The four-day Youth Congress was held at Spicer Memorial College in Pune and brought together Adventist youth from across India after a 14-year gap. The theme was "Inspire to Serve" and prominent speakers addressed topics like reading the Bible, zeal for God, relationships, and serving humanity. Activities included worship, testimonies, baptism, concerts, and discussions. The event helped strengthen faith and provided an opportunity for youth to connect with others from different backgrounds who share their faith.

1. Youth Congress 2014Youth Congress 2014
Inspire to ServeInspire to Serve

2. Youth Congress 2014Youth Congress 2014
 Conducted after a gap ofConducted after a gap of
14 years.14 years.
 Held at Spicer MemorialHeld at Spicer Memorial
College, Pune.College, Pune.
 4-day event-from 304-day event-from 30
April, 2014 to May 3,April, 2014 to May 3,
2014.2014.
 Theme – Inspire to serveTheme – Inspire to serve
 Prominent Speakers-Ps.Prominent Speakers-Ps.
Gary James, GilbertGary James, Gilbert
Cangy and JonathanCangy and Jonathan
Tejel (PK)Tejel (PK)

3. Day # 1Day # 1
 Registration, meeting new/old friends, sermons, march past,Registration, meeting new/old friends, sermons, march past,
inaugural speech, torch lighting, flag hoisting, night devotion.inaugural speech, torch lighting, flag hoisting, night devotion.
 Got to meet some Punjabi Adventists (on the right)Got to meet some Punjabi Adventists (on the right)

4. At the marchAt the march
past venuepast venue
Me, and DorothyMe, and Dorothy

6. Day #2Day #2
 Sermons, mission reports (video), etc.Sermons, mission reports (video), etc.
 Learned about OYiM (One year inLearned about OYiM (One year in
mission)-Encourages youth to give one yearmission)-Encourages youth to give one year
of their life to the work of God.of their life to the work of God.
 Project Nehemiah-Working towardsProject Nehemiah-Working towards
rebuilding and reestablishing church whichrebuilding and reestablishing church which
is spiritually and structurally dead.is spiritually and structurally dead.
 Small group ministry- My topic (RiskSmall group ministry- My topic (Risk
management in youth ministry). Safetymanagement in youth ministry). Safety
program and officers in church.program and officers in church.
 Night devotion- Gary James onNight devotion- Gary James on
relationships. Difference between datingrelationships. Difference between dating
and courting. Friendship, courting andand courting. Friendship, courting and
marriage; systemic steps towards a piousmarriage; systemic steps towards a pious
and healthy relationship.and healthy relationship.
 Taught us an action song-’If you wanna beTaught us an action song-’If you wanna be
a Christian for Jesus bring your Bibles anda Christian for Jesus bring your Bibles and
come.’come.’

7. Day #3Day #3
 How to read Bible (making itHow to read Bible (making it
interesting and fun yetinteresting and fun yet
maintaining its sanctity)-maintaining its sanctity)-
Jonathan TejelJonathan Tejel
 Searching the scripturesSearching the scriptures
compared to looking for goldcompared to looking for gold
nuggets in the sand.nuggets in the sand.
 Read, study and write theRead, study and write the
portions, understood, notportions, understood, not
understood.understood.
 Ask God’s guidance, read theAsk God’s guidance, read the
passage at least 3 times, givepassage at least 3 times, give
title, choose your favorite verse,title, choose your favorite verse,
do cross reference, writedo cross reference, write
difficult portions you encounterdifficult portions you encounter
so you can get back to it,so you can get back to it,
ascertain what God has spokenascertain what God has spoken
to you through the verse andto you through the verse and
apply.apply.

8. ZealousZealous
 Zeal for GodZeal for God
means- to havemeans- to have
passion for God.passion for God.
 Hebrews 11:5-ByHebrews 11:5-By
faith Enoch wasfaith Enoch was
translated…translated…
 Walking with GodWalking with God
means pleasingmeans pleasing
God in everythingGod in everything
we do.we do.
 As Adventist weAs Adventist we
should be zealousshould be zealous
to know andto know and
follow the truthfollow the truth
and carry it acrossand carry it across
to the people weto the people we
come across.come across.

9. Brief Interview with Hope ChannelBrief Interview with Hope Channel

10. Dinner at Dr.Dinner at Dr.
Eileen’s houseEileen’s house

11. Day #4Day #4
 Sabbath School lesson study-Sabbath School lesson study-
Onstage discussionOnstage discussion
comprising of 4 to 5 people.comprising of 4 to 5 people.
 Praise and worship-2-minutePraise and worship-2-minute
testimony.testimony.
 Divine Service – PastorDivine Service – Pastor
Gilbert Cangy, ‘the parableGilbert Cangy, ‘the parable
of unfair God.’-If Godof unfair God.’-If God
would have dealt with us inwould have dealt with us in
the way we deserve, wethe way we deserve, we
would have been doomed,would have been doomed,
but instead he has dealt usbut instead he has dealt us
with mercy and kindness.with mercy and kindness.
 Afternoon-Baptism, Concert.Afternoon-Baptism, Concert.
 Evening-Closure.Evening-Closure.
 Cultural programs.Cultural programs.

12. These are differently-abled girls who
cannot hear or speak and performed a
heart-touching choreography despite
their inability to hear the music.
Three people got baptized. It was amazingly
striking to see where the baptismal tank was


13.  Met people with HinduMet people with Hindu
background trying to know andbackground trying to know and
follow the truth.follow the truth.
 A gentleman from HaryanaA gentleman from Haryana
 Have been keeping Sabbath forHave been keeping Sabbath for
8 months.8 months.
 Biggest challenge-Parents areBiggest challenge-Parents are
against.against.
Wants to follow the truth and notWants to follow the truth and not
traditions of his family.traditions of his family.

14. God’s kindness through His people who serve God by servingGod’s kindness through His people who serve God by serving
humanity. It’s a blessing to be a part of Adventist family.humanity. It’s a blessing to be a part of Adventist family.

15. The youth congress was a blessingThe youth congress was a blessing
to me as it not only was ato me as it not only was a
spiritually-elevating experience, butspiritually-elevating experience, but
it also gave me a platform to meetit also gave me a platform to meet
lot of Adventist youth from aroundlot of Adventist youth from around
the country. I got to meet peoplethe country. I got to meet people
with similar faith but differentwith similar faith but different
backgrounds and different stories.backgrounds and different stories.
People were curious to know whatPeople were curious to know what
motivates me to love Christ despitemotivates me to love Christ despite
me being on a wheelchair andme being on a wheelchair and
coming from a Hindu background.coming from a Hindu background.
It was an opportunity for me toIt was an opportunity for me to
bear testimony of God’s love in mybear testimony of God’s love in my
life.life.
It was a God-send opportunity forIt was a God-send opportunity for
me and I would encourage moreme and I would encourage more
people to join the event when heldpeople to join the event when held
next to connect to God and to onenext to connect to God and to one
another.another.

16. Adventist Youth LyricsAdventist Youth Lyrics
Searching for an answerSearching for an answer
Asking helping handsAsking helping hands
Look inside we have a mission for todayLook inside we have a mission for today
Jesus showed us the wayJesus showed us the way
To loveTo love
Love, care, and serveLove, care, and serve
Let's make a differenceLet's make a difference
Lift up your voice and just take a standLift up your voice and just take a stand
Love, care, and serveLove, care, and serve
Witness the wondersWitness the wonders
God can achieve when we testifyGod can achieve when we testify
Love, care, and serve for himLove, care, and serve for him
Jesus came to show us the way to serveJesus came to show us the way to serve
Giving his precious lifeGiving his precious life
He forgave and saved asHe forgave and saved as
Keep alive the flame of the spirit God gave youKeep alive the flame of the spirit God gave you
Let his plans come trueLet his plans come true
And loveAnd love