Many Northwood students are affiliated with religion in some way or another. Some go to church, some read the Bible, some pray every night before they go to sleep. But imagine going to meetings, leading conferences and making speeches in front of adults. Imagine being the face of the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Youth.
Senior Landis Barber knows exactly what this feels like. He was elected as the president of the conference last summer at a camp called Annual Conference for Youth (ACS). He had to go through an application process, where the nominations committee reviewed his application and passed him onto the next round. He then had to give a speech to the conference, and the elections committee made its decision.
“I wasn’t really expecting to run for president, but I got approached about the idea and I thought about it,” said Barber. “It was about a week before ACS that I actually decided to run for president and it was just so great seeing all the support.”
Although Barber was not planning on running in the first place, it is something that has come to matter to him over the past year.
“To me, it’s leadership. You’re fighting for a bunch of youth that don’t exactly have a voice to adults,” Barber said. “The United Methodist youth aren’t really treated as well by adults and I feel like I can make a difference in that.”
Some of the responsibilities that come with this leadership are: planning and designing the ACS event, travelling to places such as Raleigh, Clayton and Garner for seminars or events, and meeting with adults about what they can do to improve youth ministry. He meets with the youth of the conference and has to transfer their ideas and views to the adults in the conference. Of all of his responsibilities, Barber says his favorite part of his job is speaking in front of large groups of people because it allows the voice of the United Methodist Youth to be heard.
“My favorite part has to be speaking to churches and at rallies and stuff like that,” Barber said. “It allows me to fight for people who can’t exactly fight for themselves.”
Junior Nathan Stephenson, who is a member of the United Methodist Youth Ministry, sees Barber as very deserving of his role.
“He takes his job really seriously because he is really passionate about religion,” Stephenson said. “He loves to do it; he has been a big member of our church since he was little.”
Stephenson said that one of his most memorable experiences with Barber as president was during a hymnal they sung together.
“As we were singing, he looked over and grabbed my hand and it was just a touching moment. I felt like he really knew what was going on with me,” Stephenson said.
This summer at ACS, Barber will have to pass on his leadership to another candidate, but he says it has been a “memorable” year and that it has taught him a lot.
“I’ve learned that no matter what age you are you can make a difference, and one person can make a difference,” Barber said.
Although Barber is passing his role onto someone else, he says he still plans to be affiliated with the United Methodist Church when he goes to college next year. His last piece of advice for next year’s president is, “Speak your mind, no matter what. Speak out and allow your voice to be heard. That’s what leadership is all about.”
– By Madison Roberts