Vision Lived Out

When Younger Generation Church celebrated it’s 15th anniversary, we were filled with gratitude for all GOD had done over the decade and a half of vibrant young adult ministry and how the ministry had expanded over the years. While relishing the past, YG aspired towards the future and what it might hold, casting a bold vision:

“In this new decade of Younger Generation Church, we aspire to overflow Jesus Christ beyond our four walls—blessing our community, transforming our world.”

At the time we had no idea a worldwide pandemic was about to ensue. We didn’t have a clue about what the future held, except that the GOD we served had been faithful in the past and we were passionate about deepening our devotion to Him.

What we didn’t realize then was that “overflowing beyond our four walls” was not just a lofty aspiration; In the months to come, it would become a kingdom necessity. During a global pandemic, in the midst of racial unrest, political turmoil, loss of lives, and rampant emotional anguish, YG would be tested to see if it would be simply relegated to a weekend religious program or if it indeed was something more.

In the first portion of Proverbs 29:18, we read, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of the full passage is quite telling and relevant:

If people can’t see what God is doing,
they stumble all over themselves;
But when they attend to what he reveals,
they are most blessed.

When it comes to foresight, merely living out our own “vision” is myopic and extremely short sighted. Even our best efforts to aspire to lofty goals falls dramatically short if propelled merely by human endeavors. If this time of historic worldwide crisis has taught us anything, my hope is that we have been humbled by our evident limitations and become more respectful and aware of our desperate need of GOD. In the midst of all of this, I’ve discovered a deep dependence on GOD, but moreover I have found Him to be so very good.

I truly believe the vision Younger Generation Church articulated a couple of years ago was and is a GOD-sized vision. Taking a Sabbath to reflect on where GOD has brought us so far, what He has done through YG is nothing short of miraculous. I give Him praise for His faithfulness. As shared in Jeremiah 29:11,

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

Our YG young adults are influencers locally but also globally. Younger Generation Church is honored to partner with local conferences, Adventist Unions across the North American Division, and globally with the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists. We have collegians in Adventist as well as public colleges and universities around the world; our young professionals are networking with their peers globally, all deepening their devotion to Christ Jesus. YG is in collaboration with all the various ministries of our church, but also with national and global entities including Adventist Christian Fellowship, Growing Young Adventists, Adventist Young Professionals, AdventHealth, and Global Youth Day.

The lyrics of Bethel’s Goodness of GOD ring true:

I love You, Lord
Oh Your mercy never fails me
All my days, I've been held in Your hands
From the moment that I wake up
Until I lay my head
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God

I love Your voice
You have led me through the fire
And in darkest night You are close like no other
I've known You as a Father
I've known You as a Friend
And I have lived in the goodness of God, yeah

And all my life You have been faithful, ohh
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I will sing of the goodness of God, yeah

'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now
I give You everything
'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me, oh-ohh
'Cause Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
Your goodness is running after, it's running after me
With my life laid down, I'm surrendered now
I give You everything
'Cause Your goodness is running after, it keeps running after me

And all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
I'm gonna sing, I'm gonna sing
'Cause all my life You have been faithful
And all my life You have been so, so good
With every breath that I am able
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God
Oh, I'm gonna sing of the goodness of God

As we journey through the rest of the decade, may we find GOD’s vision ever beckoning us into deeper dependence on Him. May we discover that His overflowing grace is more than enough for us, it is exceeding more than we could ever imagine or hope for—it’s abundance compels us to share it generously. May we experience GOD’s faithfulness through the fire, reminding us again, and again, and again—He is so good.

—A. Allan Martin, PhD