Worship is a powerful expression of their mission at Younger Generation Church [YG]. From their beginnings at YG, hearts of young adults have always been drawn to GOD as they corporately sing love songs to Him. An authentic heart of worship has been one of YG’s signatures through the years as they have gathered for corporate worship.
For over 15 years, YG has been worshiping on stage, inviting all generations to join in worshiping Jesus. Over the past decade, this vibrant young adult ministry has expanded it’s global reach by faithfully broadcasting their worship experience over the internet.
Even with the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic, including a period of no in-person worship in order to guard public health, YG has continued to faithfully gather worshipers to give GOD glory—week by week, even if only on the digital landscape.
So one might imagine YG’s thrill at being asked by General Conference of Seventh-day Adventist Youth Ministries to lead worship as part of Global Youth Day 2021 [#GYD21]. Although YG artists and musicians have participated over the years in many venues, stadiums, and large gatherings to lead worship, this would be the first time to do so from their home stage for tens of thousands of Adventist young people around the world.
Taking part live from Arlington, Texas, USA, and broadcasting LIVE via three kickoff programs sent to various countries around the world, #GYD21 would be a great honor and monumental opportunity for YG to be on the world stage via their home turf.
However, in the wake of Storm Uri which froze most of Texas, YG discovered that flood damage to their church facility extended to portions of their main worship venue. Frozen fire sprinkler pipes had burst and water flooded out walls along the front of the church as well as beneath the stage where much of the electrical for broadcasting lay. Literally days before #GYD21, the stage that was to be the live platform for leading worship, now needed to be completely gutted out.
What would have deterred many groups became a rallying point for YG supported by all the ministries of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church, their home congregation. UG Youth, the teen ministry of their church gladly accommodated the need for an alternative venue. Arlington’s media ministry worked fervently to adapt to the new challenges. YG worship artists and musicians, flexed their schedules to prepare for #GYD21 and to serve the needs of the world church.
It’s been said, “God’s never early, God’s never late—God is always just on time.” What could have been unexpected and disastrous to the participation of YG in the #GYD21 broadcast plans became an incredible opportunity to display the resilience and faithfulness of young adults and youth to fulfill their mission to worship no matter the circumstance.
In the end, Global Youth Day 2021 went forward broadcasting literally around the world, encouraging tens of thousands of young people to be the hands and feet and heart of Jesus to their communities, villages, neighborhoods, and cities. And Younger Generation Church had the honor of leading worship for their worldwide Adventist family.
“Thank you for making #GYD21 happen here at the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists! We couldn’t have done it without you,” heralded the @GCYouth team. “Thank you Younger Generation Church! Thank you for saying “I WILL GO,” and leading us all in worship. . . Many blessings as you continue to empower our youth in God’s mission!”