Conference gives teens time for God

For some, it may seem surprising to find teens willing to sacrifice their video-game playing and mall-going weekend to take time out for God. And we're not talking about an hour of church. We are talking a weekend devoted to learning more and worshiping the Lord.

But that's what more area teens are doing each year to be a part of the El Paso Southwest Youth Conference. Sponsored by the LifeTeen youth group at St. Pius X Catholic Community, the fifth annual youth conference will be Saturday and Sunday at the El Paso convention center.

"A lot of kids go in thinking maybe they're not going to be entertained. But the talks are varied and the music is great," said Daniel Collins, co-director of the LifeTeen group. The group has about 40 to 50 active members.

"And toward the latter part of the day, with the adoration, we just get a large response from the youths." "They had great speakers and amazing music and youths would come back wondering why we couldn't bring the same speakers and ministry" to El Paso, he said. The first conference attracted about 300 area youths and took place at the church.

This year, the event moved to the convention center, hoping to attract more than 800 youths. "But I also think it's through word of mouth from people who went as individuals to the previous conference and then bring 40 other people from their church the next year," he said. Ben Ortega, LifeTeen co-director, has attended all the conferences.

He said he is often touched by the experience. "And I like seeing how other people are getting something out of it," he said. Maher, who has recorded three albums, has received good reviews from major Catholic and Christian music magazines.

His third album, "Overflow," was released earlier this year. "I hope they walk away uplifted and feeling that there is a point our being on this planet," he said. Burges High School senior Maria Barragan, 18, said it's hard to explain how the conference affects people.

"It's just one of those things that when you go, you come out a different person," she said. "But in order to realize everything you have, you would have to go and experience it."

When: Registration and breakfast are from 7 to 9 a.

m. Saturday. The conference is from 9 a.

m. to 10 p.m.

Saturday and from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday.