Text, photo, and video by Monsi A. Serrano
The biggest simultaneous gathering of young Christians around the world dubbed, Jesus Global Youth Day (JGYD) 2019, kicked off its three-day celebration in the Philippines at the Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena, Pasay City yesterday, August 8.
The youth conference, the first of its kind in the international community of Christian youth, aims to spur Gen Z and millennials to love Christ, live committed, and lead change through the message of the Gospel and the love of Jesus Christ.
Speakers from around the world converge here to share their insights on different topics such as leadership, evangelism, and missions, worship, discipleship, and campus ministry through the various plenary sessions. There will also be worship festivals every evening led by celebrated Christian bands and artists.
One of the highlights of the event is a sharing from popular evangelist and founder of Life Without Limbs, Nick Vujicic who will lead the main session in the evening.
Renowned Australian worship band Planetshakers is also headlining the event and scheduled to cap off the first day of the event with a praise and worship session.
Aside from the main activities happening in MOA Arena, local JGYD celebrations will be happening at the same time in Laoag, Ilocos Norte; San Fernando City in La Union; and the provinces of Pampanga, Quezon, Cebu, and Rizal, among others.
Also, about 400 JGYD events will unfold in different countries worldwide.
Pastors can look forward to the Global Pastors Congress on the Next Generation happening on the afternoon of the first day. Youth leaders can join the Global Youth Leader Congress on the second day.
Baldwin, Luce and Samuel Dhinakaran, said to be one of the most prolific voices to the young generation in India, join Vujicic as speakers for the main session on the first day.
Ron Allen Luce, CEO of Generation Next and co-chairman of the Jesus Global Youth Day global advisory council, joins the speakers for the Global Pastors Congress on the Next Generation. The congress also features Mats-Ola Ishoel, senior pastor of the Word of Life megachurch in Moscow, Russia; Opoku-Onyinah, a Ghanaian theologian, minister, televangelist and chair of the renowned Church of Pentecost in Ghana; Stephen Andrew Baldwin, founder of Breakthrough Ministry, Antioch Ministry and Now More Than Ever Ministry; Jason Lozano, pastor of Freedom Christian Center in California; and Russell Evans, senior pastor of the Planetshakers Church in Melbourne, Australia.
Dr. Paul Enenche, senior pastor and founder of Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Abuja, Nigeria and regarded as one of the most-exciting preachers and leaders in all of Africa, joins Luce as the speaker for the main session on the second day.
The congress speakers for the second day include Bryce Manderfield, founder and president of Youth Solutions Inc., Luce and Dhinakaran.
The third day will see Nick Hall, visionary of Together, author of the book Reset, and the founder and chief communicator for PULSE, leading the main session for the final day of the conference.
American Christian musician and guitarist Austin Adamec, together with Planetshakers, will be performing on the first day. Adamec will perform again on the second day and will be joined by American music label and worship ministry Bethel Music and the internationally known Christian praise and worship band Miel San Marcos. Adamec and Bethel will once again perform on the third day with Sheldon Bangera, one of the most widely sought-after worship leaders in India.
Jesus Global Youth Day 2019 is presented by the World Evangelical Alliance, Generation Next, TBN Networks, Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches and Philippines for Jesus Movement.
Amid the evolving challenges, the youth face is the need to encourage them to be catalysts of change for the next generation. Local churches and organizations can take part by sending their pastors, staff, disciple-makers, youth frontrunners and leaders to the different learning sessions, youth engagements and worship celebrations.
The holding of the first-ever JGYD coincides with the United Nations International Youth Day in August.
Prior to this momentous gathering, several week-long Youth Mission Immersions (YMI) for international youth groups will be held in the Greater Manila Area.
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