International Christian Youth Conference
by Cathy Harkness, July 30, 2002
The seven days that I spent at the seventh International Christian Youth Conference (ICYC), in Northern Ireland, were like jumper cables of faith to my spirit. When I left for ten days to Northern Ireland I certainly did not expect to have such an amazing, life-changing experience. What I got was a jump-start to my soul, and a completely new outlook on what it means to be a member of God's community.
At first I will admit that I was nervous when on the first day of the conference we sat down to breakfast in the university café with Kelly, a bible-thumping, fundamentalist Christian from Georgia, who was telling us of her witnessing to a total stranger on the flight over to Ireland. I thought to myself, "Oh Man, if this is what the conference is going to be like, then I am not going to get anything out of this conference." What I didn't know at the time was that Kelly's very message would be a catalyst for changing my heart about what acceptance truly means.
As the conference started I remember the four Los Altos delegates sitting around the lunch table discussing how we were going to "open" the minds of those at the conference. The discussion became focused on how we were going to be able to prove that fundamentalists were too closed minded, and how we were more "right" in our "open-minded" faith. Needless to say, it didn't take long for our own eyes to be opened.
That night at worship, a phenomenal woman named Grace, a Methodist minister from Kenya, gave the message. Her message was so astonishing, and captivating, and her words transformed not only my attitude and outlook, but I know those of us from Los Altos and many others at the conference. One of the things that Grace pointed out was that there were 275 people at the conference, from 37 countries, and every continent represented. With so many people, and so many varied stories to be heard, we shouldn't be eating meals with and solely hanging out with the people that we arrived with.
Another important point that Grace made was that all to often we are too quick to place judgment on someone, or something. We point fingers, and don't even realize that when we point one finger there are literally three pointing right back at us. Grace opened my eyes to the need to take responsibility for myself first when I see something that needs I think needs changing in the world.
Grace also encouraged us to reach beyond ourselves and cross the "seas" of what limits us (insecurity, injustice, and fear, etc.). It is very easy to stay on the shores of comfort and tradition, even if that involves exclusive, judgmental, or destructive behaviors. Grace inspired us to reach out, break boundaries, and build community.
Was is possible that Kelly needed not to have her mind opened, but to help me open mine? -Yes. Kelley, Grace, and the other wonderful friends from the conference helped me cross some of my seas of ignorance, judgment, and blindness. I soon realized that meeting people from the 37 different countries, hearing their stories, and telling mine became my favorite activity. It would literally take me two hours to eat some of my meals because I would find someone amazing to chat with, and then we would get wrapped up in each other's stories.
What I learned, was that my new friends from halfway around the world, with diverse cultures, and those with various ways of being Christian were in actuality not that far away, or different from me. My focus changed from noting how different we seemed to be, to how similar we actually are. I realize more now that we have different ways of believing and acing on our faith, and that is okay (and probably encouraged) by God. I could always find a common ground when I realized that God, and Love ultimately unite us.
I know that my eyes and heart were opened as I realized something so simple, and yet hard to understand at first. When you put Love, open-mindedness, a willingness to see the story from someone else's shoes at the heart of your actions, communities are built and walls of injustice, and fear, and detachment are broken down.
I am very grateful for the opportunity to go to Northern Ireland with eight incredible people, and come home with over 250 new, amazing friends with diverse cultures, lifestyles, and beliefs who were all able to teach me about what it truly means to love and accept. They revealed to me the faces of God.
