Young Adults Find Purpose, Praise and Global Community

ST. LOUIS –Thousands of young adults help make General Conference (GC) sessions happen—from staffing booths to serving as technical staff to participating in the “Impact! St. Louis” community service program. In addition, numerous young adults come to the session with their families, many experiencing the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s world gathering for the first time.

Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church Younger Generation (YG) pastor Allan Martin expressed what many parents and mentors may be thinking as these young adults interact with their world Church in what may be, for many, a once-in-a-lifetime experience. “I’m just hoping that there’s some of these God encounters that our young people can experience, that will nudge them to recognize they’re part of a big family—and we’re all here to make a difference for the sake of Jesus.”

After the day’s community service projects are complete, the young adults gather for the “Impact! St. Louis” evening program. Open to all young adults attending GC Session, these programs provide a time and space to encounter God and connect with other Adventist young people from around the world. This year, the program’s worship element is being led by a team comprised of Arlington church members Melody Mendez, Kellany Freitas and Michael Demiar, along with Keene Seventh-day Adventist Church young adult pastor Anthony Lyder.

In addition to leading music, the team of young adult worship leaders, ranging in ages from 24 to 33, also had the chance to join in the evening activities—games, conversations and moments of connection designed to foster community. “So many different cultures were represented,” said Mendez, “and we were all able to come together because we believe in the same God.”

For this worship team, preparing for the GC Session was a whirlwind. They received their invitation only two weeks before the meetings began. “As much as this was a last-minute opportunity and it kind of seemed a little crazy,” Mendez said, “it’s just awesome to see how the Lord’s hand has been over all of it—from the moment that we ordered our plane tickets to the moment we were booking our hotels.” Though lodging was nearly impossible to find, the group experienced what they described as a series of “God sightings,” from flights falling into place to a room becoming available—at just the right time—at the very hotel where the young adult programs were being held. “We were able to see God in everything leading up to GC,” Mendez added.

With support from their local church, the Texas Conference and the Southwestern Union, Mendez and Freitas were able to make the unexpected trip to St. Louis, where they met up with Demiar and Lyder, who were already participating in other roles at the session and were able to join the praise team as part of their service. “It’s pretty cool just to see how God has made a way,” said Mendez. “He is good, and He keeps His word.

By Lori Futcher. Managing Editor
Photos by Nicol Belvedere / Adventist Media Exchange (CC BY 4.0)

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