From November 8-10, 2024, over 1,570 youth, leaders, and volunteers gathered at the Rocky Mount Event Center for Pilgrimage 2024, an annual celebration of worship, fellowship, and spiritual growth for youth in the North Carolina Conference.
The theme of this year’s Pilgrimage was “Seeing God in Unexpected Places,” with a focus on seeing God in times of exile. On Friday night, volunteers and the Cabinet greeted attendees with cheers and applause as they entered the event center, filling the room with love and joy. We welcomed multiple vendors to the upstairs portion of the event center for youth and their leaders to explore. Other pre-session activities included the Photoboxx where youth excitedly took photos with their friends for printed copies and a chance to be featured on the video screen. Youth were invited to “leave your mark” at Pilgrimage by placing their fingerprint on a canvas, which turned into a beautifully created tree design. These canvases were auctioned off for the Youth Service Fund and used as a part of the altar on Sunday morning. Along with the canvases, there was a Youth Service Fund stand where you could support the conference youth events by buying Pilgrimage and YSF t-shirts.
Pilgrimage 2024 opened with upbeat music during pre-session, and Conference Youth President Matthew Wong giving a welcome speech and announcements. The incredible house band kicked off the event with powerhouse music as youth gathered in front of the altar to sway together. Kuda Kugura, a conference youth alum, and a current Pastor gave the message on Friday Evening. As Kuda spilled out youth terminology and spoke about grace, youth listened intently and engaged with his message based on scripture from Matthew 25:34-46. Friday evening wasn’t complete without a video message from the Bishop, the popular flashlight questions, a youth testimony about God’s presence in grief, and two more house band sets. We sent the youth off to bed for a busy Saturday.
While the house band was practicing on Saturday morning, we heard loud alarms with the message “alert, alert, there is a fire emergency, please evacuate the building.” We quickly and safely removed the house band and production staff members and awaited further instructions. Youth groups were welcomed to the Rocky Mount Event Center with fire trucks and crowds outside the doors. While we sorted out what turned out to be a fire alarm malfunction, youth were seen dancing and singing on the steps of the event center, some even playing in the open green space across the street from the venue.
Once doors opened, youth rushed into the event center for an “unplugged” session of Pilgrimage, filled with no videos, lights, or lyrics on screen after losing power to the event center.
The session was filled with great music from our house band while youth followed along with lyrics from the Pilgrimage website, testimonies from Camp and Retreat Ministries, scripture, and prayer. Youth were introduced to Rev. Adam Baker who emphasized the importance of youth knowing they are loved by God.
Saturday afternoon was filled with many activities, including a Camp Fun Day hosted by Camp and Retreat Ministries, arcade games and adventures at the Rocky Mount Event Center, lunch at NC Wesleyan, the packing of over 2,000 hygiene kits for the MERCI Center, a hot dog lunch hosted by First UMC Rocky Mount, and a multicultural dinner at First UMC Rocky Mount which provided a space for youth to celebrate diversity and build connections.
We joined back together for Saturday evening with lights, music, videos, lyrics, and speakers as youth leaders led Christian Calisthenics, youth officers shared ways youth can get involved with other youth events, and the Conference Youth Committee led the rainstorm. We enjoyed witnessing creative arts through dance from a group of youth and hearing a heartfelt testimony about a youth’s journey to find God in exile. Rev. Baker gave another message centered on knowing we are loved by God and how we are called to love our neighbors as God loves us. Our house band closed us out with songs as youth were seen singing loudly and swaying to the music!
Sunday morning began with a banner processional, providing youth groups an opportunity to represent their churches. For virtual participants, photos of banners were taken and displayed on the video board. We welcomed our house band back to lead us in Sunday morning music before youth shared their spiritual gifts through stories and spoken word.
Bishop Connie Mitchell Shelton and Rev. Adam Baker led us in communion and a special offering for the Youth Service Fund was collected to support conference youth events. Rev. Baker shared a closing message, encouraging youth to go forth and show God’s love to others, especially those in exile. After enjoying more music from the House Band, an ending with the UMYF Benediction, and the Church Clap, the amazing weekend drew to a close.
Pilgrimage 2024 was a wonderful experience, and we are already looking forward to next year!
Recap contributed by Abigail Eliot, Conference Youth Secretary, Anna Blount, and Catherine Stallsmith
