A group of 40 middle school, high school and college age students from nine Yamhill County churches participated in the Rise-Up Youth Conference at Awaken Church Oct. 7, 2023. The youth worshiped LOUD with three different bands, listened to amazing speakers and heard heartfelt testimonies from two young women.

All present were personally challenged by the conference’s themes: Restoring Identity, Revealing God and Resurrecting Hope. 

The conference’s goal was to provide a safe space to bring people closer to God.

Awaken Youth Leader Stephanie Teahn, who serves as an elder at the church along with her husband Munty Teahn, was the first speaker of the day. Munty followed with a testimony about his teen years in Liberia.

After the opening session, teens feasted on a taco bar lunch and delicious home baked goodies. The day’s schedule purposely had time set aside for people to “hang out” after lunch and meet new friends before heading back into the auditorium for the next session. 

Ethan, a junior at McMinnville High School,  gave a brief presentation about the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. A quick poll of the audience showed many athletes were in attendance, as well as nonathletes, which Ethan said included him. You don’t have to be an athlete to join the fellowship, he said. He led a fun activity about identity that had students moving about the room, placing labels and removing labels from themselves.

At the end of the day, one teen gave her life to Jesus—and another was baptized!

During the second session, Silas Renda, who also played drums during worship, spoke and Shae Bland, a college age student leader of Awaken’s Youth Group., shared about her years’ long struggle with anxiety. 

Dean Yoder, an elder at the church known for his passion for helping people discover their ability to know that God knows them, communicates with them and loves them, was the speaker for the third session. Teen Youth Leader Lily Teahn followed up by sharing her testimony.

Laura Sanchez, a bilingual secretary at a local middle school, whose heart’s desire is to see God work in people’s lives and for others to know their worth in Him, was the day’s final speaker. 

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Near the end of the day, a middle school girl chose to make a public declaration of her faith by being baptized. And another teen gave her life to Jesus. 

All said, the event was quite successful—and organizers are already talking about putting together another conference next year.

Be sure to follow Awaken Youth on Instagram or Facebook to learn details as they become available.