Genesis given youth conference feel

By: Logan Hoffman

Posted: 3/13/09

In the biggest visitation time of the
year, Simpson University has decided to
break Genesis weekend from its normal
format to take on a new image. March
13 through March 15 is a time for prospective students, families and even
church youth groups to come and see if
Simpson is right for them. Just like in
years past, students are able to stay in
dorms with student hosts and tour the
school, but this year there are a few new
aspects to the weekend. Friday night
is headlined with Night Life featuring
the theme SUTube, where students are
able to re-create their favorite YouTube
video. To top off the weekend, christian
artist Phil Wickham will be performing a
concert in the Heritage Life Center.

In addition to the change in headline
events, Genesis weekend will have
structural changes as well. This year, the
school hopes to keep half the weekend
the same in the form of a Simpson preview,
but they would also like to block
out half the weekend for a "youth conference," according to Associated Student Body President Mitchell Flinn.

"We don't want so say it's a youth
conference," said Jer Yang Kue, the
event coordinator at Simpson, "but we
are making it more of a youth conference
feel."

As a part of the youth conference
aspect, there will be various workshops
offered to the prospective students. In
addition to getting the prospective students involved, this will also get regular students involved.

"In the past it's been a big commercial,
prospective students come to the
visitations but the student body hasn't
been involved," said Flinn. "This year
they are able to help with workshops."

Simpson draws students form all
over the west coast, as well as from other
parts of the United States, to come to
Genesis weekend.

"We have a database of 300-600
schools over the west coast including
addresses, phone numbers and names of
pastors," said Yang Kue. She explained how Simpson sends out letters about Genesis
weekend inviting them to come and bring their youth group.

"We are bringing a new flavor to it and to attract more from a pastoral standpoint. We try to give them a weekend to say, even if they don't want to come, that 'Simpson has blessed me.' So everyone walks away benefited."

The change from being exclusively a commercial preview weekend to incorporating a spiritual theme represents more accurately the spirit of the school.

"[The new aspect] benefits dual purpose, Simpson point, but also the spiritual aspect," remarked Flinn. "In the past they kind of missed the spiritual aspect that Simpson is about."

The University is hoping this dual purpose
will positively affect the already successful Genesis weekend. Simpson is hoping to leave a lasting impression on the visiting students and let God be shown through the activities and people involved.

"We are hoping to bring in the 200-300 [student] mark," said Yang Kue. "But it's all up in the air. Give it to God and hopefully we will have a good turnout."