More than 130 students make decisions at 2024 MOVE Conference

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VALDOSTA, Ga. — Almost 2,700 people, including staff and volunteers, attended the 2024 MOVE conference in Valdosta. The event, held Dec. 29-30, saw 23 salvation decisions, 43 calls to ministry, and 72 people decide to take the next step in their walks of faith, such as being baptized or recommitting themselves to Christ.

The conference, sponsored by the Next Gen student ministry of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, is the largest winter evangelism conference for teenagers in Georgia.

Cameron Wilkins, Next Gen consultant for the GBMB, says the name of the conference reflects its purpose. “The mission of Move conference is to provide the opportunity for every student to make a move towards Jesus,” he explained. “Whether that is for salvation or if they have been walking with Jesus for 10 years, the call of Christ is for them to draw near, and make a move.”

This year, students heard from keynote speaker Jeff Wallace. Wallace serves on the Student Leadership University team as the Chief Strategic Officer. Prior to that, he served as Pastor of Youth Development at Peace Baptist Church in Decatur, Georgia, where he oversaw all of the children, student, and young adult. 

Students and pastors from 131 churches attended the 2024 conference, including a group from First Baptist Moultrie. Next Gen Pastor Rob Craft says the church group number around 75, including 10 chaperones.

“We did have a few students respond during the invitations and are looking to meet with them and their families to discuss next steps.  I believe we’ll have two students who are new believers coming out of MOVE,” he said.

Craft said he has one student “that is trying to process what their calling might be…is it full-time ministry or not?  That invitation during MOVE is really moving this discussion forward.”

Jacob Brown, student pastor at Marie Baptist in Dublin, led a group of 21 students and five adults to the conference. “We have been a part of the conference for all four years it has been held at Wild Adventures and were so for many years in Macon. Our students really enjoy the freedom and the free time to spread out around the park and enjoy all of the entertainment,: he said.

In addition to hearing Biblical preaching and teaching, students participated in worship led by Edenfield. The band is led by Kyle Edenfield, who serves as the Worship Pastor at Midway Church in Villa Rica, Ga. In addition, students were dazzled by illusionist Jared Hall, who presents the gospel in a unique way through his talent.

Craft said the conference is a yearly highlight for his church’s students. “Our church has attended MOVE since before it was called MOVE,” he explained. “Our students look forward to going, and I’m always confident the Word will be clearly taught and the gospel clearly shared.”

Wilkins agreed, saying, “We look forward to this event each year which we believe is a catalyst for gospel movement in the state of Georgia. We cherish the time we have together to point students towards Jesus and have a ton of fun at Wild Adventures while doing it!”