About

Over these three days, students will experience engaging content, powerful worship, and community, while learning how to put their faith into MOTION. Everyone will attend Main Sessions live in the North Hall of the BJCC Complex and then rotate to Exhibition Halls for Community Group times.

MOTION is a local church student conference that is founded on the belief that our faith is not meant to be idle, hidden, or contained but instead lived out in MOTION in Christ! We want to see this generation empowered by Jesus, equipped to make a difference, and living out their faith every day! In 2009, God laid a vision on the heart of our student ministry team to bring local church youth groups together from all over the southeast for one weekend. The vision for the weekend would simply be this: worship, prayer, and focused teaching on one thing- this generation putting their faith into MOTION. MOTION is now in its thirteenth year as a conference and God is doing amazing things! It is our prayer that students and youth leaders leave the conference refreshed, equipped, and inspired to live their lives in MOTION at home, in the local church, in their cities, and around the world.

MOTION is designed for middle school (6th-8th grade), high school (9th-12th grade), and college-age (18-22) students. Although we allow incoming sixth graders, we ask you to determine whether or not the individual student can handle the length of sessions and intensity of the conference. Adult student ministry leaders are encouraged to attend with the students they lead. We also allow groups of Youth Leaders to register without bringing their students if they’d like to attend with a leadership/team-building focus.

If you are in student ministry or you are the leader of a group of students attending the conference, you may purchase a ticket to attend MOTION. If not, thank you for understanding that this is a student conference and there are no additional seats available for general admission adults.

We are a student conference hosted by Church of the Highlands. You can find more details about our church’s statement of faith here.

Although early registration and check-in will tentatively begin on Thursday, July 29, 2021 at 12:00 p.m., the first session of the conference will not take place until the evening. We open registration and check-in early to help accommodate those that are traveling from out-of-town. The conference will conclude on Saturday, July 31.

No. All conference events will be held on site at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex in Birmingham, Alabama.

Please complete the contact form on the contact page and we would be happy to help you with your request.

No. While families are extremely important to us, there will not be childcare available during the conference and we are unable to accommodate children. Please make outside arrangements for childcare if you plan to attend MOTION. We greatly appreciate not asking for any exceptions.

There are a variety of service times and locations for Church of the Highlands on Sunday. Please click here for all the details.

Yes – you can, but it must not exceed the dimensions of 14″ x 14″ x 6″ and must be clear.

Guests will be able to carry the following style and size bag, package, or container on-site:

– Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12″ x 12″ x 6″.

– One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar).

Thank you for your understanding as we follow the safety guidelines.

Yes. Please visit the lodging page for more information and a list of hotels offering discounted rates.

No. The hotels we have listed on the website are hotels where we have negotiated discounted rates. We have also confirmed that these hotels are safe and acceptable for occupancy.

Masks that cover the nose and mouth completely will be required at all times during MOTION 2021. Face coverings will be required both indoors and outdoors, for your protection and the protection of those around you, in accordance with local ordinances.

Conference attendees are responsible for providing their own masks for MOTION 2021. Face shields without cloth masks will not be considered acceptable face coverings.

Teams and attendees will be permitted to be unmasked while actively eating or drinking.

MOTION Conference does not possess the skill or expertise to allow exemptions to this mask policy based on pre-existing medical conditions. As such, there will be no medical mask exemptions for MOTION 2021, including for those who have received any portion of the COVID-19 vaccine.

During MOTION 2021, each attendee will be part of a pod (their campus, church group, or household). The MOTION team will intentionally ensure that physical distancing between groups is always possible in Main Sessions, Community Groups, and during transitions in-between spaces.

Conference attendee seating will be reserved with each group no closer than 6 feet from the nearest group.

In addition, we will have teams on-site throughout the complex who are in place to help remind attendees to maintain physical distance.

We will ask attendees to please maintain the recommended 6-foot physical distance between groups at all times, even in areas that are not marked with reminders. For the safety of one another, please refrain from hugging, high-fiving, handshakes, or any other physical contact outside of your immediate group with you at the event.

For your convenience, boxed meals will be provided on-site for Lunch and Dinner on Friday, July 30 and Lunch on Saturday, July 31. Boxed meals will be delivered directly to groups in gathering spaces in order to ensure distancing between groups remains possible.

Each boxed meal includes an entrée, side, dessert, and water, and the price of these meals is included with your registration fee. Past vendors include: Chick-fil-A, Newk’s Eatery, and Jim N’ Nicks

Thank you for understanding that we are unable to accommodate any food allergies or special requests in meal orders.

Additionally, there will be a variety of food options available for additional purchase at concession stands throughout the BJCC property if you desire additional meals or snacks. Prices vary.

Surface disinfecting will occur each night.

In addition, the MOTION team will regularly clean and disinfect high-traffic conference surfaces, disinfect seats daily, and maintain safe food service practices.

Hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, and cleaning supplies will be readily available.