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Jesus Is the Way, the Truth, and the Life

A report on the 2008 Youth and Young Adult Ministries Leadership Summit held in Dallas, Texas.

By Ashley Batiste
The 2008 Youth and Young Adult Ministries Leadership Summit in Dallas, Texas, creatively instilled a powerful truth into the minds of all who attended: Jesus truly is the way, the truth, and the life. Right smack dab in the heart of downtown Dallas, Seventh-day Adventists from all over the globe came together to learn and discuss how to make youth and young adult ministries more dynamic. This four-day event was all about enhancing the way youth leaders interact with the church of tomorrow.
The atmosphere in the Adam’s Mark Hotel, where the event took place, buzzed with excitement, joy, and revelation. You could see God’s presence in the youth, the pastors, the conference leaders, and the Pathfinder club leaders who attended. You could feel God’s presence throughout the programming, from the midnight café all the way to the movie discussions.
It was refreshing to start each day of the summit by looking out over a field of daisies and breathing in their sweet aroma. Prayer made up the foundation for the summit. Early each morning Dwain Esmond, editor of Insight magazine, led worshippers to talk to God and lift up their brothers and sisters in Christ.
Praise and worship added to that firm foundation of early-morning prayer. Worshippers lifted up the mighty name of Jesus through music. Each day Andrews University’s praise team joyfully led choruses of heavenly music. Other groups, such as Vocal Union and Dynamic Praise, also led worship in song. God’s children felt Him near during the fantastic praise and worship time. Then Ben Lundquist, Eddie Hypolite, and Ann Roda all offered powerful, eye-opening sermons to the congregation. Their messages enabled attendees to see Jesus as the only way, the real truth, and the one life.
Throughout the summit seminar presenters taught leaders new and dynamic ways to minister to young people, and they taught young people how to deal with life’s issues.
Ronald Coleman, a young person, remarked, “I liked the fact that the workshops and the speakers dealt with real issues, not just doctrine.”
“Strong,” “spirited,” and “on fire for God” were descriptions used for the North American Division 2008 Distinguished Youth Award winners who were honored at the summit. The winners came from all across North America to be recognized for their work for the Lord. They were:
• Vincent Essix from the Southwest Region Conference in the Southwestern Union Conference
• Mykel Matthews from the Lake Region Conference in the Lake Union Conference
• Phillip Cameron from the South Atlantic Conference in the Southern Union Conference
• Ashley Batiste from the Southern California Conference in the Pacific Union Conference
• Kristen Vogler from the Southern New England Conference in the Atlantic Union Conference
• Stephanie Lopez from the Texas Conference in the Southwestern Union Conference
• Mary Erickson from the Dakota Conference in the Mid-America Union Conference
• Amanda Whitlow from the New York Conference in the Atlantic Union Conference
• Aaron Horne from the Allegheny West Conference in the Columbia Union Conference
• Krista Medina from the Northern New England Conference in the Atlantic Union Conference
• Sara Blount from the Gulf States Conference in the Southern Union Conference
• Kherian Kirton from Ontario and the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Canada
 On Sabbath morning all honorees were invited to breakfast with Elder James Black, director of North American Division Youth, Pathfinder, Adventurer, and Camp Ministries. During the church service they were awarded plaques in front of those present and those watching on the Hope Channel from around the world.
The 2008 Youth and Young Adult Ministries Leadership Summit was definitely an amazing event for all who attended!

Ashley Batiste is a senior at Valley Christian High School in Cerritos, California. She enjoys writing, playing the flute and piano, shopping, reading, and singing in her church’s youth choir. She writes from Carson, California.