Reflections on Speakers

Tonight as part of our final devotion time, the youth were each asked to reflect on their favorite speaker from the many we have heard over the past four days. Below is the first installment of their thoughts, I know that it is a powerful experience for me to read how they have been impacted by what they have heard. I hope it is for you. The rest of the posts will be typed up and placed on the blog as soon as possible.

Tomorrow we begin our journey back to Wisconsin after closing worship at the SuperDome. We ask for your prayers for traveling mercies for us and all of the 38,000 youth, adult leaders, staff and volunteers who have led this gathering.

It has been a powerful experience for our young people and I, along with our adult leaders, are very proud of how they have conducted themselves. They have represented our community well and we are indeed blessed and challenged by this wonderful, intelligent, thoughtful group of young people in our midst.

Brooke Curry

“He placed my hand on the trigger-‘Shoot,’ he told me, ‘SHOOT!’ When he took the blind fold away I looked down and saw Kevin-my best friend-drowning in a pool of his own blood. ‘You’re a killer,’ they told me, ‘your family will never take you back now.’”
-Michel Chikwanine, former Child Soldier
Maybe he wasn’t my favorite speaker, but to be honest, he is the one I know I will remember. His story, among many involving child soldiers are attention grabbing no matter the person, their age or their background. It is a terrible thing to know that stories of this nature is one of the few, few ways to being so many people together; but as all the speakers at the convention shared with us, through tragedy comes hope and a wway to create a brighter future. All we have to do is take the first step.

Luke Christenson
My favorite speaker of the week was Spencer West. Probably what most people picked because he touched a lot of us. When he came out in the wheel chair the first thought we all had was “Where are his legs?” When he told us what happened, I was very shocked. He was my favorite because when people bullied him he stood up for himself and when people tell him that he can’t stand that’s another lie because I saw it happen. When he stood up I was like “Now that’s a guy who is warm hearted and he likes to stand up for himself and all the other handicapped people. To conclude, I’m sure a lot of people picked Spencer West because he touched a lot of us I n our hearts.

Sadie Haines
The speaker that I liked the most was Viola Vaugn because she was very inspiring. She encouraged us especially to learn and use the skills she taught to help build up the young girls she teaches in Senegal. Girls who not only have built a school, but run it themselves.

Jackie Bazylewicz
Spencer West said everything I have felt. I’ve been treated differently and have faced situations others haven’t. He made me realize that even though we are all different, we are the same. Problems, struggles, and tragedies don’t see color, gender, family or past. We are all connected and should find hope in each other. Spencer West you are my New Orleans hero and inspiration.

Connor Trepton
My favorite speaker was Viola Vaughn. Her captivating storey about the development of her school in Senegal captured my attention and held it throughout the duration of her speech. I thought it was so cool that a little girl who didn’t want to fail, pushed her to teach, and after that more girls came. She still is the only adult in her program of 2,500 girls and I hope that she continues to inspire the local youth.

Will Tierney
Spencer West was my favorite speaker. His store was just like so many other Americans who are diabled or just bullied. Even though he lost his lower half of his body and was constantly bullied he figured out how to get through life. He grew up and is showing everyone that being diabled can lead to great things. With him this is no stopping.

Dominic Potratz
During our mission trip there were tons of speakers at the SuperDome. I think Michele Chikwaninie was my favorite. He was a child soldier at the age of 11 and was drugged and blindfolded. He was then told to step out of the truck where he stepped on the skeleton of a human being. He was given a gun and told to shoot, as he lifted his blindfold he saw his best friend lying on the ground bloody and dead. A few months later he was told to invade a town but he ran away. I felt something when he was talking. I would have broke down knowing I shot my best friend. I think I felt hope because he had the courage to run away, I felt a connection with him. Spencer West was also someone I connected to because he had the courage to go up infront of everyone and talk about his disability.

Mariah Everts
Michel Chikwanine was my favorite speaker because I thought his speech and story was so powerful. That at only the age of 11 he had to kill his best friend. I would be so depressed and that would just definitely change my life forever! But to have the courage to speak and tell his story to thousands of people all over the world is pretty amazing and special. And to try to stop other horrible things from happening by talking to all these people is pretty awesome. Michel definitely has an interesting life story that has certainly made an impact on my life.