What Are You Building Your Life On? – YEC 2025 Recap
Matthew 7:24-27 says:
"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
From January 24-26, 530 students, leaders, and staff gathered at the Sturbridge Host Hotel, MA, for YEC (Youth Encountering Christ) 2025, all asking ourselves one question: What are we building our lives on? Pastor Nebiye Kelile, a church planter from Dallas, TX, challenged us to be honest with ourselves. Is Christ truly the foundation of our lives, or have we built on something shaky?
Pastor Nebiye Kelile of Dallas, TX, speaking at YEC
This year's theme, Foundations, was rooted in Jesus' words in Matthew 7. In this passage, He speaks about the wisdom of building our lives on a solid foundation. He reminds us that storms will come, but only those whose houses are built on Him—the unshakable Rock—will remain standing.
I’ve been attending YEC since I was a sophomore in high school, and it has always been a life-changing experience. But this year? This year was different. It was personal.
Let me take you back a little—when I was 13, I attended a youth conference hosted by Ethiopian Churches in North America. That was the year I gave my life to Christ. And guess who was one of the pastors preaching at that conference? Pastor Nebiye Kelile. He shared the Gospel that week in a way that cut straight to my heart, leading me to repentance.
Fast-forward ten years. Now, Pastor Neb is the speaker at YEC, and I get to watch my students wrestle with the same truth I had to face a decade ago. By the end of the weekend, 13 of my students had rededicated their lives to Christ, and 2 felt a call to ministry or missions. I stood there, tears in my eyes, realizing I was looking at my younger self. It was as if God was whispering, "I see you, and I am faithful."
Students packing hygiene kits for the homeless
But YEC wasn’t just about emotional moments—it was also about action. Students participated in an evangelism workshop led by Sam Morzella, where they learned practical ways to share the Gospel—whether at school, home, or wherever God has placed them. They were challenged to lift their eyes beyond their worlds and see the people around them who desperately need Jesus.
They also put their faith into action by packing hygiene kits for the homeless in their communities. Each student packed two kits, wrote a verse of encouragement, and prayed over them. It was a simple but powerful way to love like Christ—not just meeting physical needs but pointing people to the hope found in Him.
So, what did this weekend teach me? That God is still moving, that He is still calling people to Himself, and that the same God who changed my life at 13 is the same God working in the lives of students in New England today.
YEC isn’t just another youth conference. This year was a reminder that when we build our lives on Christ, no storm can shake us. The storm is inevitable, but as I look ahead, I’m more convinced than ever—there is no firmer foundation than Jesus.
Elizabeth Gezehagn is currently pursuing a Masters in Christian Ministries at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She serves in youth ministry at her local church and loves seeing the next generation on fire for Jesus. She serves part-time as the BCNE’s Youth Assistant.