AKRON, Ohio -- Amid the stage lights, smoke machine and thumping bass, lives were changed.

According to a United Methodist News Service report, that was the aim of Youth Jam, which drew 3,000 youth and youth leaders to the John S. Knight Center in Akron Nov. 15-17.

Sponsored by the East Ohio Conference on Youth Ministries, Youth Jam is an annual event started in 1991 as a way to bring young people together for workshops and Christian entertainment. The first event drew about 300 participants. In 2002, the event was sold out.

"The East Ohio Conference really does an outstanding job," said Kara Lassen Oliver, an executive with the United Methodist Youth Organization in Nashville. Only a handful of conferences hold such events, and East Ohio's is the biggest.

Powerful preaching by keynote speaker Rev. Stephen Handy culminated in an altar call that drew hundreds of youth. Handy is a staff member of the United Methodist Publishing House and assistant pastor of Gordon Memorial United Methodist Church in Nashville.

The weekend was filled with concerts, workshops and worship. Participants could choose from nearly 40 workshops with such topics as dance, signing, prayer, choir, Bible study and leadership development.

"God is here with us. It is an amazing feeling," said Katie Starling of Kinsman, Ohio. "I couldn't imagine doing anything else."

The event also featured the Western Samoan R&B gospel group the Katinas, the comedy of CPR, drama team Wildest Dreams, musical guests Aurora and Candle Rain and motivational speakers Laurie Polich and Josh Weidmann. C.J. Jenkins served as worship leader.

"This is the kind of event that can give you hope for the present and the future," said Bishop Jonathan D. Keaton, of the Ohio East Area.