2007 NA Youth Congress: A Pivotal Moment for UPC

[deacon blues]

This afternoon we had a Holy Week prayer service. One of the songs playing over the system during prayer was "All I Need is You". I was taken back to one of the most poigniant moments in my life.

We had taken three vanloads of teenagers and adults to Greensboro, NC for the 2007 North American Youth Congress. For many it was their first taste of such an event. Walking into that arena filled with 18,000 teenagers and young adults was a powerful experience. The worship was the best worship setting I had ever been in. It seemed like every song was a home run that elicited sincere praise and worship from the tens of thousands there. Our group was greatly impacted by that week. The highlight moment was when the praise band played "All I Need Is You". Words cannot describe the depth of worship that was demonstrated there. In all of my years in the UPC I had never seen anything like it. Our young people were hungry. The youth leadership seemed poised to really launch some things that would make history.

I had never been more proud to be in the UPC. It felt like this was a pivotal moment where the youth of the UPC were going to bridge the past with the present and lead us to a brighter future. The sessions during the day were on target, relevant and challenging. The activities were well planned and exciting. Special guests and interviews showcased young people who were making a difference. The messages at night were spot on. Todd Gaddys sermon the final night was from the heart. No hype, just straight, visionary and inspiring.

After all the events I had been to over the years, I had never been to a finer one in the UPC. No BOTT topped this one, no campmeeting, no crusade, no other event like 2007 NAYC. I talked about it for weeks after we came home.

I started to hear rumblings of criticism and discontent from other circles. I heard stories about preachers calling for Wayne Francis to be removed. I heard about Todd Gaddy taking shots from preachers who had attended NAYC and didn't like it.

The dye was cast. It didn't matter that kids by the thousands went home encouraged, inspired and ready to make a differenc ein their churches and community. It didn't matter that some people found Jesus at that event. It didn't matter that a young girl, Amber, from our group got saved. She had no family in church, but her life was changed forever at that meeting.

No, politics ruled the day. HQ got barraged with complaints from preachers who had attended or simply heard the rumors. The youth leadership got a good scolding and was asked why Brother Haney or Brother Jones weren't invited to speak to the youth. Why did they invite the young lady who was the voice of Dora the Explorer who was also a member of a UPC church to be interviewed and placed on the platform? Why all the contemporary music? Why were the praise singers encouraged to move and sway and gyrate to the music? The worship leader didn't wear a tie! Many of the praise singers wore jeans on the platform and had untucked shirts! On and on it went.

The internet burned up with negativity about the direction of the UPC. Preaching at subsequent marqee events made references to the appalling state of affairs of the UPC. In October at the Tampa General Conference, Mark Johnston emerged as a powerful voice for the young people and young ministers of the UPC. His sermon "I'd Rather Be a Hero than a Celebrity" was the talk of the conference. Yet the entire conference was overshadowed by a vote to allow tv advertising in the UPC. The resolution narrowly passed. The most conservative among us had been planning to bolt should the resolution pass. Household UPC names would leave within the year and form a new organization.

Panic about the future of the UPC began to mount. With the loss of very conservative men and ministries, would the UPC become a liberal fellowship? There were enough traditionalists left that they were going to make sure that would not happen. Mark Johnston became persona non grata after his message about Jesus and the Pharisees entitled "This Preemminent Jesus" at BOTT 2008. His popularity would wane and his invitations to large events would end in the UPC. Campmeetings and preaching conferences were charged with references to "these young preachers" trying to leave "this" truth, labels like "emergent church" were being slapped on anything and anybody asking questions or challenging the status quo, reputations were being defamed simply by fantasy or by association.

A group of young preachers met in Pontiac, MI for fellowship and encouragement. It was by invitation only. The conspiracy theories produced by those two days abounded. More innuendo, more internet alienation, more castigation. Young preachers began dropping off here and there. The environment became so caustic, many guys just couldn't stay around. It was obvious there would be no let up until anyone perceived as a threat to the established way of thinking and doing things was gone.

It was an opportunity missed. It was a moment squandered. The summer of 2007 presented us with a chance to launch the youth and young ministers of the UPC into a new era of growth and unity. Instead, the system turned on itself and cut off its nose to spite its face.

A sat in the prayer service today visualizing that profound worship moment as "All I Need Is You" played and people prayed. It was feeling of mixed emotions. Whereas it was a pleasant memory of a powerful, deep and lasting time of heartfelt praise and worship I'll not soon forget, it was tinged with sorrow at the thought that we had been presented with an epic opportunity that slipped through our fingers.

[Digging4Truth]

I often say... The current church & organizational model will always, without fail, find a way to kill a move of God if it's big enough.

I was offered a church a year or so ago. My wife said "You would make such a great pastor" and I do believe I would.

But the nature of the beast will always prevail. If I ever have an assembly it will be a dozen or so and it will be in my home. When we get close to 2 dozen we will multiply into 2 assemblies and continue to worship together as a unit from time to time but operating as 2, then 3 or 4 entities etc.

Why?

Because it is the nature of the beast and no man is bigger than the power it possesses. If I partake of it then it will eventually make me what I don't want to be.

Great post DB.

[POWERUP]

WOW!!!!!!!!!! 2007 must have been the year............ I left the UPC in the fall of 2007..

Yep, I walked away from it all............Sad thing is............... I remember every moment you described Deacon Blues.........

Its all good now. I don't harbor any bad feelings............. It was my decesion!!!!!!

[unitedpraise10]

Originally Posted by deacon blues

This afternoon we had a Holy Week prayer service. One of the songs playing over the system during prayer was "All I Need is You". I was taken back to one of the most poigniant moments in my life.

We had taken three vanloads of teenagers and adults to 1. Greensboro, NC for the 2007 North American Youth Congress. For many it was their first taste of such an event. Walking into that arena filled with 18,000 teenagers and young adults was a powerful experience. The worship was the best worship setting I had ever been in. It seemed like every song was a home run that elicited sincere praise and worship from the tens of thousands there. Our group was greatly impacted by that week. The highlight moment was when the praise band played "All I Need Is You". Words cannot describe the depth of worship that was demonstrated there. In all of my years in the UPC I had never seen anything like it. Our young people were hungry. The youth leadership seemed poised to really launch some things that would make history.

I had never been more proud to be in the UPC. It felt like this was a pivotal moment where the youth of the UPC were going to bridge the past with the present and lead us to a brighter future. The sessions during the day were on target, relevant and challenging. The activities were well planned and exciting. Special guests and interviews showcased young people who were making a difference. The messages at night were spot on. Todd Gaddys sermon the final night was from the heart. No hype, just straight, visionary and inspiring.

After all the events I had been to over the years, I had never been to a finer one in the UPC. No BOTT topped this one, no campmeeting, no crusade, no other event like 2007 NAYC. I talked about it for weeks after we came home.

I started to hear rumblings of criticism and discontent from other circles. I heard stories about preachers calling for Wayne Francis to be removed. I heard about Todd Gaddy taking shots from preachers who had attended NAYC and didn't like it.

The dye was cast. It didn't matter that kids by the thousands went home encouraged, inspired and ready to make a differenc ein their churches and community. It didn't matter that some people found Jesus at that event. It didn't matter that a young girl, Amber, from our group got saved. She had no family in church, but her life was changed forever at that meeting.

No, politics ruled the day. HQ got barraged with complaints from preachers who had attended or simply heard the rumors. The youth leadership got a good scolding and was asked why Brother Haney or Brother Jones weren't invited to speak to the youth. Why did they invite the young lady who was the voice of Dora the Explorer who was also a member of a UPC church to be interviewed and placed on the platform? Why all the contemporary music? 2. Why were the praise singers encouraged to move and sway and gyrate to the music? The worship leader didn't wear a tie! Many of the praise singers wore jeans on the platform and had untucked shirts! On and on it went.

The internet burned up with negativity about the direction of the UPC. Preaching at subsequent marqee events made references to the appalling state of affairs of the UPC. In October at the Tampa General Conference, Mark Johnston emerged as a powerful voice for the young people and young ministers of the UPC. His sermon "I'd Rather Be a Hero than a Celebrity" was the talk of the conference. Yet the entire conference was overshadowed by a vote to allow tv advertising in the UPC. The resolution narrowly passed. The most conservative among us had been planning to bolt should the resolution pass. Household UPC names would leave within the year and form a new organization.

Panic about the future of the UPC began to mount. With the loss of very conservative men and ministries, would the UPC become a liberal fellowship? There were enough traditionalists left that they were going to make sure that would not happen. Mark Johnston became persona non grata after his message about Jesus and the Pharisees entitled "This Preemminent Jesus" at BOTT 2008. His popularity would wane and his invitations to large events would end in the UPC. Campmeetings and preaching conferences were charged with references to "these young preachers" trying to leave "this" truth, labels like "emergent church" were being slapped on anything and anybody asking questions or challenging the status quo, reputations were being defamed simply by fantasy or by association.

A group of young preachers met in Pontiac, MI for fellowship and encouragement. It was by invitation only. The conspiracy theories produced by those two days abounded. More innuendo, more internet alienation, more castigation. Young preachers began dropping off here and there. The environment became so caustic, many guys just couldn't stay around. It was obvious there would be no let up until anyone perceived as a threat to the established way of thinking and doing things was gone.

It was an opportunity missed. It was a moment squandered. The summer of 2007 presented us with a chance to launch the youth and young ministers of the UPC into a new era of growth and unity. Instead, the system turned on itself and cut off its nose to spite its face.

A sat in the prayer service today visualizing that profound worship moment as "All I Need Is You" played and people prayed. It was feeling of mixed emotions. Whereas it was a pleasant memory of a powerful, deep and lasting time of heartfelt praise and worship I'll not soon forget, it was tinged with sorrow at the thought that we had been presented with an epic opportunity that slipped through our fingers.

1.It wasn't in Greensboro that year...it was in Charlotte NC. Just thought I'd clarify.

2. I don't remember being told this. It just happened. When, I'm in the presence of God....I can't help but MOVE. As a praise team member for NAYC 07 it was our job to usher in the presence of God....to engage the congregation in praise and worship....furthermore, you cannot do all of that by just standing there like statues. The audience will feed off of what ever is going on on the stage. If everything is still...no movement, so will the audience be. It's almost like a science....it's hard to explain. We are human, we are flesh, we are visual.

I'm so glad to be a part of the ever changing United Pentecostal Church International.

[POWERUP]

Originally Posted by unitedpraise10

1.It wasn't in Greensboro that year...it was in Charlotte NC. Just thought I'd clarify.

2. I don't remember being told this. It just happened. When, I'm in the presence of God....I can't help but MOVE. As a praise team member for NAYC 07 it was our job to usher in the presence of God....to engage the congregation in praise and worship....furthermore, you cannot do all of that by just standing there like statues. The audience will feed off of what ever is going on on the stage. If everything is still...no movement, so will the audience be. It's almost like a science....it's hard to explain. We are human, we are flesh, we are visual.

I'm so glad to be a part of the ever changing United Pentecostal Church International.

???????????????????????????

[aegsm76]

DB - a view from the other side.
The NAYC of 07 was a great time, as most NAYC's have been. However, with the impending vote on TV, there were some events that made some of the UC's look a little skeptically at some things.
An interview with someone who was a hero on TV? Seems like this would have been deemed to be taking a side in the discussion.
Also, an interview with a young man who overcame a physical handicap and was a wrestler? Again, seems to be taking a side.
For the UC's in the org, it seemed to be just another attempt to overthrow things that had long been preached and taught against.
The way the leadership of the org seemed to be determined to bring up the TV vote, every year, until it passed? Seemed to be taking a side.
I had young people at NAYC 07, but was not able to go myself.
They were touched and had a great time.
I knew Todd Gaddy.
I knew Wayne Francis.
My sons went on mission trips with them.
I think they are good men, but they are men and did have a viewpoint that they may have wanted to push, a little.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by POWERUP

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Please elaborate.

[Praxeas]

Ironically the UPC was started and shaped by critical thought and preaching when they preached baptism in Jesus name and Oneness. The AOGers frowned and the OPs left.

Now we do the same thing to those in our ranks, attempting to stifle anythng "new" without discussion

[Hoovie]

Ok I can see this. So now what? The UC's took their toys and left..

Originally Posted by aegsm76

DB - a view from the other side.
The NAYC of 07 was a great time, as most NAYC's have been. However, with the impending vote on TV, there were some events that made some of the UC's look a little skeptically at some things.
An interview with someone who was a hero on TV? Seems like this would have been deemed to be taking a side in the discussion.
Also, an interview with a young man who overcame a physical handicap and was a wrestler? Again, seems to be taking a side.
For the UC's in the org, it seemed to be just another attempt to overthrow things that had long been preached and taught against.
The way the leadership of the org seemed to be determined to bring up the TV vote, every year, until it passed? Seemed to be taking a side.
I had young people at NAYC 07, but was not able to go myself.
They were touched and had a great time.
I knew Todd Gaddy.
I knew Wayne Francis.
My sons went on mission trips with them.
I think they are good men, but they are men and did have a viewpoint that they may have wanted to push, a little.

[Digging4Truth]

Originally Posted by aegsm76

DB - a view from the other side.
The NAYC of 07 was a great time, as most NAYC's have been. However, with the impending vote on TV, there were some events that made some of the UC's look a little skeptically at some things.
An interview with someone who was a hero on TV? Seems like this would have been deemed to be taking a side in the discussion.
Also, an interview with a young man who overcame a physical handicap and was a wrestler? Again, seems to be taking a side.
For the UC's in the org, it seemed to be just another attempt to overthrow things that had long been preached and taught against.
The way the leadership of the org seemed to be determined to bring up the TV vote, every year, until it passed? Seemed to be taking a side.
I had young people at NAYC 07, but was not able to go myself.
They were touched and had a great time.
I knew Todd Gaddy.
I knew Wayne Francis.
My sons went on mission trips with them.
I think they are good men, but they are men and did have a viewpoint that they may have wanted to push, a little.

The view from the other side seems to confirm DB's take on the story.