International preparations for Global Youth Day (GYD) will climax on March 17, 2018, with millions of young people pouring kindness into the lives of their . And in the NCC, will be teeming with hundreds of Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) youth, their commitment to positively invest their time and talents as the hands and feet of Jesus.
Reports from the 10-island field indicate that youth leaders have identified innovative methods which will allow participants to Be the Sermon. On St. Maarten, the SDA Youth Ministry has partnered with the government’s Health Ministry team thus allowing the youth to work alongside authorized personnel during free health and dental screening and during meal distribution.
“It’s about community care – this year,” stated Brother Giddel Beresford, the Adventist Youth (AY) Leader of Central Seventh-day Adventist Church St. Croix. He heads a team of experienced leaders and energetic youth who will host a concert, to share hope in Jesus and the healing power of music, with a community recovering from the onslaught of hurricanes. Church members donated large amounts of food and school supplies and these will be distributed to families in the community.
“We are the generation this weekend,” stated Vincent A. David, the Youth and Chaplaincy Director of the North Caribbean Conference (NCC). He is sharing in the GYD ministry activities on St. Eustatius, where youth have organized food and water drives for the community.
Although Tortola received the brunt of one hurricane in 2017, the community has been picking up the pieces of their lives and the SDA youth are as effervescent as ever. Brother Jacob Adolphus, the AY Leader on Tortola, shared, “Our youth are going to be on fire again, all excited about participating in Global Youth Day, this year, to minister to those in need. Youth are expected to be involved in eight specific projects. They will indeed Be the Sermon this year.”
In 2017, the North Caribbean Conference’s 10-island territory was devastated by two Category 5 hurricanes that scarred scores of members in different ways (death of family member or friend, damaged properties, loss of employment, and illness). Still, the SDA Church stretched its humanitarian arm and organized relief efforts which included scores of youth volunteers. Thousands in the community received hot meals, clothing, toiletries and counselling services. Youth were also involved in homes, clearing roads and removing beach debris.
“This is just another way to reach out to be more relevant in our communities and provide them with basic needs wherever they are,” said the NCC President, Pastor Desmond James. “I celebrate all our youth as they minister for God.”
Global Youth Day is an annual event sponsored by the General Conference’s Youth Ministries Department which motivates young people to get out of their comfort zones and “Be the Sermon,” by showing the love of Jesus in their communities.
Global Youth Day activities around the world will be featured during a 24-hour live transmission on the Hope Church Channel and will be carried on globalyouthday.org. The Inter-American Division (IAD) will host one and a half hours of the live transmission from the headquarters of the Atlantic Caribbean Union Office in Nassau, the Bahamas, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. (Miami, Florida, local time).
We invite all youth leaders around the NCC to share their ministry moments this year by connecting with us on social media, tagging and sharing all your activities to the North Caribbean Conference, through our Facebook page.