The youth ministries department of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) held their first Adventist Youth Leaders Congress at Taiwan Adventist College from February 11 to 14, 2015. About 450 people attended this event, including staff members and advisers of Adventist youth, campus mission directors and staff, 1000 Missionary Movement (1000MM) alumni, Pathfinder leaders and staff, teachers and advisers of Adventist junior mission and others from Taiwan, Korea, Japan, China, and Mongolia. The theme of the event was “More Like Jesus.”
The congress provided a new vision for youth ministry. It was also a good time for upward leveling, preparing future youth ministries and providing information on how to optimize youth ministries. The congress helped to procure and cultivate youth leaders and to strengthen the solidarity among youth leaders from different nations.
Inspiring Speakers and Informative Programs
The many inspiring speakers included Pastor Gilbert Cangy, General Conference (GC) youth ministries director; Pastor Moon Jiwan, GC associate youth director; lay pastor Johnny Wong, Gateway Adventist Center’s chief elder; and Dr. Kim SinSeop, counseling-psychology professor at Sahmyook University. They suggested a clearer vision to the youth leaders.
Participants also attended various seminars on mission, leadership, discipleship training, and community service according to their language and interest. The seminars dealt with non-academic, actual mission activities for youth. Elder Stanley Ng and Dr. Joo MinHo, assistants to NSD president; Dr. Kim SiYoung, NSD Pioneer Mission Movement coordinator; Pastor Kwon JohngHaeng, NSD Adventist mission director; Pastor Han SukHee, NSD communication director; Pastor Shin DongHee, 1000MM director; Alphon Fung, public affairs & religious liberty director of Hong Kong-Macau Conference, Debbie Huang, professor at Taiwan Adventist College, Liang ChunShan, Pastor and studying Ph.D. in AIIAS, and Norman Tu Taiwan Conference health ministries director, served as speakers for the seminars.
Other special programs at the congress included a biblical drama by Taiwanese young adults, a tabernacle experience, and a cross-carrying experience. Golden Angels performed beautiful songs at their concert, and plaques of appreciation were presented to long-term youth leaders.
In addition, the present situation and the main issues of youth ministries in each country were reported. The case presentations were not cursory, but actual examples of what was happening in each country so that leaders from other countries could benchmark and benefit from listening to them.
2015 NSD YLC Participants(For more pictures, please visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsdadventist)
Opening Ceremony of Welcome and Gratitude, Expectation and Thrill
The congress began with a declaration by Pastor Kim NakHyung, NSD youth ministries director. It was a festival of praise, welcome and gratitude. Participants were united in their happiness, and they were blessed as they turned their eyes upon Jesus, becoming more like Him.
“You are the leaders of the church and the servants of God who have the mission to preach the gospel to the world. May the Holy Spirit be with all of you during the congress, and I hope you make precious memories,” said Elder Ted Wilson, GC president, in his video message.
“To powerfully develop the mission work with the Three Angels’ Messages in the last days, God is calling Adventist youth leaders to be His powerful workers. I hope you can experience being filled with the Holy Spirit and being spiritually recharged. Moreover, be with Jesus during this period and be more like Him. May God bless all programs so that spiritual revival comes to you and your churches,” said Dr. Jairyong Lee, NSD president.
“Today is a historical day in NSD youth ministries because it is the first time that youth ministry leaders have gathered together since the NSD was organized in 1997. I hope what you learn, share, and determine here will remain with you in your mission field,” said Pastor Kim NakHyung.
“This congress is not happening by accident, but by God’s special guidance. Let us be closer to Jesus while we are here,” said Pastor Steven Chung Feng Wu, Taiwan Conference president, representing 6,000 Taiwan Adventist members and 110 churches.
“Taiwan Adventist College (TAC) has been trying to foster Chinese-speaking young people to be disciples of Jesus Christ for 63 years. This is the best place for us to be united spiritually, based on the word of the prophets. May this event be an opportunity to fulfill your dreams,” said Dr. Alice Kuang Hui Chen, TAC president.
Union presidents also sent video messages. “Be revived spiritually and develop friendships. Arise to preach the gospel to the ends of the world. Experience the hand and power of God who guides us with love and changes us.”
2015 NSD Youth Leaders Congress(For more pictures, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/nsdadventist)
Powerful Words Activate Hearts of the Young
Inspiring messages by Pastor Gilbert Cangy motivated young people’s hearts every evening. He pointed out connections between major events in Jesus’ life on earth and youth leaders’ lives and spirit. Citing his personal experiences as an example, he appealed to the young. “God, who knew the sufferings of the Israelites, hears your cries. He reaches out His hands of grace to heal your pain. He is not a distant God, but He is always at our side and feels our wound. God pays attention to us. He listens to our prayers. He takes care of us. He sends us to mission fields. And He is with us always unto the end of the world. ‘The things which are impossible with men are possible with God’” (Luke 18:27).
Dr. Jairyong Lee preached the sermon for the divine worship on Sabbath. “Youth leaders must remember three things from the life of Apostle Paul. First, be sure that God has called us. Second, be faithful in Bible study and prayer for a life filled with the Holy Spirit. Third, be armed with the spirit of Mission First. Like Apostle Paul, we, the finishers of the gospel work, should love to study His word, we should be awake and pray, and we should preach the Three Angels’ Messages to the ends of the world by the power of the Holy Spirit. You are representatives of the Adventist young people in the NSD. When you go back to your local churches, have conviction and faith that our Lord has chosen each one of you in person. If we are awake and armed with the greatest gospel mission of Apostle Paul, this work will be finished in our generation.”
Pastor Moon JiWan talked about the meaning of Jesus’ words, “Follow me.” Elder Johnny Wong addressed effective campus ministry. Dr. Kim SinSeop presented a lecture on how to apply Jesus’ leadership to our lives.
Testimonies on Successful Youth Ministries
During Sabbath school, testimonies of youth ministries were shared. Success stories from Morning Dew Church in Korea and Beishi Church in Shenyang, China, were introduced.
Pastor Shin DonSu, along with his wife and two daughters, has been dedicated to youth ministry at Morning Dew Church for more than 20 years, applying Jesus’ way of evangelism to youth ministry. They diligently seek for teenagers and eat together, and do other things with them. They care for them, counsel them when they are troubled, meet their needs, teach them the Bible, and train them to pray and to evangelize others.
Pastor Tim Juong of Beishi Church advocated the “2020 a million Adventists excess movement” which the youth ministries department of the Chinese Union Mission has promoted for the last ten years. He also highlighted changes in Chinese youth ministries, including the “153 Airborne Project” for the most elite and trained young. “Adventist youth must be the spearhead of mission and service.” Furthermore, he introduced an effective way to evangelize in China, where mission activities of foreign people are forbidden. He appealed to the young people in the NSD to become involved in the mission work in China.
Tabernacle and Cross-Carrying Experience
In addition, participants were able to directly experience of carrying the cross in order to feel the heart of Jesus. The Old Testament process of slaughtering a lamb as a sacrifice was demonstrated and a full-size tabernacle was installed on the playground so that participants could visualize the Exodus period, Israelite worship and the role of a high priest.
Closing with the Spirit of “More Like JESUS”
At the closing ceremony, participants held lit candles to represent their determination to be the light that brightens the world. Pastor Gilbert Cangy encouraged them to be more like Jesus day by day, to look upon Jesus, and to serve Him. Taiwanese representatives delivered a response of dedication. “We will use what we have learned and determined here for development of youth ministries. We will do our best in our own areas for expansion of the gospel work.”
With the closing declaration of Pastor Kim NakHyung, 450 participants and staff shouted the theme of the congress, “More Like Jesus,” together with joy. They returned to their mission fields with the heart and mind of Jesus. “More Like JESUS,” which was a greeting among participants, is remembered as the most beautiful and blessed greeting.