Why should I attend MYC?

A message from Student Life NSW Director, Geoff Folland.

 

There are a lot of Christian conferences - especially in Sydney. This year alone - 2014 - I have the opportunity to attend different conferences featuring international speakers such as Tim Keller, Bill Hybels, Darrel Bock and Francis Chan. If I had unlimited finances and total freedom, I could endlessly jump from one conference to another. But I don’t. I have limited finances and limited time. How do I decide which conference to attend and why?

 

Why would I choose to attend Student Life’s Mid Year Conference?

 

Student Life’s Mid Year Conference is specifically designed to help you - as a student in NSW, Victoria and ACT - join with other students from your campus in living out Jesus’ commission in your everyday life. At MYC you will build and deepen friendships with fellow students that will continue to grow through the rest of the year. We’ll be talking about things immediately relevant to your situation on campus, and providing practical skills that will help you follow Jesus more closely in second semester. And you will come to understand how and why Student Life does things on your campus, and where you fit and what you can contribute.

 

I’m not saying that any of those other conferences are bad. I, personally, would love to spend time listening to the four guys I listed above, and most of the other speakers available at the dozen or so conferences I am aware of this year. Some conferences may be bigger or better than others. But the question is, “What is the best use of my time and money?” If you are part of Student Life, or perhaps want to be in the future, then MYC has to be a priority. And if you have some time or money left over, then feel free to take advantage of another conference or two.

 

A final note: Sometimes a conference are promoted as a “once in a lifetime opportunity.” I’ve seen lots of them come and go. Conferences featuring top-quality international speakers occur regularly - more than annually! - in Sydney. You will have the rest of your life to attend these sort of generic mega-conferences. Student Life’s MYC is best experienced for the first time as a new student. Building on that experience and equipping over the three or so years you are at uni then makes a lot of sense. MYC is where future leaders are formed. It won’t be too long before you graduate and then MYC will no longer be so relevant for you, and you’ll have to make the choice about which other conference to spend your time and money on.