Bangkok, Thailand …. [John Banks/ANN Staff]
The Seventh-day Adventist Church’s World Conference on Youth and Community Service convened Dec. 30 in the Bangkok Convention Centre under the general theme of “Many Hands–One Mission.”
More than 1,300 delegates, representing 70 countries, attended the event, which closed on Jan. 4. Visa difficulties and concerns about the continuing epidemic of SARS, or severe acute respiratory syndrome, kept some delegates from attending, church leaders said.
Dr. Sahas Bunditkul, the deputy governor of Bangkok, formally opened the conference and said he appreciated the young delegates for coming to the city of Bangkok and contributing to the Thai community.
Vicki, a young Buddhist university student from Thailand, became aware of the contribution and involvement of Seventh-day Adventist youth assigned to conduct various community projects in Thailand before the congress began. She was invited by the world church’s youth ministries director, Baraka Magunda, to express her appreciation on behalf of the people of Thailand. In her concluding remarks she said she was proud to be Buddhist, but challenged the delegates to “show us more of your God.”
