Adventist Youth Trade Vacation for Evangelistic Impact in Puerto Rico

A small group of young people recently spent ten days of their summer vacation impacting several communities in Vieques, a municipal island near the eastern coast of Puerto Rico. The group of 14 young people, ages 17–33, were the first across the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Puerto Rico to take part in an effort with the Caleb Mission Project, an evangelistic program of the Adventist World Church that promotes the participation of young Adventists in voluntary service during school vacation.

The group walked through the main streets of the city and neighborhoods praying for people, distributing copies of the book Hope in the Midst of Chaos by Mark Finley, and inviting people throughout restaurants and businesses to watch the evangelistic film Spin, released across theaters in Puerto Rico last year.

The group also visited the main plaza, urban center, and government offices to pray for locals and tourists. They also cleaned up beaches and streets, removed debris from public areas, distributed meals, and painted classrooms and basketball courts at the Vieques Adventist Missionary Academy. They also held Vacation Bible School for children in the community and led out in evangelistic meetings at the Adventist Church on the island.

The experience left a mark on the lives of group members who traveled by ferry to the island and remained on the small island from July 6–16, 2022. “I’m so grateful to God for [giving] me this opportunity to contribute to the work with such an amazing team,” said Génesis Tirado, one of the young participants. “I will always take this experience to heart, for I saw that in the midst of so many needs, God provides and never forsakes us.”

“I have a new family,” said Héctor Díaz, another member of the mission project. “It was very gratifying to help so many people. You feel so happy because you are helping others.” 

Alissa Rodríguez said she took many beautiful memories from her experience in Vieques. “I’m taking with me wonderful people I met here in such a short time. I really enjoyed helping people who really had a need [for] Jesus, and we were able to share the gospel with them.”

One of the purposes of the Caleb Mission Project is for young people to take leadership roles so they can train and experience firsthand the satisfaction of being missionary leaders in the preaching of the gospel through small groups and others strategies, said Pastor Ángel Rodríguez, outgoing Youth Ministries director of the East Puerto Rico Conference. “When we are channels of blessings to others, we are blessed. Seeing the young people so involved [in this project] really brought joy to my heart.”

“To see these young people work for God is so wonderful,” said Lixamari Pedraza, project group leader. “Young people are not lost; they just simply need to be put to work and given their space. I am taking with me so much growth and a beautiful family.”

The Caleb Mission Project was organized by the Youth Ministries Department of the Puerto Rican Union. “Our goal is to continue to mobilize young people in each local field to develop physical, mental, spiritual, and social skills, equip them with a life of service toward the church and the community, and strengthen their relationship with Christ and the values outlined in the Bible,” said Pastor David Sebastian, Youth Ministries director for the Puerto Rican Union.

Pastor Luis Rivera, president of the Adventist Church in Puerto Rico, congratulated the young people for their commitment and dedication to the project. “I am so happy to see how young people, university students, and professionals took their vacation time to be part of this first Caleb Mission Project. This just brings me joy. You can see [that] their passionate service in doing something for people who do not know about the Lord was part of their mission.”