Youth leaders from more than 150 countries have gathered in Aguas de Lindoia, Brazil, for a Youth Leadership Congress, an event sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church worldwide.  The conference, which runs from March 22 through April 1, is intended to both teach and inspire youth leaders to become more involved in service in their churches and communities, say organizers. 

Paulo Bravo, who helped coordinate the event, says the conference marks an important moment in the history of youth ministry in the Adventist Church.  Participants will receive a “great volume of information and new ideas” for youth work in the Adventist Church, explains Bravo. The conference will offer workshops, seminars, and debates in a range of youth-related topics.

The opening ceremony, held March 22, featured a parade of flags of the participating countries as well as presentations by Adventist Church leaders, including: Baraka G. Muganda, youth director for the Adventist Church worldwide; Tercio Sarli, president of the Adventist Church in the central Brazil region; and Otavio Costa, president of the Adventist Church for the central region of the state of São Paulo.

Leo Ranzolin, a general vice president of the Adventist Church worldwide, spoke about factors that impact young people in the 21st century, including drug and alcohol use and destructive friendships.  He urged youth leaders to help share the message of hope in Jesus Christ with a generation that needs this assurance.

More news about the conference is available at http://www.ucb.org.br/youth  The .Web site is being updated daily with news, photographs, and Webcam footage.