Red Youth Conference returns to Southeast Texas this weekend

Beaumont's annual Christian youth event features student-led worship, activities, and breakout sessions on modern issues.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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The Red Youth Conference, a two-day Christian youth event organized by Beaumont's One City Church, is returning this weekend. The conference brings together students from across the region for worship, student-led activities, and breakout sessions focused on topics relevant to today's teenagers, including post-high school planning, relationships, and breaking cycles of habit and addiction.

Why it matters

The Red Youth Conference provides a platform for regional teenagers to connect with their faith, explore important issues, and develop leadership skills in a student-led environment. As a recurring annual event, it reflects the church's ongoing commitment to supporting and empowering young people in the local community.

The details

The Red Youth Conference features a student-led structure, with young people handling worship, running the merchandise department, and producing photo and video coverage of the event. In addition to the main worship sessions and guest speakers, the conference includes activities like 3-on-3 basketball, pickleball, and a communal art wall. Breakout sessions tackle topics directly relevant to young people, such as post-high school planning, relationships, and breaking cycles of habit and addiction.

  • The Red Youth Conference is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, February 21-22, 2026.
  • The event launched in 2024 and has already sold out for 2026, though organizers say they will not turn away students who show up at the door.

The players

One City Church

A church in Beaumont, Texas that organizes the annual Red Youth Conference.

Christi Trahan

The youth pastor at One City Church who helped launch the Red Youth Conference.

Elise Ayers

A student intern at One City Church who speaks at the Red Youth Conference and highlights its student-led structure.

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What they’re saying

“We just had a heart to reach out to young people in our area beyond our church, even into other churches, providing a place for them to come and really be in the presence of the Lord and also be young.”

— Christi Trahan, Youth Pastor, One City Church

“I think what makes us different is it's very student led. Whenever other students from other areas come in and see how many things that we are able to do so young, they're able to know that they can do that as well.”

— Elise Ayers, Student Intern, One City Church

“You can find your identity in Jesus and you don't have to look to the things of the world. Nobody's ever too far gone for Jesus.”

— Elise Ayers, Student Intern, One City Church

What’s next

The Red Youth Conference is an annual event, so the next occurrence will be in 2027.

The takeaway

The Red Youth Conference demonstrates how a local church can empower and support young people in their faith and personal development through a student-led event that addresses the unique challenges and interests of today's teenagers.