Long time Baptist World Alliance staff member Minnie Jackson:
"states each of the past youth conferences had it's own unique flavor!
Certainly there were challenges to overcome. The Glasgow conference was
different from the Harare conference; the Houston conference was
certainly different from the 14th BYWC held in Hong Kong. Hong Kong
showcased her colorful culture; the dragon dance, an historical
reenactments, wonderful hospitality, great speakers. So it is hard to
pin point one highlight of the conference. Delegates around the world
are waiting in anticipation, they are excited about coming to Germany,
making new friends, and having a great fellowship and worship. The
world is awaiting for the life-changing events that will take place in
the 15th BYWC to be held in Leipzig, Germany next year".
Minnie Jackson
BWA Youth Department
USA
Multi-face City Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a city with many faces. Even the smallest street of all
has its own story. You barely make a few steps and enter a different
world. I remember arriving in Hong Kong in the late afternoon. The
first thing that struck was the “welcoming committee”. A bunch of
Chinese teenagers were waiting for conference delegates. They greeted
us with their big smiles and while someone was arranging our shuttle
bus, they bombarded us with thousands
of questions. It was for about five days when another “face” appeared
in town – the 14th BWA Youth Conference. It was a gathering of young
Baptist people from all corners of the world. We gathered together to
seek God’s face and worship Him with our heart, mind, and hands. There
were two major things that really amazed me during the conference. I
was struck how such diverse cultures are
united in one (or shall I say united by the One) and how all barriers
disappeared. It was like a voice form another world. I felt as if God
allowed me peek into His own world and enjoy His grandeur. The second
thing was the dedication of our Chinese hosts. They did a great job.
The organization was perfect. There were teenagers who were always
willing to help, show directions or answer a question. I was encouraged
by their unreserved dedication to serve others. The conference is now
history, but it was worth visiting. The saga continues. I expect to see
you all in Leipzig 2008. I will be there. And you?
Vasil Vasilev
Bulgaria
Meeting Youth in Portland 1974
At the beginning of the 70ies, more than 35 years ago, non-US citizens from the youth committee of Baptist World Alliance expressed their strong wish to have the BWA youth world conference held in the USA in 1974.
Those who remember or think of those days know that there was a very strong and widespread anti-American mood that had mainly been aroused by the Vietnam War and by lots of other aspects. I myself as the then chairman of the youth committee strongly spoke out for that. And that’s why the youth world conference took place in Oregon/Portland.
But we wanted to achieve more. We therefore developed a program in agreement with numerous Baptist churches in the USA: European youth groups should have had the possibility of spending two weeks in churches and families before the conference began. From there they went to the conference together with American participants.
But all of them had already had experience in American families and churches before the conference actually started, almost all of them positive ones.
Since participants from former East Germany had obtained entry permit for the USA for the first time, this was especially important for them.
About 600 young Europeans in total took part.
The visits in the churches and families were very important and the actual highlight on the trip of many young people. Personal contacts have been remaining alive over many years, some of them certainly until today. The participants were given a different and more discriminately picture of the American society which was tremendously important in that situation.
I hope that the German churches understand this in view of the conference in Leipzig and take the chance to invite youth from many different countries and to send them with their own youth to Leipzig.
Karl Heinz Walter
Former Director of the German Youth Department &
Generalsecretary of the European Baptist Federation,
Germany
ce to invite youth from many different countries and to send them with their own youth to Leipzig. 
