What happens when a youth conference is done online? Without the bells and whistles of an immaculately planned 3 day 2 night event, would youths be engaged on Zoom? More importantly – how would God move in the digital space?

These were questions that the planning committee from Detonate Youth had face when news of heightened COVID-19 restrictions were announced. Yet, many of the initial worries proved void when several of the camp participants shared their testimonies of how their initial expectations were not only met – but surpassed as they attended the 2D1N conference. 

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting much from the conference. I went mainly because I wanted to support my friends who were organizing it. But after attending, I’ve been very challenged by the message. Prior to the conference, I was talking to a few friends who mentioned how they were making a lot of money and living a very successful life. Those conversations made me feel very conflicted about my faith. Should I put God first or chase a comfortable life? 

But after hearing Pastor Isaiah’s testimony and how he gave up so much of his life to follow Christ, it really put things into perspective. If God wasn’t worth it, Pastor Isaiah would have given up a long time ago or be living in disillusionment. Pursuing God will not guarantee me a life of hardship or comfort, but I know that it will definitely guarantee a life of meaning and fulfilment.

Pursuing God will not guarantee me a life of hardship or comfort, but I know that it will definitely guarantee a life of meaning and fulfilment.

And it’s not to say that I no longer feel the pull of the world, but now, I have a clear path to follow, because it is the route to meaning and true fulfilment.”

– Joseph, 23

“Being someone who hasn’t gotten visions from God for two years, I started receiving visions again but I wondered if it was just coming from myself; so I shoved it in the back of my brain. Yet, I did ask God that if the vision was indeed from him, let me pray for people and see visions for them.

On the first night,  I saw a hand holding a heart. I casually brought it up during LG but since it had been such a long time since I had seen any visions,  I shoved it aside. During my Life Group, I saw another vision of an archer shooting moving targets while praying for Joseph. I shared it with him despite being afraid that it wasn’t from God. But that night, Joseph texted me and told me that the vision was spot on and relevant to him. 

On the last night of the conference, I saw yet another vision, this time of myself holding two hearts in both my hands. 

For the whole of 2020, I had become so comfortable being alone and I thought I would never come back to church – let alone being used by God. For God to touch my life again, I had to be brave to step out of the Dinghy.”

For the whole of 2020, I had become so comfortable being alone and I thought I would never come back to church – let alone being used by God. For God to touch my life again, I had to be brave to step out of the Dinghy.”

– Keith, 22

“Before the conference, I was out with Phoebe but I had an uneasy feeling. Soon after, my younger sister called and said that my parents were having a really bad quarrel. Whenever something like this happens, I tend to get very anxious and worried since I have a soft spot for my mother. 

Previously, I would often run away from these issues without letting anyone know about it – not even God. But this time, it was different as I decided to obey God. I trusted Him and texted Casey about it and she prayed for me & I prayed for myself as well. For the rest of the day, I felt at peace because I was sure that God was working, even when I didn’t see it.

Previously, I would often run away from these issues without letting anyone know about it – not even God. But this time, it was different as I decided to obey God.

So actually, I wanted to head home right after the workshop to ensure that everything was safe at home. But when I texted my sister, she said that everything was fine and they managed to resolve the issue! I had a vision that an Angel was standing in my parents’ bedroom and it filled the room with peace. I really thank God for that!”

– Angela, 18

“Actually going into this conference, I was honestly going through a very hard time in my walk with God. I had completely lost focus on God and I couldn’t bring myself to have my quiet time with God or read the Bible.

During the first night of the conference, I was just listening and nothing really caught my attention until Pastor Isaiah talked about having a desire, and that desire will allow God to move in our lives. So I asked myself if I really want God in my life? Because if I wanted God, then why wasn’t He moving in my life? 

So after the whole conference was over, I took some time to process and reflect on what was going on in my walk with God. After I reflected on myself, I knew that I wanted God back in my life, and that was my desire.

But desire wasn’t the only important thing, action was also needed. Pastor Isaiah said ‘Faith is not only daring to believe, but also daring to act’. I looked back at all the things I said I wanted to do for God, but I never did. Over the week, I really did my best to obey what God wanted me to do. I started not just to talk but actually to carry out what I had asked God for. So I wanna encourage you guys, that it’s important to lift your desires to God, but you have to take action as well. Even though things may seem hard, You need to have faith to act because if you’re willing and it is something you desire, God will move.”

So I wanna encourage you guys, that it’s important to lift your desires to God, but you have to take action as well. Even though things may seem hard, You need to have faith to act because if you’re willing and it is something you desire, God will move.”

– Yue Yang, 19

“Desire is a good thing but if you only desire without acting – it really doesn’t do much.

“Desire is a good thing but if you only desire without acting – it really doesn’t do much.

Personally, I always wanted to read the bible consistently but I didn’t do it everyday because it was hard to be consistent. So I read when I wanted to and didn’t when I didn’t want to; But after the conference, I’m trying to obey God in this area as much as I can and to step out of this ‘comfort zone’.”

– Ian, 17

“Before the conference, Angela and I saw a McDelivery Rider who had met with an accident and was sitting on the floor, injured. The moment I saw him, the first thing that came to my mind was to pray for him. It was clear but I didn’t have the guts to. So Angela and I walked away. Yet the feeling didn’t go away, I felt a deep urge to go and pray so I called Jerlynn and asked her. She told me to go and although it took a while, I accepted that I couldn’t run away and went to ask him if I could pray for him. I was quite scared since there were a lot of people there.

Even though he rejected me, I didn’t feel hurt – instead I felt at peace. But for some reason, I began crying, almost as if I felt the pain he was in. In the past, I would ask God to break my heart for what broke His and this time, the pain that I had felt was incredibly different. Through this situation, I learnt to obey God with my life and even in other aspects such as my EAE application.”

Even though he rejected me, I didn’t feel hurt – instead I felt at peace. But for some reason, I began crying, almost as if I felt the pain he was in.

– Phoebe, 17