Get Liberated

My church youth group, YPC (Young People's Connection), had a BLAST at the 2008 SEC Liberate Conference!!! (I'm not in the picture above because I'm the one taking the picture!)

I'd have to say this is the best conference I've ever been to. Many INCREDIBLE things happened at Liberate. For weeks, I've been praying for our youth to elevate their faith and get excited about God. I prayed, "God, if we can go to this conference and only one of our kids' lives is changed, that would just be amazing. I would give up anything just for one person."

So during the conference, we worshipped with Spur58, enjoyed a hilarious illusionist named Jared Hall (and bought his famous raccoon!), and listened to testimonies and speakers like Jay Lowder and Jose Zayas. The whole time I prayed for each of our youth by name, while at the same time anticipating a performance by one of my all-time favorite bands, Leeland. After Jay Lowder spoke Friday night, he asked that if anyone would like to make the decision to give their life to God, walk to the front. He asked if there was anyone in the audience who was praying for a particular person in the room to raise their hand. I raised mine up high with my eyes closed, as Jay Lowder told us to do. Then when it was time to open our eyes, I looked around--and my youth group was gone! They had walked to the front to give their lives to Jesus Christ. Only our youth leader, my cousin, and I were left in our seats with tears in our eyes.

But it didn't end there. God had more in store--for me in particular. :) "Well, Sam," God said, "I should reward you for praying so hard for your youth group." So God made all the kids in the conference step to the side for me in the mosh pit. And during the concert at the end of the conference, I stood less than a foot away from one of the men that I admire the most:

LEELAND MOORING!!!

Honestly, if there is any musician I'm most inspired by, any musician I want to write like, and any musician that is so driven to reach the lost for Jesus--it's Leeland Mooring, lead singer of Leeland (plus the rest of the band; I'm not leaving y'all out!). I had such a great place in the mosh pit that I got great pictures of everybody in the band:

Lead guitarist Matt Campbell (this guy played a Gibson!)

Bass player Jake Holtz Drummer Mike SmithJack Mooring is my personal favorite. Of course, keyboard player to keyboard player. But this isn't Jack. Is this Jack???

Saturday morning, Jose Zayas taught us how to share our faith with others using "The Gospel Journey"; and just before my camera died, I got to take one last picture when Hawk Nelson came on to play:

No, the stage wasn't smoky; it was my camera's fault. But if you look closely, you'll see Hawk Nelson's Daniel Biro tuning his bass right before the concert...even cuter in person!

So yes--the Liberate Conference was INCREDIBLE. Please pray that the "fire" we got from this conference would not die down. Pray that our youth would continue to grow in their faith and that God would use them to change the world.

"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." -John 8:36

Only Jesus can truly set us free from sin, so get ready. Get set. Get Liberated.