After a long day of work projects that included picking up trash, weeding a tree nursery, hanging drywall, and a myriad of other projects, students lined up at microphones Wednesday night at Momentum to share what God had done in their lives. The late night session was held in Reed Green Coliseum of University of Southern Mississippi in Hattiesburg.

Formerly known as Brethren National Youth Conference, Momentum is a week of challenging speakers, ministry opportunities, and recreation for students while encouraging them in their faith. The week-long event concludes Thursday night.

“Yesterday, I gave my heart to Jesus,” said one young man, responding to the question “How has this makeover experience changed your heart?”

“I’ve learned that we’re not just building houses, we’re building relationships,” noted another boy.

Another young lady admitted she went to Gulfport the day before to work, but her heart wasn’t in it. “Today I learned to worship through my acts, praising Him when I’m serving,” she said. “My heart just changed.”

Another teen called the experience “inspirational. Last night I accepted Christ into my life,” she said.

The session concluded with devotions led by Josh Finklea, who was the main speaker in the morning session.

“What you did today is not a day for you to remember on your calendar,” he stressed, noting the number of students and staff who left campus earlier in the day to minister as part of the Blitz or the Gulf coast rebuilding projects. “This is a day for you to remember — this is how you do it (ministry).”

“You have the spirit of God upon you,” he said. “You are to preach to the poor, bind up the broken hearted, and release from darkness of the prisoners.”

He encouraged the audience to respond to God’s call.

“When God says go, you got to go,” he emphasized. “It’s not just every day of a conference; it’s every day of your life, because God’s spirit is upon you.”

For an up-to-date report about the week’s events, click here.