Young people around the world celebrated Global Youth Day (GYD) last Saturday, 18 March 2023. In the Trans-European Division (TED) alone, 56 projects ran in parallel, including distributing fruits and free hugs in the Netherlands to celebrating Mother’s Day in England, and inviting people to sit and rest on a comfortable ‘Sabbath sofa’ -conveniently placed in the streets of Serbia – to join in song with a choir in Poland. While diverse, all initiatives across Europe, and indeed across the world, shared the same goal: sharing the love of Jesus with the community. Broadcasting live from the South-England Conference (SEC) studio, TED Youth Director, Dejan Stojkovic, shared “I hope you feel the energy of our young people serving and being the hands and feet and of Jesus wherever they are”.
Since 2013, the Seventh-day Adventist Church’s GYD has touched millions of lives around the world for Jesus, and this year was no exception. Thank you for making GYD so inspirational!
Sneak behind the scenes with Dejan Stojkovic and discover how the TED organised the live broadcast.
Thank you for spending the news on social media using the hashtag #GDY23
In Belgrade, Serbia the ‘Sabbath Sofa’ (illustrating the need for physical, spiritual and emotional rest) is placed in just the right position for a happy bride and groom to have their photograph taken.Belfast, Irish Mission youth with their leaders (Philani Dube and Kevin O’Brien) take a step closer to the community along Lisburn Road, Belfast to offer soup & hot drinks to a busy community of students and health care workers.Dublin Ranelagh, Irish Mission youth celebrate with a cake – but not before distributing beautiful yellow daffodils on the streets and in the nearby park.Youth in Arnhem, Netherlands share a ‘cup of kindness’ distributing apples to the local community.Lewisham, London youth provided hot drinks to the community outside the front of their church, visited shut-ins, and also a care home for the elderly. Here a member of the youth team engages in conversation with Metropolitan police officers.A time for praise and worship in Lublin Poland.Igor Mitrović (ADRA Serbia director) leads out at Hub Youth Church, Belgrade, Serbia after a day full of activities.The Rotterdam North youth group distributed care bags full of fruit and non-perishable provisions singing as they go, “He’s on My Side, Jesus – He walks with me!” Radom fact – did you know that the Netherlands is one of the most densely populated countries in the world?
Here’s a hope and a prayer, that Global Youth Day spurs the church on, to connect with the community in the name of Christ all year round.
[Photos: courtesy of Dejan Stojkovic and TED Youth Directors]
tedNEWS Staff: David Neal: Editor; Vanesa Pizzuto: Associate Editor
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