July 2004

Thank goodness it wasn’t yesterday! The Hoeschler Clock Tower courtyard, which Sunday had hundreds of people milling around, performing and eating as part of the International Cafe, was under about two feet of water after Monday’s noontime flash flood rain and hailstorm. 

A choir from the Chesapeake District, comprised of singers from seven different Grace Brethren churches on the eastern seaboard, performed in music and sign language prior to Monday morning’s main session. 

NAC Competitors are used as prelude numbers before each of the main sessions. On Monday morning these interpretive dance performers provided pre-service worship. 

Sunday night’s session with Dewey Bertolini as speaker was held in the U. Wisc. LaCrosse football stadium. It was a picture-perfect night, with a light breeze coming off the rock bluffs on the other side of the valley as 2,400 teenagers gathered in the stadium to sing and to hear a challenge from Bertolini. 

Dewey Bertolini, center, with microphone, answered questions under the lunch tent Sunday noon. Bertolini directs the National Institute which prepares young people for youth ministry, and he fielded questions as the “Bible Answer Man” from teens who listened as they ate a picnic lunch at the Brethren National Youth Conference. 

Sue (left) and Dave Griffiths, missionaries to France, served cheese at the International Cafe on the grounds of the BNYC conference Sunday afternoon. Many international foods were available and hundreds of teens enjoyed the food, took part in the entertainment, and discussed cross-cultural missions work with stateside missionaries. 

A group of Native American dancers from the Ho-Chunk tribe entertained at the GBIM International Cafe on the grounds of U. Wis. LaCrosse Sunday afternoon. There was also a German polka band, strolling accordionist, and a group of Hmong native dancers in costume. 

A unique “Splat Experience” by Christian performance artist Marc Eckel was a highlight of “The Rock” session at 10 p.m. Saturday at the Brethren National Youth Conference. Eckel, whose work may be found at www.splatexperience.com, created the painting in about 10 minutes in front of hundreds of teenagers. Performing to a pre-recorded soundtrack, he uses

Barry St. Clair was the opening speaker for the BNYC conference Thursday evening. Further reports and photos may be found at www.bnyc.net. 

Over 2,400 teens, sponsors and counselors have gathered on the University of Wisconsin LaCrosse campus for the 2004 Brethren National Youth Conference, which began Saturday, July 17 and continues through next Thursday