The Vicksburg YMCA sent 56 teens to the Christian Values Conference

The Vicksburg YMCA departed 56 teenagers on Saturday night as they took the long trip to Blue Mountain, North Carolina for the Christian Values Conference. CVC allows teenagers a chance to experience Christian values as they fellowship with teens from other parts of the United States. 

Vicksburg YMCA Executive Director Phillip Doiron spearheaded this opportunity for local teens which has seen an increase in attendance since the COVID-19 Pandemic.

For the eighth year, Doiron has led the teens on this magnificent trip where they get to experience the joys of being outside their community.

While there are a lot of games and songs to entice teens to attend, there is a much deeper meaning in which the attendee takes stock of where their life stands, are they happy with that, and whether is there a better way,” Doiron said. “That better way is to lead a life based on the teachings of Christ. For many attendees, this conference is their first exposure to those words in a place free from judgment.”

CVC consists of Morning and Evening Devotion which opens with high-energy songs to engage the teens, then two pastors give talks relevant to teenagers that follow the theme of the conference.

Each teen is also assigned to a family of 12-14 of similar ages but from wildly varying backgrounds and locations. This is the “meat” of the conference, and many of the most memorable events occur there,” as Doiron described.

Special Events are also present such as “Family Madness” and “Wreckoning”, which are events designed to bond the families through silly games and mock competitions. This bonding allows for greater and deeper participation in group discussions.

The teens will return on Friday, July 19 at 10 a.m., and as many described, “they never come back the same.”