Youth Conference (Christian)

This article is about the Christian conference held in Canada, Ukraine, Belize and Africa. For the Hong Kong Youth Conference, see Youth Conference (Hong Kong).

Youth Conference is a large scale three-day Christian event held in numerous places around the world. The originating event, YC Alberta, is held in Rexall Place in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. YC is managed by Extreme Dream Productions, a division of Extreme Dream Ministries.

YC is unique from similar Christians music festivals like Creationfest in that attendees must buy tickets to attend all main speakers and concerts, not just the ones they choose.

YC Alberta is dated to take place May 25-27, 2012.

History

YC was organized by the Alberta district of the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada (PAOC). The first YC was held in 1994, with a group of 500 students. After being held for several years at the Centrium in Red Deer, Alberta, the conference outgrew the facilities and moved to Edmonton's Coliseum in 2000.

In 2005 YC branched out to hold an event in Ukraine, which was very successful. YC is still expanding, with an event held in Winnipeg, Manitoba and one planned in Belize as well.

Format

Each year, YC has a different "theme" that expresses what organizers wish attendees to focus on during the weekend, which starts on Friday, goes through Saturday, and ends Sunday evening.

On Friday, YC kicks off in Rexall Place, usually with a light and fireworks show. Then comes a contemporary worship service, followed by a speaker. Then the evening ends with a concert.

On Saturday morning, there is another worship service, after which two speakers present. At noon, the attendees are released to eat lunch, and browse the many afternoon activities YC offers, like workshops, numerous concerts, indoor games, exhibitors, and a marketplace. Then the evening brings a concert, a worship service with another speaker, and a final concert.

On Sunday morning, there is a worship service with a speaker. The afternoon brings similar afternoon events as Saturday's, and YC conclude with a final worship service, and a final concert.

YC Alberta

Year	Theme	Featured Artists	Featured Speakers	Special Notes
1994		Rebecca St. James		First YC
1995	Fear Not
1996	Go the Distance	Rebecca St. James Geoff Moore and the Distance	Tony Campolo Sam Farina
1997	Be the One	Jaci Velasquez Jars of Clay
1998	Shine	Delirious? Newsboys Reality Check	Miles McPherson Duffy Robbins	Reality Check missed their concert due to bus trouble.
1999	Freedom	Rebecca St. James Out of Eden Generation Next	Sam Farina Jeanne Mayo
2000	History Makers	Delirious? Newsboys Michael W. Smith Paul Oakley Phatfish	Miles McPherson Duffy Robbins	First year in Edmonton's Coliseum Delirious'? song History Maker was used heavily throughout the weekend, and the lyrics were printed on the back of the program booklets.
2001	Transform-a-Nation	Delirious? LaRue Rebecca St. James Salvador
2002	Heaven	tobyMac Audio Adrenaline Michael W. Smith Phatfish	David Nasser	Michael W. Smith recorded his live Worship DVD at YC 2002. The DVD immediately topped the Billboard video charts and became a Gold seller in both the U.S. and Canada.
2003	Believe	Delirious? Pillar Hillsong United tobyMac Tim Hughes Third Day	Mike Pilavachi Jeanne Mayo
2004	Soul Revolution	Newsboys (Closed YC Alberta 2004) Pillar Generation Next Skillet Rebecca St. James Hillsong United Nicole C. Mullen Audio Adrenaline	David Nasser Joyce Heron Phil Dooley Glen Berteau Sam Farina	10th YC
2005	Consumed	Audio Adrenaline delirious? Drentch Everyday Sunday GRITS Hawk Nelson Hillsong United John Reuben KJ-52 Kutless Mat Kearney OC Supertones Out of Eden Sanctus Real Thousand Foot Krutch Toby Mac (Closed YC Alberta 2005) Tree63	Miles McPherson Bob Stromberg Mike Pilavachi
2006	Tell the World	Audio Adrenaline BarlowGirl Big Daddy Weave Chris Tomlin GRITS Hawk Nelson Joy Williams KJ-52 Krystal Meyers Newsboys (Closed YC Alberta 2006) Pillar Sarah Kelly Thousand Foot Krutch Tree63 Riley Armstrong Stellar Kart Tait	Miles McPherson Zhenya Kasevich
2007	King	The Afters Andy Hunter Amanda Falk BarlowGirl Chris Tomlin David Crowder Band delirious? Hawk Nelson Hillsong United Leeland Rebecca St. James Parachute Band Seventh Day Slumber Skillet Toby Mac (Closed YC Alberta 2007)	Joyce Heron Matt Costley Mike Pilavachi Phil Dooley
2008	Passion	Amanda Falk Bean & Bailey Desperation Band Disciple Epo GRITS Hawk Nelson John Reuben KJ-52 Leeland Nevertheless Newsboys (closed YC Alberta 2008) Papa San Parachute Band Pillar Skillet Thousand Foot Krutch Tim Hughes Vicky Beeching	Reggie Dabbs Bob Stromberg John Bevere Phil Pringle
2009	Live it Loud	Bluetree Bean & Bailey Blue Eyes Soul David Crowder Band Red Parachute Band Family Force 5 GRITS Hawk Nelson Judah Smith Manafest Matt Maher Newworldson Parachute Band Pillar Relient K Roosevelt Hunter Thousand Foot Krutch Tim Hughes Toby Mac (closed YC Alberta 2009) Vicky Beeching Jason Upton	Reggie Dabbs Michael Larson
2010	Audacious	Skillet (Closing band) Bluetree Matt Maher Leeland Manafest RED Chasen Disciple Mel Melo The Letter Black Michael Larson Jason Upton Parachute Band Panic Squad John Reuben Junkyard Poets Thousand Foot Krutch (Opening Band) Jay and the Lovebirds Beautiful Unique Girl 10th Avenue North Run Kid Run Britt Nicole Life Support Jachin Mullen	Miles McPherson Eric Samuel Timm Nick Vujicic	Thousand Foot Krutch recorded their first live DVD entitled "Live at the Masquerade" at their Friday night concert.
2011	Hear the Sound	Switchfoot (Opening Band) Hawk Nelson Bluetree Starfield Lincoln Brewster Superchick The Afters Rapture Ruckus Manafest Matt Maher The Letter Black Group1Crew Fireflight EPO Disciple Panic Squad Tenth Avenue North Worth Dying For	Reggie Dabbs (Closed YC Alberta 2011) Duffy Robbins Eric Samuel Timm Judah Smith	Mike Love hosted the first ever live webcast of the event, which featured Bluetree, and was the first opportunity to see the YC11 Promo Video.

YC Ukraine

Youth Conference Ukraine, or YC Kiev as it has been called, is a branch-off of YC Alberta held in Kiev, Ukraine. Around 5500 people attended the first 3-day event in summer 2005. Delirious? was a featured artist there. YC Kiev was run by Extreme Dream Ministries in its inaugural year, but the project is now being undertaken by the Alliance of Ukrainian Youth Leadership team.

YC Manitoba

Youth Convention Manitoba, or YC Manitoba is an annual Christian Youth Convention held in Winnipeg, Manitoba. In 2005 YC Fusion, the original Convention name, had Mike Love — founder and president of Extreme Dreams Ministries as their keynote speaker at the conference. As Mike later recalled, he felt that Manitoba was a new mission field ready for an awakening. When the 2005 conference came to a close, Rob Bedard, the YC Fusion Director announced his position was ending which led to the announcement of Extreme Dreams Ministries future role in the conference. Changing the name from YC Fusion to YC Manitoba, Extreme Dreams Ministries and Mike Love led the way with a well-received 2006 conference and continues to do so.

Year	Theme	Featured Artists	Featured Speakers	Special Notes
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001	John 10:10	Bailey’s Car Starfield Downhere Panic Squad Sheryl Stacey	Steve Osmond
2002	1 Peter 2:11	Bailey’s Car Godspeed Skillet Starfield The Ripperz Resurrection & Life Jon Buller	Steve Osmond
2003		Bleach Thousand Foot Krutch Starfield The Ripperz	Phil Cann
2004	Crave	Lustre Threadline Tree63	Shawn Roberts
2005	The Leap	Skillet Tree63	Mike Love
2006	Tell the World	Audio Adrenaline BarlowGirl Michael Larson Panic Squad	David Nasser Bob Stromberg Mike Love	Extreme Dream Ministries took over the conference Name change to YC Manitoba—previously called YC Fusion
2007	King	Amanda Falk Drentch EPO GRITS Rebecca St. James Tree63 Panic Squad	Reggie Dabbs
2008	Passion	Amanda Falk EPO Panic Squad Pillar Thousand Foot Krutch	Reggie Dabbs Bob Stromberg Ben Cantelon Matt Tapley
2009	Live Out Loud	Hawk Nelson Panic Squad John Reuben Leeland	Roosevelt Hunter Matt Tapley Preston Centuolo

YC Newfoundland & Labrador

YC Newfoundland & Labrador is the first branch off the original YC, held every year during the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend, which is usually around the second weekend of October. It's held almost on a rotational basis in the largest centers in the province; Mount Pearl's Glacier (2000), St. John's Mile One Centre (2005 & 2007), Gander's Community Centre (2002, 2004 & 2008), and Corner Brook's Pepsi Centre (2001, 2003 & 2006).

YC Newfoundland & Labrador was first held in front of 1500 attendees at The Glacier in Mount Pearl. It has grown to attendance figures of 3000 - 3500. It is organized by a committee from Newfoundland & Labrador. The director of this group since the beginning of YC Newfoundland is Pastor Dean Brenton. YC Newfoundland & Labrador Official Web Site

Past Guests at YC Newfoundland & Labrador

Year	Dates	Theme	Featured Artists	Featured Speakers	Location	Notes
2010	October 8–10	Audacious	David Crowder Band Seventh Day Slumber Bluetree Unhindered Kellie Loder Anyday	Preston Centuolo Reggie Dabbs Eric Samuel Timm	Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador
2009	October 9–11	"Beyond"	Kutless	Starfield	Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador	For the first time YC has been at the same venue as the previous year.
2008	October 10–12	re:Generation	Leeland Vicky Beeching Bluetree Matt Maher Paul Baloche Bean and Bailey	Bob Lenz Chris Hill Phil Cann	Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador	For the first year yet, a ministry guest was announced along with the date and venue at the previous year's YC. Bean & Bailey's and Bob Lenz's second appearance. Vicky Beeching's third appearance.
2007	October 5–7	Reign	Salvador SONICFLOOd Vicky Beeching Amanda Falk Geoff Moore Manafest Bean and Bailey	Bob Lenz David Nasser	Mile One Centre, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador
2006	October 6–8	SHOUT!	Newsboys Tree63 Desperation Band Starfield	Roosevelt Hunter Mike Yankoski Bob Stromberg	Pepsi Centre, Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador	NTV broadcasts the final Sunday session LIVE across the province and the world via satellite Sam Glenn was originally promoted to appear, but canceled due to illness. Mike Yankoski, who the YC committee was originally trying to book for the following year's YC, appeared in his place
2005	October 7–9	Believe	Jeff Deyo Vicky Beeching Reuben Morgan Salvador Tree63 Joy Williams	Mike Pilivachi Duffy Robbins Panic Squad	Mile One Centre, St. John's, Newfoundland & Labrador	YC moves to the largest indoor facility in the province, and partners with the BGEA to put off a Sunday Night Concert which sold out the arena.
2004	October 8–10	Uncontained	Reuben Morgan Candi Pearson Charlie Hall	Roosevelt Hunter Steve Osmond	Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador	YC exceeds 3000 people for the first time - doubling in attendance in just four years. Those 3000 people raised an offering of over $40,000 to build a house at the Village of Hope in Malawi
2003	October 10–12	One	Steve Fee and Charlie Hall Band Jeff Deyo One Rich Fool Corey Pelley	Judah Smith Phil Cann Darian Kovacs	Pepsi Centre, Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador	Charlie Hall originally promoted to be at the event, but canceled a few days prior. Steve Fee appeared instead
2002	October 11–13	Vertical	Phatfish Paul Oakley Tim Hughes YC House Band	Mike Pilivachi Sam Glenn Jeanne Mayo	Gander Community Centre, Gander, Newfoundland & Labrador
2001	October 5–7	Revolution	Capstone Phatfish Starfield Sheryl Stacey Surreal YC House Band	Phil Cann Randy Friesen	Canada Games Centre (Currently Pepsi Centre), Corner Brook, Newfoundland & Labrador
2000	October 6–8	History Maker	Paul Oakley Capstone YC House Band	Judah Smith Wayne Northup	The Glacier, Mount Pearl, Newfoundland & Labrador	Very first YC NL, with an estimated 1500 attendees

YC Belize

YC Belize was announced on May 28, 2006 at YC Alberta by Mike Love. The event was not officially announced but it was mentioned that Extreme Dream Ministries planned on collaborating with other youth missions groups to hold a Youth Conference in Belize. The event will run February 23–25, 2007 in Belize City, Belize. Two teams consisting of youth and young adults from Bethesda Christian Fellowship and Strathcona Christian Academy will assist Extreme Dream Ministries in facilitating the event.

YC Africa

YC Africa was announced on May 5, 2007 at YC Manitoba by Mike Love and consists of a conference in Zambia and Malawi, Africa. Extreme Dream Ministries has secured a 30,000 seat soccer stadium for YC Zambia.

YC Malawi

YC Malawi was announced on October 6, 2007 at YC Newfoundland. This YC will take place on August 8, 2008 at the Silver Striker Stadium in Malawi, Africa.

External links

• YC Alberta Website
• YC Manitoba Website
• YC Newfoundland Website
• YC Malawi Website
• Extreme Dream Ministries Website