Three Indisputable Reasons Why You Should Come to MYC
At the beginning of last year I moved to Wollongong from the Snowy Mountains to start uni, and left my (very limited) Christian networks at home. By mid-way through first session, the letters ECU drew a faint recognition, and I remember pondering the capacity of a single word (“Evangelical”) to be so gut-wrenchingly terrifying. Somehow, one of my church friends, Laura, managed to convince me to come on Mid-Year Conference (MYC).
If you are not planning on coming, I am about to attempt the same.
1. MEET YOUR COMPANION
There are several stories in circulation of Christian-wives meeting their now Christian-husbands at MYC. This is not one of those. It is, however, a beautiful tale of fateful, life changing companionship as Christian-girl meets awesome cool-kid Christian-buddies, and lives the following year happily ever after.
My week at MYC introduced me to many Christian siblings I had been previously unaware of having. It allowed me to talk, grapple, encourage and just hang out with some of the friends I’d recently made at my new church. It was where, in my small bible study group, I met (and this was always going to feature in any MYC promotion written by me) one of my now closest friends, Jemma. [Insert girly sighs here.] If you are new at Wollongong, or even if you’re not, MYC comes highly recommended as a time of fellowship and a place to build friendships on the foundation of Christ.
2. MEET YOUR CREATOR
Even if God had not blessed me with amazing friendships last July, I would have come away from MYC in closer relationship with a very significant someone. A week of bible talks, small group bible explorations, slightly bigger group discussion seminars, question sessions (in which hardcore God people can be drilled with your hardest questions), and personal prayer time does great things for ones relationship with God. Don’t get me wrong: it is fun and it’s not all grappling, but I personally was hugely challenged during the course of my week to understand some essential aspects of my God’s character.
Last year’s theme was Justification by Faith. I came away from MYC with a new clarity of understanding as I realised that my rightness with God was not dependent upon how I felt or my own ability to resist sin in my Christian walk. Rather, I was legally and objectively innocent before God because my debt had been paid in full by Christ, and if that was the case, then there was nothing still owing for which I could be convicted. The implications of this fact are phenomenal. Even in my guiltiest of moments; even when my prayers seem to hit the roof; even when God feels so far away, in God’s righteous judgment I am found Not Guilty. It is something we know, yet something easy to forget.
This year’s MYC is on Ministry. Be assured that whatever that involves it is a huge and generous blessing to have the chance to spend a designated week learning about God, talking about (and with) Him and becoming more intimate in your relationship.
If for no other reason, come on MYC to know God better.
3. MEALS; YOUTH; CHILLING
(I know I know, it doesn’t start with ‘Meet Your’, but it still works!) Some camp food is ordinary. MYC camp food is extraordinary, and abundant. The challenge is to eat the full camp cost’s $200 worth in the breakfast, morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and supper you’ll receive each day. Another thing worth mentioning is that you’ll be joining around 500 students from lots of different unis. It’s not only encouraging and exciting to be surrounded by people you’ll be spending eternity with, but it also just makes for a fun atmosphere and the makes singing together just crazy.
Finally, in between eating, befriending and being worked over by God, free time is allocated. This means you can catch up on sleep (as chances of getting to bed early are minimal when surrounded by 500 uni students), play some sport, dig further into your bible, swim in a single-digit degree pool, buy books from the bookstall or just kick back.
And if you need any more convincing: Jemma will be there.
[Michelle Peterie] << Bringing Light to the Dark Continent? | Return to the Index | I Was Born With Eleven Toes >>