By Julie Cole

Y

Youth Quake shook the campus of Briercrest College and Seminary this last weekend as 1,300 youth along with the school’s students streamed in to attend this “party with a purpose.”

From the time the doors opened for the introductory “welcome to YQ” skit until the closing service on Sunday morning, the tiny village of Caronport became a pulsating hub of youth activity. With special speakers, Christian bands, and fun activities to participate in, the task of selecting which event to attend was a difficult task.

“I love how many people are here!” said Grade 11 Cornerstone student Reegan Carter.

Carter has been to YQ four times and said his favorite performance at this year’s event was the band, The Classic Crime.

“I didn’t know who (The Classic Crime) was,” Carter confessed. “But (during the concert) I realized I knew some of their songs.”

Grade 11 Vanier student, Sarah Francis liked the band Article One.

“The like the worship,” she said. “Everyone is worshipping God. It feels like He’s right there with you.”

Michael G. from Kenora Ont. liked the special speakers—especially Sid Koop who spoke to a packed room of over 500 youth about Sex, Christ, and Culture.

“You don’t get to hear this kind of stuff that often,” he said. “It’s nice, the passion (the speakers) have when they speak.”

Ever since the first Youth Quake happened 48 years ago, the event has become a time honoured tradition. The event has been around long enough that many of the special speakers and bands once attended Youth Quake as students themselves.

“It’s almost surreal,” main stage speaker Grant Fishbook marveled. “It’s very interesting to be standing on this side of things.”

Steinbach youth pastor Kent Martens attended Youth Quake as a Briercrest student in 1983 and has come back almost every year since then with his youth group.

“It’s fun to be at YQ,” Martens said. “As alumni of the school we love coming back and bringing our students.”

Tim Neufeld, lead singer for the worship band Starfield told Saturday night’s audience how he hoped as a young man that he would one day be invited to perform at YQ.

For YQ director, AJ Crocker, things have also come full circle. Crocker attended his first Youth Quake as a Grade 4 student when his dad snuck him in to see the Christian rock band, Petra. Seventeen years later as Crocker stood on stage at the end of this year’s YQ—his first as director-- he found it hard to keep the emotion back as he thanked the many staff and interns who helped make the event a success.

“I love YQ!” he said as he choked back tears.

Just two days after the last session ended it’s difficult to even tell that anything so massive happened on the Briercrest campus. Everything seems back to it’s normal state.

But there is anticipation in the air. Some students have already started counting down for next year.

Only 363 days until YQ 2012!