36,000 Christian Students Help Serve Disaster Victims at Youth Conference
The North American Youth Congress was attended by over 36,000 students
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As many children head back to school, thousands of students from across the world gathered in St. Louis, Mo. to help disaster victims as part the largest Christian youth events in the nation.
The North American Youth Congress was attended by over 36,000 students between July 31 to Aug. 2, at The Dome at America's Center.
Hosted by the Youth Ministries division of the United Pentecostal Church International (UPCI), the three-day conference was filled with worship, preaching, networking, and community service.
This years theme was "Kingdom Come."
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Last Friday ay students had a chance to walk it out on "Serve Day" by volunteering.
UPCI Youth Ministries President Josh Carson referenced the Lord’s Prayer as recorded in Matthew 6:
“Jesus told us to pray that His kingdom would come and His will would be done on earth,” he said.
“That means we are called to serve the needs of others, particularly when they are suffering through a crisis.”
"We work with corporations all across the country to get cleaning supplies and personal care items," he said.
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"We also look to get the products to help a child as they go back to school after being impacted by a disaster," said Feed the Children's John Ricketts.
"We're going to be filling 2,000 buckets for disaster recovery, which in times of disaster, will be distributed and put together at this location," Superintendent Missouri Division UPCI Bryan Parkey told television station KTVI.
Two semi-trailers were filled with 1,500 buckets if relief supplies for communities suffering from natural disasters.
Some of those affected were victims of the floods that recently hit the Midwest.
Those who attended also donated more than $1 million to Sheaves For Christ the fundraising arm of UPCI.
The fundraising organization supports missionary efforts around the world, inclduing purchasing vehicles for missionaries, and helping fund organizations such as adoption agencies, a children's home, and outreach for at-risk boys.
The UPCI is a Oneness Pentecostal organization with approximately 4.9 million members worshiping in 42,000 churches across 228 nations and territories. The organization is headquartered in Weldon Spring, Missouri.
