Youth Bring Compassion to Louisiana and New Mexico

BURLESON, TEX. – Under the theme “Live With More Compassion,” the Southwestern Union hosted two impactful mission events in March as part of the global church’s annual Global Youth Day initiative.

The first event, held March 8 in Lake Charles, La., was a one-day mission trip organized in partnership with the South Louisiana Youth Federation. About 100 volunteers gathered to serve the community, offering practical gifts, such as clothing, shoes and toasters—along with smiles and prayers.

The day began with a Sabbath School lesson led by Helvis Moody, Southwestern Union Young Adult/Youth Ministries director, followed by a sermon from Gregory Hines, pastor of the Shiloh Seventh-day Adventist Church. After a fellowship lunch provided by the South Louisiana Youth Federation, the team moved to a local community center to set up distribution stations. Volunteers, including Pathfinders in uniform, managed guest registration, distributed clothing and shoes and handed out household items under the direction of Dariel Hoy, Southwest Region Conference Community Services director. A local gospel station provided music and helped promote the event to the community.

The mission continued March 12-15 in Albuquerque, N.M., where youth and young adults from across the union gathered for a multi-day outreach. Texico Conference Youth and Young Adult Ministries hosted the initiative, with the Rio Grande Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church serving as the central hub.

Service projects began Wednesday afternoon and continued through Friday, with daily outreach and evening worship services. Christian Tarbox, associate pastor for the El Paso Central English and El Paso Northeast Seventh-day Adventist churches, delivered the opening night message, and Joslen Lache, a district pastor for three Albuquerque churches who also helps lead a Bible club at a local high school (see page 9), preached Friday evening. On Friday, volunteers placed special emphasis on distributing hoodie sweatshirts to high school students. 

Eric Chavez, Texico Youth and Young Adult Ministries director, led Sabbath services at the Albuquerque North Valley Spanish Church. After the worship service, there was a community fair at the Rio Grande Spanish Church. The fair featured a booth from the Adventist Church’s enditnow^® initiative (see page 42) as well as booths from ten local organizations. 

Thank you to the many individuals and groups who made the mission week a success, including Saul Flores, Texico Conference Family Ministries director and district church pastor, who hosted meals and worships; Texico Conference President Leroy Chacon and the Texico Conference team; Leonard Cummings, Texico Community Services director; Eric Chavez, Texico Youth and Young Adult Ministries director; and James Henry, lay pastor in the Southwest Region Conference.

To God be the praise for the work He has allowed us to be part of. May we continue to be the hands and feet of Jesus Christ.

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By Helvis Moody

Young Adult/Youth Ministries Director

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