When God speaks, obedience can open the door to something far bigger than we ever imagine. For Silvanos and the rest of the Gospel Temple Youth committee team, that calling came in the form of a simple but clear instruction: “Conference.”
At first, they weren’t sure. They’d never run a conference before, and the idea felt daunting. But as more people confirmed what God had placed on their hearts, they knew it was time to step out in faith.
“We’d never organised a conference before, but I felt God saying this was what we needed to do. When we came to visit The Hayes, we walked into the Derbyshire Hall and I had goosebumps. We prayed there for half an hour, and I just knew this was the place God had chosen for us.” - Silvanos
Bringing young people into God’s presence
The first Revival Youth Camp at The Hayes quickly grew in vision. Around 100 young people attended from different churches across the Midlands.
For many, it was their first time stepping away from their routines, distractions, and comfort zones to focus entirely on God.
“In church, people can be comfortable. It’s their home. But at The Hayes, everything is set up for fellowship. You eat together, you hang out together, you worship together. It forces you out of your comfort zone and into an atmosphere where Christ is at the centre of everything.” - Silvanos
A breakthrough from the very first night
Silvanos and the team remember how quickly God began to move:
“On the first night, you could see people dropping their walls. They realised it was safe to be vulnerable because everyone around them was doing the same thing. Young people were on their knees crying out to God, worshipping with honesty and intention. From that moment on, the atmosphere was different. God’s presence was heavy in the room.”
Bible studies during the day helped the group process what God was saying. The team recalls how knowledge, wisdom, and fresh understanding flowed, with young people making genuine commitments to live differently.
Testimonies of revival
Among many powerful testimonies, one stands out. A pastor’s son who hadn’t been to church for 15 years attended the camp almost by chance after a friend told him about it.
“After the first worship night, he told me he felt revived. He’d never experienced God’s presence like that before. From then on, he said he wanted to take the things of God seriously again.”
Others shared stories of God’s provision. Three young people gave their very last pennies as a gift towards next year’s camp. By the time they returned home, each one had received back far more than they had given, through unexpected payments and refunds.
“They gave without expecting anything in return, but God gave back four and five times more. It was a powerful reminder that when you sow into God’s kingdom, He provides.”
Why a Christian conference venue matters
The choice of venue played a big part in the group’s experience.
“At The Hayes, the whole environment points you to Christ. There’s no TV, no distractions, just opportunities to talk, to fellowship, to worship. Even the Bible in every room reminds you what you’re here for. You can’t help but grow closer to God.”
This Christ-centred environment also created a sense of unity, even with other groups on site.
“Knowing the only other people staying there are Christians makes you feel like one big community. Even strangers feel like brothers and sisters in Christ.”
Looking ahead
Following the success of the first event, Silvanos and the youth committee team have already booked The Hayes for August next year, this time planning a full week.
“We’ve already got 100 more young people signed up than last year. We believe God wants to do something even bigger.”
At Christian Conference Trust, we love seeing how God uses our venues as places of encounter and transformation. For this youth camp, The Hayes became a meeting place between heaven and earth – a space where young people laid aside distractions, found God’s presence for themselves, and went home changed.
