FRANKLIN — In some ways, it felt as if the devil was in the details at this year’s Youth Evangelism Conference.
Severe weather, logistical challenges and altered travel plans were just a few of the obstacles that could have derailed the event.
But it was God, not the enemy, who orchestrated each variable of the 2025 YEC. And in the end, the perceived hardships just made the victories all the sweeter.
With several thousand students and leaders in attendance, the event — which was held at three regional sites — saw more than 250 decisions for Christ, including professions of faith and calls to the ministry.
Jay Barbier, Harvest Field Three Team Leader and former Youth Specialist for for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board, served as the coordinator for the conference. He said students were “locked in” on the message and worship at all three sites, leading to a movement of God that impacted lives and eternity.
“We saw an epic response among the students at each of our three locations,” said Barbier, who served as YEC director this year but will now transition out of that role.
“Year after year, we see students get so excited to participate in YEC. And that was definitely the case this year. People were locked in and engaged for the worship, the preaching, and the laughs.”
This year’s rallies were held at LifePoint Church in Smyrna on March 7-8; Union University in Jackson on March 15; and Black Oak Heights Baptist Church in Knoxville on March 28-29.
The conference in Jackson featured an unexpected twist when severe weather caused the schedule to be adjusted. The opening session — originally slated for Friday night — was moved to Saturday morning and was followed by a second session after lunch.
“We faced some serious challenges,” said Barbier. “Anytime you have to move things around, schedule-wise, it can create major problems. But God was in control, and He received glory from this.”
The list of featured guests included Shane Pruitt from the North American Mission Board, Ryan Young from The 516 Movement, Shaq Hardy from Orphan No More, comedian Shama Mrema, and worship artist Micah Christopher.
The conference also included mission videos, created by the TBMB, and a special mission offering that went to the Golden Offering for Tennessee Missions.
Barbier said the 2025 YEC will always be memorable for him — not just because it was his last one as coordinator, but because it was a picture of God’s timing — on display. “We weren’t going to be defeated by circumstances that were beyond our control,” he said. “We were determined to share the good news of Jesus with students who desperately need to hear it.”
There was a seemingly countless number of special stories that developed in the days after YEC, including one that emerged from First Baptist Church, Gleason, where Chris Snider serves as student director.
Snider said one of the students at FBC made a decision for Christ after returning home from YEC — a young man who the student leaders had been praying about for months. That same morning, another student, who happened to be Snider’s daughter, Ivy, surrendered to a call into ministry.
A few hours later, Snider overhead one student saying to another, “Man, I almost did it.” Snider was able to talk to the student and lead him to the Lord — “on the sidewalk in the rain!” as Snider put it.
The following Sunday, when the invitation was given, those three students came forward to make their decisions public. But it didn’t stop there.
“As those three were making their way down the aisle, another student joined them. Then another, then another, then another,” Snider said. By the end of service, six students — and one adult — had surrendered to Christ.
Snider said he believes it was the start of something big. “We at Gleason First Baptist are fully expecting a revival to break out,” he said.
Barbier said those types of stories, along with the bonds and friendships that are formed during YEC, are what makes the event so special. Those are the things he will miss most, he said, in the years ahead when he is no longer overseeing the conference.
“YEC has been such a blessing to lead over the last seven years,” he said. “I’m so grateful to have had this opportunity to grow in my own leadership capabilities. One of the biggest blessings for myself is to be able to partner with dear friends to help lead YEC. This event creates friendships that can last a lifetime. We often hit up Waffle House very late at night and enjoy some laughs, decent food, and great, genuine conversations. These are the things I love most about events like YEC.”
Barbier said he couldn’t help getting a little nostalgic at this year’s conference.
“As a youth pastor for years serving in Tennessee, I would bring my own students to this event, and it was something I believed in and wanted to participate in because of the focus on the gospel and the opportunity to respond to the gospel,” he said. “YEC means the world to me but I’m excited about passing the torch and helping build up a team of Tennessee Baptist youth leaders to take over this incredible legacy event.” B&R