afraid.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Stephens,\u2063 from Troy, Missouri, described being a Christian in her public school as \u201ca hard thing to do in the world we live in.\u201d \u200bShe \u200csaid, \u2063\u201cNAYC empowers me \u2062to tell\u2062 my school about Jesus and \u2064the good he has done for me. It\u2063 is hard\u2062 to speak \u200bout and tell \u200bpeople\u200c about Jesus and the \u2018why\u2019 \u2062behind my acts,\u201d she said, \u2064\u201cbut it is beyond rewarding seeing my friends go to \u2062church with me and \u200dask me questions about my faith.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>NAYC was last held in 2019 with a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-reinstates-bidens-vaccine-mandate\/\" title=\"Court Reinstates Biden\u2019s Vaccine Mandate\">pre-pandemic record<\/a> of\u2062 37,000 attendees \u2063and took place virtually in 2021 \u200ddue to the virus. The event will be\u2064 held next in\u2062 2025 at Lucas Oil \u2064Stadium in Indianapolis.<\/p>\n<p><em>The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>North American youth grapple with a rising identity crisis. More than 300,000 American teens identify as the opposite sex, while drug overdoses and suicide claim 72,000 young lives in 2020. Loneliness plagues Gen Z, contributing to these alarming trends. Declining numbers exacerbate these social contagions.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2107,"featured_media":1985948,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1985947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1985947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1985947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1985947\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1985948"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1985947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1985947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1985947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}