North American Youth Congress

North American Youth Congress (commonly abbreviated NAYC) is a biennial event held by the Youth Ministries division of the United Pentecostal Church International, occurring every other year since 1979. The event has been described as one of the largest gatherings of Christian youth in the U.S. and is held in different cities around the country each year. In 2019, there was a record attendance of over 36,000 youth and young adults.

Overview
Being the largest event hosted by the United Pentecostal Church International, NAYC is considered the "premier youth conference" of the UPCI. It is intended mainly for youth and young adults, aimed at people ages 12 to 25. At the event, students attend various breakout sessions and nightly services, as well as participate in networking, fellowship, and community service over the course of three days.

SERVE Day
During NAYC, attendees may also participate in a program known as SERVE Day (formerly Project 22:39 ) where students help serve the nearby communities. SERVE is held as a collaboration between UPCI Youth Ministries and Reach Out America, the disaster relief arm of the United Pentecostal Church International. SERVE draws inspiration from Matthew 22:39, where Jesus says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

History
NAYC was launched in 1979 and has traveled to various cities around the U.S. every year, starting in Memphis, TN, and the most recent being in St. Louis, MO. The event has grown over recent years, with the 2019 and 2023 editions being described by multiple outlets as one of the largest Christian youth events in North America.

2015
In 2015, NAYC was held at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, OK, under the theme "Anthem" from August 5 to August 7. It drew over 22,000 young people and was the first to be sold out in NAYC history, requiring overflow seating to be provided in the neighboring Cox Convention Center. The event brought an estimated $6 million in sales to the city.

2017
NAYC 2017 announces the need for the first time of a football stadium - Lucas Oil Stadium - Indianapolis, IN!! #NSYC15 #NAYC17 7 August 2015 NAYC 2017 was held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN, with a theme of “This is That" from July 26 to July 28. This was the first year that NAYC had been held in a football stadium, and the event was attended by over 34,000 youth and young adults. During the Friday evening service, a letter to the attendees from the vice president of the United States, Mike Pence, was read by Youth President Michael Ensey.

2019
NAYC in 2019 was held at the Dome at America's Center and America’s Center in St. Louis, MO, from July 31 to August 3, under the theme, "Kingdom Come." NAYC 2019 was the largest NAYC to date with around 37,000 young people attending. During the event's SERVE Day, attendees filled 2,000 buckets worth $75 each to assist with disaster relief in the area.

2021
In 2021, NAYC, with the theme of "Ascend," was once again scheduled to be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, IN, from July 28 to July 30. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it was canceled as an in-person event on March 29, 2021. As of July 2024, the livestream of the online event has gained over 28,000 views on YouTube and 79,000 views on Facebook.

2023
NAYC 2023, under the theme of "Glory," was held in St. Louis, MO, at The Dome at America's Center with split sessions at the St. Louis Convention Center from July 26 to July 28. In a statement, the UPCI announced that over 30,000 people had registered for the event since March 10, with the final registration being placed at 33,000. Final event attendance was 33,741 attendees. NAYC 2023's SERVE Day involved over 1,500 students preparing 3,000 disaster relief buckets containing items such as toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and other hygiene products and cleaning supplies.