In Inter-America, GYD Drives Young People to Share Hope and Reach ‘The Forgotten’
Young people from Doulos Pathfinder Club of Montemorelos University, hold up signs for drivers to read while the stop lights came on at the Ignacio Zaragoza street in the historic sector of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, during the stop during Global Youth Day on Mar. 19, 2022. Sings reads “God loves You”, “My God is an expert of the impossible”, “Fear not, Because I am with you”, “God has a plan that carries your name.” [Photo: Daniel Gallardo]
Global Youth Day (GYD) saw thousands of children and young people across the Inter-American Division (IAD) share the love of Jesus through acts of kindness in their communities on Mar. 19, 2022.
The annual initiative launched by the Seventh-day Adventist Church motivates young people to unite their efforts and get out of their comfort zones to “Be the Sermon” as they spread joy and hope wherever they go.
This year’s overall focus was “Loving the Forgotten,” such as church members who might have been neglected or left the church, a community member who is facing pressing needs, orphans, the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, or anyone facing dire challenges during the uncertainty that lingers in the world today, youth leaders said.
Alessandra Gutierrez (left)0 and Raquel Preza (right) host the half-hour online program featuring the activities and service projects held throughout Inter-America on Global Youth Day.[Photo: IAD Screenshot]
“Global Youth Day is a special day with many opportunities for young people to impact the community with purpose and passion, where they can serve and testify in a more collective way where they live,” said Pastor Al Powell, youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America. Impacting the community year after year means over one million young people in Inter-America are active every year in serving and impacting their communities, he said.
There’s been so much excitement, not just on Global Youth Day, said Powell during a half-hour online program where young people and leaders reported their activities of the day. “We are seeing a trend now, young people loving the Lord who are zealous in doing something for Jesus every day, not just on Global Youth Day,” he said
Over 400 young people pose for a group photo before they go on to distribute 7,000 samples of the missionary book titled “The Ultimate Hope” by Clifford Goldstein at Cuidad Del Carmen, Campeche, in Southeast Mexico[Photo: Southeast Mexican Union]
One of the major activities of the day included the distribution of thousands of copies of the missionary book “The Ultimate Hope”, by Clifford Goldstein. Engaging young people in distributing the book is important to share amid a lingering pandemic, wars, and uncertainty, said Powell.
More than 30,000 young people in Southeast Mexico dedicated the day to praying and distributing thousands of copies of “The Ultimate Hope” in major cities and communities. In Ciudad del Carmen, in Campeche, more than 7,000 copies of the book were given out to onlookers and businesses as part of the overall initiative to connect with people and “plant a seed of hope in the hearts of the people,” local youth leaders said. “We are very happy because we have seen how young people are dedicated and show they love the mission [of spreading the gospel],” said Pastor Victor Martínez, youth ministries director for the church in Southeast Mexico.
Pastor Al Powell (right), youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America speaks on the passion of the young people in the territory during the online program while Estefan Généus listens in. [Photo: IAD Screenshot]
Former church members
Focusing on former members who left the church, young or old, was key for youth leaders in Chiapas, Mexico, to expand the impact of GYD, local leaders said. Young people took time to reach out to those who left the church, pray with them, and invite them to youth and worship activities, according to Daniel Torreblanca, youth ministries director for the church in Chiapas. More than 20,000 former members were connected and invited to different church activities and initiatives.
Pastor Pako Mokgwane (center), associate youth ministries director for the Adventist World church, claps on as young people sing and hold messages of hope on one of the streets in Tuxtla Gutierrez, Chiapas, Mexico during Global Youth day, Mar. 19, 2022. [Photo: Chiapas Mexican Union]
Dozens of young people loaded up a small boat to impact Sabaneta Island and its adjacent islands to distribute food and clothing. “We wanted to remind the forgotten of the world that Jesus loves them and so does the Seventh-day Adventist Church,” said Pastor Orlando Ramírez, president of the church in West Venezuela.
A group of young people hold the missionary book next to Rayan, a young man, recovering from drug addiction at a rehabilitation center in Bogota, Colombia, during Global Youth Day. [Photo: South Colombia Union]
Hundreds of young people in Colombia also took to the streets to distribute the missionary book, visited the elderly and the sick, reached out to former members and reassured everyone they met that they are special in God’s eyes, local youth leaders said.
In South Colombia, young people visited drug rehabilitation centers, shared messages of hope to those living in the centers and prayed for them. Rayan, a young man recovering from addiction to hallucinogenic drugs, said he was thankful to see the Adventist group visit. “Thank you for coming to see us,” he said. “My mother lost hope in me and she does not visit me anymore. I only have my father and the hope that God has not forgotten me.” Rayan said he wants to reach out to the nearest Adventist Church when he completes his recovery.
“Our young people are fully committed, passionate and empowered to work on behalf of Jesus,” said Pastor Leonel Cardenas, youth ministries director for the church in South Colombia.
A young person from Quetzaltenango in West Guatemala hands a warm meal to a person in the street. More than 300 hot meals were distributed to homeless and needy persons throughout the city. [Photo: Guatemala Union]
Young people in Guatemala distributed 5,000 food items to needy families, distributed the missionary books through special marches and caravan drives in cities and communities, and assisted in rebuilding low-income family homes.
In The Bahamas, young people participated in partnering with health ministries to assist in providing medical and mental health initiatives, distribute clothing to the needy and the homeless, as well as packages in the inner cities.
The youth of the Johnson Park Seventh-day Adventist Church in Nassau, The Bahamas conduct a clothing distribution from the church’s parking lot on Global Youth Day, Mar. 19, 2022. [Photo: Barry Shane Saunders]
In Panama, hundreds of young people were mobilized to impact their communities by cleaning parks, schools and churches and ministering to the elderly in nursing homes.
Carrying out the mission
In the Dominican Republic, more than 30,000 young people were distributed food and missionary magazines, donated blood, and painted homes. At the end of the day the young people gathered for praise and worship programs throughout each region.
Young people volunteer at nursing home om Colon, Panama, distribute food and pray with the elderly residents during the day’s activities. [Photo: Joel Gálvez]
Elsewhere in Inter-America, young people delivered food to migrants, orphans and hospitals, ministered to people with special needs, visited prisons, cleaned up neighborhoods, delivered care packages to frontline workers and helped rebuild churches.
Young people from the Southeast Dominican region in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, gather for a special praise and worship program at eh end of Global Youth Day activities on the island. Young people spent the day feeding needy families, praying and distributing missionary magazines throughout cities and communities. [Photo: South Dominican Conference]
Victor Martínez, Uriel Castellanos, Laura Acosta, Moises Aponte, John Garcia, Gustavo Menéndez, Kayc James, Fabricio Rivera and Bernardo Medina contributed information to this report.