“It Will Change Your Life for the Better”: Bek’s KYCK Testimony
In this interview, Bek from Robertston Youth Group shares how she became a Christian at KYCK youth conference in 2019. Even though following Jesus hasn’t always been easy, Bek shares how knowing Him has transformed her life.
1. Tell us how you became a Christian!
I was brought up in a Christian home, so I knew of God but I didn’t have a real relationship with Him. In primary school, I went through something really hard, so I was very far from God, and so just so angry and sad. In 2019, I was in year 8 and I attended KYCK for the first time. I remember a talk just spoke to me and the rest is history.
Meeting and following Jesus hasn’t been easy, but he has helped me work through my mental health issues. I have also met so many amazing people that have encouraged me in my faith. They have uplifted me, helped me grow, and have taught me so much, as a person and as a follower of Jesus.
I have also had the amazing opportunity to be a Junior Leader at my Youth Group! Primarily I help welcome people. It’s a blessing to help make a fresh face fit in and feel a part of our group.
2.How many KYCKs have you been to and what is your favourite part of it?
I have been to five KYCKS, and it would have been six if COVID didn’t happen. My favourite part of KYCK is the incredible atmosphere—singing with 2,000 other people and the feeling of God around is amazing. Also, the food and the talks.
3. What would you say to someone on the fence about attending KYCK?
Go! It will change your life for the better. It’s an incredible experience and you will learn so much about Jesus, see so much and have loads of fun. One of the best experiences ever. You won’t regret it!
LAST CHANCE to join KYCK 23 at the early bird rate!
KYCK challenges and equips teenagers to boldly live the Christian life. This 22-24 September, we invite youth groups to join us for one final weekend and to “Meet Jesus” in the Gospel of Mark. Early Bird tickets are still available until 30 June. Register now and save: https://www.kyck.org.au/register/
Bek shares how she became a Christian at KYCK youth conference in 2019.
By Heidi Tai
Mid-Year Reflection: 7 Ways God Has Transformed Lives So Far
We are officially halfway through 2023 and want to take a moment to celebrate how God has been at work through the Katoomba Christian Convention (KCC) ministry to date.
April was a big month for KCC, as we had the privilege of hosting over 7,300 delegates across two conventions—Katoomba Easter Convention (KEC) and KYCK conference for high-schoolers. Over 4 weekends, people of all ages and life-stages left the distractions and pressures of everyday life to gather as ‘One in Christ Jesus’ in Katoomba. In doing so, the mountains came alive with powerful preaching and meaningful fellowship; the echo of singing and laughter giving thousands a ‘slice of heaven’ on earth.
Katoomba Easter Convention 2023 Highlights
Like all our events, every element of KEC and KYCK is thoughtfully planned to fulfill our vision: to see our nation transformed by Jesus Christ through the powerful preaching of the Bible. Here are 7 ways we have seen this happen this year:
As the gospel was preached powerfully and faithfully, God rescued people to Himself!
“One of our youths has literally been counting down the days for KYCK since he heard about it. He became a Christian on Saturday night, and asked if we could have a party to welcome him home. We had a party. Thanks for doing what you do, KYCK changes so many lives for Christ!”
Youth Leader at KYCK 2023
“Two of my youth girls became Christians – by far the most important experience for me as a youth pastor. I’m so thankful for this ministry.”
James, Youth Pastor at KYCK 2023
“We had four of our youth make commitments to Christ on the Saturday night – including one of my sons. Praise God for the message of the gospel and the power to save.”
Dave, Youth Leader at KYCK 2023
2. Long-time delegates were moved by God’s faithfulness to them over decades
“I’ve been coming to KEC for most of my life, and in Sam Chan’s first talk he put up John 20:31. I immediately began to sing it in my head, as it had been the memory verse for the Junior High program one year. In that moment, I was just thankful I’d spent well over a decade having had the Bible well-taught at KEC by people who loved Jesus and were willing to give up time and money so the conference could happen. I’m thankful for all that I’ve learnt about the Bible, and that the leaders of the Kid’s Programs and KEC speakers never shied away from the fact that life can be hard, but God and His Word are true and unchanging and that He is worth following.”
Lizzie, KEC 2023
3. After years of isolation, God used our large-scale gatherings to sustain and embolden His people
“KYCK feels like the only place other than church, where you can connect with people who have the same beliefs as you whilst learning new things to take home and cherish. This was my first ever KYCK and it was the highlight of the year. Definitely going to come back next year and be fully committed to listening to God’s Word, following Him and loving like Jesus did.”
Youth at KYCK 2023
“[I was encouraged by] a feeling of unity and community with fellow Christians when it’s very easy to feel overwhelmed by the amount of people who don’t know Jesus, but there are so many brothers and sisters out there believing the same thing I do.”
Kayla, KEC 2023
“[My favourite thing about KYCK was] worshipping with over a thousand teenagers and being able to sing and let my heart out without fear of judgement.”
Grace, Youth at KYCK 2023
4. As God’s word was preached, believers were encouraged to persevere in faith, hope and love
“To say I was refreshed, encouraged, inspired, challenged, provoked and filled…is a small response. We were filled with the sustaining love of Jesus for us and for others; with teaching, thinking and experiences to go onwards and to reach others. I can’t fully describe or encapsulate what you guys did to include all this, but this is something unique and special in the Christian world that you have created.”
Grant, KEC 2023
“The Bible teaching was most important as I am grieving the loss of my husband and I needed the encouragement reinforced that God does comfort us through His people and Word and that He is there through the darkness.”
Kim, KEC 2023
5. The next generation of believers are being inspired and grown in Christ-likeness
“I didn’t have a relationship with God for most of my life. I still have a long way to go with my faith, but now I’m putting in an effort to read his Word and pray more often. Being surrounded by so many people in a God-praising environment is just so incredibly amazing.”
Izabelle, Youth at KYCK 2023
“[I was encouraged by] the senior high program, being able to meet people my age and talk about the Bible, doubting, failure and all sorts of things in discussion groups. Meeting with like-minded people from all over Sydney and NSW has opened by eyes to how many people believe the same thing as me.”
Stormlee, Youth at KEC 2023
6. At a time where society is increasingly sceptical towards the Bible, God refreshed eyes and softened hearts to hear and respond to His Word
“KYCK has really changed the way I’ve thought about Christianity. I now have a newfound joy for worship and confidence to approach my non-Christian friends.”
Youth at KYCK 2023
“I felt encouraged to get back into my Bible more. Life has been busy and stressful the last 12 months and my quiet time with God has become neglected. This weekend spurred me on to make the time for it again and to dig into the Word more.”
Tim, KEC 2023
7. Delegates returned home empowered to serve God in their homes, workplaces and local churches
“It was good to be reminded of God’s master plan and how His Word makes so much sense in our fallen world. It also challenged me to share the good news with others again. God is good even in the midst of pain. God’s Word will go out to accomplish what God intends.”
Kristina, KEC 2023
“We have made KEC an annual family retreat. We were encouraged by the range of speakers all speaking on a coordinated program. Hearing the range of testimonies and other ministries gave great insight into what the wider church is working hard at. It encouraged us to do our best where God has planted us.”
Joanne, KEC 2023
We want to see more people love Jesus more. Can you help?
Our aim is to call and inspire Christians to single-mindedly dedicate their whole lives to God, and we want to see more people come to love Jesus more.
You can help us
Help us continue this ministry that impacts so many. In tougher economic times we appreciate your gift more than ever.
Tax deductible gifts are a huge help to KCC because they enable us to use KCC One (our mobile app) and its huge talk library to reach thousands of people with life-changing preaching.
7 ways God has transformed lives through the ministry of Katoomba Christian Convention.
By Heidi Tai
Meet BASECAMP Speaker: Peter Sondergeld
We are pleased to announce that Lead Pastor of Restoration Church, Peter Sondergeld, will be joining the BASECAMP platform as a keynote speaker.
Meet BASECAMP 23 Speaker: Peter Sondergeld
Joining Alasdair Groves (CCEF), Peter will combine Scripture and biblical counselling experience to help men have a biblical view of what their emotions are, how to handle them well, and how to help each other process with God and one another.
Peter serves as the Lead Pastor at Restoration Church in Toowoomba, Australia. He is also the founder and chair of Restore Ministries and is a registered teacher, counsellor and counselling supervisor. Peter’s qualifications include a Doctor of Ministry (Australian College of Theology) and a Master of Education & Graduate Certificates in Biblical Counselling. His first book, Becoming You, was released in 2022.
He has been married for over 20 years to his loving and encouraging wife Angela, is a father to four teenage sons and is a friend to many. If you don’t catch him equipping, teaching and loving his local church, you will find him enjoying a good coffee, camping with his family or enjoying a mountain bike ride.
Get a taste of his teaching here:
Silencing Anxiety
The internal noise generated by anxiety can be deafening. How do you silence it? Some people try to silence it through feverishly gathering more and more information, but it doesn’t ultimately work. In this video, Peter shares some thoughts on a better way forward.
In this talk from the 2018 ‘Restoring True Humanity Workshops’, Peter addresses humanity’s problem with power and our capacity to abuse it. He highlights the type of power that we should refuse while giving us a view of biblical power that we should pursue, as we become more like Christ.
https://vimeo.com/295925059
What if Boys Cry?
In 2023, BASECAMP will address the topic of emotions because the team recognises that ‘boys don’t cry’ is one of many damaging principles of a past era. It’s a ‘truth’ that has raised men with suppressed grief, until it explodes in anger or anxiety, causing further damage to their relationships with God and one another.
At BASECAMP, we want to recognise that if men are to live in a world stained by sin, they need community and tools to process grief and disappointment in a godly way. Christian men need to have a biblical view of what their emotions are, what to do with them, and how to help each other. Together, men need to fix their eyes on Jesus, the perfect man and model of emotional expression, and bring the change that is needed.
BASECAMP is for men of all generations, backgrounds and life-stages. Whether you’re fighting anger or anxiety, weariness or worry, register to renew your strength at BASECAMP: https://basecampmen.com/
Lead Pastor of Restoration Church, Peter Sondergeld, will be joining the BASECAMP platform as a keynote speaker.
By Heidi Tai
Can We Really Trust God?
Who do you trust?
A loving and supportive parent?
A leader with integrity?
A friend who has been loyal over time?
Is there anyone who is worthy of all your trust—with absolutely everything? Or has time proven that even the best of human relationships can fail or disappoint, and that trusting someone comes at a level of risk?
While some of us have a long list of trusted confidants, others are more cautious and skeptical, choosing to trust in only themselves. However, even the most self-sufficient person has limits—in strength, resources and wisdom. A life independent from others can feel lonely and exhausting.
After all, humans are interconnected and dependent beings—from young we crave attachment and relationship. But if the people around us are limited and finite, who exactly can we trust with all our needs and desires—both today and into eternity?
At OneLove this year, guest speaker, Jackie Hill Perry will preach on the theme “Worthy of Trust: The God Who Sees Us”. Guiding us through Scripture, Jackie will refresh our eyes to the goodness and beauty of God while empowering our hearts to put our entire trust in Him:
“If God is holy, then it means He can’t sin, and if God can’t sin, then it means He can’t sin against me, shouldn’t that make Him the most trustworthy being there is?” – Jackie Hill Perry
Jackie Hill Perry will teach at OneLove 23
The Christian is called to trust God, but what makes Him worthy of our trust?
What if God doesn’t always feel very loving, supportive, loyal or righteous?
Is God even aware of our circumstances or understand the details of our lives?
If you have doubts about God’s character, feel abandoned in sorrow, or unseen in suffering; or if you want to be further strengthened in the trust that you already have, then OneLove is for you.
Join us on Saturday 26 August, to be refreshed and inspired to live wholeheartedly for a holy God who truly sees, loves, and can care for you—both today and eternity. Bring a group from your church, play group or Bible Study, and make it a special day of encouragement and fellowship!
If humans are limited and finite, who can we trust with all our needs and desires—both today and into eternity? Join us at OneLove to find out!
By Heidi Tai
Meet BASECAMP 23 Speaker: Alasdair Groves
We are pleased to announce that the Executive Director of the Christian Counselling & Education Foundation (CCEF), Alasdair Groves, will be joining the BASECAMP platform as a keynote speaker.
Addressing the topic “Unravelling Emotions”, Alasdair will combine Scripture and Christian counselling experience to help men have a biblical view of what their emotions are, how to handle them well, and how to help each other process with God and one another.
Alasdair received a Master of Divinity with a counselling emphasis from Westminster Theological Seminary. He co-founded a biblical counselling centre in Northern New England where he served as executive director for ten years.
Alasdair also served as the director of CCEF’s School of Biblical Counselling for three years. He is the co-author of Untangling Emotions (Crossway), has published a number of articles in the Journal of Biblical Counselling, hosts the CCEF’s podcast, and has produced many blogs, videos, and audio resources.
Alasdair and his wife, Lauren, live in New England with their three children. Alasdair is a fiction enthusiast, plays ultimate frisbee, and loves to produce and enjoy both good food and good music.
What is self-pity, and how should we view it? How can we turn our self-pity into godly lament that engages honestly with the Lord? Listen as Alasdair Groves discusses self-pity and considers what to do when we or others are struggling with it. Listen here.
In this video, Alasdair explains why we can feel stuck in our grief and addresses how we can have a biblical response to grief.
3. Video: Is it okay for Christians to feel anxiety?
In this video, Alasdair explores the emotions of fear of anxiety, and whether it’s possible for Christians to have godly and biblical anxiety. Watch here.
What if Boys Cry?
In 2023, BASECAMP will address the topic of emotions because the team recognises that ‘boys don’t cry’ is one of many damaging principles of a past era. It’s a ‘truth’ that has raised men with suppressed grief, until it explodes in anger or anxiety, causing further damage to their relationships with God and one another.
At BASECAMP, we want to recognise that if men are to live in a world stained by sin, they need community and tools to process grief and disappointment in a godly way. Christian men need to have a biblical view of what their emotions are, what to do with them, and how to help each other. Together, men need to fix their eyes on Jesus, the perfect man and model of emotional expression, and bring the change that is needed.
BASECAMP is for men of all generations, backgrounds and life-stages. Whether you’re fighting anger or anxiety, weariness or worry, register to renew your strength at BASECAMP: https://basecampmen.com/
Executive Director of CCEF, Alasdair Groves, will be joining the BASECAMP platform as a keynote speaker.
By Heidi Tai
“BASECAMP is Special”: Sean’s KCC Story
In this KCC Story, long-time delegate, Sean, shares how he started attending BASECAMP (formerly Men’s Katoomba Convention) in the early 80’s, and why he has persevered in attending every year since. He shares his personal highlights and the spiritual benefits of setting aside time to go with other men from church—including his son!
1. How long have you been attending BASECAMP men’s conference?
I started attending in the early 80’s with the blokes from St Luke’s, Miranda. I have tried to make it each year since.
2. What have been some of the highlights of attending BASECAMP?
A highlight for me is sitting on the steps and watching men talk about Jesus. The singing is awesome, especially the old hymns. There is something magical about singing with hundreds of blokes. Since I have worked in a few churches, BASECAMP is also an opportunity to catch up with mates who are now spread all over the place.
3. Why do you think men should set aside time to attend conferences like BASECAMP?
At every church I have worked at, my goal has been to take a group to BASECAMP each year. Primarily because it deepens the partnership in the gospel amongst the men who attend together. The shared experience enriches their lives, as they carry lessons they have learned down the hill back home.
I think BASECAMP is special because of the exposure of all ages, shapes and types of men together for a single purpose. It also creates a place for blokes to deepen their relationships with each other.
My son, Jesse, even though he doesn’t want to be part of church now, cherishes getting away with me. He has been coming with me since he was 12. I think he also appreciates being included with the men of church.
We weren’t created to be numb. Renew your strength at BASECAMP!
BASECAMP is an annual event for men who want to know God better. Since 1997, men of all generations and from across denominations have taken time out together to hear God speak. Each year, men have encouraged each other to run the race with their eyes fixed on Jesus.
BASECAMP returns this August, and guest speakers Alasdair Groves (Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation), and Peter Sondergeld (Restoration Church) will address the topic “Unravelling Emotions”.
Combining Scripture, Christian counselling and lived experience, our speakers will help men of all generations to have a biblical view of what our emotions are, how to handle them well, and how to help each other process with God and one another.
For more information on dates, venues, program, speakers, and tickets visit our website: www.basecampmen.com
Sean shares his BASECAMP highlights and why men should set aside time to attend conferences together.
By Heidi Tai
5 Ways to Re-experience Katoomba Easter Convention
You may have left Katoomba Easter Convention (KEC) on a spiritual high but found yourself quickly buried by the demands and pressures of life back at home. Here are 5 ways to re-experience KEC and to ‘stand firm’ for Jesus!
1. Hear all your favourite KEC talks with KCC+
Were the KEC talks and testimonials the highlight of your weekend? Hear them all again with KCC+, a brand-new subscription service giving KCC One users faster and exclusive access to all the latest KCC event talks. Sign up today to get instant access to 13 uploads from KEC 22, and all talks from KEC 23 including:
Ed Stetzer’s“God Has Spoken” expository talks from the Psalms
Dan Paterson’s“Living Out the Truth in a World of Confusion” expository talks from the Gospels
Sam Chan’s“The Plausibility of Believing” short talks from the book of John and Luke
Sarah Irving-Stonebraker’s personal testimony “How Oxford and Peter Singer led an Atheist Historian to Jesus”.
2. Tune your heart to ‘stand firm’ with the KEC Spotify Playlist
Many of us left KEC feeling encouraged and emboldened by God’s word, with hearts softened and committed to walking in the Truth. We want you to continue walking this way—not just at KEC—but all year round! What better way than to keep God’s praises on your lips than to sing of him each day with these handpicked worship songs from the official KEC Spotify playlist:
3. Spot yourself in the KEC Highlight Reel
Over 2,300 of God’s people gathered at KEC this year, and there were plenty of highlights and things to be grateful for! We’ve tried to stitch it all together in a highlight reel—see if you can spot yourselves!
4. Be encouraged to ‘stand firm’ with one of the KEC recommended reads
We’ve picked out a few books that will help you to apply God’s word into everyday life. With topics such as singleness, evangelism, courage, motherhood, business, secularism, money, and the historical accuracy of the Bible, there’s something for every member of your family. Check out the full list on The Wandering Bookseller: https://wanderingbookseller.com.au/collections/kec
5. Reflect, pray and process what you learned at KEC 23
You may have left KEC on a spiritual high but found yourself quickly buried by the demands and pressures of life back at home. Why not commit to having some quiet time with God—reflecting, praying and processing what you learned with these guided questions:
1. What is one verse that stood out or resonated with you?
2. What is one thing God is showing your through His Word? Did you learn anything new?
3. What is one thing you can apply to your daily life? Or is there a habit or attitude you need to change?
4. What do you want to tell God as a result of what you have heard? Or is there one person you want to share that with who can walk with you in this step of faith?
Pray!
5 ways to re-experience KEC and to ‘stand firm’ for Jesus
By Heidi Tai
Meet Oxygen Workshop Speakers: Grant Norsworthy, Kurt Peters and Valerie Ling
Oxygen Conference for ministry leaders and workers is returning this August to refresh delegates in their zeal for God and the work that He has called them to do. This year, Oxygen will return as a 4-day conference retreat in the beautiful Blue Mountains. Keynote speakers Paul Tripp and Zack Eswine will speak on the topic, “Reshaping Our Hearts for the Work We Do”.
We are pleased to announce that Grant Norsworthy, Kurt Peters and Valerie Ling will join Oxygen Conference as workshop facilitators, and address the topics of music, personal weakness and burnout in Christian ministry. As experts in their fields, we look forward to gleaning wisdom from their experiences in the workforce and pastoral ministry.
Learn more about them here:
Grant Norsworthy
Grant Norsworthy will be leading worship in song at Oxygen and presenting a music workshop. He is an Aussie who was based in Nashville, Tennessee from 2002 to 2018, where he achieved a Grammy® nomination, a Dove Award, and extensive touring, recording and radio hits with bands like Paul Colman Trio and Sonicflood.
Now conducting global ministry work from his New Zealand home base, Grant uses his musicianship, freewheeling wit and uncommon candour to encourage audiences to deeper faith in Christ and good works.
As the founder of More Than Music Mentor, he provides high quality online and onsite training for the heart and the art of worshiping musicians everywhere.
Kurt Peters
Rev. Kurt Peters will be running a ‘9 Ways to Walk in Weakness’ workshop at Oxygen. He will share his journey and God’s wisdom of walking with early onset Parkinson’s disease, equipping delegates to find God’s strength in the midst of personal weakness in ministry.
Kurt is an ordained pastor with nearly two decades of coaching, counselling, mentoring, and supervision of Christian ministry experience. He currently works with 45+ clients including Supervisors, Ministers, Chaplains, University Staff Workers, and Cross-Cultural workers from diverse groups and across denominations.
He is the founder and director of Red Sheep Pastoral Supervision and the developer of the Ministry Wellness Report , a burnout and wellness assessment tool for Ministry workers. He sits on the board of Restore Ministries, and was the co-founder of Biblical Counselling Australia where he is currently a special advisor to the board.
Valerie Ling
Valerie Ling will be presenting an Oxygen workshop on burnout in Christian ministry. Valerie is a Clinical Psychologist, speaker, published author and Clinical Supervisor with a special interest in the prevention and treatment of burnout. As a ministry wife herself, Valerie has a particular passion to support gospel workers.
Valerie is the founder of the Centre for Effective Serving, as well as the Clinical Director and founder of the Centre for Effective Living, a group psychology practice dedicated to clinical excellence in mental health.
She has recently completed a Masters of Leadership, with the final research project based on her 2023 leadership and wellbeing survey of Australian clergy.
To learn more about the Oxygen program, workshops, speakers and ticket options please visit our website: https://oxygenconference.com/
Oxygen Conference for ministry leaders and workers is returning this August to refresh delegates in their
By Heidi Tai
Meet Onward Youth Speaker: Dave Jensen
We are pleased to announce that Dave Jensen will be speaking at Onward Youth this June.
Hosted by Katoomba Christian Convention, Onward Youth is an event helping high schoolers make sense of the culture and world around them with a gospel lens and equips them to stand firm for their faith.
In 2023, Onward Youth will explore the theme, “True and Good – Can Christianity Be Both?” If following Jesus is a ‘good’ thing, why does life sometimes feel uncomfortable, lonely, hard and limiting? If I struggle with these things, how can I trust that the way of Jesus is not only true, but also for my good?
We are pleased to announce that Dave Jensen will join the Onward Youth platform to address these important questions. Dave works as a pastor at EV Church on the Central Coast of NSW. Prior to working in ministry, he was in the Australian Army for the best part of a decade which is where someone told him the truth about Jesus, and he became a Christian. Dave is married to Sammy, and they have 4 young sons. He loves telling people about Jesus, El Jannah BBQ chicken and the Sydney Roosters.
In this interview with Karl Faase, Dave shares his testimony of how he became a father at 17 years old and lived a turbulent and destructive life for many years. He shares how Jesus broke into his heart in a remarkable way and turned Dave’s path right around.
Why do we suffer? Is suffering an evidence of punishment, that God is not good, or is there something else going on in the universe? In this sermon at EV Church, Dave answers these important questions from the book of Job 9.
Where is God in the pain? Does he care, or has he turned his back? In this sermon at MBM Church, Dave turns to Romans 8:28-30 to tackle these tough questions.
Hear Dave speak at Onward!
Onward Youth is returning Friday 23 June, 6:30-9:30pm. Choose to join us in-person at the ‘The Concourse’ in Chatswood, or via an Online Livestream at a convenient location of your choice! Either way, it will be a wonderful evening of encouragement and fellowship with youth across the country! Tickets are available for $31pp with discounted online tickets available for those outside the Sydney Metro area. For more information, visit our website: www.onwardevent.com
Dave Jensen will be the keynote speaker at Onward Youth 2023.
By Heidi Tai
Over 5,000 youth invited to ‘Meet Jesus’ at KYCK
Over three weekends, more than 5,000 teenagers and youth leaders attended the KYCK conference in Katoomba. Founded in 1993, KYCK is a Bible preaching event aimed at inspiring high schoolers to live for Jesus alone.
Over the years, KYCK has become a treasured space for teenagers to explore and deepen their faith with like-minded company. Each year, delegates are invited to hear and respond to God’s word through powerful Bible talks, uplifting worship in song, inspiring testimonies, and fun youth-appropriate activities.
This year, guest speakers Seth Fellows (AFES), Josh Hayward (Christ Church St Ives), Dave Jensen (EV Church), Nathan Lee (Trinity Grammar), Ed Sowden (Bathurst Presbyterian) and Jonnie Wintle (Seaforth Anglican) invited delegates to ‘Meet Jesus’ in the Gospel of Mark.
The talks aimed to demystify the person of Jesus and to show us his powerful yet loving rule. We praise God that because of hearing His word, 81 teenagers decided to follow Jesus for the first time, 257 recommitted their lives to him, and 92 left the conference wanting to learn more.
For teenagers who are already Christian, attending KYCK enables them to hear God’s word taught from someone new, thus allowing them to hear old stories with fresh perspective. Gathering at KYCK also serves as a powerful reminder that they are not alone in their faith, and that their beliefs are shared by thousands across Australia. This encouragement is especially important for teenagers in smaller youth groups, isolated rural areas, or who face opposition for their faith at home or school.
“KYCK feels like the only place other than church where you can connect with other people who have the same beliefs as you, whilst learning new things to take home and cherish. This was my first ever KYCK and it was certainly the highlight of the year. Definitely going to come back next year and be fully committed to listening to God’s Word, following Him and loving like Jesus did.”
“KYCK has really changed the way I’ve thought about Christianity. I now have a newfound joy for worship and confidence to approach my non-Christian friends.”
“I’ve made so many new memories, new friends and most importantly, renewed my relationship with God.”
“Seth’s talks were amazing. He helped me view Jesus in a whole new perspective.”
While KYCK is designed primarily for high schoolers, it also serves youth leaders who can take a break from planning and leading Youth Group that week. Instead, leaders are invited to spend quality time with their teenagers, and to deepen relationships through bonding, learning, sharing and praying together.
A BIG thank you for KYCK 2. It was my first time, and the first time bringing our little youth group (4 teens + one other leader). It was a wonderful weekend of Bible teaching, music, fun, and time together. I was particularly encouraged by your commitment to being faithful to the Scriptures and your focus on Christ.
“What a weekend! We’re leaving with a challenge to answer: who is Jesus and what difference does that make to my life? Mark’s Gospel has spoken to us this weekend and we pray our youth will continue to listen to Him speak into their lives as we head back to Taree.”
Emersus Youth
Hosted as a hybrid event, youth groups can choose to experience KYCK in-person at StayKCC in the Blue Mountains, or KYCK Online; a high-quality livestream promising a ‘front row’ seat from the convenience of a living room or church hall. Delegates who joined KYCK in-person could take part in optional fellowship activities including an organised Prayer Gathering and a Saturday night BBQ which raised over $3,000 for Scripture teachers.
Do you have a story of how God worked in you or your youth at KYCK 23? Let us know using the feedback form or by emailing kyck@kcc.org.au. We would love to hear from you!
KYCK will return for a fourth weekend on the 22-24 September. Tickets are still available from our website: https://www.kyck.org.au/
Over three weekends, more than 5,000 teenagers and youth leaders attended the KYCK conference in Katoomba.
