Young people hold up signs with positive messages of Jesus’ love as they stand by a traffic light in Guanajuato, in central Mexico as part of their activities to Show Up in the Cities during Global Youth Day, on Mar. 16, 2024. [Photo: Gaby Chagolla]
March 22, 2024 | Miami, Florida, United States | Libna Stevens, Inter-American Division News
Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist young people throughout the Inter-American Division (IAD) territory turned up in cities and communities to serve and spread love and hope through during this year’s Global Youth Day (GYD) on Mar. 16, 2024.
The annual initiative led by the youth ministries department of the General Conference motivates young people to get out of their comfort zones to “Be the Sermon.”
Young people were challenged this year to “Show Up in the Cities” in a renewed commitment to serve and transform their city while they follow Jesus’ example, said Pastor Al Powell, youth ministries director of the IAD.
Young people show copies of The Great Controversy Book before they distribute to hundreds of people on GYD in Soacha, Bogotá, Colombia. [Photo: South Colombia Union]
“I saw so many people connecting with people, praying for them and spreading the good news of salvation through books,” said Pastor Al Powell, youth ministries director of the IAD.
Pastor Powell was joined by IAD leaders and local youth leaders in Soacha, a municipality of the metropolitan area of Bogotá, Colombia, where thousands of hard copies and digital cards of The Great Controversy were distributed.
Pastor Al Powell, youth ministries director of the IAD speaks to hundreds in Soacha, a municipality of the metropolitan area of Bogotá, Colombia, on Mar. 16, 2024. [Photo: South Colombia Union]
Pastor Elie Henry, president of the IAD, who was present in Bogotá, encouraged young people to continue making a difference in their city and challenged viewers to read the special missionary book the Seventh-day Adventist Church during a short national television interview.
In addition to distributing books, young people also marched through the streets, prayed for people distributed food.
Young people in Baja California, northern Mexico clean up trash and debris during GYD clean up activities Mar. 16, 2024. [Photo: North Mexican Union]
In North Mexico, thousands of digital copies of The Great Controversy were distributed by children, young people and adults in major cities, towns and communities. Young people donated blood, distributed food, took part in health screenings, cleaned up parks, streets, offered prayer of onlookers, shared stickers with a message of hope, marched through the streets and held special programs with sign language for the deaf community. In addition, young people participated in distributing clothes, offered puppet ministry program for children, visited community centers, nursing homes and much more.
More than 500 young people met at Monterrey’s Macroplaza, the fourth largest plaza in the world, to promote a healthy lifestyle through the church’s program “I Want to Live Healthy.” The activity included prayer stations, free medicines, healthy foods, a silent drama performance, a musical concert, and more.
Young people pray for two men at a park in Monterrey, northern Mexico, as part of the GYD city impact activities. [Photo: North Mexican Union]
Alan Elí Pérez, a youth leader in Monterrey, said he loves to take part in GYD every year. “If we could do this more often, not just once a year, perhaps we could have seen Jesus come sooner,” he said. “We must get out of our comfort zones and preach the gospel as many times as we can.”
In Chiapas, hundreds of young people marched through the main streets and avenues of their municipal districts to spread messages hope as they marched and shared literature with commuters. They distributed water and missionary books, provided health screenings, offered prayers, performed musical concerts, and set up “stores of hope” where people could receive free food and basic toiletries. Young people also visited shelters and distributed food.
A young person in Chiapas distributes water as she holds booklets and cards for drivers, on Mar. 16, 2024. [Photo: Chiapas Mexican Union]
As they marched, López shared his testimony on how his faith in Jesus had given him strength to overcome any obstacle in his life. “Each young person must give his or her best, trusting that God will provide what you need and that without Him we cannot achieve anything,” he said.
A dog from the nearby shelter is petted by two young people in Mexico City, Mexico, on Mar. 16, 2024. A group from the Eben-Ezer Pathfinder Club visited a dog shelter where they bathed, fed, walked and played with dozens of dogs. [Photo: Central Mexican Union]
In Cancun, Quintana Roo, young people formed a “Happiness Tunnel” framed with balloons by a popular mall for onlookers to receive a flower, a book, and a prayer for their families if they so desired.
An woman passes through the “Happiness Tunnel” made up by young people in Cancun, Mexico, near a busy mall on GYD. Young people share flowers and literature to onlookers on Mar. 16, 2024. [Photo: Southeast Mexican Union]
Communities across the Caribbean Union were transformed into centers of ministry during GYD. Over 2,000 young people in the South Leeward islands prayed for hundreds of people and shared 1,500 bowls of soup. In Virgin Gorda, an island in the North Caribbean Conference, young people delivered 200 breakfast meals, 150 bowls of soup, and provided health screenings and coordinated efforts where health professionals gave mental health and nutrition consultations to dozens of people. Young people also recognized police and firefighters for their dedicated service and prayed for people.
The homeless and villagers in St. Thomas and Tortola islands were also fed breakfast. Young people also distributed food baskets and missionary books throughout the streets.
A man waits to be served a hot breakfast in St. Croix on Global Youth Day, Mar. 16, 2024. [Photo: North Caribbean Conference]
“We took young people into the field to put compassion into action and make an impact for communities in need and they did that,” said Pastor Marvin Smith, youth ministries director of the Caribbean Union.
Young people share hot meals with children in Nassau, The Bahamas during GYD impact activities. [Photo: John Garcia]
“It was a delight observing our youth in sharing the nuggets of joy with their communities,” said Terry Tannis, youth ministries director of the Atlantic Caribbean Union.
L-R: Youth leaders at the Christ the King Adventist Church in Port-au-Prince Haiti pose with their shirts and scarfs for a photo during Global Youth Day, Mar. 16, 2024. L-R: Dardy Duvernym, Darline Lucie Thermilien, Michaëlle Thermilien Antoine, and Duckens Antoine
Meanwhile in Haiti, as several Adventist Churches in the capital city Port-au-Prince remained closed due to escalating violence in the streets, young people form Christ the King Adventist Church in Nazon, Port-au-Prince, distributed drinking water for 600 families in the community.
“The chaotic situation affecting our country is causing a shortage of basic necessities such as water, so as leaders, the spirit of God guided us and we acted despite our limited means to assist the families in the neighborhoods surrounding the church,” said Darline Thermilien, youth leader at the King Adventist Church. Distributing drinking water carried a double message for them, she said. “We wanted to be present in our city by doing like Jesus and sharing the water of life and the message of the gospel that will never dry up.”
A young person carries a container of water he filled at the Christ the King Adventist Church in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. The church distributed much needed drinking water to 600 neighbors surrounding the church on GYD, Mar. 16, 2024. [Photo: Haiti Union]
Elsewhere in the IAD
Throughout the main cities and communities in Panama, thousands of young people distributed more than 61,000 copies of The Great Controversy, distributed food and clothing, offered prayers in the streets and in homes, spread messages of hope at traffic lights and donated blood.
Young people play their drum and instruments as they lead marchers through the streets of Kingston, Jamaica, on GYD, Mar. 16, 2024.[Photo: East Jamaica Conference]
In Guatemala, thousands also distributed the Great Controversy Book, distributed hot meals and food bags, donated blood, visited nursing homes and helped in providing health screenings. Young people prayed, coordinated free haircuts, and marched through the streets with messages of hope.
A group holds Great Controversy books minutes before they distribute throughout the streets of Panama City, on Mar. 16, 2024. [Photo: Panama Union]
“It was a very pleasant journey, with spiritual and recreative activities, visiting streets and homes to share hope,” said Angel Zambrano, district pastor in Las Mercedes del Llano.
Hundreds of bags were prepared to distribute in Guatemala City, Guatemala, as part of one of many GYD community impact activities on Mar. 16, 2024.[Photo: Guatemala Union]
GYD marked the beginning of youth week of prayer across the IAD territory. During the week following GYD, young people are active in preaching from pulpits and leading out in small group ministry. The week’s theme, “Urban Redemption: Youth Transforming Their City”, highlights the need to offer hope through Jesus’ example amid the depression, illness, hopelessness, fear, and uncertainty prevalent in the world today.
Young people pray for people in the streets of Caracas, Venezuela, on Global Youth Day. [Photo: East Venezuela Union]
Uriel Castellanos, Bequer Jiménez, Helena Corona, Royston Philbert, Henry Moncur, Jean Carmy Felixon, Gabi Chagolla, Johana Garcia, Jean Carmy Felixon, Steven’s Rosado, Laura Acosta, Victor Martínez, Gustavo Menéndez, and Nigel Coke contributed for this report.
To find out this year’s GYD as well as the Youth Week of Prayer Resources in English, Spanish and French, click HERE