12 December 2024 | Reykjavík, Iceland [Harald Giesebrecht with tedNEWS]
Youth, Pathfinders, and Family leaders from Nordic countries gathered for their annual advisory on 19-20 November, a valuable time for fellowship, planning, and idea-sharing. Each year, the advisory brings together a group of high-energy directors and volunteers dedicated to nurturing faith in young people.
“Youth Advisory is the time and place where I get to work together in personwith my colleagues,” said Karolina Poland, Family Ministry leader in Sweden. “A lot of good, new ideas have come out of these advisories, and it gives me the feeling of not working alone in sharing God with children.”
Karli Fredrickson, Iceland’s Alaskan volunteer youth leader for the past five years, echoed this sentiment: “Working in the Nordics can feel a bit isolating, so gathering with like-minded and like-hearted leaders is encouraging and energizing.”
The shared culture and challenges of the Nordic countries often mean that resources and ministry ideas developed in one nation can be successfully adapted in others. These gatherings foster personal connections, making online collaboration between in-person meetings much easier. The time together is spent sharing successes and challenges, developing new resources, planning joint events, and enjoying meals, fellowship, and worship.
While the countries take turns hosting the event, this year marked the first time Iceland served as the venue. Karli Fredrickson organised and hosted the event, which welcomed 20 youth workers. The gathering featured exceptional hospitality, including Middle Eastern vegetarian dishes prepared by Lama, a Syrian friend of Fredrickson.
This year’s event was further enriched by the presence of the Trans-European Division’s new Youth and Pathfinder directors, Marcel Ghioalda and Kevin Johns. Icelandic Conference president Ivo Käsk opened the meeting with a devotional, while Mikael Takamaa from the Finnish team served as guest speaker for the overlapping Spiritual Week of Emphasis at Suðurhlíðarskóli, an Adventist-run school.
“It was wonderful to be part of this auspicious gathering of leaders, to witness their enthusiasm and creativity, as well as the commitment to work with children and youth. Our youth are in the hands of capable and passionate leaders!” said Ghioalda, deeply impressed by the Nordic youth workers and the Icelandic team’s exceptional hosting skills.
Participants also took time to briefly enjoy Iceland’s natural beauty, including the hot pools and exploration of a stunning lava tunnel. The experience was crowned by a spectacular Northern Lights display and a volcanic eruption, creating a memorable backdrop for the gathering.
“A night of opportunities that will be hard to beat,” concluded Peter Gille from Sweden, who documented the event.
Featured image and photos: Harald Giesebrecht
