Guatemala City, Guatemala….[Melvin Batz/IAD]
With nearly 2,000 Adventist young people representing the norther region of Guatemala, the first Youth Congress was held in the Parque de la Industria in Guatemala City March 27-28. Young Adventists and non-Adventists alike came from the nothern region of Guatemala as well as from the neighboring country of Belice to participate in the event, which was themed “Many Hands, One Mission”.
Young people attended many seminars to inspire and teach them to lead youth ministries in their respective churches. There was also a special Sabbath program where Pastor Baraka Muganda, Youth director for the World Church, invited the youth to keep their principles well defined under the Christian norms set by the Adventist Church and the Bible, taking into account that today’s values for young people are getting lost by the influence of our society.
Pastor Bernardo Rodriguez, youth director for the Church in Inter-America, was also present at the congress and urged the youth to work in the different ministries that the Adventist Church promotes. He invited them to testify of the love of God, putting aside fear of the obstacles and worldly influences that young people face each day.
On Sabbath afternoon, many of the attendees took to the streets to witness and distribute “El Centinela” magazine to the different sectors of the city’s capital. On Sunday afternoon, the congress convened with a message of encouragement from Irvin Calderon, youth director for the church in the North Central American Union.
