Oklahoma Baptist youth conference returns to Tulsa

About 8,000 young people from across the state will attend the event Friday and Aug 11 at the Mabee Center at Oral Roberts University, 7777 S Lewis.

“This is a kind of back-to-school event, to challenge students to make an impact in their schools,” said Norman Flowers, student evangelism and mobilization specialist for the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma.

Flowers said the youth conference started in 1971 and has been held in Oklahoma City since the early 1980s.

Speakers will be Afshin Ziafat, of Houston, an Iranian who was raised in the Muslim faith and converted to Christianity, and Derwin Gray, former linebacker for the Indianapolis Colts, who pastors a church that Outreach Magazine says is the second-fastest growing church in the nation.

Music will be provided by Tenth Avenue North, Kutless, Jamie Grace, Coffey Anderson and the Dutton Band.

Friday, 2,000 of the students will meet at the Church at BattleCreek in Broken Arrow to package 200,000 high-nutrition dry meals to be sent to Egypt.

The cost of the conference is $17 in advance and $20 at the door. To register or for more information, call 942-3000, ext. 4388.