News
Bethel Excited to Welcome 2012 CPYC Participants
We've Moved to Bethel - Promo Video
After more than 40 years of the Cumberland Presbyterian Youth Conference (CPYC) at NaCoMe Camp and Conference Center, the denomination’s school, Bethel University, will once again host the annual summer event.
According to Susan Groce, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church’s Coordinator of Ministries with Youth & Young Adults, the youth conference had grown to such a size that NaCoMe, a conference center and camp in Centerville, Tenn., could no longer accommodate all the participants of the event.
“When we realized that our needs were no longer being met at NaCoMe, Bethel came up as a possibility for 2012,” Groce said. “Bethel’s really expanded, and we wanted to see if it could meet the needs for the conference. So we met at the campus and after that we knew it was the place to have CPYC.”
Groce said it will not be the first time CPYC will have been at Bethel.
“Decades ago, what is now CPYC originally began at Bethel, and it was there for a number of years,” Groce said. “Then it jumped around for a few years until it landed at NaCoMe.”
Bethel’s McKenzie campus has experienced significant growth in the last few years with four new residence halls either built or acquired (Wildcat Cove) In the last decade alone. It has also completed a new football stadium, new tennis courts, a soccer field, a new center for student enrichment, and a new science building. There have also been extensive improvements to the baseball and softball facilities.
“Participants at CPYC will be housed in Bethel’s newest residence hall, Heritage Hall, said Myra Carlock, Director of University Events at Bethel.
Carlock pointed out that a new state-of-the-art cafeteria, a new gymnasium, and the indoor Gaines Pool will all be amenities the participants can enjoy.
“We are very excited to have these young people come to Bethel,” Carlock said. “We want them to have the opportunity to experience the atmosphere here and to see if this might be a good college home for them someday.”
CPYC is for high school young people completing 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades. It is also for adult workers with youth in the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and Cumberland Presbyterian Church in America.
This year’s theme is “Like Your Life Depended on It.” It focuses on the following: Pray Earnestly, Love Deeply, Offer Hospitality, Serve Humbly & Use Spiritual Gifts, Share God’s Grace…Like our Life Depended on It.
Groce says she hopes people can enjoy their memories of NaCoMe and still embrace the conference at Bethel.
“We want people to realize that it’s not just about what was at NaCoMe,” she said. “Instead, it’s about Cumberland Presbyterian youth coming together to learn about growing spiritually. Our hope is that it will become typical for C.P. youth to enjoy the camps offered in their presbytery and that they will then always come to their denominational youth conference. This year’s event is something you will not want to miss.”
Groce says a great team has been put into place for CPYC.
“Some familiar names will be making this year’s event special,” she said. “Perryn Rice and Jill Carr are leading the worship team, and Aaron Ferry and Joanna Bellis are leading the recreation team. I will be leading small group activities, and Al Garrett will be in charge of our work crew.”
Groce says a new online application for CPYC is already encouraging people to register for July event.
“We already have good numbers from our online registration,” she said.
CPYC is scheduled for July 8-13 on Bethel’s McKenzie campus.