By Brian Blackwell, Baptist Message staff writer
ALEXANDRIA, La. (LBM) – Organizers and participants of the 2025 Youth Evangelism Celebration praised God for the 571 students who made decisions for Christ, Nov. 23-24, in the Laborde Earles Coliseum in Alexandria. They also were grateful to Him for the more than 5,300 teens and adult sponsors who attended YEC (the largest annual gathering of Louisiana Baptists).
“I’m always amazed at how many people come together to make this annual event happen,” Louisiana Baptist Youth Ministry Strategist Lee Myers told the Baptist Message after the conclusion of YEC. “It truly is a cooperative effort, from LBC staff, production teams and an army of volunteers, who all play a part. But the biggest impact comes from our youth leaders and local churches who make sure this weekend becomes a reality. Louisiana is blessed with incredible adults who love students, support student ministry and help create moments where teenagers can encounter Christ.”
BE CHANGED
Anthony Vargas, student pastor at Together We Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in Yukon, Oklahoma, told students to admit their need for change and to cry out to Jesus for mercy.
Referencing Luke 18, Vargas said Jesus hears, heals and sees individuals in their brokenness.
He explained that a blind man approached Jesus and asked to be healed, and in the end, he was changed.
Vargas told the students to respond to Jesus’ call just as the blind man did, emphasizing that the Lord can change anyone.
“I don’t believe you’re here by accident,” he told the crowd. “I believe you’re here because God wants to do something crazy in your life because Jesus doesn’t just fix lives. He transforms lives.”
Vargas reminded the students that no one is too broken for Jesus to restore. He alluded to Mark 5:1-20, where Jesus healed a demon-possessed man who was transformed from a life of isolation to one that makes a difference for the Lord.
Ultimately, he encouraged the students to reject negative labels and become emissaries for Christ.
“Jesus didn’t save you to sit in silence,” he said. “I know silence may feel safe, but it costs souls.
“Student, you’re a Christian who happens to go to school,” he continued. “You are an ambassador who plays on a team and God wants to use you.”
BE THE LIGHT
Louisiana Baptist Evangelism Strategist Kevin Ulmer encouraged the crowd to commit to reach one person for Christ through the North American Mission Board’s new ‘Who’s Your One in a Million’ initiative (a twist on the Southern Baptist Convention’s entity’s ‘Who’s Your One?’ personal evangelism effort). This concept challenges one million Christ followers to commit to reach just one person with the Gospel.
“Would you help me light up Louisiana with prayers for lost people so that then we can share the Good News of the Gospel with those people across the state of Louisiana,” he said. “We’ll join in with people all across North America to share the Good News of the Gospel. Wouldn’t that be a wonderful movement to see 1 million people come to Jesus in North America?”
Ulmer encouraged students to sign up by texting ‘one’ to 888123.
BE TRANSFORMED
By the end of the two-day spiritual encounter, several hundred students had made decisions for Christ: 108 students stepped forward to accept Christ, 319 restored fellowship with God, 87 pursued a call to ministry and 57 made other decisions.
Participants also enjoyed high-energy music by Crescent City Worship, a worship band with New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and concerts by artist Allison Eide and nationally known Dove award winning recording artist KB.
Bryan Drake, an illusionist from Mobile, Alabama, served as the host/emcee.
Registration for next year’s YEC opens Jan. 5, 2026: labaptistyouth.com.
