On November 3rd and 4th, a National Youth Conference was held in one of the halls of the International Fair Plovdiv, Bulgaria, under the slogan "God’s got talent". The event was organized by the Youth Department of the SDA Church in Bulgaria. More than 300 young people from all over the country took part in it, exploring their talents and their realization in serving God. The young people participated in workshops and were inspired by the sermons. Over 80 delegates from the Inter-European Division (EUD), who were gathered on the occasion of the EUD Year-end meeting, also attended the Sabbath Service of the Youth Conference. A highlight of the program was the exhibition of the Union ministries’ departments of the Church in which the youth were invited to get involved.
"This year, our goal was for every young person from Bulgaria to find their mission. And not only to find it, but to decide to start working from tomorrow. To be able to really find what they are strong in, what God is calling them to do and work in their local church," shared Julia Krumov, organizer of the conference and part of the Bulgarian SDA Youth Department.
Jonatan Tejel, director of the Youth Department Ministries at the Inter-European Division, conveyed strong messages to the youth and stated that the role of the young people should be at the front lines and leading the church. His observations from Bulgaria are that there is a strong core of motivated young people in the Church who are moving forward together and, every year, this group is increasing.
Pastor Erton C. Kölher, Executive Secretary at the General Conference, shared God’s Word through his personal testimony during the Sabbath service. Pastor Thomas Lemon, GC General Vice President, also inspired the youth during the afternoon workshop telling his mission life story. Young people were motivated to find out what their personal gift for mission is. Valdimir Krumov, youth pastor at the Bulgarian SDA Christian Centre VIVO, gave the young peopl an opportunity to do a test for discovering their own gifts for mission.
"I'm positive that what motivates young people is to have the opportunity. We should let them do what they are good at. To be free to express and use their talents in the way they feel comfortable," said Jonatan Tejel, director of Youth Department Ministries at the EUD.
Mário Brito, president of the EUD, congratulated the youth in Bulgaria and shared his vision for the role of young people in the church:
"I see young people as locomotives on a big train. They are full of powerful imagination, full of initiative. We must work closely with young people, listen to them, and this will help the church a lot."
The participants in the conference shared that they took from the conference inspiration, motivation, a sense of unity, useful contacts, and new opportunities for development ahead of them.
"I liked that we had the opportunity for so many young people to be together, see each other and communicate. And to be inspired for mission and participate in sharing the news," said Ina Staneva, a youth participant in the conference and a Pathfinders leader.
"I think there is nothing more valuable for a young person than to grow up in such an environment. I have personally discovered a lot about myself, about my character and my talents, precisely through initiatives in the church, in which I was invited to get involved," shared Bridget Mancuso, youth leader at a local church.
Jonatan Tejel appealed to young people not to give up when they encounter difficulties or disappointments, and to remember that working for God is not a matter of what people around us say but a matter of our personal communication with God.
Pictures: Tsvetomir Nakov and Nikolay Stoykov
