Hillsboro youth attend SPLAT conference
Sixteen youth and five sponsors from Hillsboro United Methodist Church recently attended the S.P.L.A.T. (Seek, Pray, Learn, Act, Teach) international youth conference at Greensboro, N.C.
About 7,000 United Methodist youth attended the conference, which occurs once every four years.
Those from Hillsboro set off on a 22-hour journey to Greensboro, N.C., with an overnight stay in St. Louis to visit the Gateway Arch. They chose to drive the 3,000-mile round-trip journey to have opportunities to see the sights along the way.
Upon arrival in North Carolina the group spent an afternoon at Wrightsville Beach near Wilmington.
Each day of the five-day conference began with a morning worship to introduce the word for the day and the Christian band, Fusebox led praise songs.
Comedian Bob Stromberg began worship services with a unique personal style of speaking and storytelling.
Two afternoon workshops were held and included Methodist teachings, teen issues, leadership development, how to strengthen relationships with God, and expressing faith through art, music, and other various international traditional ways of prayer.
Following a dinner break, all 7,000-plus youth gathered again in the Greensboro Coliseum to have an evening worship and to listen to various speakers and bands.
Speakers included Bishop Scott Jones from the Kansas area, and several other bishops and pastors from around the country. Each speaker tied the word of the day into their message and shared a part of their lives that transformed them into who they are today.
Participating bands were were Superchic[k], the Katinas, Kutless, StellarKart, and Fusebox.
An expo also was held in which the youth had opportunities to purchase items or take part in crafts.
DevoZine, a Methodist devotional book, sponsored a café where people could sit, relax, meet other teens, and spend time in devotion.
Hillsboro youth attending were Justin Wodke, Jacob Edwards, Jared and Amber King, David Ratzloff, Heather and Rachelle Goldsby, Alex and Meghan Jost, Kelli Janzen, Jessica and Jenesa Klose, Chris Couts, Lora Andrews, Shelby Koons, and Jet Skiles. Sponsors who accompanied the youth included Shawn Batterton, Eileen Butler, Kathy Decker, Rickey and Sonya Roberts.
