History
International Youth Convention of the Church of God, better known as IYC, was launched in the early 1920's. In 1924, youth ministry in the Church of God became organized on a movement-wide basis with the launch of a youth day during the annual Anderson Camp Meeting.
In 1930 the first three-day, biennial youth convention was held. Over the seventy-two years that followed, international youth conventions have been held in all regions of the United States--as well as in three provinces in Canada.
In the late 1990s, the youth ministry team developed an overall purpose statement for IYC: to create a moment for life change. This primary purpose drives everything that happens at convention.
Because of IYC, thousands of young men and women have made life-changing decisions.
In the last three conventions alone, thousands of teenagers have pledged to remain sexually pure. Thousands of youth have gone to the prayer room to get straight with God. Hundreds of teenagers have indicated a sense of a call to full time ministry or missions.
Since 1992, participants have given back to the host city with a project day. It is estimated that $500,000 worth of volunteer labor has been given to the host cities for IYC. An estimated 63,000 pounds of garbage was picked up in one city alone.
The giving goes beyond the city limits of the sites where IYC is held. Since 1998, over 4,000 persons have participated in mission experiences in ten different countries.
IYC also helps to nurture a giving heart and a lifetime focus on others among the youth of the Church of God. Since 2002 convention participants have given over $259,000 to "Spread the Word," a teen mission support opportunity designed to help fund tools for evangelism around the world. These funds are now being used on six continents.
Over the past three youth conventions:
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40 states and 12 countries were represented.
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Over 17,600 students and adults were present for these life-changing days.
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Over 2,100 students and adults have worked in numerous states and in seven foreign countries donating thousands of hours of labor and love.
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Over $250,000 was given to Spread the Word. STW gives specifically to tools for evangelism around the world.
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It is estimated that 28,000 hours worth of volunteer labor has been given to the host cities.
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Over 650 teenagers have indicated a sense of a call to full-time ministry or missions.
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