The ASPIRE conference was all that we dreamed it would be and more.

Despite the initial disappointment of 30 of our delegates not being able to attend due to visa problems, we still ended up with around 215 at the conference.

The National Directors did a great job of selecting their delegates for ASPIRE. All those who attended were exceptional young Christian leaders with an amazing array of gifts and potential. They were keen to learn and grow and came along prepared and eager to hear from God. From the outset of the conference the delegates started networking with others from different nations and cultures. They quickly connected with each other developing mutually supportive and learning relationships.

During ASPIRE each of the delegates was challenged to commit to leading new mission projects to reach unreached young people. Most of the delegates were able to liase with their National Directors at the conference and come up with some very exciting mission projects. The remainder will decide on their mission projects in the next few weeks. We expect to have over 100 new mission projects initiated over the next 18 months lead by ASPIRE delegates.

The delegates all attended services at their host churches in Perth and there were reports of many in the churches been significantly moved and challenged by what was shared. I have already heard reports of some young people in these churches now considering full-time youth mission because of the impact of the ASPIRE delegates. A number of the churches are also now investigating sending mission teams to various nations in the Asia Pacific.

LIST (Leaders In Specialised Trainging), our intensive three-year leadership training program was also launched at ASPIRE, with most of the candidates for this program attending the conference. LIST is part of YFC Asia Pacific's Ignite leadership development strategy. It was very encouraging meeting with these potential national ministry leaders. Each of the Ignite Candidates was given the opportunity to MC programs and sessions at the conference.

At the end of ASPIRE a challenge was given to all attending. They were asked to consider making a commitment to God to give their life totally to youth mission. We were overwhelmed when 128 young leaders signed the response form, walked out the front of the meeting room and placed their pledge in a box as a public and personal pledge to give their whole life to reach and serve the young people of this world. This equates to approximately 6,000 years being committed to youth mission from some very talented young leaders. I believe that through these young leaders millions of unreached young people will come to know Jesus.

ASPIRE is just the beginning…