“It just broke down a lot of the walls that were there.”

Elizabeth Mabie
Spur Ottawa Correspondent

In the final days of 2017, more than 900 young adults will converge in Ottawa seeking spiritual growth and fellowship at the annual Rise Up conference.

Hosted by Catholic Christian Outreach (CCO), Rise Up aims to inspire people ages 18 to 35 to become leaders for their faith in whatever circles they find themselves.

“This age group is full of ideals and dreams,” explains Jackie O’Donnell, CCO’s Director of Missions and Events. “They are at a time in their life where they are making significant decisions about their careers, their relationships, and the future. They are longing for more than this world and the culture offers.”

CCO has hosted Rise Up in various Canadian cities since 2000. This year’s conference runs from December 28 to January 1 at the Westin Hotel. The 2017 theme, “Dominion from Sea to Sea,” refers to Canada’s official motto and Psalm 72:8.

Rise Up holds a series of workshops focusing on two categories: “Personal Development” and “Living Your Apostolate.” These workshops are meant to prepare young adults to go into the world to share their faith and give them the courage and tools for effective evangelism.

“The way I describe it is that I was baptized in the Holy Spirit.”

“Our desire is to bring young adults together to grow in their faith, experience conversion, and be convicted of their baptismal call to be a missionary,” O’Donnell says. “Ultimately, we hope that those who attend would grow in their desire to share Christ and that our universities and country would be transformed through them.”

One person who was transformed through Rise Up is Zachary Brownrigg, who first attended in 2011, in Vancouver. Brownrigg had stopped going to church, but he ultimately decided to attend the conference.

“The way I describe it is that I was baptized in the Holy Spirit,” he says. “I strongly felt God’s blessing. It just broke down a lot of the walls that were there and that basically lead to a lot of changes in my life.”

After the conference Brownrigg began attending church regularly and has since become a missionary.

“Many also meet their future spouses and we see this lead to strong, faithful families.”

Brownrigg is one of many Rise Up attendees who have left with the strong desire to enter ministry or missionary work. Past participants return to the conference in high numbers, often bringing along friends.

“It’s always great to see people bringing friends with them when they return in following years. Often, they desire to see these friends experience conversion,” says O’Donnell.

Another after effect observed by O’Donnell is the number of romantic relationships built during or after the conference.

“Many also meet their future spouses and we see this lead to strong, faithful families. It’s exciting to see what will happen this year.”

“You meet other Catholics from around Canada, making friends and forming a community. I think that’s incredibly important,” says Brownrigg.

What began as a small gathering of 130 people in a church hall, growing to this grand turnout of 900 young people, the influence of Rise Up has spread across the nation.

“I think [the conference] could benefit others because God always shows up at Rise Up and there are often conversion experiences,” explains Brownrigg. “People really experience God’s love in a personal way.”