Generation of Youth for Christ

Generation of Youth for Christ (GYC) formerly the General Youth Conference, is a thriving grassroots youth movement in North America. This youth-initiated and youth-led movement of racially-diverse Seventh-day Adventist young people is radically Bible-based, mission-driven, and church-supporting. It is committed to the “higher than the highest” philosophy of excellence among its members.

Registered as a non-profit organization in the state of Michigan, GYC’s headquarters is currently in Ann Arbor, Michigan. GYC is governed by its board of directors and supported by its official sponsors: Adventist-laymen’s Services and Industries (ASI)[1] and The Center for Adventist Ministry to Public University Students (CAMPUS) – a division of the Michigan Conference Public Campus Ministries department.

The sudden rise, exponential growth, and life-transforming impact of GYC have convinced many observers (including some of its earlier critics) that, indeed, GYC’s unique approach to youth ministry is not only welcome, but demanded by serious young people in North America and in much of the industrialized regions of the world.

However, the growth of GYC has also been greeted with opposition and criticism. Often, a lack of accurate information has led to a misunderstanding, if not a deliberate misinformation, about GYC in certain quarters of the church. Similarly, those who have reasons to oppose what GYC stands for have tried to exploit this lack of knowledge to discredit the movement and all those known to be associated with GYC.

History

Inspiration and Leaders

The idea of GYC was conceived by Israel Ramos, then-student at Andrews University and Justin Kim, then-student at Brandeis University. The vision comprised of a conference where youth people would be trained in Biblical studies and mobilized to do some form of mission-driven evangelism. Emphases were placed on multi-racial diversity, Bible-based-ness, and the youthful culture. Along with other leaders Andrea Oliver from Princeton University, Stephen Waterbrook, Jukes Namm, and Judy Namm from University of Michigan, Jeannie Kim from Brown University, James Kim from Rutgers University, and Janine Kowell from La Sierra University, young people from various parts of the United States sought to create a grassroots movement.

Conferences

• 2002, Pine Springs Ranch, Southeastern California - Theme: “Pentecost: He Will Do It Again”

With a special emphasis on spiritual revival, the first conference anticipated 200 attendees, but registered 400 and had to close registration because the facility was filled to capacity. Its theme reminded young people that what God had done in the past, He would do again. Most of the attendees were from secular universities, a good number of whom had been impacted by CAMPUS. The key speakers included Randy Skeete, Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, Chester Clark, Peter Gregory, Andy Im, Jonathan Zita, and Eugene Prewitt.

• 2003, Ann Arbor, Michigan - Theme: “Higher than the Highest”

Expecting 700, the conference registered 800, and had over 1000 attended. This conference underscored the necessity of excellence in every sphere of a young person’s life and resonated with the idealism of youth. Besides numerical growth, the Ann Arbor GYC was a marked improvement over the first GYC. It also witnessed growth in speaker quality (including sociologist Dr. David Williams from Harvard University, Dr. Jerry Moon from Andrews University Professor, and other respected church leaders such as then-General Conference Education Director Humberto Rasi and Michigan Conference President Jay Gallimore) and growth in missionary-focus, professionalism, and effectiveness.

• 2004, Sacramento, California - Theme: “Carry the Light”

Having registered 1200, attendance exceeded 1800. The subject of evangelism was not merely preached, but pragmatically implemented when 600 young people knocked on the doors of over 5,000 homes and enrolled over 800 people in Bible studies in preparation for ASI’s approaching evangelistic effort. This was the first time GYC meetings were telecast on TV. This publicity by 3ABN, together with the presence of the GC President and other influential church leaders, no doubt caught the attention of world church and others who had in the past tried to dismiss or ignore the GYC phenomenon.

Attendees from Europe, Asia, and Australia, also frustrated by the contemporary and critical youth ministry approaches in their countries, were refreshed by the 2004 Sacramento GYC meeting and expressed a desire of seeing GYC-like movements in their parts of the world. The broadcast of the GYC event overseas further inspired other young people outside North America to start Bible-based, mission-driven, church-supporting approach to youth ministries (instead of the extremes of entertainment-oriented and critical-approaches).

Main Speakers Included:

• David Asscherick, Speaker/Director of the ARISE Institute
• Doug Batchelor, Speaker/Director of Amazing Facts
• Shawn Boonstra, Speaker/Director of It Is Written
• Mark Finley, General Conference Vice President
• Jan Paulsen, General Conference President
• Louis Torres, Speaker/Vice-President of Mission College

• 2005, Chattanooga, Tennessee - Theme: “Now is the Time”

With more than 2500 registered and attendance of about 3500, the theme was designed to call attention to the signs of Christ’s soon return and to encourage attendees to prepare their hearts and earnestly work for His coming. This meeting attracted the largest number of students from Adventist institutions. The impact of this GYC meeting on the students and their glowing report when they returned to school in January may have baffled, if not drawn apprehension, on most North American Adventist campuses.

Main Speakers Included:

• C. D. Brooks, Speaker Emeritus, Breath of Life
• Ron Clouzet, Director of the North American Division Evangelism Institute
• Michael Hasel, Professor, Southern Adventist University
• John Nixon, Senior Pastor, Collegedale Seventh-day Adventist Church
• Cindy Tutsch, Ellen White Estate

• 2006, Baltimore, Maryland - Theme: “By Every Word”

Around 2,600 people registered for the conference, and 4,000 people attended the Sabbath morning services. On Sabbath afternoon, the attendees took part in a massive outreach opportunity where they knocked on 8,950 doors, prayed with 894 people, distributed 7,538 Bible study cards, and signed up 719 people for Bible studies. These contacts were followed up by 4 dedicated GYC Bible workers, who also conducted lay Bible Workers’ training at local churches over a period of 7 week. This was followed by an evangelistic series conducted by GYC young people in collaboration with the Chesapeake Conference. More than 200 lay Bible Workers were trained and about 40 souls were baptized.

In his plenary address at the GYC meeting, a Vice-President of the General Conference (Ted Wilson) encouraged GYC to continue with its noble mission and urged them to “work closely” with the church. His message should be understood against the backdrop of the discussions that had taken place at the “GYC Advisory” and GYC’s “Statement of Intent.” (see below) NAD Youth Director (James Black) was present on Friday evening, and on during the Sabbath morning Divine Service, he brought his special greetings to the GYC attendees.

• 2007, Minneapolis, Minnesota - Theme: “Be” (shortened form of “Be ye transformed,” Romans 12:2)

It focused on salvation and what it means to be a real Christian. Because of scheduling problems with the convention center, the date for this Minneapolis GYC meeting coincided with examination week for many students. But although a low turn-out was expected because of the timing of the event and the extremely cold Winter weathers in Minneapolis, some 3000 young people attended and braved the harsh weather for the outdoor evangelism outreach.

• 2008, San Jose, California - Theme: "For This Purpose"

Statement of Clarification

The General Conference Youth Ministries Department issued a "Clarification Statement Regarding General Youth Conference (GYC)" following the World Youth Advisory meeting in March/April 2006. It affirmed GYC's involvement in evangelism yet was "concerned" that some were under the impression it was authorized by the General Conference Youth Ministries Department because of its "close name association". GYC subsequently released its own statement.

Statement of Intent

On August 3, 2006, GC/NAD officials met with GYC/ASI leaders to discuss the substantive issues raised by the two documents. This group eventually became the GYC Advisory Committee. A Statement of Intent was sent and accepted by GYC to this committee stating their intentions to further a solidified relationship between the two entities. GYC agreed to change its name from the General Youth Conference to the Generation of Youth for Christ in order to prevent confusions in nomenclature as well as work within operational standards of the church by becoming an organizational member of ASI.

Spirit of GYC

As the heartbeat of this youth-initiated and youth-led movement, all GYC participants and attendees are expected to uphold and exhibit the values expressed in The Spirit of GYC statement. It reads:

“In seeking to uphold the distinctive message of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, GYC will promote among its participants:

• 1) A respect for Scripture—as the foundation and test of all teachings and practices;
• 2) An appreciation for the Spirit of Prophecy—as an authoritative source of instruction, comfort, and warning;
• 3) A quest for Biblical holiness—through a daily prayer and devotional experience with Jesus and a commitment to following His Word;
• 4) A vibrant worship experience—one that is characterized by principle, reverence, and decorum;
• 5) A passion for lost souls—animated by personal experience in the saving love of Jesus and a desire for His imminent return;
• 6) A cultivation of godly relationships—preserving purity and encouraging accountability;
• 7) An exemplary and abundant lifestyle—in recreation, entertainment, dress, and healthful living;
• 8) An enthusiasm for service—through care for the needy, service to the community, promotion of human rights, and stewardship of the environment;
• 9) A commitment to the Seventh-day Adventist Church as God’s remnant church—by supporting and upholding its principles, organization, and leadership;
• 10) An attitude of humility and cordiality—as we seek to clarify, articulate, and defend the Biblical teachings of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.”

Board of Directors

• Justin McNeilus--Chairman, Vice President, Sterling State Bank
• Amy Sheppard--Secretary, CAMPUS Missionary
• Tom Owiti--Treasurer, Senior Financial Analyst, Kellogg Company
• Luke Whiting, Registered Nurse, Chattanooga, Tennessee
• Justin Kim, Pastor, Battle Creek, Michigan
• Chester V. Clark III, General Vice President, ASI
• Samuel Koranteng-Pipim, Ph.D., Director, Michigan Conference Public Campus Ministries
• Timothy Arakawa, MD-Ph.D. Student, Loma Linda University
• John Chung, MD, Physician, Dalton, Georgia
• Jay Gallimore, President, Michigan Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
• Ray Hamblin, President & CEO, The Hamblin Company
• Andrea Oliver, Esq, Judicial Law Clerk, New Jersey Judiciary
• Michael Orlich, MD, Academic Dean, Weimar College
• Alan Parker, Ph.D., Professor of Religion, Southern Adventist University
• Magda Rodriguez, Professor, Ouachita Hills College
• Israel Ramos, Pastor, Houghton, Michigan
• Janice Watson, Former Professor of Communication, Andrews University

See also

• Australia Youth Conference

External links

• Official website