More than 100 young adults ranging in age from 15 to 28 and representing 14 states and two countries attended the sixth annual O.C. Bash in Southern California on the weekend of July 15.

Thursday night, July 14, was an evening to meet and greet with others to make their acquaintance, have a snack and socialize.

Friday is when many travel into the area, so many of the local members had busy schedules picking up from the airport those who came in from out of town. Those who had already arrived had the entire day as free time. Some used the time to hike trails, others used it to see various sites in the region and most used it as time to hit the beach to swim in the Pacific, play beach volleyball and lounge in the sun.

Friday night was a cookout and beach bonfire on Huntington Beach. Everybody socialized, chatted, laughed and ate as the sun set over the Pacific Ocean.

On Sabbath morning, the Weis family of Huntington Beach opened their home (where many young adults stayed for the weekend on couches, floors and any other spot they could find to crash) to all the young adults for a Sabbath brunch in their back yard. Shortly after serving brunch, six young men gave short biblical presentations, each prepared specifically to be of interest to the uniquely youthful audience.

Mitchell Moss, associate managing editor of the United News and Ambassador Bible Center 2010 alumnus, was on hand to promote ABC at the brunch and represent the home office. “I met many new people and talked to several who plan to attend ABC at some point in the future, some of whom attend with other fellowships in the Church of God community, which I think is extremely positive,” he said.

Most of the youth attended regular Sabbath services in the Garden Grove congregation Sabbath afternoon, where Aaron Weis gave an edifying sermonette and Jon Garnant likewise gave a thought-provoking sermon geared to the young audience. During snacks afterward, local members got to know all the young visitors. That evening, everyone ate pizza back at the Weis’s place before heading to a local high school gym for an open gym night.

On Sunday, all the local congregations of the region were invited to join together with the young adults at Doheny Beach for a cookout and day at the beach. 300 members from five UCG congregations and three other Church of God groups came to enjoy a day filled with board games, swimming, beach volleyball, Frisbees and other fun activities.

Sunday night was the conclusion of the weekend with the annual dance. At the end of the dance, a group picture was taken, and many stuck around for a while to mingle and to help clean up.
Aaron Weis, coordinator for the weekend, commented, “We have seen this weekend grow year by year as more young people have a growing desire to meet others of like mind. I was able to identify at least 30 first-time participants. God definitely blessed it to make it the most successful O.C. Bash to date.”

Joe Gannon from St. Louis, Missouri, attended for the first time and succinctly summed up the feelings of many about whether or not to attend in the future: “Just go.”