The start of each new year brings hope and promise to any ministry, and Younger Generation Church has launched into 2026 with grand ambitions for expanding the Kingdom for Christ’s glory.
PASSION CONFERENCE 2026
Over 50 YGers joined with over 40,000 collegians from around the world convening for Passion Conference 2026 at Globe Life Field. For a decade and a half, YG has collaborated with Passion to inspire students “to glorify God by uniting in worship, prayer and justice for spiritual awakening in their generation.”
“From the inception of Passion, God connected their story to the confession found in Isaiah 26:8, specifically the last phrase which says, “For your name and renown are the desire of our souls.” The heart of Passion is God’s glory, and God is most glorified in us when we live lives that are fully satisfied in Him.” —Passion Conferences
YOUNG ADULT LIFE EXPERIENCE
Younger Generation Church then sent their transformation team to the North American Division’s [NAD] Young Adult LIFE Experience, held in Louisville, Kentucky, where they engaged with ministry colleagues, NAD administrators, and church leaders from across the United States, Canada, Bermuda, Micronesia, and Guam.
“In young adult ministry, it is super important that we continue to innovate forward and not just continue doing what we have been doing,” admonished Dr. Tracy Wood, Director, NAD Youth & Young Adult Ministries, “We must keep pushing outward beyond our natural limits to connect with young adults in ways that will speak their language and connect in their world.”
The experience awakened an urgency for YG’s transformation team as to the responsibility they have towards not only our local faith community, but also to the Adventist denomination as a whole. Dreams and visions of the future of YG were sparked as the team engaged the weekend and others who share a passion for emerging adults.
NAD EHUDDLE
What began in 2015 as a gathering of conference presidents and evangelism directors to share best practices has grown into an annual event drawing pastors, elders, and church leaders from across the North American Division (NAD). This year, for the first time, the gathering also included 25 theology students, reflecting the NAD’s growing focus on equipping NextGen leaders. From Feb. 23-25, 2026, nearly 500 participants gathered in Houston, Texas for the largest-ever eHuddle, where they heard concise, high-impact presentations highlighting evangelism efforts already bearing fruit and initiatives designed for continued impact. Thousands more watched online. —Lori Futcher, NAD NewsPoints
In her YG LIFEgroup best practice presentation, Deirdre Rivera-Martin, BSN, RN, in candor confessed to sleepwalking in her salvation until the Holy Spirit roused her during the pandemic. Awakened to a renewed love affair with GOD, this admitted introvert was coaxed by the Holy Spirit to not only deepen her heart exploration of the Scripture, but to do the unthinkable — spark a LIFEgroup revolution in her church and community.
Deirdre introduced FLOURISH at eHuddle and its mission to foster discipleship pathways for Bible literacy and Heart intelligence. She testified to the life changing bonds curated on the digital landscape and Jesus’ desire for all to experience Him beyond head knowledge.
Baptism is not the end goal, but that “yes” opens the pathway to an eternal love affair. Deirdre elaborated:
“The goal is simple but radical:
To live beyond the “yes” — a life of continually falling in love with Him.
Not just instruction… not just encouragement…
Rather practical, hands-on guidance that turns head knowledge into a heart living out their ‘YES.’”
In collaboration with the NAD Ministerial Department and NextGen Pastors initiative, Younger Generation Church hosted a dinner for young adult and young professional attendees of eHuddle. Students from SWAU, WAU, SAU, including Pastor Ruben and Heather Najera, were among the young adults who enjoyed the fellowship and the Italian fare.
YG ELDER INDUCTION
“[At Younger Generation Church], we have launched internship, residency, and apprenticeship initiatives in which YG engages with youth and young adults in both ministry mentoring and vocational discipleship.” —Discipling Young Adults: A Ministry Manifesto, Ministry Magazine
Our Arlington Adventist Elders have mentored and vetted our second set of YG Elders in Training [EITs], and we are pleased to have installed and dedicated them as YG Elders this quarter.
It is exciting and inspiring the passion and spiritual maturity of these young adults as they take on the mission and leadership of YG in very practical and impactful ways.
GODENCOUNTERS 2026:
WORSHIP HOW YOU’RE WIRED
At the turn of the century, young adults passionate about pursuing a 24/7 experience of GOD called the emerging generations to recklessly seek an authentic, wholehearted relationship with Christ Jesus. Today that passion continues with the GODencounters Conference, inviting all to spend the whole Sabbath worshiping in Spirit and in Truth.
The past 15 years, Younger Generation Church has hosted GODencounters, this year inviting GODfollowers to worship how they are wired. Canyon Creek Project Lead Pastor, Peter Casillas, was the featured presenter throughout the weekend which inspired all ages, led by our YG young adults.
The GODencounters weekend centered on one of YG’s favorite passages:
So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. –Romans 12:1-2 [Message]
HALAL: THE PRAISE CONTINUES
Closing the Sabbath and culminating GODencounters was HALAL: The Praise Continues providing a inspiration and uplifting worship expression for all.
In the Hebrew language, Halal means to "Celebrate extravagantly."
Root of the word “hallelujah” which means “praise (halla) to jah (God)”. Expresses joy, jubilation and celebration. To shine, to flash forth light, to boast. This is a word picture designed for us to imagine just how magnificent and brilliantly bright God is. Worthy of being boasted about. One of the meanings also references acting wildly like a madman! That’s how awesome (inspiring, terrific, EXTRAORDINARY) our God is. To see this level of glory and magnificence elicits an extraordinary response.
The vision of YG Mentoring Elder, Dr. Kisha Norris, HALAL: The Praise Continues has quickly become a cherished worship experience in only it’s second showing.
RODEO STAMPEDE RACE 5/10K
Then UTA collegian, Deborah Estrada thought it would be fun to do a 5K with her Younger Generation Church family. She pitched it to YG Shark Tank and next thing we know there’s firecrackers belt buckles and Bigfoot.
With over 40 participants in their most recent outing to Rodeo Stampede Race Series in Fort Worth, there are plans for more races in the future.
HE SAID GO EXPERIENCE
YG Worship was invited to lead at HeSaidGoXP, a 3-day experience bringing those passionate about missions together to grow in faith, service, and inspiration. Throughout the weekend, mission opportunities were explored, connections were made, and we grew together as we learned what it means to answer the call to go. From powerful messages to new friendships and hands-on mission work, the weekend was filled with meaningful experiences.
“We could not have done this without the YG Worship team lead by Melody and Kellany,” lauded Pastor Leah Jordache, Associate Director of the NAD Office of Volunteer Ministry [OVM] and organizer of HeSaidGoXP. “They listened carefully to what we wanted to create and brought it to fruition with excellence, professionalism and depth.”
“Being the first event planned by our current OVM team, we were grateful to work with seasoned professionals who knew what to do and worked well with our production team,” continued Pastor Jordache. “The worship was Spirit-led and meaningful and was the perfect compliment to our mission of inspiring people to embrace God’s calling to service.”
DEEPENING THE DEVOTION OF NEXT GENERATIONS TO JESUS
While it certainly was not our intent for YG to hurl itself with such ministry force into 2026, we are very proud that our leaders, mentors, and young adults were able to rise to the occasion and as opportunity presented itself.
This further solidifies the necessity for YG’s Transformation Team to give serious and visionary consideration to the future of Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church’s vibrant young adult ministry.
We solicit your prayers as we begin in earnest examining YG’s opportunities and vision casting into the next decade and beyond; Being attentive to the Holy Spirit’s leading and the call of Christ.
