Conclave 2023/Youth Leadership
Travis and I were part of a group of 10 adults from Oakland Baptist Church that had the opportunity to travel to Chattanooga, TN for a three day conference from January 19 to January 21.
Important Decisions
Our first group decision was which bus we would be taking. Bro. Brad at first thought to take the older people mover. Travis helped him revisit that thought with all the ‘people mover travel stories’ from the past. The new bus is NICE and so easy to drive as compared to any other bus I have driven.
Jefferson’s for Adventure #1
Jefferson’s in Kimball, TN was actually our 2nd choice to eat. The first choice was closed when we arrived. We later found out that they were closed permanently. Adventure number 1 was getting Bro. Brad out of the overly steep parking lot after he turned in. Travis and Bro. Brad were hilarious while the rest of us stood on the top porch laughing at them (in love).
Fun Fellowship and Good Food
After we settled down from the parking adventure, we actually went inside the restaurant and checked out the menu and fun decorations. The walls were decorated in sports uniforms from surrounding local schools and colleges. I asked about the decorated dollar bills on the wall and was told it was just something that randomly started and just grew into a cool thing for the restaurant.
Yummy Food
The fried Jalapenos were a great appetizer that was shared by a few of us. I admit than I ate the majority of them. Several shrimp tacos were consumed as well as wings in multiple flavors.
Roadside Pickup
This was something that you could never do with actual students on the trip. Bro. Brad stopped in the road, opened the door of the bus and just said “Get on quick.” Back on the road by 2:30.
Conference Center/Registration
Bro. Brad then dropped us off “in the road” at the Chattanooga Conference Center. The first breakout session was from 3:00-4:15 and as you can see from the picture, we made it with six minutes to spare. I think everyone had looked ahead to determine which session they wanted to attend. Registration went smoothly, organized by your specific home state. Over nine states were represented at the conference.
Sessions and Free Giveaways
Travis and I chose “Secrets to Planning Successful Large Events” as our first break out session to attend. We were all encouraged to register for the free items that were to be given away throughout the conference in the exhibit hall. Some us us were more blessed by the free gifts than others, as you can tell from Bro. Brad’s face. His name was drawn in the first round of gifts given. He won an iPad, Apple Watch and Apple Airpods.
Exhibit Hall Fun
The Exhibit Hall was a large area full of vendors from Christian camps form several states, with Christian College recruiters, books etc. Bro. Brad told us to never refuse a free gift. These gifts could be used as giveaways during our own youth games and services at OBC. I think several of us did very well!!!! (Better than Brad) He claims to have collected the most pens.
One of the last counts of donated items after returning home was …….23 shirts, 27 bracelets, 3 cups, 1 water bottle, 2 waterproof phone cases, 15 stickers, 3 hats, 1 banner, 3 popsockets, and 4 bags. More was actually turned in later.
City Cafe Diner
City Cafe Diner ended up being our go to spot for food. The prices were good, food was great, portion sizes were very large and the desserts… OH MY!! It was a five minute walk from the convention center. We actually walked by it on the way to and from the hotel, which was .6 miles from the convention center.
Not Your Typical Win
Travis actually didn’t win or even get offered a coffee mug. I set it up with these nice people to call him over and pretend that he had won a mug. They were so nice. We all laughed because he had told us, “All I ever win is coffee mugs.” They did give him the mug when he left their booth.
Reading the Bible allows us to be certain of what God said. The Bible is our final authority.
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17).
To say that main session one was a disappointment would be an understatement. The speaker actually said some things that were biblically incorrect. It is so important that YOU know what Jesus says in the Bible and not just rely on information given by others. God’s Word is the Truth. Know and study the Truth so that you can discern if what you are hearing is correct and not just believe it because someone stands in front of a large crowd and says that it is true.
State Fellowship
State Fellowship was a time that youth pastors and volunteers from each state could get together in a room to fellowship. Blue Mountain Christian College, my alma mater, was set up in the Mississippi room giving away t-shirts and other SWAGG. I felt REALLY old when a young lady that I taught in kindergarten handed me a shirt. She was one of the staff members from Blue Mountain. We will NOT discuss ages.
Travis’s favorite part was the COOKIE(s)!!
They are DRAGGING
These guys just wanted coffee and lots of it. From the looks on their faces, I think they needed it. Travis was apparently on cup #2. Shannon isn’t letting go of his cup any time soon.
Mega Breakout
From 8:30 to 9:45, Travis and I attended Dr. Ryan Smith’s session on “What is Biblical Sexuality?” This breakout session discussed what the Bible says about sex, gender, marriage, and sexuality. He discussed how we can trust God’s good design in these areas while engaging in a lost and broken world. It was the best breakout session we attended.
Main Session Two
We entered the main Session at 10:45 after gathering more info and freebies in the Exhibit Hall. Worship began with music from the group Edenfield. Then a christian comedian (illusionist, not magician) spoke and joked around.
The worship session was led by Shane Pruitt, National Next Gen Director, NAMB. This session was MUCH better than the first. We prayed together as couples for each other at the end of his session.
Edenfield
The singing was fabulous
Lunch Break
Our group headed back to CIty Cafe Dinner for lunch. There was a waiting list and Travis signed us up for TEN people, but only eight of us were eating. The manager came out to check on everyone and he and Bro. Brad became GREAT friends. Bro. Brad told him our number had changed to 8 as 2 of our group chose to eat somewhere else. We all laughed at the back and forth funny remarks.The manager had the last laugh when he called our table over the speaker outside as the reservation for eight that would still be paying for ten. I wished I had videoed the whole conversation. He was the BEST!!!
More Friends
Our waitress was GREAT. She took all of our orders and never wrote anything down. She told me that with 11 years experience at this restaurant, it was just natural to her.
I’m not sure what is up with everyone putting dollar bills on the wall in all the restaurants.
You know that you have been married a long time when you pick at each other…. LITERALLY!!
LUNCH FOOD!!!!!!!
DESSERT FOOD !!!!!!!
Small World…Mighty God We Serve
After talking to this man for a few minutes we realized that he serves at the church where Benjamin Quinn attends. Benjamin grew up at Oakland Baptist Church and was an active member of the youth group. He was also one of Travis’s baseball players that asked our family to attend the Passion Play at Oakland where Travis asked Jesus into his heart!!!!
Competition and Friends
I challenged Andy to Cornhole. He beat me everytime. SOMEBODY has practiced way too much and it was not me. I lost both times we played.
Bro. Brad found another friend. But this one he knew before the conference… I think, or at least by looking back at my pictures he did. We met so many nice people while at Conclave.
Shocking Facts
The next session Travis and I attended was “Creating Tech Savvy Parents” by Brian Houseman. He is the creator of 360family.org. No issue affects the family quite like technology. The typical child will spend seven years of their life looking at social media. He gave practical steps to parents who have children of any age to help them lead and protect their families.
Main Session 3
Jared Wilson led this session. He is the pastor & Director of Pastoral Training Center, @lbcliberty. Professor & Author in Residence, @midwesternseminary.
Late Night
The session ended a little before 10:00 on Friday night. Travis, Bro. Brad, Brooke, and myself headed (walked) downtown to pick up Community Pizza for the group. We took it back to the hotel for everyone to eat.
The buildings were amazing in the night lights. The restaurant building used to be Woolworth’s. The F. W. Woolworth Company was a retail company and one of the pioneers of the five-and-dime store. It was among the most successful American and international five-and-dime businesses, setting trends and creating the modern retail model that stores follow worldwide today.
Dogs Allowed
Someone was not impressed that dogs were allowed in the restaurant. One look at the faces will tell you who!!!! PIZZA makes it all better.
Photo Opportunities Everywhere
I made them a little nervous as I went into the street to take pictures of the road.
Dinner is Served
Last Day
At least Travis looks a little more alert this morning, even with the late Friday night activities. We ate a quick breakfast, loaded the bus before we left the hotel, and headed back to the Conference Center for the last day of activities.
Powerful Words
Travis and I went to Missions Discipleship: Beyond the One-Week Trip as our last breakout session. It was about making missions come alive to empower kids to fulfill the Great Commision daily in their community. Then we were back for our last worship with Enfield and main session lead by Jarman Leatherwood. He used Peter walking on water as his sermon illustration. It was powerful!!
Love Thy Neighbor
And this is US..
Mud Creek Fishing Camp Restaurant
We were on the road and headed home by Noon. Bro. Brad trusted Travis and I after we found the Mud Creek Fishing Camp in Hollywood, AL. He is a picky eater but I assured him that there would be something he could eat. It turned into really great choice. We were able to discuss parts of the conference and share thoughts we all took away from the weekend as we waited on our meal.
Home Again
We made it safely back to Corinth by 4:15. It was a tired group of adults let me tell you. Well worth the trip and hope to get to go again next year to Conclave 2024.