YOUTH EVENT: ESTELI 2023

Our missionary had the opportunity to attend a youth conference in Esteli, Nicaragua, this past weekend. Here is her experience. Enjoy!

YOUTH CONFERENCE - ESTELI NOV 2023:

In recent years, people have been leaving their homes and families to seek work in the US. From what I've seen, the majority are young adults, aged between the ages of 18 and 25. In Nicaragua, when a church announces a youth event, it typically caters to those aged 13 to about 25 years. In contrast, youth events in the USA usually cater to those up to 18 years old. The cultural norms here are different. Given this, I didn’t expect many young people to attend our event.

I was pleasantly surprised when over 150 youths showed up to worship the Lord, listen to the guest speakers, and enjoy fellowship. Another surprise was the event's timing; it was scheduled from 9 am to 3:15 pm. I had mistakenly thought it would end at 12 pm. I was happily proven wrong once again!

The event was organized by the Foursquare Church in Nicaragua, with support from their US counterparts. The youth only had to pay $1.93 (C$70 cordobas) to attend, and attendance was free without lunch. Support from the US helped to subsidize the lunch costs for attendees. To all the churches and individuals who supported this event, thank you! You have blessed many!

The day began with the local Christian band BANDA VIDE leading worship, followed by a few words from the national youth leadership from Managua. This year marks their final term before the transition to new leadership. We were also fortunate to have guest speaker and author Enmanuel Rodriguez, known for his book '7 Formas de ser tan humilde como yo' ('7 Ways to be as Humble as Me'). I've known Enmanuel as a youth event speaker for many years. His recent publication is his first book. His preaching style, a mix of comedy and seriousness, resonates well with the youth, inspiring them to take his messages to heart. He courageously addresses challenging topics, which I deeply respect. Post-lunch, we were delighted to have the famous Nicaraguan Christian singer Lito Kairos perform, and he also spoke to the crowd afterwards. Watching him perform is always an extraordinary experience.

The event was a great success. In the midst of everything happening in the world, we sometimes forget to fulfill the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19-20: 'Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' In our daily lives of praying, attending church on Sundays, and striving to live sin-free, we can lose sight of the importance of immersing ourselves in God's Word so that we can share His truth with others. While there are many churches in Nicaragua and people understand right from wrong, it's sad that many know of God's Word but haven't experienced His love. They face judgment, feel unwelcome, or lack support, leading them astray. We should strive to be a light in someone’s darkness, letting our light shine for Christ and allowing His love to flow through us, impacting others’ lives.

At the event, one person gave their life to Christ and another rededicated theirs. I believe many left contemplating their lives and how they can live better for Christ. Even if the event made a difference in just one person's life, it was a huge success.

Supporting ministry or mission work might seem insignificant, but it's incredibly valuable. Their lives matter! Be the help someone needs to change their life for Christ!