Miami, Florida, United States | IAD Staff
Thousands of Seventh-day Adventist young people from across the Inter-American Division stretched out their arms to donate blood, lend a hand, and spread cheer and hope in their communities during the church’s Global Youth Day event on Mar. 18, 2017.
Liszeth Susana of Venezuela smiles after donating blood at the Caracas University Hospital, Mar. 18, 2017. Image from Twitter
Sponsored by the Adventist world church’s youth ministries department, Global Youth Day engaged millions of Adventist youth from around the world to give blood and “Be the Sermon” as they portrayed the love of Jesus in their cities and communities.
The annual event featured a 24-hour live broadcast on Hope Church Channel and carried on globalyouthday.org showing the activities held around the world.
Young people gathered at Northern Caribbean University Media Group studio, in Mandeville, Jamaica, the hub of the one-and-a-half live program to feature Inter-America, to share their experience and witness the acts of kindness that took place across the IAD territory.
“It was a real blessing to witness how our youth are on fire to share God’s love,” said Pastor Al Powell, youth ministries director for the church in Inter-America. Powell, who oversees over 1.5 million Adventist young people, said the day saw “the youth having one vision and one purpose of serving in their own communities.”
From left to right: Presenters K’Obryan Scott, Ann Carr, and Daniel Passley pose for a photo with Pastor Al Powell, youth ministries director during the IAD broadcast at NCU Media Group studio in Mandeville, Jamaica. Image by Jose Romero/IAD
Powell spent hours in Mandeville with young people who visited a home for the mentally challenged and a home for children.
“It was a wonderful experience,” exclaimed 15-year-old Tamia Nathan, who participated in the food distribution in Mandeville. “I felt particularly good because the persons helped were very appreciative and happy to receive the meal.” Nathan said impact activities like the one she engaged in should be done at least once per month by every church member.
Jon Saleem Oliphant took part in donating blood. He knows how important it is to give blood.
“It’s a blessing giving blood because there are persons out there who are suffering and in need,” said Oliphant, who was glad for the opportunity and added that it was his tenth time donating blood.
Young people smile as they ride to the city of La Paz in Baja California, Mexico, to bring cheers to children at a children’s cancer center. Image by David Maldonado/Facebook
Elsewhere in Jamaica, from as early as 7:30 a.m. some 15,000 young people from most of the 740 congregations across Jamaica donned “Be the Sermon” polo and t-shirts to show the love of Christ through food-feeding, tract distribution, medical check-ups, blood donating drives and witnessing, reported Dane Fletcher, youth ministries director for the church in Jamaica.
Throughout Mexico, young people donated blood in nearby hospitals, brought cheers to nursing homes, distributed food in the homes of single mothers, fed the homeless, shared roses, visited children suffering with cancer, cleaned city streets and beaches, assisted in providing health screenings in parks and centers, and witnessing with music in large plazas.
Guatemala saw more than young people distributing more than 190,000 missionary books across cities and regions. El Salvador also saw young people lining up to donate blood, donate literature and pray for people.
In Panama and Haiti, young people prayed in the streets, painted and cleaned streets, parks and cities.
Young people in The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Martinique held up signs for drivers in busy city streets with messages of love and hope.
In Colombia, young people also fed and cared for native Indians, and Puerto Rico saw young people distributing water and assisting professionals who were providing free counseling services.
Young people in the British Virgin Islands get ready to serve breakfast during Global Youth Day. Image from Facebook
Venezuela saw thousands of young people praying for people in parks, marching, and spreading joy and hugs in city streets and communities.
Free breakfast was provided to those in need in Belize and the Bahamas.
“We are happy to see what our young people in Inter-America can accomplish when they allow God to use them, despite their different languages or cultures, with one purpose to serve and get people ready for Jesus soon coming,” Powell said.
The annual Global Youth Day was the launch of the youth week of prayer taking place around the Adventist world church this week.
Nigel Coke contributed to this report.
To view a photo gallery of IAD’s Global Youth Day studio event, visit HERE
For the IAD broadcast portion available soon, visit HERE
