Second Quarter 2007

YXL: Challenging High School Students to "CONNECT"

Christian Education and Publications announces plans for the summer Youth Excelling in Leadership, or YXL, conference to be held at Covenant College July 9-14 for select high school students. There will also be a sister YXL conference in New Mexico at the same time at the Glorietta Conference Center. 

CE&P, partnering with Covenant College, is reaching out to students who either have or aspire to have some leadership role in their local church. The requirement for registering for the YXL is a recommendation from the local church. Plans are being made for 120-150 high schoolers from across the PCA to come together for a week of leadership training in the atmosphere of the college campus. As a bonus to attending the conference and to encourage student participation, Covenant College is offering scholarship aid to those eventually enrolling at Covenant. $500 per year will be awarded to those who attend YXL for one conference; $1,000 for those attending two years of YXL; $2,000 for those who attend all three years of YXL. CE&P has developed a three-year curriculum that will allow those who participate for more than one year to have progressive training. 

The director of the conference is Danny Mitchell, a longtime participant in previous years’ conferences. Mitchell is also the new coordinator of youth and family ministries on the CE&P staff. He will graduate from Covenant Theological Seminary in May. 

The conference theme for the week explains the purpose of the conference: “The Character of a Disciple in the Kingdom of God.” The mornings will include seminars on spiritual development, kingdom disciples, and world and life view issues as they relate to day-to-day living. There will be seminars on postmodernism led by Herb Ward, professor at the college. “World and life view at the mall” will be one of the morning sessions throughout the week. The evening speakers will be key leaders in the PCA whose lives and ministries touch the rising generation: Danny Mitchell (CE&P), Niel Nielson (Covenant College), Rod Mays (RUM), Randy Nabors (New City Fellowship), and Charles Dunahoo (CE&P). Covenant College’s Third Lobby will lead the music in evening worship. 

YXL is not your typical senior high summer conference. It is designed specifically for students looking for leadership training. “We believe YXL has the most challenging and best opportunity for the PCA to demonstrate its commitment to the rising generation,” said Charles Dunahoo, CE&P Coordinator. 

Mitchell shares the same commitment to disciple young people with a kingdom world and life view. He states, “Activities for each day, along with the seminars, are designed to give the students hands-on experience in leadership skills. Things such as: paint ball, ropes, hikes, plus downtown Chattanooga service projects, provide opportunities for the students to interact with one another and practice team-building in both a fun and service setting.” 

One of the highlights of the week will be a semi-formal banquet sponsored by Covenant College on Friday evening. The conference will begin with registration Monday afternoon, July 9, and conclude with Saturday morning breakfast. Previous YXL conferences have brought students from many different areas of the PCA.