Thousands of students attended a worship event aimed at empowering youth with Jesus knowledge, amid growing concerns about the religious commitment of the younger generation.
The current Motion Student Conference, which concluded on July 29 at Birmingham’s Legacy Arena, featured nearly 11,000 students from 230 congregations in 31 states and six countries. In addition, 2,000 volunteers helped organize the event.
Motion is organized by the Church of the Highlands, a congregation with multiple locations throughout Alabama and Georgia. Attendees ranged in age from middle school to college and participated with their youth leaders.
Mark Pettus, president of Highlands College and associate pastor at Church of the Highlands, told The Christian Post in an emailed statement that Motion exists to empower a generation to live out Ephesians 2:10, which states: “For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
“It provides an environment where students discover their identity in Christ and set their faith in motion to do the good things He planned for them,” Pettus stated.
During the conference, students had an opportunity to attend sessions featuring speakers and worship band members before breaking into community groups to “unpack” what they learned, Pettus added.
“Motion is more than a conference and more than bands and speakers,” Pettus continued. “It’s about a generation of young people empowered by Jesus, equipped to make a difference and living out their faith.”
Students and youth pastors have gathered at Motion to engage in prayer, worship and Bible study for the past 15 years, Pettus explained, adding that Highlands Senior Pastor Chris Hodges and the church’s youth ministry team envisioned a conference at the end of the summer so students can begin the school year “enthusiastic to live their lives in motion for God.”
The Church of the Highlands offers scholarships to students and attending groups, covering the cost of the event. The latest Motion Conference saw an 18% increase in attendees from last year, with the number of students with worship leaders.
The event is aimed at raising up young leaders who will change eternity and the world. The event comes amid reports that Generation Z Americans are less dedicated to attending religious services, with only 28% of Gen Zers committed to attending at least once a month.