Our Wesleyan denomination has a wonderful tradition of hosting what we call “Youth Conventions”. Since 1965, every four years the denomination hosts a “National Youth Convention” and the 2012 National Convention came to a close on December 31st. This year’s convention was called “Follow ’12” and was held in Louisville, KY on December 28-31.
I have been attending Wesleyan Youth Conventions since 1992 as a student, then as a youth pastor. This was the first convention I wasn’t able to attend (in person) in 20 years! With these conventions being a part of more-than half of my current life, it will come at no surprise that NOT being able to attend this year’s convention was met with a season of withdrawal and denial on my part. It wasn’t until the day before the convention began that I realized how I would be able to experience a small portion of the convention while not being able to be there in person through the social media avenues I use everyday.
Reading Tweets from youth leaders and students who were traveling by plane, train, and automobiles from their location in the US to the convention location in Louisville brought back some fond memories of those often excruciatingly difficult trips I took as both a student and leader. Memories of our chartered bus crashing into a light pole in the wee hours of the morning as well as memories of me having to pull over at a rest area and shut my eyes for an hour as a driver came flooding back to me as I read some of the following Tweets:
200 miles to Louisville.Finally we are close. #Follow12
— Darrek Thornton (@darrekthornton) December 27, 2012
Praying for hundreds of youth groups and staff headed to Louisville for Follow’12.Road trips are often when God begins His work! @mywycon
— Jim Dunn (@DrJimDunn) December 27, 2012
On the road again…headed to Louisville, KT for the #Follow youth convention! #getit
— James Neill (@jiminyc86) December 28, 2012
suddenly I find myself on a bus full of jr. + sr. highers. #Follow12 here we come.
— Kimberly Oyler (@kimberlyoyler) December 28, 2012
Here we GO!!! #Follow12 #535mi twitter.com/TomNeary/statu…
— Tom Neary (@TomNeary) December 28, 2012
One flight down, one more to go. #Louisville here we come. #follow12 twitter.com/corydoiron/sta…
— Cory Doiron (@corydoiron) December 28, 2012
And as the youth and leaders arrived on-site in Louisville, the Tweets kept flowing as they began to see what they were in for:
full stage and screens at #Follow #Louisville#TwitPict twitpic.com/bqa7ri
— James Neill (@jiminyc86) December 29, 2012
#follow12 twitter.com/kennethwagner/…
— Kenneth Wagner (@kennethwagner) December 28, 2012
Ready for the first rally! #FOLLOW12 @mywycon twitter.com/hofdiggity/sta…
— hofdiggity (@hofdiggity) December 28, 2012
“The Hangar” at #follow12 twitter.com/kennethwagner/…
— Kenneth Wagner (@kennethwagner) December 28, 2012
Later, as the first rally began and students began responding to the Gospel message, I was overwhelmed to read Tweets like this:
Challenging message from John Vermilya tonight at #Follow12. Folks all across the hall standing to receive Christ!
— mywycon (@mywycon) December 29, 2012
6 fundraisers. 4+ Months of planning. 2 Full buses. #worthit to see 6 kids stand up to say they want to KNOW Jesus! #lifewayyouth #follow12
— Andy Jellison (@andyjellison) December 29, 2012
So excited to hear that there were 600+ students that decided to follow Jesus at #follow12 and 4 represent SWY!
— Chopper Brown (@Chopper_Brown) December 29, 2012
And throughout the event, students and youth leaders continued to post messages of life change as hundreds responded to the Holy Spirit and allowed Him to do a transforming work in their hearts and lives:
781 students makes decision to trust Jesus with their life #follow12 twitter.com/ScottSimmons70…
— Scott Simmons (@ScottSimmons70) December 30, 2012
Im so happy that iv officially given my life to God and im step by step coming out of my comfort zone(: #follow12
— Samm(: (@samgarcia_6) December 30, 2012
Students giving control of their lives to God tonight!!! #awesome #follow12 listening to testimonies during youth group time. #Godisgood
— Wes Pate (@WetPaste) December 30, 2012
Kentucky was amazing!! I’m done with my old ways, Friday night I re accepted The Lord into my heart (: #Follow12
— Hannah Brooks (@Hannahbrooks154) December 31, 2012
it’s the final moments of the final rally..I can’t help but cry a little. #Follow12 has honestly turned my life around. thank you @mywycon
— Anna Grace Lord† (@annagrace_alow) December 31, 2012
I leave #follow12 sad that it’s over, but ready to serve and to lead By following are lots Jesus Christ #amen
— Dani Marie †(@DMC222Castle) December 31, 2012
I look @ how i came this wkend and b/c of #follow12 I cant wait to look back yrs from now and see the impact it made on my spiritual growth
— Ryan Picone ? (@RyanPicone) December 31, 2012
Through Twitter and Facebook, I was able to see photos and even some video clips of some of the special guests at Follow ’12, too! Including Jamie Grace, Drew Worsham, and DJ Promote:
Jamie Grace at #follow12 twitter.com/andyjellison/s…
— Andy Jellison (@andyjellison) December 30, 2012
Just me and the super tall illusionist @drewworsham #follow12 twitter.com/Chopper_Brown/…
— Chopper Brown (@Chopper_Brown) December 30, 2012
@djpromote is killin’ it at #follow12 twitter.com/kennethwagner/…
— Kenneth Wagner (@kennethwagner) December 30, 2012
Reading the end-of-event Tweets, also brought back fond-memories of the exhausting satisfaction that comes with the end of a youth convention:
On the road headed back to Tuscaloosa from @mywycon #follow12 big things in store for 2013!!!
— Wes Pate (@WetPaste) December 31, 2012
#follow12 out! twitter.com/kennethwagner/…
— Kenneth Wagner (@kennethwagner) December 31, 2012
On the road 214 Foster St here we come #Follow12 twitter.com/TheMJernigan/s…
— Michael J (@TheMJernigan) December 31, 2012
I’m still going through some Tweets and recapping some of what was said by some of the speakers during the event:
A movement is created when people see “the fear of standing out is overcome by the fear of missing out.” @derikidol #Follow12
— Brad Terhune (@bradterhune) December 31, 2012
“We get to be the church today” Keith Loy #follow12
— Chopper Brown (@Chopper_Brown) December 30, 2012
My buddy, Heath Mullikin was on-site at the convention getting some great interviews with students, leaders, and guests too! I’m thankful to have been able to see some of his interviews and other video content!
The Exhibit Booth Tour:
Interview with speaker, Keith Loy:
Interview with seminar speaker, Brian Head Welch:
Interview with speaker, John Vermilya:
I’m thankful for the Follow ’12 leadership team for not only putting on a terrific event, but also for encouraging participants to literally involve the world in what was taking place by using social media to update friends and family.
I’m very excited that the proverbial “cat” is out of the bag about the complete rebranding of the Wesleyan Church’s magazine: 
