Curtis Martin explained to CNA that this year's SEEK numbers represent, "only about 25 percent of the students involved in our program and represents maybe two or three percent of our alumni."
"So there are actually tens of thousands more people out there who are also on mission with us," he said, "That gives me great hope because we live in a world that needs more missionary disciples."
Dr. Scott Hahn said that at the SEEK conferences, "the joy of the Lord is what people experience here more than anything else." The key to the New Evangelization, he said, is the joy of the Gospel like Pope Francis says.
"All you have to do is enjoy being Catholic," because that's what other people are really looking for, Dr. Hahn said. "And in the process," he added, "you're really extending friendship."
"It's not just 13,000, it's the hundreds of thousands that will be reached by these 13,000."
After attending SEEK 2017, Arturo Rodriguez, a student at the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, said that now he's "just really inspired to show that inspiration towards others so that I can cheer them up and so that I can see that inspiration and just get closer to God himself."
Rodriguez said his favorite part of the conference was the Eucharistic Adoration on Thursday night, in the main hall, with all 13,000 people.
"It was the best Adoration I've ever attended," he said.
More than 4,000 confessions were also heard that night.
Rodriguez said that when he goes home, he is going to seek out whatever opportunities are offered at his college so he can be even more involved in his faith.
During the other nights of the conference, students attended a comedy show by Michael Jr. and a concert by the folk rock band, The Oh Hellos.
Curtis Martin said that although he may not know everyone at the SEEK conference now, "Our hope would be everybody here is known, loved and cared for by someone else in the name of Jesus Christ."
"People need to know that they were made to be amazing."
He said too many people are settling for mediocrity. "Jesus Christ made you for a purpose. He's waiting for you to live radically for him."
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I never thought ???? that there are so many real Catholics in the ???????? that have their faith so ????????. Amazing. God bless America!!! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/seek2017?src=hash">#seek2017</a></p>— ks. Maciej S?y? (@xmslyz) <a href="https://twitter.com/xmslyz/status/817588601072603136">January 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just saw a priest crowd surfing at the Oh Hellos Concert. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnlyAtACatholicConference?src=hash">#OnlyAtACatholicConference</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SEEK2017?src=hash">#SEEK2017</a></p>— Giancarlo Bernini (@Gian_Bernini) <a href="https://twitter.com/Gian_Bernini/status/817596335306186752">January 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">If Jesus isn't the Lord of all, he isn't the Lord at all. - Curtis Martin <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/seek2017?src=hash">#seek2017</a></p>— Kevin Cotter | FOCUS (@KevinRCotter) <a href="https://twitter.com/KevinRCotter/status/817757971098857473">January 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I think it's safe to say that this has been the best week of my life. <a href="https://twitter.com/SEEKConference">@SEEKConference</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/seek2017?src=hash">#seek2017</a></p>— mitchell davis (@davismitchell14) <a href="https://twitter.com/davismitchell14/status/817742307013361664">January 7, 2017</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>