“Going forward with an event on Good Friday will show the youth the importance of this day.”

Craig Macartney
Spur Ottawa Writer

No Other Name, Ottawa’s annual Good Friday youth conference, is still running. Although initially cancelled due to the quarantine, No Other Name organizers felt God tell them, “You need to show up” for Ottawa’s youth. On Good Friday, the team will stream the conference with a live chat forum and private “prayer chat rooms” to serve those participating.

“We cannot let this day go by without offering our youth something,” says Paul Racine, director of Doulos Ministries and one of No Other Name’s founders.

“Going forward with an event on Good Friday will show the youth the importance of this day,” adds Jessica Martin, youth director at Chapel Ridge Free Methodist Church. “So many things have been canceled: sports, activities, museums, concerts. It only makes sense that this day doesn’t just pass by. My hope and prayer is that youth recognize this importance and significance.”

“We call it No Other Name because Good Friday is the only holiday in the calendar that has no commercialization; it is only about Jesus.”

This is No Other Name’s 13th year. The initiatives started as a vision to unify Ottawa youth pastors and reach local youth with the Gospel. Every year, the conference includes worship, teaching, games, and workshops. Organizers never announce the speakers or specifics of the event; they want youth coming together simply to lift Jesus high.

“We only tell people it will be about Jesus. On a regular basis we have close to 1,000 youth pastors and youth attend,” Racine states. “We call it No Other Name because Good Friday is the only holiday in the calendar that has no commercialization; it is only about Jesus. The highlight of the evening is an opportunity to celebrate Communion together and the youth have an opportunity to be prayed for.”

Because of the restrictions, the team had to change plans several times after deciding to stream the event. They settled on pre-recording short modules of worship, interactive games, teaching, and prayer. The event usually runs from 2 until 10 p.m., but because online attention spans are limited this year’s stream will be less than two hours.

“I attended with my church youth group when I was in junior high and, ever since, it’s always been one of my favourite days of the year.”

Although youth cannot celebrate Communion together, there will be teaching on “the incredible promise that comes with the practice of Communion,” says Racine. “Communion is the promise that reminds us, especially in moments like this, that there is the hope of the resurrection.”

“The fact that the [stream] is interactive and there is a live chat where youth can request prayer if they want, I’m hoping they’ll come away from this feeling a sense of community, even though we are isolated,” says Jennifer Outhouse, of Fusion Youth.

Martin stresses that social distancing cannot stop the power of God from changing lives. She is excited to see how the Holy Spirit will impact youth this year, just as He impacted her through the event years ago.

“I attended with my church youth group when I was in junior high and, ever since, it’s always been one of my favourite days of the year.

“Before attending No Other Name, Good Friday always seemed like that extra day that started off the long weekend—but it’s so much more than that. It’s a day to look back and reflect; a day to remember the depths of love that God has for us; a day to remember the lengths He would take to bring us to Him. We need that reminder every year, as a community (even if the community isn’t meeting face-to-face), to celebrate the name of Jesus and the reason He came.”