On black drawstring bags, T-shirts, convention posters and paper headings is the phrase “Breathe and be filled” from John 20: 21-22.

Eighteen months ago, in the Columbus Regency Hotel, a balanced group of 24 organizers — 12 representing the youth convention and 12 the adult convention — met to determine the 2009 Convention theme. Two and a half days later, the task was finished.

“The theme is not about all we want to do,” said Jorge Vallejos, director of convention planning, “but to understand where God is at work and trying to be sensitive to that.”

The selection process began by writing ideas onto giant sticky-notes on an art easel. The potential themes were then posted on the walls until the walls were eventually covered in ideas. After the brainstorming, the group of 24 split into the youth and adult planning committees to narrow down the ideas. The plan was for the two groups to come together after the breakout session to present their ideas and look for similarities.

At the end of the joint meeting, the group was close to consensus but running out of time.

“We selected three representatives from each of the committees and empowered them to sort out of the differences,” said Vallejos. The group of six was told their decision would be final. “We gave them 90 minutes,” added Vallejos.

While the group of six stayed to make the decision, the remaining 18 representatives went into an adjoining room to pray for them. Ninety minutes later, the group of six presented the chosen phrase: “breathe and be filled.”

“I believe that God has been good to us, and that every theme picked has been one that speaks to the church,” said Vallejos.