Save the Date - Sabbath, March 16, 2019
PHILOSPHY
With the support of GC Administration and the 13 Division youth directors, MENA and the Israel field, “Global Youth Day” was launched on March 13, 2013. GYD is a God is the pursuit of a vision to recapture the reality of Seventh-day youth as a global movement, mobilized for service to contribute in the proclamation of the everlasting gospel and usher in the second coming of Jesus Christ.
The philosophy of GYD is grounded in one of Jesus’s most well-known parable, namely the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10. Two religious leaders, a priest and a Levite, on their way to the synagogue, indifferently pass by a beaten up man who has been left for dead by the side of the road. In fact, they make a course correction, cross to the other side of the road, positioning themselves as far as they could from the neighbour in need. They were so busy “going to church” that they had no time for the needy.
It is ironic that it is the third passerby, a so-called ‘irreligious’ Samaritan who took pity on the stranger, went to him, bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine; he then put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him until he was completely healed. Jesus, the master, teaches us that there is a lot more to religious faith than simply “going to church” and listening to sermons. The true practice of religion involves the revelation of God’s love in being the hands and the feet of Jesus through all manners of acts of kindness and pointing a desperately needy world to the ultimate hope of a better world.
Grounded in the concluding words of Jesus in the parable of the Good Samaritan, “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:25-37), the theme of the Global Youth Day is
“BE THE SERMON”
GYD is a Sabbath when Seventh-day Youth around the world are challenged to “Be the Sermon” instead of simply listening to one more sermon. Eight million Adventist youths are mobilized on the streets of our villages, towns, and cities around the world to be the hands and feet of Jesus through acts of kindness. GYD is scheduled on the first Sabbath of the youth week of prayer for most parts of the world.
It is our dream that instead of simply being a Sabbath dedicated to service, GYD will be a springboard to service as a way of life. On GYD, leaders are encouraged to choose projects that are potentially sustainable.
On GYD, the sense of a global community is created as young people report their acts of kindness by posting their ‘love in action’ on the GYD face book page or GYD app; their stories are told to the rest of the world via a 24 hour live broadcast. YouthWebApp
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of Global Youth Day are to:
1. Recapture the reality of the Seventh-day Adventist Youth as a Global Movement;
2. Lead our youth to rediscover the sense of belonging to that global movement;
3. Reposition Mission at the heart of Global Youth Ministry;
4. Embrace service as a way of life.
PROPHETIC COUNSEL
Christ's method alone will give true success in reaching the people. The Saviour mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence. Then He bade them, "Follow Me."--Ministry of Healing, p. 143.
It is no violation of the Sabbath to perform works of necessity, as ministering to the sick or aged, and relieving distress. Such works are in perfect harmony with the Sabbath law. Our great Exemplar was ever active upon the Sabbath, when the necessities of the sick and suffering came before Him. The Pharisees, because of this, accused Him of Sabbath breaking, as do many ministers today who are in opposition to the law of God. But we say, Let God be true, and every man a liar who dares make this charge against the Saviour. {BLJ 152.2}
STRATEGY
On Sabbath, March 21, 2015, youth will hear one less sermon in the morning. THEY will be the sermon. They will step out of the building to be the Church and reach out in the name of Jesus.
There will be six elements to Global Youth Day:
1. Young people from local churches, regions, or Conferences/Missions will meet for a time of consecration before spending the best part of Sabbath reaching out in local communities.
2. They will be involved in Sabbath friendly acts of kindness that will have been chosen and planned for in advance.
3. To provide a focus for the day after their diverse acts of kindness, youths around the world are encouraged to donate blood as the symbol of the ultimate life-saving act of compassion.
4. To complete the day’s activities, young people will congregate in their local churches, regions, or Conferences/Missions for a time of worship and sharing of experiences to mark the beginning of the Week of Prayer.
5. Youths around the world will be connected through technology and live coverage as stories light up the world progressively through the different time zones.
6. A specially designed T-shirt will provide identification with the global initiative.
Global Youth Day is an annual event. Global Youth Day will reposition youth at the centre of the Church’s life and Mission. It has the potential of being the dawn of youth ministry’s finest hour.
globalyouthday.org | facebook.com/adventistglobalyouthday