“If you are a good person you should stand up for your fellow man. That is what a Christ-like character is all about—helping one another,” said Joseph Adante of the Filipino Church in Alberta, Canada.

Adante was one of thousands of Seventh-day Adventist young people who gathered at the Dallas Convention Center in Texas on February 28 to March 3, 2007 to learn how to pray for and serve their communities. Teenagers and young adults came from all over the nation and 42 countries came to Just Claim It (JCI), the very first World Youth Prayer Conference.

Delegates took advantage of the more than 225 workshops that included everything from puppet and clown ministries to youth ministries development, family issues and relationships. Many of the young people spent the morning in hands-on training and preparation workshops.

In the afternoons, delegates got to put their “faith into action.” One group learned more about homelessness in communities. Often overlooked and underappreciated, the homeless need our churches to get involved, said session leader Pastor Darriel Hoy, of the Baltimore Adventist Community Services.

Before the delegates headed out to the actual shelter site, they prepared care packages for the shelter residents that consisted of mainly hygiene products like soap, toothbrushes, toothpaste, face towels, etc. In the afternoon, the delegates had the chance to visit the Dallas Downtown Union Gospel Mission homeless shelter. There, they volunteered their time clearing out much needed space, which allowed the center to serve the community better.

“There is true enthusiasm in doing God’s work by helping the community,” remarked Daniel Stoppelmoor, from the Tampa First church in Florida.

During the Sabbath morning program, youth directors from all over the world were recognized as the Seventh-day Adventist Church celebrated 100 years of Youth Ministries.

“As we celebrate 100 years, we’ve seen how the Lord has led in this department in preparing young people to meet Jesus Christ, in nurturing young people, discipling them so they can become strong Christians, and providing opportunities for them to participate in the mission of the church,” said Baraka Muganda, youth ministries director for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

Several young people testified of how God had moved in their lives and used them to reach others in the community for Jesus Christ.

“JCI does not end here,” said James Black, Youth Ministries director for the Adventist church in North America. “This is just the beginning for what will take place in your city, your school, and your home.”

- Melody Argueta, George Johnson Jr., Roxie Graham-Marski, Patricia Humphrey, and Diane Thurber contributed to this report.