Youth of the Nation was an annual Christian Youth Conference held for 15 years in Wanganui, New Zealand. Unlike many other Christian conferences, YOTN was not held by one specific church or denomination. Youth of the Nation conferences and events were hosted by The Youth Of The Nation Trust in collaboration with other churches from around New Zealand. For the first 8 years the conferences were hosted by the Wanganui Christian Youth WorkersThe official Youth of the Nation Website collective, a group of Christian youth pastors & workers from different denominations & churches across the city of Wanganui. This collective included representatives from Anglican, Apostolic, Assemblies of God, Baptist, Open Brethren, Catholic, Incedo, Presbyterian, Christian Outreach Centre—now known as International Network of Churches—, Elim, Salvation Army, & non-denominational. From 2012 until 2018, the YOTN Trust partnered with churches, not only in Wanganui, but from across New Zealand to host events in different cities.

Introduction

Youth of the Nation (YOTN) aimed to encourage and empower Christian young people to pursue Jesus Christ with a zeal that will impact their generation. As an event, the goal was to provide a 3-4 day event that was affordable for more New Zealand young people.

The vision to hold YOTN came from Wanganui A/G youth pastor, Ben Hoyle. In 2003, Ben approached the local city youth workers to hold the conference as a city. He recognised that for one church to put on such a large event was too much, and that together the city could pull its resources and achieve the goal. With many of the city youth workers on board, plans were made to hold the very first conference in July 2004.

Each year YOTN gained momentum seeing attendance grow and more young people leave excited about their faith. "YOTN continues to build in its momentum, magnitude and excellence. It is great to see more and more young people coming and leaving radically changed. The greatest thrill for me is seeing the hunger in the younger generation for the reality of God and a deep desire to walk in God's ways. Long may it continue." - Ps Iliafi Esera (Faith City Church A/G, Wanganui)quoted from "Youth of The Nation IV Report" Empowered Magazine Spring 2007 Edition Page 10

In 2011, the event moved from the Wanganui Central Baptist Church, where it had been held for 6 years, to the School Hall at Wanganui City College. Then in 2012, YOTN IX was moved to the War Memorial Hall Convention Centre which seats 1500 people, where the conference was held until 2015.The Wanganui Chronicle Monday 16 July 2012 Page A4

Ben Hoyle resigned as YOTN director in 2018 and Youth of the Nation Trust & events were absorbed into the Fearless Movement of the Assemblies of God NZ under the leadership of Ps Mike Coe from Timaru. YOTN held its final conference in April 2018 at Whanganui Central Baptist Church. The theme for 2018 was 'Possible' and involved reflecting on the past 15 years. Ps Ben Hoyle spoke the final message of conference and Ps Mike Coe closed the conference by announcing the future with Fearless.Empowered Magazine Edition #2 August 2018 Page 18-19

History Conferences Starting with Youth of the Nation 2004, the conference has been held annually.The official Youth of the Nation Website: History Page The first decade of YOTN Conferences were headlined by guest speakers and guest artists. Year Title Dates Venue Featured Speakers Featured Artists 2004 Youth of the Nation 2004 2–4 July Faith Community Church Ps Graeme Brock (The Tribe, Masterton NZ)Timo Tagaloa (Athletes in Action, Auckland NZ)Ps Tim King (Advance Ministry Training College, Auckland NZ) Wash (Auckland NZ)Rapture Ruckus (Wellington NZ)Colliding Traits (Auckland NZ) 2005 Youth of the Nation 05 8–10 July Central Baptist Church Ps John Cairns (Power & Light Ministries, Melbourne AUS)Ps Paul Saunders (Global Task, Auckland NZ)Justin Duckworth (Global Education Centre, Wellington NZ) Moped (Wellington NZ)Agent'c (Wellington NZ)Assorted Sweets (Wellington NZ) 2006 Youth of the Nation III 30 June - 2 July Central Baptist Church Ps Don McDonell (Albany Christian Centre A/G, Auckland NZ)Adrian Bates (Creation Ministries International, Auckland NZ)Ps Daniel Paikea (Teen Challenge NZ, Palmerston North NZ) Do Or Die (Auckland NZ)Calling Elijah (Auckland NZ)Fallen State (Wanganui NZ) 2007 Youth of the Nation IV 29 June - 1 July Central Baptist Church Ps Don McDonell (Albany Christian Centre A/G, Auckland NZ)Ps Neville Bartley (Central Baptist Church, Wanganui NZ)Ps Iliafi Esera (Faith City Church A/G, Wanganui NZ) Zebulun (Auckland NZ)Arms Reach (Hamilton NZ)Calling Elijah (Auckland NZ) 2008 Youth of the Nation V 16–19 July Central Baptist Church Ps Ben Houston (Hillsong Northern Beaches, Sydney AUS)Dave Wells (Bible College of NZ, Auckland NZ)Ps Sam Bayly (Gospel Inc., Wellington NZ) Outta Exile (Tauranga NZ)Dave Wiggins (Auckland NZ)Zero-T (Gisborne NZ)Tom Watts (Wanganui NZ) 2009 Youth of the Nation 6 9–11 July Central Baptist Church Ps Christoph Zintl (South City Christian Church, Christchurch NZ)Ps Sam Bayly (Gospel Inc., Wellington NZ)Ps Levi Marychurch (Arise Church, Wellington NZ)Ps Daniel Paikea (Teen Challenge NZ, Auckland NZ)Ps Shane Meyer (City Church, Tauranga NZ) E.M.T. (Auckland NZ)Calling Elijah (Auckland NZ)A Kiss Goodbye (Tauranga NZ) 2010 Youth of the Nation VII 8–10 July Central Baptist Church Ps John Cairns (John Cairns Ministries, Melbourne AUS)Michael Jones (Former All Black, Auckland NZ)Julia Wright (Christian Broadcaster, Auckland NZ)Ps Kem Price (Kem Price Ministries, Auckland NZ)Ps Levi Marychurch (Arise Church, Wellington NZ) The Frisk (Auckland NZ)Dave Wiggins (Auckland NZ)Jury & The Saints (Auckland NZ) 2011 Youth of the Nation 8 21–23 July Wanganui City College Ps David Katina (Great Life Church, Hawaii USA)Ps Al Furey (Al Furey Ministries, Sydney AUS)Ps Scott Bell (Albany City Church A/G, Auckland NZ)Ps Steve Dunne (Richmond Baptist Church, Nelson NZ)Ps Christoph Zintl (South City Christian Church, Christchurch NZ) Tokyo Keys (Auckland NZ)Sio Vaelua (Palmerston North NZ)Asher (Auckland NZ) 2012 Youth of the Nation IX 12–14 July War Memorial Hall Ps James Williams (Peninsula City Church, Melbourne AUS)Ps Don McDonell (Inspire Church Albany A/G, Auckland NZ)Cindy Ruakere (NorthCity Church, Christchurch NZ)Ps Tim Cleary (C3 Church, Auckland NZ)Ps Daniel Paikea (Teen Challenge NZ, Auckland NZ) [shift] (Auckland NZ)MADD Messenger (Auckland NZ)Theophilus (Auckland NZ) 2013 Youth of the Nation X 24–27 July War Memorial Hall Ps Nick Khiroya (Hillsong Church, Brisbane AUS)Ps John Cairns (John Cairns Ministries, Melbourne AUS)Ps Esther Elliott (Equippers Church Manukau, Auckland NZ)Ps Don McDonell (Inspire Church Albany A/G, Auckland NZ)Ps Graeme Brock (CCC on Pascal, Palmerston North NZ)Ps Steve Dunne (Richmond Baptist Church, Nelson NZ) Andy Campbell (Worship Pastor,St Paul's Symonds Street,Auckland NZ)Black Boy Peaches (Auckland NZ) From 2014, YOTN Conferences no longer headlined regular artists, putting more focus on guest speakers and introducing Tribal War games that had been tested at YOTN X with success. Year Title Dates Venue Featured Speakers Extra Notes 2014 Youth of the Nation Plus 17–19 July War MemorialConference Centre Dr Allan Meyer (Careforce Lifekeys, Melbourne AUS)Ps Luka Robertson (Manukau Hope Centre, Auckland NZ)Ps Daniel Paikea (Paikea Ministries, Gold Coast AUS)Ps Sam Bayly (New Life Churches Youth Director NZ) #RunWellAotearoa 2015 Youth of the Nation Uproar 9–11 July War MemorialConference Centre Ps Ted DiBiase (WWE Hall Of Famer, Clinton, MS, USA)Ps Jadwin Gillies (Hillsong United, Sydney AUS)Ps Esther Elliott (Equippers Church, Auckland NZ)Ps Rocky Stocks (Grace Vineyard Church, Christchurch NZ) #IamtheUproar 2016 Youth of the Nation One 28–30 April Wanganui Racecourse Ps Nick Khiroya (Hillsong Church, Brisbane AUS)Ps Steven Silcock (Revolution Church, Christchurch NZ)Ps Daniel Paikea (Paikea Ministries, Gold Coast AUS)Ps Gary Grut (Baptist Churches Youth Team Leader NZ) Ps Gordon Fitch (Presbyterian Churches Youth Manager NZ) One GodOne BodyOne Kingdom 2017 Youth of the NationAscend the Hill 27–29 April Central Baptist Church Ps Brenden Brown (Hillsong Church, San Francisco USA)Ps Steven Silcock (Revolution Church, Christchurch NZ)Ps Byron Marchant (Equippers Church, Auckland NZ)Ps Gary Grut (Baptist Churches Youth Team Leader NZ) 2018 Youth of the NationPossible 26–28 April Central Baptist Church Ps Daniel Paikea (Paikea Ministries, Gold Coast AUS)Ps Steven Silcock (Revolution Church, Christchurch NZ)Ps Christoph Zintl (The Story Vineyard Church, Wellington NZ)Ps Ben Hoyle (YOTN National Director, Whanganui NZ) F15TEEN YEARS

Speakers Youth of the Nation Conference has had speakers from across New Zealand, along with many ministers from Wanganui itself. Here is a list of all those who have spoken, either in main sessions or electives, over the years: