@powertochange:

Winter Conference

Written by Eric Reynolds

January 12, 2012

This year’s Winter Conference was held in Richmond Hill (East) and Calgary (West) by Power to Change – Students. The annual conference is “specially designed to encourage, train, and mobilize” students to help them change their world.

Between the two conferences, over 500 were in attendance this year to hear speakers such as Leonard Buhler, Sean Cullen, Brad Morris, and others.

There was teaching, worship through praise and prayer, and strategic workshops. Some of the workshops included topics such as relationships, finances, discipleship and even “The gospel according to Family Guy.”

Students choose which workshops to attend, which is a highlight for them.

“The workshops were my favourite part as a student,” remembers Marcus Goral, Recruitment and Selection Coordinator at Power to Change.

Marcus was involved with Power to Change – Students (formerly Campus for Christ) for five years before joining the Human Resources department at headquarters.

Another highlight for the students was the day of outreach. Typically this is done in communities, neighbourhoods, malls etc. and in partnership with a church. However, evangelism looked a little different this year; it was conducted entirely online. The lobby was filled with 400+ students on laptops, engaging chat rooms, media, and social platforms with the Gospel. Sessions leading up to the day of outreach helped prepare students for this kind of ministry. Some were familiar with using the Internet to share their faith while others were not.

2012 was welcomed with excitement. Marcus recalls, “There was an atmosphere of excitement, praise, and fun in the auditorium.” Just the kind of atmosphere you would expect with a room full of budding students ready to change the world.

Winter Conference Video