Online AY Society Event Encourages Young People to Keep Faithful and Prayerful
Pastor Al Powell (top right), youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America, speaks during the online Adventist Youth Society program, July 18, 2020, on the activities and initiatives taking place across the territory, while hosts Nashaly Pasiche and Carlon Nyack listen in. [Photo: Inter-American Division]
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.
More than 10,000 young people in Chiapas, Mexico have taken part in the “Jesus in my City” initiative where they spend time in witnessing and community projects across cities, towns and communities throughout the year. [Photo: Inter-American Division]
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 Pavel Goia, associate ministerial association secretary for the Adventist world church, speaks to young people about the importance of leading a meaningful prayer life, during the online program Jul. 18, 2020. [Inter-American Division]
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.
Young people from Panama wear their Jabes shirts identifying the summer initiative where Adventist youth all throughout the country work and witness in cities and communities during the year. [Photo: Inter-American Division]
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.
The church’s World Adventist Youth Leadership Congress is scheduled to take place in Cancun, Mexico, Sep. 5-10, 2023. The event was announced during the AY Society online event. [Image: Adventist Youth Ministries/General Conference]
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