The conference was a way to bring everyone interested in the faith together, said Jeff Tackes, the organization's president.

"We invited everyone and opened it up to everyone else at U of I and even the country," he said.

The event started Saturday morning and finished Sunday afternoon. It included students from different campuses, including students from Loyola University, the University of Illinois at Chicago, Southern Illinois University and the University of Maryland. Tackes said there are about 35 to 40 members of the student organization on Urbana's campus.

John Michael Sy, a graduate student, started the organization's local chapter his freshman year with his sister Jhoanne Sy. Sy said the national organization, which originated in New Jersey, appealed to him because of its creative evangelical techniques.

"We take secular events and make them Christ-centered," he said.

For example, the group has hosted "Praisestock," an event similar to Woodstock, but Christ-centered, Sy said.

The group is especially tailored to college students, Tackes said.

Johnny Tenegra, junior in LAS, said the conference was a wonderful experience.

"There are a lot of students here deep in faith. It shows in their faces, in their singing, everything they do," he said. "When we are united, it makes our prayers to Jesus that much stronger."

Tenegra also said it was a very emotional experience.

"I have not cried in a very long time and this organization made me," he said. "There are a lot of people who do because everyone feels so touched when we share and come together."

Father Tom Holloway of St. John's Catholic Chapel in Champaign is a staff representative to the organization and is also their spiritual director. Holloway said the conference was a leadership renewal conference.

"(The event) is a series of talks and a renewal of their ministry on college campuses," he said. "It's also a friendly, enjoyable introduction to the Christian life."

While the organization is mainly Catholic, many participants felt that it was not exclusive to them, or restrictive to other groups of people.

"We have discussions on Catholic faith, but you don't have to be Catholic," Tenegra said. "It's open to anyone."

The organization is also planning an event called "Catholic-fest" that will take place in late spring. Sy said it would focus on one creative evangelical event for each day of one week.