Forward Youth Worship Conference Experience/Reflections! From a 1st Timer's Perspective.

What is the Forward Conference?
Each year, 13,000 students gather at the Infinite Energy Arena to be part of an incredible weekend of worship and fun featuring some of the best worship artists and guest speakers in the world. It’s more than just a conference, it’s a call to this generation to leave the past behind and push forward into the plans God has for their lives.
“And the LORD said to Moses, “Why do you cry to Me? Tell the children of Israel to GO FORWARD.” Exodus 14:15

Where to even begin?
Let’s start here: I found out about FowardCon through my church (Thank you, RPT for this opportunity!). I help teach the middle school girls on Sundays and found out that they were taking a couple of our youth to the conference. With me being the newest leader with the girls, I thought that going on this trip would be a great way to get to know the girls more and strengthen our bond which will then have them open up more with us on Sundays. (We gotta be strategic with these kids to get them to open up just like our Sunday school teachers were with us LOL!)
 So I inquired about the trip and there was an open spot as a chaperone. FowardCon, here we come!

The first night was mind-blowing in such a great way! After finding a seat (that’s a whole other blog), I got settled and took a moment to look around. Y’all, I had never seen a FULLY packed out arena, not even at the Beyonce concert I went to. I mean no seat empty. An arena full of youth READY to worship.

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​The first night finally started. THE GRAPHICS and full on production I saw was SICKKK! From the entertaining opening acts, lights, oh and the LED stage they stood on (amazing) was supreme. I loved seeing this conference go all out for God. 
After getting over the packed out stadium and amazing visuals, then came the worship. (Dramatic pause) We worshipped our hearts out each and every night like it was our last day on earth. There were tears, arms lifted, people singing, souls being saved, and the spirit of God truly encompassing the place. I appreciated all the worship artists that led us into that atmosphere. (All artists and speakers will be listed below)
After praising our hearts out, the speakers that they chose blessed us with a WORDDDD you hear me!
My notes are filled with golden nuggets that they kept dropping. I couldn’t type fast enough and hope the messages will be posted up soon so you can hear them.
What I appreciated most about the speakers was that they were very much aware of the audience they were speaking to. As a speaker myself, I admired that. They made sure their teaching was able to be understood by a middle school/high school mindset and that it also spoke to us older folk… (the chaperones lol!)
Here are some nuggets I took away:

• Sometimes you don’t need to be blessed, you need to be blistered by the Holy Spirit. – Jentezen Franklin
• Faith is spelled R I S K. – Jentezen Franklin
• In the right arena, sex is honorable. – Lee Vylesco
• There’s salvation through Jesus found in every situation/weakness. – Dawnchere
• Our calling in life is to be a witness. Whether it be from a pulpit, the BET awards, or at your job. – Carl Lentz

I could go on and on, but I’ll let those simmer for now.

Now that I’ve talked about the conference,
 allow me to share my personal takeaway:
Before getting to the conference, y’all know by now that I do my research so I can know what I’m walking into.
After researching, I didn’t see any familiar worship artists I knew (so I thought) or guest speakers.
So here’s the thing, I grew up on a certain type of music; Kirk Franklin, Fred Hammond, Kim Burell, etc. So I’ve personally had a hard time opening myself up to this newer contemporary type worship. I’ve tried! My church sings these types of songs sometimes and I’d learn the words, but it wasn’t quite moving me like other music was.
With that, I told myself, “Hey, I know the music at the conference isn’t what you’re used to, but go in with an open mind and let God handle the rest.”
So I did. I was excited to hear each artist and welcomed in their worship just like I would with what I’m used to hearing.
Man, did I have a spiritual breakthrough.
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​Listen,
I think in the past, I subconsciously didn’t open myself up to feel when I heard this type of music. But what I realized is that it has the same power and the same anointing that flows through the music I grew up on.
Y’all, I was having like a whole mind-blowing epiphany within my own little bubble.
It’s amazing what going in with an open mind can do.
After that realization, I let myself go and felt His presence throughout each song I sang. It was an amazing experience for me.

To top that all off, let me tell you about this beautiful angel that blessed me.
As I was worshipping…and crying (Thug tears lol)…this random woman touches my back. As I’m wiping my tears, I’m thinking she needs to get by, because I was on the end of a row. That wasn’t the case. As the booming music from Hillsong Worship was playing, I heard her as clear as day say, Hi my name is Lindy. I know this might sound crazy and be kind of weird but the Lord told me to come and pray for you. Is that ok? Not knowing who she was from Adam, I said yes.
We hugged each other from the side, put one arm around each other, rested our heads together, and she began to pray for me. (I’m getting teary-eyed as I type).
She was such a blessing to me. I listened to her prayer, and wiped my eyes, and can’t even remember everything she said, but I can remember the way she made me feel.
I’m SO grateful she followed her heart and was obedient to what God asked her to do because she hugged me in a moment that I really needed one. I got her number and texted her afterwards telling her thank you again.
Thank you, Lindy.

With ALL that being said,
I had a phenomenal time. From seeing our youth worship, get saved, laugh and sing on the buses, build bonds with fellow youth and witness some of them wanting to get baptized so we did it in the pool of the hotel, I couldn’t have asked for a better weekend. Sleep deprived, yes. Worth it? Heck yes.
 
Xoxo,
Abnormally AB

Artist and speaker info below:
Speakers:
Jentezen Franklin, Carl Lentz, Levi, Luscko, Dawnchere Wilkerson, Reggie Dabbs, Ben Prescott.
Artists:
Hillsong Worship, Andy Mineo, Bethel Music, Passion Music, Free Chapel Music.