Adventist young people from throughout the Inter-American Division (IAD) were encouraged to remain faithful to God and to be active in youth leadership and community service during an online Adventist Youth Society program. The event was the third such division-wide online program, held last weekend, and intended to motivate young people to engage in youth leadership and community service.
The one-and-a-half hour program featured spiritual messages and special music, highlighted several regions throughout the IAD territory and spotlighted initiatives and activities led by young people in different countries.
“We have been journeying through the IAD and have seen how God has blessed us in a marvelous way,” said Al Powell, youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America. The program is all about what leaders have coined as Generation Transformed which encourages young people to seek a renewal in Christ Jesus through prayer and the Bible in order to fulfill the mission of sharing the gospel.
Pastor Pavel Goia, associate ministerial director for the Adventist world church, spoke on how God helped him when he was a student in Romania and the struggles and challenges he went through to stand up for his beliefs in keeping the Sabbath through Saturday school tests.
“Put God above everything else,” said Goia. “Above your studies, above your exams…pray and trust God and don’t compromise your faith.”
Pastor Goia pointed out the importance for young people to have a meaningful life of prayer as they face daily challenges and plan their future. “Commit to prayer. If you want big answers, pray big.” He also encouraged young people to seek God more than his blessings, more than things, and to be patient, allowing time for God to answer according what is best for them.
Pastor Powell reported on the ongoing youth leadership certification program. As of July, 7,419 youth leaders have taken part in the course this year. Over 12,000 have enrolled since the program was offered last year.
“We continue to work on additional certification classes for youth ministries certification in collaboration with union ands conferences under the Adventist world church’s ‘I Will Go’ initiative,” said Powell. He also reported that over 10,000 churches participated in evangelistic campaigns in 2019, with over 78,000 young people involved. This resulted in more than 17,000 baptisms and 60 new church plants.
Pastor Powell also announced the World Adventist Youth Leadership Congress, which will take place in Cancun, Mexico, September 5-10, 2023. He also spoke on the possible Inter-American Division Camporee scheduled for 2023, but more information will be available later.
The online program showcased what young people are doing to serve in their communities in Panama, Nicaragua, and Chiapas Mexico, among others.
Inter-America’s next online Adventist Youth Society Event is scheduled for October 17, 2020.
To view the online Adventist Youth Society Generation Transformed program of July 18, 2020 in the three languages:
Click HERE for English
Click HERE for Spanish
Click HERE for French
This article was originally published on the Inter-America Division’s website