The 2024 Atlantic Union Youth Leadership and Evangelism Congress held deep significance for Naissa Aime of Northeastern Conference’s Beraca church, who was on the verge of receiving the prestigious title of Pathfinder Master Guide. Aime’s journey to this accomplishment began in 2019. However, her progress hit a roadblock as doubts about God and church doctrine crept into her mind. The situation took a more challenging turn with the onset of the pandemic, which strained her connection with God even further when her mother contracted the coronavirus. She began to question why God would put her mother—a church-going, Bible-reading, godly woman—through so much pain. In a transformative moment, Aime realized that God never guaranteed a life without tribulations, but His grace was more than sufficient. This revelation sparked a considerable shift in her outlook on God. When her Pathfinder coordinator approached her to complete the Master Guide training, Aime enthusiastically accepted.
Aime was one of nearly 2,000 youth leaders registered to attend the Youth Leadership and Evangelism Congress, January 12-14, 2024, at the Stamford Hilton Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut. Attendees represented all six conferences of the Atlantic Union—Bermuda, Greater New York, New York, Northeastern, Northern New England, and Southern New England. Sponsored by Atlantic Union Adventist Youth Ministries (AUAYM) once every five years, this year’s congress promoted mission and evangelism through fostering collaboration, sharing resources, and emphasizing a collective vision under the theme “United We Will Go.”
The three-day event featured 19 strategically curated tracks, or focus areas, that offered over 140 training seminars to help attendees explore various growth and fellowship opportunities. The event also included spiritual enrichment via worship services, a designated prayer room, a Master Guide investiture service, and a fun Saturday-night social. “Our goal is that our youth leaders leave here equipped with the tools necessary to lead in these closing scenes of earth’s history,” said David McKenzie, AUAYM director and special assistant to the president for Mission and Evangelism at Home. “Many of our churches are crying out for strong leaders, spiritual leaders . . . to lead this generation. This congress will equip our youth and young adults to do what their churches desire.”
Alexandrae Lamonth, communication director and assistant Youth Ministries leader at Shiloh church in Springfield, Massachusetts, came to the congress expecting just that. “I want to take back to my church what I learn and [share] with other leaders so we can be more cohesive, effective, and efficient in ministry.”
“We really want to see the young people that come here go back to their churches and implement what they learned, and if they need help, we’re there to guide,” said Violet John and Veronica Williams, Pathfinder club coordinators from Greater New York’s Victory church and Grand Concourse church, respectively.
On the first day, attendees registered and chose their leadership path and corresponding tracks for the weekend. Track choices included Teen Leadership Training (TLT), Adventist Youth Leadership, Mental Health, Pathfinder Leadership, and many more. Rebecca Barcelow, Northern New England Conference Adventurer director, presented at the congress. She was especially pleased that training was available to help Adventurer directors and staff incorporate children with physical, mental, and behavioral health challenges. “There is a lot of emphasis right now on neurodivergent Adventurers and how we may help the kids who aren’t ‘the standard’ so that we’re encompassing everyone into our program. I think that focus has been a long time coming, and it is valuable for us right now,” she expressed.
“For 2024, our vision is for every member from every church to be involved in some form of evangelism. This congress is part of it,” said Pierre E. Omeler, Atlantic Union Conference president. “Spiritual leadership must take into consideration the diverse nature of our church. We should serve all people, not just in our little sector, or people who look like us, or speak the same language as us, but we should serve all of God’s people.”
This lesson hit home for Jalon Smith, recently elected as Hamilton church’s assistant media director and public relations officer for the Youth Ministries department in Bermuda. Smith especially enjoyed attending the seminars included in the Teen Leadership Track. “It’s a little bit hard to get the other teenagers to interact, so being able to figure out new ways to engage them is great,” he shared. “I really liked how one presenter taught us that it’s never about us, and [our service] is always to magnify something bigger than ourselves. We [must] always work with an attitude of service, with a vision to create something that will ultimately benefit all.”
Youth Congress is also known for energy-filled inspirational music from various musical artists and praise teams with dynamic presenters bringing God’s Word to spiritually support and encourage the youth leaders in ministry. Each morning, attendees started their day with “Power Up”—an empowering prayer and devotional service—with spirit-filled, energizing messages by Enmanuel Contreras, Greater New York Conference Youth Ministries director, and Miguel Crespo, New York Conference president. On Friday night, David Steede II, Bermuda Conference Youth Ministries director, reminded the attendees that they “serve a God who dwells everywhere at all times, and there is no problem He cannot solve.”
Sabbath morning’s worship service featured Debleaire Snell, Breath of Life Ministries speaker/director, who used John 6:14-15 to illustrate that “sometimes it’s best just to excuse yourself” and not walk through every door that opens. Snell deftly explained how, after feeding the multitude, Jesus left to be alone on a mountain once He perceived that they wanted to forcefully make Him king after witnessing the miracle He performed. “Sometimes the greatest blessings are not the opportunities you step into,” Snell explained. “Sometimes the greatest blessings are the opportunities you step away from.”
On Sabbath afternoon, Aime lined up with the other 58 Master Guide candidates for the eagerly-anticipated investiture service. Candidates from the Northeastern and Southern New England conferences proudly received their scarves and pins in recognition of completing the necessary requirements. As family and friends enthusiastically cheered, some candidates smiled, and others cried tears of joy as they considered how far they had come. Armando Miranda, Jr., North American Division Youth and Young Adult ministries associate director, gave the charge to the newly commissioned Master Guides. Aime reflected, “I want to be [a youth leader]. I don’t just want to be one for my church, but I want to be a leader wherever I go and showcase who God is and the things that I learned to my church and my job, community, and school community.”
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Nicollette Samuels, a young adult freelance writer from Bronx, New York, and Debra Banks Cuadro, Atlantic Union Conference communication director and Gleaner editor, co-wrote this story.