¤ ¤
00:00:01.36\00:00:04.97
¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
00:00:05.00\00:00:15.18
¤ I want to spend
my life removing pain ¤
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¤ Lord let my words
heal a heart that hurts ¤
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¤ I want to spend my
life mending broken people ¤
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¤ ¤
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Hello and welcome to
another 3ABN Today program. I'm
00:01:07.06\00:01:10.80
Jason Bradley and I'm so glad
that you've decided to join us
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once again. We have an exciting
hour planned for you and you
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know we often hear the question
Where are the young people in
00:01:18.71\00:01:22.34
the church. We're going to talk
about just that very thing and
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we're going to let you know
where they are. Here with me
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to discuss that we have the
president of GYC (Generation of
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Youth for Christ) Andrew Park.
It's great to have you here.
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Thank you so much for having
us. We're so excited to be here.
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Yes sir, yes sir. And we have
Junior Vertus. You are the vice
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president of evangelism for GYC.
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That's right and I'm more
privileged to be here. We've
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been praying for this experience
here and I know God's going to
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be with us, with our discussion.
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Amen, amen. But before we dive
into that discussion and find
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out who you are and about GYC
and all of that we're going to
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go to our song. We'll be blessed
in song by Hope Velasquez and
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she'll be singing Blessings.
00:02:07.26\00:02:08.59
¤ ¤
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¤ We pray for
blessings we pray for peace ¤
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¤ Comfort for family,
protection while we sleep ¤
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¤ We pray for
healing for prosperity ¤
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¤ We pray for your mighty
hand to ease our suffering ¤
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¤ And all the while,
you hear each spoken need ¤
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¤ Yet love us way to much
to give us lesser things ¤
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¤ 'Cause what if your blessing
comes through raindrops ¤
00:03:18.66\00:03:24.17
¤ What if your
healing comes through tears ¤
00:03:24.20\00:03:28.24
¤ What if a
thousand sleepless nights ¤
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¤ Are what it takes
to know you're near ¤
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¤ What if trials of this life
are Your mercies in disguise ¤
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¤ We pray for
wisdom your voice to hear ¤
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¤ We cry in anger when
we cannot feel You near ¤
00:04:01.20\00:04:11.31
¤ We doubt your
goodness, we doubt your love ¤
00:04:11.35\00:04:17.99
¤ As if every promise
from your word is not enough ¤
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¤ And all the while you
hear each desperate plea ¤
00:04:26.36\00:04:35.30
¤ And long that we'd
have faith to believe ¤
00:04:35.34\00:04:43.24
¤ 'Cause what if your blessings
come through raindrops ¤
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¤ What if your
healing comes through tears ¤
00:04:49.55\00:04:52.45
¤ What if a
thousand sleepless nights ¤
00:04:52.49\00:04:56.09
¤ are what it takes
to know you're near ¤
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¤ What if the
trials of this life ¤
00:05:02.40\00:05:06.97
¤ are your mercies in disguise ¤
00:05:07.00\00:05:14.54
¤ When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win ¤
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¤ We know the pain
reminds this heart ¤
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¤ This is not,
this is not our home ¤
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¤ This is not our home ¤
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¤ 'Cause what if our blessings
come through raindrops ¤
00:05:46.41\00:05:54.12
¤ What if your
healing comes through tears ¤
00:05:54.15\00:06:00.36
¤ What if a
thousand sleepless nights ¤
00:06:00.39\00:06:03.12
¤ are what it takes
to know you're near ¤
00:06:03.16\00:06:07.43
¤ What if my
greatest disappointments ¤
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¤ or the aching of this life ¤
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¤ is the revealing
of a greater thirst ¤
00:06:17.57\00:06:22.71
¤ this world can't satisfy ¤
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¤ And what if
trials of this life ¤
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¤ The rains, the
storms, the hardest nights ¤
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¤ Are your mercies in disguise ¤
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¤ ¤
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Wow, such a beautiful, beautiful
song and so appropriate for what
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we're going to be discussing.
Andrew tell me a little bit
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about your background.
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So I was born in Metro Detroit,
Michigan. Born and raised
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there. I lived
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in the same house my whole
life. I grew up in an Adventist
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home. But like a lot of other
young people, I didn't know what
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I believed. I went to public
school. Went to church every
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Friday and Saturday. Attended a
Korean church, it was an ethnic
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church. And growing up church
to me was, you know, you go to
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church, you don't eat pork, you
keep the Sabbath and that was
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essentially...you love God
Jesus died for you. That was
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essentially my Christianity.
And so that's not a very strong
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grounding and going to public
school it's very easy with the
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environment of your peers to be
sucked into a different route.
00:08:01.54\00:08:06.45
And I would say that was my life
for the first 20 years. I was
00:08:06.48\00:08:12.99
going to say I lost my way but
I never really had my way. And
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we were talking earlier and
you were kind of sharing with me
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your story. And I had a similar
experience where high school,
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especially middle school,
high school I started getting
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involved with substance abuse
and that continued for good six
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years or so and then halfway
through college. I went to a
00:08:31.87\00:08:35.84
public university. After a
lot of Adventist students were
00:08:35.88\00:08:38.88
reaching out to me. Missionaries
were reaching out to me, telling
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me to come up in small groups.
Hey we have free food, come eat
00:08:42.75\00:08:45.45
this. Inviting me out to
retreats. It was through that
00:08:45.49\00:08:48.82
ministry, even though it
appeared unfruitful that I made
00:08:48.86\00:08:53.29
a decision to participate in
a literature evangelism program.
00:08:53.33\00:08:57.50
And the reason I participated
was because I needed to make
00:08:57.53\00:09:01.54
some money and pay for the
house that I was going to be
00:09:01.57\00:09:03.27
living in with my friends.
Little did I know that I would
00:09:03.30\00:09:06.54
have my conversion experience
there and actually take a year
00:09:06.57\00:09:10.55
off, go to a Bible college.
Afterwards I was baptized. I
00:09:10.58\00:09:14.22
learned about what it actually
means to be a Seventh-day
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Adventist.
That's kind of my story.
00:09:17.72\00:09:19.75
Praise God. That's an incredible
testimony. You went in kind of
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with the wrong motives (all the
wrong motives) but then God took
00:09:23.32\00:09:27.76
that situation and drew you in
closer to Him. That's powerful.
00:09:27.80\00:09:33.37
And even though it appeared that
I was living a careless life
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the Holy Spirit was working
on my heart way before then and
00:09:36.91\00:09:40.84
then it just happened to be that
the seed bears up into fruit.
00:09:40.88\00:09:45.11
Amen, amen.
Junior what about you?
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Yes you know something I
realized in Andrew's story and
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my story is well God had given
us a foundation in our home and
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I think one thing as young
people we may struggle with is
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that in all reality just because
you're in the church does not
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mean you may know Jesus and I
was in a home that loved Jesus
00:10:02.20\00:10:06.33
but I found out I wasn't one
that loved Jesus. And so I came
00:10:06.37\00:10:10.71
to the point in my life when
I was in my high school years
00:10:10.74\00:10:14.14
actually what I wanted to say
well I prayed and I said Lord am
00:10:14.18\00:10:17.88
I really about you or am I not?
And as I opened His word I went
00:10:17.91\00:10:21.22
to the text found in Matthew
chapter 5, verse 13, where God
00:10:21.25\00:10:24.85
says look Ye are the salt of the
earth. And that text began to
00:10:24.89\00:10:29.36
just convict my heart, you know.
I really began to wonder, am I
00:10:29.39\00:10:33.80
living up to the standard God
has for me? Am I really being
00:10:33.83\00:10:36.97
the salt that God is saying that
I'm supposed to be. So after
00:10:37.00\00:10:39.77
much reflection, after much
pondering I said Lord I haven't
00:10:39.80\00:10:43.81
been this salt but now I
actually want to be this salt.
00:10:43.84\00:10:46.54
And so I actually went
out and said Look Lord I don't
00:10:46.57\00:10:48.91
know where to begin but I'm
going to start somewhere and I'm
00:10:48.94\00:10:50.98
going to start just telling
people about Jesus. And ever
00:10:51.01\00:10:54.68
since then God has been helping
me now and still today I'm still
00:10:54.72\00:10:57.19
telling others about Jesus.
And that experience of telling
00:10:57.22\00:11:00.39
others about Jesus led to where
even young people around me
00:11:00.42\00:11:03.86
said look let's actually be the
salt that God called us to be
00:11:03.89\00:11:07.06
and we'll see how later this
story connects to what I'm doing
00:11:07.10\00:11:11.03
now. But let me tell you.
God has ways of leading us which
00:11:11.07\00:11:15.30
we don't know. Like He will
prepare you for the next stage
00:11:15.34\00:11:19.47
of life. After reading Matthew
chapter 5 verse 13 and wanting
00:11:19.51\00:11:23.04
to witness to the world I've
actually been able to gather a
00:11:23.08\00:11:25.85
couple friends of mine and
we said look let's have a youth
00:11:25.88\00:11:28.52
conference in our area.
This wasn't GYC. This was just a
00:11:28.55\00:11:34.92
group of young people who
said look let's have a youth
00:11:34.96\00:11:36.56
conference in our area. We do
several of those conferences, we
00:11:36.59\00:11:40.10
later work with pastors. We're
doing more conferences in the
00:11:40.13\00:11:43.67
city but I won't say too much
now because we'll see how this
00:11:43.70\00:11:46.07
later connects with how God
opens the door for me to later
00:11:46.10\00:11:48.70
work in this
youth ministry of GYC.
00:11:48.74\00:11:51.31
I love it. I love it.
00:11:51.34\00:11:52.74
Can I add one thing. Junior
went to a public high school
00:11:52.77\00:11:55.54
Public high school (that's
right) while he was doing
00:11:55.58\00:11:58.91
all this. (That's right)
00:11:58.95\00:12:01.15
Wow. That's incredible. Would
you say you know that you can't
00:12:01.18\00:12:06.79
live off of someone else's
relationship with Christ Because
00:12:06.82\00:12:11.19
that's what it sounds like I'm
hearing from your stories. Is
00:12:11.23\00:12:14.56
you recognize you know you can't
survive off of someone else's.
00:12:14.60\00:12:19.27
You have to taste and see
for yourself that God is good.
00:12:19.30\00:12:22.94
Um so all right I love it. I
love the background information.
00:12:22.97\00:12:27.54
Now that we have established who
you are let's talk about GYC.
00:12:27.58\00:12:31.71
What is GYC?
00:12:31.75\00:12:35.02
Great question. We actually have
a video that I'd love to share
00:12:35.05\00:12:37.49
with everyone watching.
00:12:37.52\00:12:39.25
All right. Well let's
check that video out right now.
00:12:39.29\00:12:42.49
It was once said the greatest
want of the world is the want
00:12:42.52\00:12:47.46
of men and women who won't
be bought or sold, who in their
00:12:47.50\00:12:52.93
inmost souls are true and honest
who are not afraid to call sin
00:12:52.97\00:12:58.57
by its rightful name whose
conscience is as true to duty
00:12:58.61\00:13:03.45
as the needle to the pole
who will stand for what's right
00:13:03.48\00:13:09.58
though the heavens fall.
00:13:09.62\00:13:11.65
¤ ¤
00:13:11.69\00:13:34.41
One of the most exciting things
about GYC is when the young
00:13:34.44\00:13:38.51
people are mobilized for
ministry and they're taken out
00:13:38.55\00:13:41.45
in the various neighborhoods.
This happens in other parts of
00:13:41.48\00:13:42.82
the world to either meet people
on the street in a downtown area
00:13:42.85\00:13:46.55
to give out literature, pray
with people, to knock on doors
00:13:46.59\00:13:49.22
and they go out at first they're
terrified but when they come
00:13:49.26\00:13:52.69
back they are so excited
because they see God working.
00:13:52.73\00:13:56.26
GYC provides the framework
and opportunity like no other
00:13:56.30\00:14:01.14
opportunity that exists right
now where young people can come
00:14:01.17\00:14:05.24
and be part of something where
the Spirit of God will descend
00:14:05.27\00:14:07.88
and set them on fire and
they can go away with a renewed
00:14:07.91\00:14:13.72
vision and a renewed commitment
and a determination and an
00:14:13.75\00:14:16.72
understanding that God is big
enough, big enough even to use
00:14:16.75\00:14:20.52
them, big enough even to change
their lives. They can come to
00:14:20.56\00:14:23.83
GYC and find a vision for
what their future could be like.
00:14:23.86\00:14:29.30
¤ ¤
00:14:29.33\00:14:34.60
Wow. You know if we stopped
right there people would be
00:14:34.64\00:14:39.04
inspired to go to GYC. That's
a powerful, powerful conference.
00:14:39.07\00:14:42.64
What is GYC to
you in your own words?
00:14:42.68\00:14:46.18
GYC is a ministry that exists
to show people what it really
00:14:46.21\00:14:52.45
means to be Seventh-day
Adventist. And John 8:31 says,
00:14:52.49\00:14:57.56
If you continue in my word
(Jesus speaking) then you are
00:14:57.59\00:15:00.90
my disciples indeed and you
shall know the truth and the
00:15:00.93\00:15:03.83
truth shall make you free.
Jesus said the qualification for
00:15:03.87\00:15:08.67
discipleship is a continuation
in the word of God and that's
00:15:08.70\00:15:12.51
something that we need at this
time in Earth's history, not
00:15:12.54\00:15:15.68
just listening to sermons,
not just listening to you know
00:15:15.71\00:15:19.05
seminars or things like that
00:15:19.08\00:15:21.08
but to actually get into
the word of God for yourself
00:15:21.12\00:15:25.95
personal study and confrontation
with scripture. And it's as the
00:15:25.99\00:15:30.56
young people see the power that
is found in the scriptures that
00:15:30.59\00:15:35.46
everything else flows
out of that, that experience.
00:15:35.50\00:15:39.20
Yes, yes, so
that's the foundation.
00:15:39.23\00:15:40.57
The word of God GYC seeks
to really ground people in the
00:15:40.60\00:15:46.07
scripture. Once again, not
just through sermons or seminars
00:15:46.11\00:15:49.91
but for themselves.
00:15:49.94\00:15:51.28
Yes, yes. One of the things
that I love about GYC is that
00:15:51.31\00:15:55.02
wherever GYC goes the city is
not the same after they leave.
00:15:55.05\00:16:00.12
In a good way. You know the
witnessing that takes place is
00:16:00.16\00:16:03.99
amazing. I don't want to go into
all the components because I
00:16:04.03\00:16:06.63
know I'm going to talk about
that in a little bit but I love
00:16:06.66\00:16:10.17
that conference. Junior
what does GYC mean to you?
00:16:10.20\00:16:14.50
You know more than just the name
you know the initials stand for
00:16:14.54\00:16:18.74
Generation Youth for Christ,
but GYC is more than just a
00:16:18.77\00:16:22.78
conference. It's a movement.
And it's a movement led by young
00:16:22.81\00:16:26.18
people for young people. And the
whole point of this movement is
00:16:26.21\00:16:30.09
like look Jesus is coming
soon. Let's get our young people
00:16:30.12\00:16:34.09
ready. _ It's our
young people that's going to
00:16:34.12\00:16:36.16
finish the work and that's why
GYC's more than just going to a
00:16:36.19\00:16:39.59
place where you listen to nice
sermons. It's more than just
00:16:39.63\00:16:42.86
going to a place where you pray
but actually, a place where you
00:16:42.90\00:16:44.33
get your hands dirty working for
the gospel and GYC has been a
00:16:44.37\00:16:48.04
wonderful component in my life
on starting that revival for
00:16:48.07\00:16:51.57
Jesus and getting involved in
that work. So GYC is a movement
00:16:51.61\00:16:56.68
that just starts a fire in the
hearts of our young people which
00:16:56.71\00:17:00.32
does also start a
fire in our church as well.
00:17:00.35\00:17:03.59
Amen, amen. Andrew how did you
get involved with GYC. You're
00:17:03.62\00:17:06.82
now the president of
GYC. How'd you get involved?
00:17:06.86\00:17:10.69
Yeah it's definitely an
interesting story. So after my
00:17:10.73\00:17:15.13
conversion I took a year
off, went to a Bible college and
00:17:15.16\00:17:19.93
afterwards, after my
baptism I returned to the public
00:17:19.97\00:17:23.81
university that I was attending.
Very scared. I thought I was
00:17:23.84\00:17:26.64
going to lose me faith like that
had happened many times before
00:17:26.68\00:17:30.58
but I got involved with public
campus ministries and it's
00:17:30.61\00:17:35.78
basically, young people who are
Adventist on these universities
00:17:35.82\00:17:39.65
who are seeking to reach their
peers. And these students they
00:17:39.69\00:17:45.26
took trips every year...there
were other missionaries there
00:17:45.29\00:17:49.20
as well...to the conference and
that's kind of how I had my more
00:17:49.23\00:17:54.90
in-depth exposure to the
Ministry. It was through that
00:17:54.94\00:17:57.14
exposure and contact that I
eventually got the opportunity
00:17:57.17\00:18:02.51
to serve in this position.
00:18:02.54\00:18:04.71
Amen, amen. And what's it
like being the president of GYC?
00:18:04.75\00:18:08.38
Um, you know that's a really
good question. I'd say it's...
00:18:08.42\00:18:14.72
there's a lot of learning
experiences and really it's just
00:18:14.76\00:18:23.10
another opportunity to serve God
in a different capacity and I
00:18:23.13\00:18:26.23
think the biggest
00:18:26.27\00:18:27.60
thing that I hope that any other
young person would see in this
00:18:27.64\00:18:30.54
would know is we're all just
young people in the cause of
00:18:30.57\00:18:35.98
God and we're having the
opportunity to work for Him.
00:18:36.01\00:18:39.41
Amen. It's a faith walk. I would
imagine there's a lot of prayer
00:18:39.45\00:18:42.95
that takes place in these
meetings and in GYC meetings and
00:18:42.98\00:18:46.09
all of that as you're planning
for the convention and all of
00:18:46.12\00:18:49.69
those things. And what about
you. How did you get involved
00:18:49.72\00:18:55.56
with GYC?
00:18:55.60\00:18:57.77
You know it's interesting
because like I was sharing
00:18:57.80\00:19:00.04
earlier you know once I was
convicted that I needed to get
00:19:00.07\00:19:03.64
involved in the Lord's work
I began doing youth conferences
00:19:03.67\00:19:05.71
in my city. But when I was doing
these youth conferences like I
00:19:05.74\00:19:09.78
said earlier I did not expect
to be involved in this youth
00:19:09.81\00:19:13.42
conference. And so as I'm doing
youth conferences in my city
00:19:13.45\00:19:16.42
a pastor reaches out to me, he's
like look I'm also doing another
00:19:16.45\00:19:20.72
youth conference and I want you
and your team to get involved in
00:19:20.76\00:19:23.09
this. And so now we went
from just a few hundred to more
00:19:23.12\00:19:25.96
hundreds of people and now
we're working with all the local
00:19:25.99\00:19:29.76
churches in this local area
where I'm at and actually for
00:19:29.80\00:19:35.40
this conference I became the
outreach coordinator. I had to
00:19:35.44\00:19:39.14
contract like a way for us
to get buses. I had to think of
00:19:39.17\00:19:42.51
different ways to just flow
people, you know, hundreds of
00:19:42.54\00:19:44.88
people, just get them involved
for mission. But a letter also
00:19:44.91\00:19:48.02
came in 2019 where I attended
a GYC by many of our viewers who
00:19:48.05\00:19:53.25
came that year. I got to be more
acquainted with GYC that year
00:19:53.29\00:19:56.22
And next year actually of course
before COVID hit and everything
00:19:56.26\00:20:01.10
like that, next year GYC had
reached out to me as they were
00:20:01.13\00:20:05.90
hearing all the evangelistic
efforts I'd been doing they
00:20:05.93\00:20:08.07
reached out for me actually
to be a seminar speaker. And
00:20:08.10\00:20:12.37
actually, I responded yes I was
glad to just testify to the Lord
00:20:12.41\00:20:15.74
of how good He's been and also
be the means to encourage other
00:20:15.78\00:20:18.88
young people to get involved for
service. And so that was like my
00:20:18.91\00:20:23.35
first way of getting to know
GYC Then not too long later they
00:20:23.39\00:20:27.12
said look we would love for you
to be part of this team and as
00:20:27.16\00:20:31.66
Brother Park was mentioning you
know this calling is actually
00:20:31.69\00:20:34.50
another calling to service you
know. I'm not greater than any
00:20:34.53\00:20:38.83
other young person out there.
And that's what I love about GYC
00:20:38.87\00:20:41.40
the leadership is all young
people. It's young people once
00:20:41.44\00:20:45.97
again leading the conference
to inspire other young people to
00:20:46.01\00:20:49.24
get involved for God's service.
00:20:49.28\00:20:51.51
Mm-hmm. And what would you
say GYC is generally known for?
00:20:51.55\00:20:56.95
GYC is known for bringing people
back to the word of God. That's
00:20:56.99\00:21:02.06
what it's known for. And
bringing people back to the word
00:21:02.09\00:21:05.29
of God as we see from scripture
always brings revival. So that's
00:21:05.33\00:21:10.17
what GYC has been known for.
Getting them back to the word of
00:21:10.20\00:21:13.03
God, inspiring people to love
Jesus and to really say look I
00:21:13.07\00:21:17.47
want to see Jesus come in my
lifetime and I'm willing to do
00:21:17.51\00:21:19.71
whatever it takes.
00:21:19.74\00:21:21.08
And what's your
experience been like?
00:21:21.11\00:21:23.75
It's been amazing. You know it's
been lots of meetings, lots of
00:21:23.78\00:21:26.01
planning, lots of praying.
But let me tell you God answers
00:21:26.05\00:21:29.65
prayer. Like we've been just
like Israel of old following the
00:21:29.68\00:21:33.36
pillar of cloud as He leads.
There's been lots of doors
00:21:33.39\00:21:36.39
that's opened. There's been
several doors that's closed.
00:21:36.42\00:21:38.06
But let me tell you the whole
experience has been a journey
00:21:38.09\00:21:41.20
and what has been awesome is
that throughout this year we've
00:21:41.23\00:21:44.90
also implemented more people
into this lovely team and also
00:21:44.93\00:21:49.24
seeing now other young people
who thought they couldn't be
00:21:49.27\00:21:51.57
leaders, now they're becoming
leaders as well and that is the
00:21:51.61\00:21:54.71
whole point of GYC. Inspiring
young people to be involved in
00:21:54.74\00:21:59.71
God's work. And like I said
earlier, if we get our young
00:21:59.75\00:22:03.28
people involved they will finish
the work and they will see Jesus
00:22:03.32\00:22:05.89
come in their lifetime
and that's my prayer as well.
00:22:05.92\00:22:09.49
Amen, amen. And Andrew what's
your experience been like with
00:22:09.52\00:22:11.69
GYC and on top of that
question not only what has your
00:22:11.73\00:22:18.83
experience been like but how
has it strengthened your faith?
00:22:18.87\00:22:23.34
I think my experience with GYC
has been just the opportunity to
00:22:23.37\00:22:27.81
observe a lot of different young
people in many different places
00:22:27.84\00:22:32.25
of the U.S. and also around
the world just to see that
00:22:32.28\00:22:39.49
Christianity is not just a you
know hey you know let's go to
00:22:39.52\00:22:44.19
church. All right time to
go home. Let's go do what we
00:22:44.23\00:22:46.46
actually want to do.
Christianity can truly be a life
00:22:46.49\00:22:52.30
of wholehearted dedication for
the Master and that is actually
00:22:52.33\00:22:57.41
the greatest privilege to take
part in and young people who may
00:22:57.44\00:23:04.08
have opportunities to other
things in the world are saying
00:23:04.11\00:23:06.48
you know what I actually have
something better that I want to
00:23:06.51\00:23:08.75
do. I want to serve God. So just
that opportunity to see that has
00:23:08.78\00:23:15.09
been wonderful. In terms of...
what was your second follow-up
00:23:15.12\00:23:19.83
question?
00:23:19.86\00:23:21.20
How has it
strengthened your faith?
00:23:21.23\00:23:23.73
Yeah, so 2020 of course has been
challenging for the whole world
00:23:23.77\00:23:30.91
and that's when I came in
to serve with the executive
00:23:30.94\00:23:35.61
committee so just
the circumstances of time
00:23:35.64\00:23:39.85
and seeing the challenges that
arose, the need to overcome a
00:23:39.88\00:23:45.99
challenge, the need to spend
time in prayer, the need to you
00:23:46.02\00:23:49.42
know have conversations with
other people, the whole thing
00:23:49.46\00:23:53.43
has been a very faith building
experience for obstacles to
00:23:53.46\00:23:58.77
challenge to obstacles and
asking God okay Lord what do you
00:23:58.80\00:24:02.80
want us to do? Just every
step we need to follow God.
00:24:02.84\00:24:06.17
Amen, amen. Absolutely. Why is
it important that young people
00:24:06.21\00:24:11.15
attend GYC?
00:24:11.18\00:24:13.01
So I read this little book.
It's called Camp Meeting: It's
00:24:13.05\00:24:18.65
Objective, Its Object and How
to Conduct Them. It's written
00:24:18.69\00:24:21.29
by Ellen White. I think it was
written in 1900. I don't know
00:24:21.32\00:24:24.33
if it's a compilation but she
talks about all the different
00:24:24.36\00:24:28.00
reasons and purposes for the
camp meeting. Something that she
00:24:28.03\00:24:34.37
says is that it is one of the
most important aspects of our
00:24:34.40\00:24:38.64
work. It's a means to arrest the
attention of the people and it's
00:24:38.67\00:24:42.68
also, a means to promote
spirituality among our own
00:24:42.71\00:24:46.61
people. Some other things that
it was sharing if people think
00:24:46.65\00:24:53.15
oh you know what these aren't
really necessary. I can just go
00:24:53.19\00:24:56.32
to church. I have my own
personal walk with God. But
00:24:56.36\00:25:00.20
Israel of old God instructed
them to have three holy
00:25:00.23\00:25:04.00
convocations a year. And
the purpose of it was to guard
00:25:04.03\00:25:08.27
against worldliness corrupting
their hearts, to preserve faith
00:25:08.30\00:25:13.11
and gratitude to God and also
to gather together in Christian
00:25:13.14\00:25:19.01
fellowship and really just
have that experience continually
00:25:19.05\00:25:22.48
renewed. So as opposed to
thinking you know gatherings
00:25:22.52\00:25:26.05
like this are nonessential
actually, it's necessary in our
00:25:26.09\00:25:31.39
experience to keep us kindled
in the faith. And that's why I
00:25:31.43\00:25:35.60
think it's important for
any young person to be a part of
00:25:35.63\00:25:38.13
a conference like this.
00:25:38.17\00:25:39.57
Absolutely. And there's so many
young people that attend. I mean
00:25:39.60\00:25:45.47
like huge numbers. So people ask
the question where are the young
00:25:45.51\00:25:50.98
people in the church? They're
at GYC. And if they're not they
00:25:51.01\00:25:55.38
should be. Absolutely absolutely
So what are the different
00:25:55.42\00:26:02.29
components of
this year's conference?
00:26:02.32\00:26:05.33
You know this is one of my
favorite questions. You know
00:26:05.36\00:26:10.13
like I mentioned earlier GYC
is a conference that leads our
00:26:10.17\00:26:13.10
young people back to the word of
God. And so we're actually going
00:26:13.13\00:26:16.81
have the bread, the word, broken
every single day, morning and
00:26:16.84\00:26:21.58
evening. Thousands of people
will come together listening to
00:26:21.61\00:26:24.68
what God has for them and the
inspired word. Not only will we
00:26:24.71\00:26:29.12
also, be diving into the word
of God through our plenary which
00:26:29.15\00:26:33.42
is like the bit time when
the whole congregation comes
00:26:33.46\00:26:36.39
together but this year we're
actually going to do something
00:26:36.42\00:26:38.73
interesting that we haven't done
before. In years past GYC has
00:26:38.76\00:26:41.96
done like breakout sessions
and these breakout sessions have
00:26:42.00\00:26:45.57
been through relevant
topics like you know like what's
00:26:45.60\00:26:47.97
relevant at that time and
we'd cover so many topics in our
00:26:48.00\00:26:51.64
breakout sessions. Last year we
actually just had study seminars
00:26:51.67\00:26:55.31
where we just dove into the
Bible and we studied. This year
00:26:55.34\00:26:59.61
we're doing a little bit of
both This year we're going to be
00:26:59.65\00:27:02.58
having breakout sessions
and study seminars and actually
00:27:02.62\00:27:06.65
we've been planning, and I
kind of laughed about this this
00:27:06.69\00:27:09.22
morning but God has just been
so good. You know both in the
00:27:09.26\00:27:11.86
seminar sessions and
the breakout sessions
00:27:11.89\00:27:13.29
we'll be having
00:27:13.33\00:27:14.66
well-known people of our church
leading those out. So whoever
00:27:14.70\00:27:19.23
comes to GYC will have almost
a little battle where do I go?
00:27:19.27\00:27:21.84
Like I kind of want to be here
but I want to be there as well.
00:27:21.87\00:27:24.94
But I'm letting you know it's
going to be an amazing time.
00:27:24.97\00:27:27.68
But not only will the word
of God be shared but guess what?
00:27:27.71\00:27:30.95
We're going to be spending time
in prayer together. In our GYC
00:27:30.98\00:27:35.75
there's a famous thing called
5 a.m. prayer session. And you
00:27:35.78\00:27:40.02
almost wonder, how in the world
can a 5 a.m. prayer session
00:27:40.06\00:27:43.69
dare be famous. Let me tell you
Hundreds of people come to that
00:27:43.73\00:27:46.93
5 a.m. prayer session. God
has given Brother Jim Castro
00:27:46.96\00:27:51.60
a wonderful gift on leading
congregational prayers. And as
00:27:51.63\00:27:54.74
I said my in experiences at GYC
I have enjoyed the 5 a.m. prayer
00:27:54.77\00:27:59.44
sessions. I've had experiences
where I've gone with family
00:27:59.47\00:28:02.31
members to GYC and I remember
very strongly how a mother would
00:28:02.34\00:28:06.75
be telling her children look
we're going to get up at 5 a.m.
00:28:06.78\00:28:09.52
and go to those prayers.
The first day the young children
00:28:09.55\00:28:12.82
were like no, no I'm not
so excited. It's too early, so
00:28:12.85\00:28:15.82
early. I don't want to go. Let
me tell you after one day or two
00:28:15.86\00:28:18.83
now it was the young people
waking up the parents saying
00:28:18.86\00:28:21.03
look let's go to that 5 a.m.
prayer session. And so hundreds
00:28:21.06\00:28:25.43
of people come together. They're
excited to wake up at 5 a.m. to
00:28:25.47\00:28:28.40
pray. They pray together. Let me
tell you there's even moments in
00:28:28.44\00:28:31.87
that room where you're brought
to tears. You just sense the
00:28:31.91\00:28:35.81
Spirit of God moving upon you.
You feel convicted of your wrong
00:28:35.84\00:28:40.48
doings. You confess them to one
another and you're praying Lord
00:28:40.52\00:28:44.02
Lord, I want to be a Christian
in my heart, like the old song
00:28:44.05\00:28:47.22
says. But not only will we be
spending time in prayer, we'll
00:28:47.26\00:28:50.99
be spending time singing
together. But GYC's more than
00:28:51.03\00:28:54.60
just that. We'll actually
be spending time fellowshipping
00:28:54.63\00:28:57.27
and networking together.
Whether that's in the halls,
00:28:57.30\00:29:00.17
whether that's
00:29:00.20\00:29:01.54
during the meal times. There's
this lovely thing called exhibit
00:29:01.57\00:29:04.21
hall you know like where lots
of booths are just in one area
00:29:04.24\00:29:08.41
there's so many different
ministry opportunities where
00:29:08.44\00:29:11.88
young people can just get
involved. So we're opening the
00:29:11.91\00:29:15.38
door. If a young person is
wondering how can I get involved
00:29:15.42\00:29:18.22
come to GYC. They'll be so many
booths around that we say hey
00:29:18.25\00:29:22.42
look we want young people to be
a part of this work. But just to
00:29:22.46\00:29:28.20
wrap this answer up this is one
thing I'm really excited about
00:29:28.23\00:29:30.80
this year. Usually, we do this
thing called midnight prayer.
00:29:30.83\00:29:35.70
Actually GYC this year we're
going from December 28th to
00:29:35.74\00:29:39.11
January 1st and that January 1st
is a Sunday. And so what we'll
00:29:39.14\00:29:43.21
be doing Saturday night
is hundreds of people will be
00:29:43.24\00:29:46.08
gathering together maybe around
10 p.m., 11 p.m., whatever it
00:29:46.11\00:29:50.22
takes. They'll be gathering
together. They'll begin singing
00:29:50.25\00:29:52.95
songs, bringing praise to
the Lord and praying all the way
00:29:52.99\00:29:56.52
till midnight comes. They'll be
opening the year on bended knees
00:29:56.56\00:29:59.96
praying for God to bless them
this next year. So there's so
00:30:00.00\00:30:03.53
many different components and
I'm telling you GYC will be a
00:30:03.57\00:30:06.87
special thing.
00:30:06.90\00:30:08.24
That's beautiful.
00:30:08.27\00:30:09.60
Can I add to that? (Oh
absolutely) You know the
00:30:09.64\00:30:13.01
experience of a gathering like
this. Some people may think hey
00:30:13.04\00:30:18.01
you know what I've done a lot
and that's good. I go to church.
00:30:18.05\00:30:21.98
As we approach closer and closer
to the end inspired council
00:30:22.02\00:30:27.66
tells us as opposed to this
tapering off and we don't do
00:30:27.69\00:30:30.73
this anymore, we're actually
supposed to gather together more
00:30:30.76\00:30:34.33
and more frequently as
we prepare ourselves for the
00:30:34.36\00:30:38.23
conflict that is going to come
upon us. And so I just want to
00:30:38.27\00:30:42.80
affirm everything that Junior
was saying that the experience
00:30:42.84\00:30:46.17
is not just a one-time
but a continual time to gather
00:30:46.21\00:30:50.18
together, seek God's face
and come together in Christian
00:30:50.21\00:30:52.48
That's a good word, that's a
good word. What is the theme for
00:30:52.51\00:30:57.12
this year and what's the
reason or purpose behind it?
00:30:57.15\00:31:00.52
So our theme for this year is
Break Forth and it's taken from
00:31:00.56\00:31:06.66
the text Isaiah 58:8: Then shall
thy light break forth as the
00:31:06.70\00:31:10.90
morning and thine health shall
spring forth speedily. The glory
00:31:10.93\00:31:14.60
of the Lord shall be thy
rearguard. The idea is that when
00:31:14.64\00:31:19.74
God's people take part in
the true fact that He's outlined
00:31:19.77\00:31:24.35
His light will actually
break forth through our lives in
00:31:24.38\00:31:28.98
unselfish service to others. The
reason why we thought Isaiah 58
00:31:29.02\00:31:33.82
was so important was because
last year our theme was Nothing.
00:31:33.86\00:31:38.96
Kind of a funny theme but we
were focusing on the Laodicean
00:31:38.99\00:31:46.10
message. And if you read the
first volume of the Testimonies
00:31:46.13\00:31:49.17
chapter 32 Ellen White had
the vision where God's people
00:31:49.20\00:31:54.14
received the straight testimony
of the true witness and this is
00:31:54.18\00:31:58.88
the message to the Laodiceans
which is our church. And this
00:31:58.91\00:32:04.09
receiving of the message leads
to a great heart-searching of
00:32:04.12\00:32:06.89
the people of God. Those who
accept it stay in the church.
00:32:06.92\00:32:11.09
Those who reject it are shaken
out. And this group of people
00:32:11.13\00:32:15.70
who accept that message and are
rising up and proclaim the third
00:32:15.73\00:32:20.50
angel's message with power and
the Holy Spirit. And from our
00:32:20.54\00:32:24.07
study it appears that those
we accept the Laodicean message
00:32:24.11\00:32:30.35
their light is also accompanied
with the light of Isaiah chapter
00:32:30.38\00:32:33.72
58. So this is really a
continuation of the study of
00:32:33.75\00:32:37.25
what happens when you receive
the solutions that Jesus lined
00:32:37.29\00:32:41.86
out for His people. Faith that
works by love, faith that works
00:32:41.89\00:32:44.33
by love, the righteousness of
Christ and eye salve that we can
00:32:44.36\00:32:49.73
see spiritually. What does
that lead to? A true life of
00:32:49.76\00:32:53.60
unselfish service where His
light breaks forth through us.
00:32:53.64\00:32:56.30
Amen, amen. I love it. Why
is the evangelism component so
00:32:56.34\00:33:02.58
crucial during and after GYC?
00:33:02.61\00:33:06.72
You know this year's GYC
evangelism and I don't only say
00:33:06.75\00:33:09.48
because I'm vice president of
evangelism. I say it because I'm
00:33:09.52\00:33:13.76
telling you, it's one of
my favorite things about GYC.
00:33:13.79\00:33:16.36
Thousands of young people get on
buses and in these buses they're
00:33:16.39\00:33:22.10
singing, they're praying, you
know they're singing Hallelujah
00:33:22.13\00:33:24.67
Lord be with us as we go out.
On the way back from evangelism
00:33:24.70\00:33:28.17
they're singing, they're praying
they're singing Lord Hallelujah
00:33:28.20\00:33:30.41
that you have been with us.
But this year evangelism's just
00:33:30.44\00:33:34.18
going to be a little different.
You know often times when we
00:33:34.21\00:33:37.68
think of evangelism we may limit
evangelism to either just prayer
00:33:37.71\00:33:42.05
for people or just Bible studies
for people. But I really believe
00:33:42.08\00:33:45.52
that the Spirit of God led us
to this theme this year found in
00:33:45.55\00:33:48.42
the book of Isaiah 58
specifically verse 8 which is
00:33:48.46\00:33:52.49
our theme. But I'm actually
going to read two verses before
00:33:52.53\00:33:54.40
verse 8 and just summarize why
evangelism is so important for
00:33:54.43\00:33:58.30
this conference this year. I'll
read it. Isaiah 58 verse 8 verse
00:33:58.33\00:34:02.74
6 says this: Is this not the
fast that I have chosen, this is
00:34:02.77\00:34:06.21
the Lord speaking, to loose the
bonds of wickedness, to undo the
00:34:06.24\00:34:10.41
heavy burdens, to let the
oppressed go free and that you
00:34:10.45\00:34:14.15
break every yoke. Is it not to
share your bread with the hungry
00:34:14.18\00:34:18.39
and that you bring to your house
the poor who are cast out, when
00:34:18.42\00:34:22.72
you see the naked that you cover
them and not hide yourself from
00:34:22.76\00:34:26.59
your own flesh. Then, the Bible
says and this is the GYC theme,
00:34:26.63\00:34:30.97
your light shall break forth
like the morning, your healing
00:34:31.00\00:34:34.40
shall spring forth speedily
and your righteousness shall go
00:34:34.44\00:34:38.27
before you, the glory of
the Lord be your rear guard. You
00:34:38.31\00:34:42.54
know this reminds me of
one of my favorite statements
00:34:42.58\00:34:44.28
especially this year from Steps
to Christ, p. 80. She says this:
00:34:44.31\00:34:49.02
Those who thus devote themselves
to unselfish effort for the good
00:34:49.05\00:34:53.19
of others are most assuredly
working out their own salvation.
00:34:53.22\00:34:56.79
What that means, as you work for
God, God is able to work in your
00:34:56.83\00:35:02.46
life and that is why we're doing
GYC. That is why we're doing
00:35:02.50\00:35:05.73
evangelism this year. But we're
taking evangelism to a different
00:35:05.77\00:35:09.20
notch. This year we're going
to actually, get our hands dirty
00:35:09.24\00:35:12.41
meeting the needs of the people.
There's going to be different
00:35:12.44\00:35:16.88
opportunities. There's
going to be a Great Controversy
00:35:16.91\00:35:18.98
distribution to many homes in
the Phoenix area. There's going
00:35:19.01\00:35:22.38
be opportunities where they look
a several groups of young people
00:35:22.42\00:35:25.45
will be going to maybe a
gathering and they'll be meeting
00:35:25.49\00:35:28.59
needs of people whether that's
providing things for them or
00:35:28.62\00:35:31.03
whether that's maybe helping
them with something in their
00:35:31.06\00:35:33.23
homes, something at a church
school. GYC this year is taking
00:35:33.26\00:35:37.40
evangelism beyond just prayer
and Bible study but actually
00:35:37.43\00:35:41.60
meeting the needs of the people
dealing our bread to the hungry
00:35:41.64\00:35:44.04
as God has told us, letting
the oppressed go free and hoping
00:35:44.07\00:35:47.78
that by God's grace, God will
fulfill that promise of then
00:35:47.81\00:35:52.25
our light shall break forth.
00:35:52.28\00:35:53.62
Amen. So in other words
what you're telling me is you're
00:35:53.65\00:35:56.45
going to be implementing
Christ's method of evangelism.
00:35:56.48\00:35:59.45
That's right. Christ's method
alone. It's successful. Right?
00:35:59.49\00:36:02.96
It's the best method...
00:36:02.99\00:36:04.79
We need to study, we
need to study Christ.
00:36:04.83\00:36:08.80
Yes. I believe it's so important
and this is a beautiful thing
00:36:08.83\00:36:11.97
especially about this year's
theme is...Because we're going
00:36:12.00\00:36:14.37
be looking at the whole Isaiah
58, not just one text, the whole
00:36:14.40\00:36:17.81
book of Isaiah 58. And
that's why I'm happy about these
00:36:17.84\00:36:20.94
components because we're
not only studying God's word but
00:36:20.98\00:36:23.85
we're giving our young people
an opportunity to implement
00:36:23.88\00:36:27.85
God's word at the conference.
You see what I'm saying. So it's
00:36:27.88\00:36:30.92
not just studying but it's like
hey what we just studied let's
00:36:30.95\00:36:34.22
go do it right now. And
hoping that by God's grace this
00:36:34.26\00:36:37.93
ignites a fire that they can
take to their homes, that to the
00:36:37.96\00:36:41.16
churches and go beyond that. For
example like the 5 a.m. prayers.
00:36:41.20\00:36:44.90
Many people have attended
and they'll go back now to their
00:36:44.93\00:36:47.47
churches, I'm talking young
people now. They'll go back to
00:36:47.50\00:36:49.87
their churches and say look, I'm
going to gather my members and
00:36:49.90\00:36:52.47
pray together and we're hoping
this year that with evangelism
00:36:52.51\00:36:56.41
young people will say look
I have seen that evangelism is
00:36:56.44\00:36:59.78
more than just Bible studies.
Evangelism may mean hey I'm
00:36:59.81\00:37:03.39
going to make peanut butter and
jelly for the homeless people.
00:37:03.42\00:37:06.05
And so we're trying to show
that evangelism is not limited.
00:37:06.09\00:37:11.03
Evangelism can be a
great thing for God's service.
00:37:11.06\00:37:13.63
But is it only
evangelism at the conference?
00:37:13.66\00:37:16.36
No, it's more than just
evangelism. It's more than just
00:37:16.40\00:37:19.33
evangelism at the conference.
And here's the thing about GYC.
00:37:19.37\00:37:22.07
We want to also instill in
our young people and also in our
00:37:22.10\00:37:25.84
minds as well that look
evangelism is not limited to
00:37:25.87\00:37:29.61
four days at GYC. Evangelism
should be evangeliving.
00:37:29.64\00:37:33.78
Come on now.
00:37:33.82\00:37:35.25
It should always be evangelizing
and so that's why we take
00:37:35.28\00:37:39.29
evangelism there. And we're
going to be showing, look you
00:37:39.32\00:37:42.52
don't need deep pockets to do
evangelism. And so that's what
00:37:42.56\00:37:44.76
we're trying to do cheap
evangelism for lack of a better
00:37:44.79\00:37:48.33
term you know. You can make
a simple sandwich and go to the
00:37:48.36\00:37:50.67
homeless but making people smile
is evangelism. And so really
00:37:50.70\00:37:56.44
this year we're trying to take
evangelism beyond the conference
00:37:56.47\00:38:00.08
for evangeliving by God's grace.
00:38:00.11\00:38:02.24
Amen, amen. What concern
do you have for young people
00:38:02.28\00:38:09.48
specifically in Adventism?
00:38:09.52\00:38:10.85
Yeah. So being a young person
in Adventism who grew up on
00:38:10.89\00:38:17.29
social media grew up pretty
much immersed in whatever the
00:38:17.33\00:38:20.73
world had to offer this is
the reality of many of our young
00:38:20.76\00:38:25.30
people. Even young people who
are active in the church. And so
00:38:25.33\00:38:30.04
the concern is that as we
live in a social media-saturated
00:38:30.07\00:38:34.11
world and as we live in a world
that seems to be turning more
00:38:34.14\00:38:38.45
and more towards money-making,
how can I get you know side
00:38:38.48\00:38:42.78
money, all these different
things, can we be subconsciously
00:38:42.82\00:38:46.99
bringing these principles
because of being entered into
00:38:47.02\00:38:51.29
our minds into the way we
do church? And so it's a big
00:38:51.33\00:38:58.27
personal burden of mine and
really the need that we have at
00:38:58.30\00:39:02.07
this time going back to the
whole foundation of GYC, let's
00:39:02.10\00:39:05.61
get back to the simplicity of
the scriptures. Not just to get
00:39:05.64\00:39:09.04
information to understand
the doctrine but for life.
00:39:09.08\00:39:13.31
Concentrating on the word,
Joshua 1:8 I think about this
00:39:13.35\00:39:17.45
verse. It says this book of the
law shall not depart out of thy
00:39:17.49\00:39:20.59
mouth but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night that thou
00:39:20.62\00:39:25.36
mayest observe to do all that is
written therein. Then you will
00:39:25.39\00:39:28.13
make your way prosperous, then
you will have good success. It's
00:39:28.16\00:39:32.33
not just studying, it's
meditating, it's obeying and
00:39:32.37\00:39:36.91
then God says listen everything
else is going to come from that.
00:39:36.94\00:39:40.24
Seek ye first the kingdom of
God yeah. Absolutely. Well said,
00:39:40.28\00:39:44.85
well said. What
about you, you know.
00:39:44.88\00:39:48.08
I'm worried that today in our
young people that they may feel
00:39:48.12\00:39:52.29
that they are not valued or they
may think that church is boring.
00:39:52.32\00:39:55.66
Now both of those two ideas I
do want to say that GYC shreds
00:39:55.69\00:40:00.23
those ideas into pieces. I mean
GYC destroys it. There's a whole
00:40:00.26\00:40:05.50
conference that is saying look
we're going to spend four or
00:40:05.53\00:40:09.74
five days focusing on just how
important our young people are
00:40:09.77\00:40:13.24
to the church of God. And that's
the whole motive of GYC. Once
00:40:13.27\00:40:18.31
again, getting young people
to love Jesus and getting young
00:40:18.35\00:40:20.95
people to love His work and GYC
takes that and just says look
00:40:20.98\00:40:25.65
that is not the case. That's
something I realized just the
00:40:25.69\00:40:29.02
other day was that look you know
Jesus and his disciples, Jesus
00:40:29.06\00:40:33.93
began His public ministry at
the age of 30 years old. And all
00:40:33.96\00:40:38.60
around me, people can testify
that 30 is not old. Thirty is
00:40:38.63\00:40:41.10
still a young person.
00:40:41.14\00:40:43.71
I hope so.
00:40:43.74\00:40:46.71
In a sense you know Jesus was
also, a young person that was
00:40:46.74\00:40:49.28
involved in ministry but check
this out. Jesus' disciples were
00:40:49.31\00:40:52.78
younger than Him as well. You
know from inspired counsel we're
00:40:52.81\00:40:56.45
told that John the beloved
disciple would be the youngest
00:40:56.48\00:40:59.12
disciple. But look Jesus took
John at a young age, involved
00:40:59.15\00:41:02.96
him in ministry and because
of that John never left that. So
00:41:02.99\00:41:07.10
this whole concept that young
people are not valued or they're
00:41:07.13\00:41:11.33
not important GYC shreds that
to pieces and GYC says look as a
00:41:11.37\00:41:15.54
young person, you are important
to the cause of God. Get in it.
00:41:15.57\00:41:18.84
Because if we want to see Jesus
come or if we want to go to
00:41:18.87\00:41:22.11
heaven it's our young people
that need to finish it. But also
00:41:22.14\00:41:25.15
about that church is boring GYC
shreds that to pieces as well.
00:41:25.18\00:41:29.42
GYC like church people come
together. Like that's it. Church
00:41:29.45\00:41:34.79
people fellowship together
and guess what. They study God's
00:41:34.82\00:41:38.36
word together, they pray
together and every person that
00:41:38.39\00:41:40.66
had gone to GYC will
leave saying man that was a fun
00:41:40.70\00:41:43.67
experience. So guess what.
Church is fun and our young
00:41:43.70\00:41:46.67
people will enjoy it as well.
And so I praise the Lord that
00:41:46.70\00:41:49.60
GYC just shreds those ideas
and says like that's not true.
00:41:49.64\00:41:53.61
If I can add onto that. Young
people are not valued in the
00:41:53.64\00:41:57.78
church because church members
say look we value you or because
00:41:57.81\00:42:01.15
people pay attention to
you. You're valued in the church
00:42:01.18\00:42:04.45
because God calls you into
the body of Christ. Jesus is the
00:42:04.49\00:42:08.32
head. If you have a relationship
with Him, you are part of that
00:42:08.36\00:42:11.76
body and so whether people talk
to you or not, whether people
00:42:11.79\00:42:16.36
pay attention to you or not,
whether people involve you or
00:42:16.40\00:42:21.40
not, it doesn't matter
what negative things people do
00:42:21.44\00:42:25.44
because Jesus is saying look
I've called you to this piece of
00:42:25.47\00:42:28.84
the vineyard, I have a work for
you. I have something to teach
00:42:28.88\00:42:32.98
you and maybe the environment
that's not so favorable now is
00:42:33.01\00:42:36.18
actually perfect
for your development.
00:42:36.22\00:42:38.92
Amen. Well said. You know we've
discussed evangelism, we've
00:42:38.95\00:42:43.89
discussed you know reaching out
and all of that stuff but let's
00:42:43.93\00:42:47.66
take a moment to talk about
inreach. How important is having
00:42:47.70\00:42:51.27
your own
devotional life together?
00:42:51.30\00:42:57.61
The importance
of your personal...
00:42:57.64\00:43:01.24
Yeah, your own
personal devotion.
00:43:01.28\00:43:03.85
Yeah, I was actually reading
something last week where it was
00:43:03.88\00:43:07.98
saying the life of Jesus
actually, His childhood. He had
00:43:08.02\00:43:12.75
unfavorable influences, he
came from poverty, the religious
00:43:12.79\00:43:16.89
leaders were totally just
didn't get it, and He came from
00:43:16.93\00:43:22.40
Nazareth. What good thing can
some out of Nazareth. And she
00:43:22.43\00:43:25.27
says He still lived a life of
complete purity and devotion to
00:43:25.30\00:43:30.04
God and anyone who says I'm
dependent on circumstances, I'm
00:43:30.07\00:43:34.01
dependent on all these external
variables, she says this is a
00:43:34.04\00:43:36.98
rebuke to that. His life is a
rebuke to that. So the personal
00:43:37.01\00:43:41.72
time with God. You don't need
to be doing two hours a day if
00:43:41.75\00:43:45.15
you're not there. Just one step
at a time. You grow with God
00:43:45.19\00:43:49.02
just as a plant grows in the
dirt and you leave the rest up
00:43:49.06\00:43:52.93
to Him. Just one step at a time.
00:43:52.96\00:43:55.76
That's very practical advice,
I like that, I like that.
00:43:55.80\00:43:57.93
Here's the thing, GYC really
encourages that personal time
00:43:57.97\00:44:02.20
with God. It's that personal
time that you take on a daily
00:44:02.24\00:44:05.44
experience so as to keep the
fire going for the rest of your
00:44:05.47\00:44:09.31
life. And listen, the word of
God is not boring. Like you know
00:44:09.34\00:44:13.98
these stories are amazing
stories and so I really want to
00:44:14.02\00:44:17.79
encourage all of us and all
those that may be watching and
00:44:17.82\00:44:20.72
all of those that plan to
come to the conference like our
00:44:20.76\00:44:23.76
personal time is the real part
of Christianity and for us to
00:44:23.79\00:44:28.53
actually have energy to go and
evangelize the Lord we need that
00:44:28.56\00:44:32.27
personal time. Now I'm not
saying you need to have that
00:44:32.30\00:44:35.47
personal time before you start
evangelizing. I'm telling you as
00:44:35.50\00:44:38.41
you evangelize you'll find that
look, I need more personal time
00:44:38.44\00:44:40.98
As I share more bread I need to
get some bread to keep sharing
00:44:41.01\00:44:44.81
some more bread. So I'm
telling you personal time is so
00:44:44.85\00:44:47.52
important.
00:44:47.55\00:44:48.88
Yeah, you can't give what you
don't have. I have an uncle that
00:44:48.92\00:44:52.72
says you don't lead where
you don't go and you don't teach
00:44:52.75\00:44:54.86
what you don't know. And so that
always stuck with me throughout
00:44:54.89\00:44:59.23
the years. A powerful saying
you know. You don't lead where
00:44:59.26\00:45:01.60
you don't go and you don't teach
what you don't know. Why are you
00:45:01.63\00:45:05.57
guys personally excited
about this year's conference?
00:45:05.60\00:45:10.11
So 2020 was pandemic. Like we're
still in that realm but last
00:45:10.14\00:45:20.88
year's conference was more of
a transition you know. A lot of
00:45:20.92\00:45:25.42
researching still. But this
year we're hoping to have a full
00:45:25.45\00:45:31.89
conference, hoping to get out to
the community. We're hoping to
00:45:31.93\00:45:35.13
have as many young people come
together as possible. We can
00:45:35.16\00:45:38.60
really just dig into the
scripture, seek God's face, and
00:45:38.63\00:45:44.31
I'm just really excited for what
God has to offer for those who
00:45:44.34\00:45:49.24
come and the blessing that he
wants to pour out on our lives.
00:45:49.28\00:45:52.75
Amen, amen.
00:45:52.78\00:45:55.32
I'm excited to be in the
presence of thousands of young
00:45:55.35\00:45:57.29
people that want to learn more
about the Lord and want to be
00:45:57.32\00:46:00.69
involved in His service. I'm
excited to fellowship with all
00:46:00.72\00:46:03.63
those who do come and attend.
I'm excited to eat those amazing
00:46:03.66\00:46:06.96
meals that we'll
be having together.
00:46:07.00\00:46:08.33
Now you're speaking my language.
You're talking about the meals.
00:46:08.36\00:46:11.97
What else are you excited about?
00:46:12.00\00:46:13.67
Multiple voices. I'm also
excited about just seeing what
00:46:13.70\00:46:17.74
God will do in the area of
Phoenix. You know this year for
00:46:17.77\00:46:20.38
evangelism GYC we're not only
passing out Great Controversy
00:46:20.41\00:46:23.58
but in the Great Controversy
we actually have this new thing
00:46:23.61\00:46:27.02
this year. We have a GYC
Glow tract. And that Glow tract
00:46:27.05\00:46:31.02
actually goes over Isaiah 58.
It's a beautiful tract and hey
00:46:31.05\00:46:34.99
we won't show any photos of that
tract right now. It's done but
00:46:35.02\00:46:38.09
you need to come for the
conference to see what it looks
00:46:38.13\00:46:40.03
like. But it's an amazing tract
and I'm just excited to see what
00:46:40.06\00:46:43.90
God is going to do in the area
of Phoenix, what God's going to
00:46:43.93\00:46:46.97
do for our young people
who also, come to this lovely
00:46:47.00\00:46:50.07
conference.
00:46:50.11\00:46:51.44
Absolutely. What are some of the
needs of GYC as an organization?
00:46:51.47\00:46:55.48
So you know right now
registration is open and will be
00:46:55.51\00:47:00.42
open all the way until I think
the conference. I probably have
00:47:00.45\00:47:04.49
to double-check on that. But
seeing that we have counsel that
00:47:04.52\00:47:10.46
all should be urged to attend
our camp meetings. This is a
00:47:10.49\00:47:14.36
camp meeting for young people.
Not to take away from the camp
00:47:14.40\00:47:17.87
meetings of other places but in
addition to that. And we really
00:47:17.90\00:47:23.30
hope and pray that as many
as God is moving upon may come
00:47:23.34\00:47:28.54
and in order to come people need
to hear about it and they need
00:47:28.58\00:47:33.15
to be invited. So you
know if anyone is watching this
00:47:33.18\00:47:39.55
broadcast and you may not be
a young person but you know a
00:47:39.59\00:47:43.02
young person or you know of
someone who knows a young person
00:47:43.06\00:47:45.96
I highly encourage you to invite
them to come out to GYC because
00:47:45.99\00:47:50.77
God may have a very important
blessing for them at that place.
00:47:50.80\00:47:55.14
Amen. I know that it has to take
a lot to put this conference
00:47:55.17\00:48:01.81
together. There are a lot of
moving parts, right? You guys
00:48:01.84\00:48:04.25
need volunteers, what are some
needs in that area and also you
00:48:04.28\00:48:09.85
know-how can people support
monetarily if they want to make
00:48:09.88\00:48:12.99
a donation to GYC. Maybe they're
sitting there saying like I love
00:48:13.02\00:48:18.13
what these young people are
doing and how people are on fire
00:48:18.16\00:48:22.40
for the Lord and I want to
support that. Do you guys take
00:48:22.43\00:48:26.53
donations as well.
00:48:26.57\00:48:27.90
Yeah. If someone wants to
volunteer on our website we do
00:48:27.94\00:48:31.37
have a place where you can put
in your information to volunteer
00:48:31.41\00:48:34.51
(GYCweb.org) if you go to
registration. And on our website
00:48:34.54\00:48:38.51
there is a place to donate.
Of course, this is a nonprofit
00:48:38.55\00:48:44.05
ministry, so all of your
donations help us to continue
00:48:44.09\00:48:47.16
the work that God is impressing
upon our hearts and any donation
00:48:47.19\00:48:50.43
that you make is
greatly appreciated.
00:48:50.46\00:48:53.29
And your website is GYCweb.org
00:48:53.33\00:48:56.93
Okay great. Yeah hopefully
volunteers will be mobilized.
00:48:56.97\00:49:03.87
Attendees will be mobilized.
Finances will be mobilized as
00:49:03.91\00:49:08.24
well. And people
will grow in the Lord.
00:49:08.28\00:49:12.21
Just to add onto that. You know
I don't want to be cliché in
00:49:12.25\00:49:15.98
this response but even if you're
planning not to come to GYC we
00:49:16.02\00:49:19.29
want to solicit your prayers for
those couple days. We want to
00:49:19.32\00:49:23.66
solicit your prayers for
the area of Phoenix those couple
00:49:23.69\00:49:27.60
days and I do want to counsel
and even call our church members
00:49:27.63\00:49:31.83
you know, like Brother Andrew
had mentioned you know young
00:49:31.87\00:49:35.70
people that's at your churches.
Whether you may feel your
00:49:35.74\00:49:38.41
donation to GYCweb.org is a
little one I do want to also
00:49:38.44\00:49:42.61
encourage you maybe you and a
couple others can gather up some
00:49:42.64\00:49:47.25
finances and maybe even sponsor
a young person to go to GYC.
00:49:47.28\00:49:51.75
Because really we want the young
people that need to be there to
00:49:51.79\00:49:54.32
be there. And so that's really
what we want. At the end of the
00:49:54.36\00:49:58.49
day we just want to ensure that
all who want to be there are
00:49:58.53\00:50:00.70
there and that they can receive
the blessing that God has for
00:50:00.73\00:50:03.20
them.
00:50:03.23\00:50:04.57
Amen, amen.
00:50:04.60\00:50:05.93
You know lastly, you know
this may sound cliché but your
00:50:05.97\00:50:09.10
prayers, people's prayers,
it moves the hand of God. He's
00:50:09.14\00:50:13.84
already willing to do it but
it brings us into alignment with
00:50:13.88\00:50:17.41
His will. And prayers go out as
sharp sickles into the harvest
00:50:17.45\00:50:20.65
field. So we solicit all your
prayers because we understand
00:50:20.68\00:50:24.95
that we exist in a great
controversy and the one that
00:50:24.99\00:50:29.89
Satan really wants to grab
are the young people before they
00:50:29.92\00:50:32.23
reach their potential in Christ.
So we know that it's also going
00:50:32.26\00:50:35.66
to be a battlefield so all the
prayers are solicited so that
00:50:35.70\00:50:39.00
God can have the greatest impact
in their lives that He desires.
00:50:39.03\00:50:42.90
Yes, amen. Junior, real quick
I want you to recap for us the
00:50:42.94\00:50:48.78
components of
this year's conference.
00:50:48.81\00:50:52.48
Yes really quick, yeah
the components of this year's
00:50:52.51\00:50:53.85
conferences. Study of God's
word prayer as a congregation
00:50:53.88\00:50:58.15
together, evangelizing the
neighborhoods in the lovely city
00:50:58.19\00:51:02.56
of Phoenix and by God's grace
and taking all that we have
00:51:02.59\00:51:06.49
learned and now taking to our
homes and to our churches and
00:51:06.53\00:51:09.53
raising up a generation of young
people that want to see Jesus
00:51:09.56\00:51:13.34
come in the clouds of glory.
00:51:13.37\00:51:15.70
Amen, amen. It's going to be an
exciting conference, a fruitful
00:51:15.74\00:51:21.11
conference and one where a
lot of people are led to Christ.
00:51:21.14\00:51:24.95
Well we're getting ready to take
a short break. We want to show
00:51:24.98\00:51:28.82
you how you can support GYC and
get in touch with them. So we'll
00:51:28.85\00:51:33.42
go to an address roll and a news
break and we'll be right back
00:51:33.46\00:51:36.62
If you would like to contact or
know more about GYC you can do
00:51:36.66\00:51:43.06
so in the following
ways: You can write to them at
00:51:43.10\00:51:45.60
1445 Valleyhigh Dr. NW #6383
Rochester, MN 55903. You can
00:51:45.63\00:51:55.81
call them at (707) 234-5492
You can visit their website at
00:51:55.84\00:52:06.72
GYCweb.org or send them
an email at Office@GYCweb.org
00:52:06.76\00:52:21.00