KYCK was a surprisingly enjoyable experience to me as didn’t really know what to expect when I was first introduced to the idea of attending the conference. What really spoke to me from the book of Jonah, was that we are all running away from God in some part of our lives and we have to actively choose to live differently before we see any change in our life. Another thing that resonated with me was the fact that we have no right to hold anything against God because he created everything and everything happens because of Him, which also means that we can’t follow God just to get what we want and run when He wants something from us. This put into perspective how great God’s mercy for us must be because we constantly run from him when we inevitably sin.
One of the particularly meaningful moments I had on KYCK was the discussion I had with the other Year 10 boys after the second talk. This was particularly meaningful to me because it was liberating to be able to freely share my thoughts and have a deep conversation in a safe space and people I was comfortable with. It was also encouraging to see my friends who don’t regularly come to church, whom I had brought to KYCK also actively engage in topics about what it means to be a Christian and what it looks like to give your whole life to Christ.
To anyone who is unsure about coming to KYCK I would say that they should definitely come next year and that KYCK is especially for those out there who are in need of encouragement of themselves and their faith, as well as being a great time to hang out with friends who all share a love for Christ.
Jayden
At KYCK, we learnt about Jonah and that he was quite selfish and untrusting to God. This mirrors us as humans as we don't always trust what God says and we are often selfish (as in we want ourselves to get mercy, but we want others to get punished). Like Jonah, we sin, but through God's mercy we are forgiven.
We see God everywhere in the book of Jonah. Even when Jonah went on a ship to try and escape or went to Ninevah to teach, God was there. We see God's mercy - in the way he responded to Jonah, as well as his desire to save Ninevah which was a wicked and brutal nation. In Term 2, I want to pray more and maybe tell my friends. I think probably my relationship with God has changed from KYCK.
The accomodation was very nice and big (but the toilet bathroom had no door!). We had responsibiliites like cooking and cleaning. We got to play board games like uno, sushi go and banana-grams and we also played frisbee on a field which was pretty fun.
Lachlan
KYCK was extremely inspirational for me. The book focused on was the book of Jonah which is of the story of when a prophet tries to run from God because he does not like the message that God told him to send to his enemies. However, on the boat, a storm is sent by God where Jonah is then thrown in the water and is swallowed by a whale. After 3 days, he is spat out and sends a message to his enemies.
What really stuck with me was that many of us love only parts of God and not his entirety.
Overall, KYCK was extremely inspirational. Combined with the party-like sermons and time with friends makes it a good experience for teenagers.
Ben
KYCK is a wonderful opportunity to grow your faith or build a new faith. You learn lots about God and the talks really challenge you to think deeper about your life and living as a Christian. The Youth leaders at WACD are supportive and encourage you to ask questions if you are unsure about something or are just curious. The people that also volunteer at KYCK are supportive and there is a great worship band that adds to the unity you feel by being surrounded by so many people that share the same faith.
Meaningful memories
KYCK isn't just about the talks it is about the memories spent with other Youth members. KYCK helped a lot with bonding and getting to know others better. We weren't just sitting together in the talks, but also living together like a family. Cooking meals in groups helped me to work together and bond with one another. Living in the same house enabled connection and more conversations with each other. When the whole of waco spent our time playing Frisbee it allowed us to have fun with each other and work together. This was a meaningful memory because it was an activity everyone could join and it strengthened bands. communication and togetherness.
What Challenged me?
There were a few things that challenged me. The first one was from the seminar and was 'Telling your friends about Jesus This challenged me and stuck with me because I am usually scared about sharing Jesus with my friends. But the talk convinced me to hopefully do it. There was also an analogy in the last talk about comparing people who don't believe as drowning, and we don't want to be selfish people who don't consider saving them until it is too late.
The second thing was running to God with everything. I felt like sometimes I don't surrender everything in my life. Giving your life to Jesus is like giving the keys to rooms in your house to God, but sometime we give give some of the keys, not all. This analogy helped my eyes to be opened to how I was actually living my life and made me want to change it. The last thing was straight and not believing in God for just the good part. Sometimes I believe in God for all the benefits like eternal life but turn away when challenges come up or things I don't like: For example, inviting my friends to Easter. This mindset was like Jonah’s because he didn't like the idea of God forgiving the City of Nineveh after he preached to them. He knew God would forgive them so he ran. But through all of this, God was merciful to wards Jonah and saved him. So, I feel comforted by this, because God gives us second chances, so even if we mess up we can turn to God for forgiveness and he will forgive. This helped me want to change my ways and believe with everything.
Serena