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Youth conference at Live Oak this weekend
Michelle Caraballo
Michelle Caraballo, Live Oaks student ministries pastor, said this year's conference has been expanded to two days.

A youth explosion is coming to Hinesville on Friday and Saturday.

The youth ministry of Live Oak Church of God will host a conference, called “Boiling Point Unashamed.”

The annual conference is designed to show that the “love of Christ inspires and strengthens the next generation to find their God-given purpose and destiny and walk it out,” said Michelle Caraballo, Live Oak’s student ministries pastor.

The event starts at 6 p.m. Friday.

“This is the first year the conference will convene for two days,” Caraballo said. “Normally, it is a one-day event.”

Caraballo and her husband, Tony, have served as student ministries pastors at Live Oak since August 2011. Bishop Israel Aaron Cowart serves as the church’s lead pastor.

“Our conference is open to the community, and our target age group is from 10-18 years old,” Michelle Caraballo said. “There will be games and giveaways each day, dances, dynamic worship, in-depth teaching, and inspiring speakers. This year’s conference is centered around living unashamed for Christ.”

On Friday evening, music will be provided by the Jesup Church of God Youth Band, and Pastor Jesse Atwood will be the guest speaker. Atwood is the administrator pastor and interim youth pastor at Jesup Church of God. He has been in full-time ministry since fall 1999. The Friday service will also feature DJ Deal and A2C Alive.  

Saturday services will begin at 9 a.m. There will be two breakout sessions that are geared toward middle- and high-school kids. Session 1 will last from 10-10:45 a.m., and session 2 will be conducted from 11-11:45 a.m. Breakout session speakers include Beverly Leggett (“Unashamed Prayer”), Pastor Terry Newsome (“Unashamed Worship”), Caraballo (Unashamed You) and Phil Parsons (Unashamed Masculinity).

The conference will culminate on Saturday afternoon, with service at 5 p.m.

“We will have a Christian rap group, featuring Chris ‘Result’ Davis and Sir-Viva of Walk Right Ministries of Beaufort, South Carolina,” Caraballo said. “The Live Oak Church Worship Experience will also sing.”

The speaker for Saturday evening is Pastor Tony Caraballo. He said his passion is to see students have a real experience of God’s power, presence and love, and to help them find their value, purpose and destiny from God.  

“Last year we had around 400 youths in attendance,” Michelle Caraballo said. “However, it is not about the numbers; it is about reaching these kids and telling them about Jesus and the love he has for them.

“It is our desire to partner with you to encourage and challenge this generation to live an unashamed life that is ‘hot’ for God,” she continued. “Not just for this school year, but for the rest of their lives.”  

For additional information about the youth conference, call Caraballo at 912-977-3819, or the church at 876-8769. Live Oak Church of God is at 296 Live Oak Church Road in Hinesville. You can also go to liveoakchurch.org or find the church on Facebook.

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