But we recognise that returning home can be tough – it’s just not the same as NCYC – and that’s good sometimes, challenging at other times.

Now is when it’s important to connect with a church community, where they can offer support and ask questions to encourage a close walk with God.

Please use these pages from the Congregations Pack as a resource for your congregation. It includes tips on supporting the people who went and liturgies for use in worship.

Download it here

One of two keynote speakers, Christopher used his magic to share his story and inspire young people.

“I thought that I would bring my magic and hopefully be able to share my story, because there was nothing special about me—not that’s there’s anything special about me now—but I just made a choice to answer the call that I believe God had for me,” said Christopher of what he planned for ncyc11.

During an evening of Nightlife at ncyc11, delegates were entertained by the magic, comedy and story of Christopher Wayne.

“I’ve loved magic ever since I was a kid,” reflects Christopher.

“About five years ago, I was working at Arnott’s, a biscuit factory.

“It was good work and I enjoyed it, but I felt that I wanted to do something more.

“I asked myself, if I could do anything in the world, what would it be, and the answer was magic.

“But I felt that was unrealistic. I didn’t know any tricks, I was really shy and I didn’t know anything about show business.

“But then I remembered a conversation with my Chaplain’s assistant when I was about 13 or 14 years old.

“I’d been kept back on detention after misbehaving during RE.

“And afterwards, she didn’t yell at me but asked me what I wanted to be.

“She encouraged me to believe in myself and to believe that God had made me special.”

So Christopher Wayne spent time learning tricks, practising public speaking and creating his show, Gospel Magic.

In his first year, he did more than 250 shows and now inspires people with his magic shows and appearances on Toasted TV.

In addition to speaking each night of ncyc11, one of the most popular elective sessions was learning the art of performing magic and entertaining people led by Christopher, despite battling a bad throat infection.

But as always, the NCYC community was also able to give something back to Christopher Wayne.

“What I saw this week is people not just from all over Australia, but places from around the world and they’re all united in one thing—their faith.

“But they all encounter and experience and share their faith in different ways.

“Just to see that sort of helped me appreciate and see the bigger picture that there’s not just one way of worshipping God or living a Christian life.”

On Sunday, 2 January, NCYC-ers were let loose on the Gold Coast to turn up their faith through Submersions, a time for practical mission experiences doing something new.

Delegates spread out in all directions to serve and be challenged.

These were just some of the activities:

“Backyard bless” – visit the home of someone in need and clean up their house, yard or be of assistance where possible.

“Slum experience” – a simulation where delegates contend with unfair conditions and hazards of slum life while exploring the possibilities of positive social change.

“Habitat for Humanity” – delegates donate some labour to building a house for Habitat for Humanity.

“Blair Athol Accommodation services” – learn about homelessness and engage in service to homeless people.

“Monastery visit” – experience a different expression of faith.

One of the largest Submersions of ncyc11 was a visit to Pratten Park for a surprise flash mob experience.

A pre-concert by Remember 7 led to an “impromptu” dance by 250 delegates to Adam Cousens song ‘Happy is my smile’ which attracted lots of attention from passers by Kurrawa beach visitors.

A crazy, energetic, fun time? Yes. Used as a way to share a message of justice. After the dance, delegates handed out free fair trade chocolates to members of the public, wrote messages of love and justice in chalk and spoke with people about ‘Plan Be’ – being the change you want to see.

Dave Andrews, a Bible study leader at ncyc11 spent the week discussing the beatitudes and what he calls the ‘blessed revolution of Jesus’.

“The beatitudes are a really creative, ethical framework for living in, not just a meditation for people,” said Dave.

“In that framework we have a brilliant guideline to engage the world in the way Jesus did.

“We live in a world of poverty and violence, and if we treat people the way they treat us, we’ll just keep perpetuating that.

“So it’s about treating people the way you want to be treated.

“It’s about identifying with the poor in spirit.

“It’s about getting angry at injustice, but not aggressive.”

And for Dave, practising ‘Plan Be’ is what he does day in, day out.

Dave lives with his extended family in an intentional community in inner Brisbane, where their network seeks to engage with people locally in a way that reflects Christ’s radical commitment to the most marginalised and disadvantaged people in society.

“We try to develop significant relationships of trust with those people so that they can talk about issues that they’re struggling with and then we can join them around those issues,” said Dave.

“There’s an openness from many different groups at the moment to discuss global issues and look for local solutions to those problems.

“From supporting individuals who are going through a difficult time, to advocacy groups around issues, to developing cooperatives and social enterprises and political activism, to challenging issues of injustice.

“I’m hoping that NCYC delegates will affirm a commitment to Jesus and discover in the enchanting example of Jesus that there is a radical pattern for engaging the world.

“I don’t want to create such a big picture that people feel diminished in the face of overwhelming odds, but feel that anything they do, no matter how big or small, can make a difference.”

It’s that attitude of making a difference through actions that sums up what Submersions at NCYC is all about.

To find out more about Plan Be and the Waiters Union, visit http://wecan.be/ or http://www.waitersunion.org/

Watch the video of the Pratten Park Submersion here.

Would people still want to attend? Would the risks and challenges outweigh the benefits? Can an event be run to compete with one of the biggest party nights of the year?

Fa Ngaluafe, ncyc11 Linking Coordinator had dream for New Year’s Eve at NCYC based on her experiences in her country of origin, Tonga.

“What I loved growing up was sitting in church, being in prayer and praying for the year that was to come and the goals and visions for that year and then being able to remember it,” said Fa.

“A lot of young people go get wasted and make up these New Year’s resolutions and they can’t really remember it the next day. 

“Being on the Gold Coast, we wanted to create a party atmosphere where no one would want to leave because it’s pumping right here.

“You don’t need any alcohol, you don’t need any drugs to have a great time and for young people to experience that and to know ‘I can be all good, I can be with friends, I can have music playing and have a good time.’

“It’s not a boring thing and it’s not a nerdy thing either, this is where it’s at.”

Comments on the ncyc11 Facebook page and during the event suggest that the night was a success.

“I had the most awesome night at NCYC11 on the Gold Coast and the Tongan feast was beautiful,” said one.

“Simply amazing,” and “EPIC” were among other posted comments.

The day began as a normal NCYC day—community time, small groups and Bible studies, followed by electives.

Then, at seven pm, celebrations kicked off with a DJ, dance party and competitions in the auditorium, while in the foyer intense battles heated up over cards, twister, Wii and XBox, while outside dodge ball and ‘minute to win it’ challenges were frenetic.

At 9.30 pm, everyone gathered once again in the auditorium as the dance party turned to a praise party, with three worship bands and praise songs mixed into everyday music.

“Then we slowed things down to focus on worship and sat around our big cross on the floor and our guest speakers each spoke for about 10 minutes,” said Fa.

“Milton is one of our indigenous youth leaders from Victoria and spoke about moving forward to 2011.

“So we physically moved forward and went to the soccer fields where Lu, our Tongan minister and singers were waiting.

“We had sort of a recommitment service—instead of seeing fireworks just representing the new year, we can remember the things we have done at NCYC.”

During this time, at least one hundred young people came forward to pray in groups and recommit to God.

“I was sitting on the ground while the Tongans were singing, crying because I felt so blessed to be part of this moment, this new commitment together,” said Fa.

“And then, you think it’s all over, but it’s not—we finished with a big Islander style feed and said ‘let’s get fat together!’”

The whole of ncyc11 was blessed as Fa’s family served the food they had prepared in traditional style.

Check out some photos from New Year’s Eve at www.ncyc11.com.au/downloads.

“This hand cross is a gift from ncyc11 and woodworkers all around Australia to you. There is something profound about holding a cross in the palm of your hand. Many people use them for different reasons. Some hold their cross to remind them of God’s presence, some will hold them during the toughest times in life, others like to hold them as they celebrate. And sometimesholding a cross can be a prayer when we have no words to pray. May God bless you richly as you turn up your faith.”

As the inscription says, many woodworkers from around Australia took many months to make these crosses and send them to the ncyc11 office, carved, sanded and polished. We were aware of many men’s groups, congregations and other collections of people making these crosses, and we were touched when several boxes turned up with no indication of where they were from.

A simple, anonymous gift is what characterises NCYC.

The maker does not know the receiver. The maker may not be involved with NCYC in any other way.

The receiver does not know who lovingly created this gift that may be a treasured item in their faith development.

Thank you to those creators.

Photos and other resources on the downloads page of this site: www.ncyc11.com.au/downloads

Videos of worship songs, flash mob and other great stuff going up all the time at http://www.youtube.com/ncyc11

Videos, mp3s, song lyrics and chord charts at www.ncycmusic.com.au

More videos at http://www.ncyc11videos.com

Join the Facebook and Twitter communities at www.facebook.com/ncyc11 or www.twitter.com/ncyc11

Tell us what worked well and what could be done better next time.

It takes 10 minutes to complete the survey here.

Be a part of influencing the next NCYC, and tell us how the next event could be bigger and better. Or smaller and more effective. What do you think?

Flashmob at Kurrawa Beach

This Little Light of Mine as sung by you!