The Radisson hotel buzzed with anticipation and excitement. Smiling faces were everywhere as friends from near and far greeted one another. Over 800 individuals registered for Share the Light, including young people from Lake Union academies, Andrews University, and church youth groups.

The convention opened with five young people providing worship in song. Walter Wright, Lake Union president, remarked, “When we’ve got young people like this committed to the Lord, Jesus Christ, I’m not worried about a thing. We’re going places!” He added, “Let’s put them to work.”

Planners for the convention were intentional about showing the diversity in our membership. Songs were sung in Spanish, prayers were offered in a variety of languages, and radios provided translation for Hispanic members.

Ray Young, Lake Region communication director, and the Ypsilanti Church media team, provided video projection during the general sessions and archived the messages at www.ypsisda.com.

Rudy Micelli, a Brazilian-born vocal artist from Morningsong, warmed the hearts of many individuals throughout the weekend as they contemplated the Christ-focused messages of his songs.

As Roscoe Howard, North American Division secretary, shared the compelling story of his strained relationship with his father, and the healing and restoration he found through his heavenly Father, he brought tears to the eyes of many. Roscoe challenged listeners to press toward the goal—eternal life—emphasizing that means forgiving and forgetting some of the challenges faced and surrendering to the Lord’s will.

Ron Smith, Message magazine editor, shared his personal testimony of finding healing from a ministry mindset that left him debilitated from stress and the desire to achieve. Smith reminded listeners to share the great things God has done for them.

It was difficult to select which seminars to attend among the many practical and personal growth presentations offered. Many seminars filled to standing room only. Some individuals stood in the hall or pulled up chairs outside the room and strained to hear the messages spoken inside.

A rich line-up of speakers reached the hearts of young people. Lance Micheleau, a youth Bible worker, attended a seminar led by Brad Smith and Brad Bolejack, young men who shared their experiences preaching. Micheleau remarked, “While they shared the ways in which they went about their evangelistic meetings, they pushed us to think about doing them ourselves. It was truly encouraging to me, and to others I am sure, to see these youth, our peers, going out with trust in God to help finish this work and encouraging others to do the same.”

Saturday evening José Rojas, North American Division volunteer and young adult ministries director, inspired attendees with his animated account of the Gideon story. He reminded those present, “If you are faithful, everything your hand touches will flourish.” He added, “Go home, pick up your pitcher, hold your candle of grace high, and sound your shofar for the glory of the Lord … then break your pitcher when the time is right.” As Rojas sang a call of dedication, people pressed toward the front of the auditorium, moved by his challenge. In the quietness of the moment, just before prayer, a lone voice near the back of the auditorium cried out passionately, “Yes, Jesus! Thank you, Jesus!” reminding everyone present of their Great Gift.

Sunday morning Frank Gonzalez, La Voz speaker/director, urged attendees to understand they have the fullness of God when they invite the Holy Spirit into their lives. He emphasized, “Believe you can have what the Bible says you can have.”

Walter Wright, Lake Union president, concluded the prayer breakfast with the remarks, “I’m celebrating already what God is going to do in this Union territory. … This weekend is a reminder God is on the throne and He is most powerful.” Wright challenged each academy and church to conduct an evangelistic series before April 1, 2006.

Ralph Shelton, Conant Gardens (Detroit) Church senior pastor, expressed, “We departed from the convention galvanized to get out and tell someone that Jesus is coming again, soon!” He continued, “Scripture says, ‘I will pour my spirit upon all flesh,' and this was certainly evident at the Share the Light convention. The electricity was in the air, the participation of every conference was evident as never before, with attendees from each academy, the university, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Region, Michigan, and Wisconsin.”

Shelton sums it up best when he said, “Satan can not stop the power of the Holy Spirit. It is my prayer that the power surge that has begun in the Lake Union is a fire that will spread across North America.”

Diane Thurber is the Lake Union Herald managing editor.

Sidebar

Share the Light Responses

"When I found out about the training that we were going to receive, I never thought it was going to be so amazing. Just being there, around people my age who had the same goal—winning people to Christ—was such a blessing. I came back to school on a wonderful high from the experience I had."

Samantha Sawyer, Great Lakes Adventist Academy senior

“I believe the Holy Spirit’s mark on these meetings was in the conviction that fell upon men, women, and children that this work needs to be done, and we are privileged to do it.”

Ron Kelly, Cicero (Ind.) Church senior pastor

“I attended the sessions with the pastors and every one of the presenters was a blessing. This was the first time I saw material Walter and Jackie Wright presented and it is great stuff! I am planning to get hold of the material and present it to the pastors! That was especially noteworthy.”

Loren Nelson, Michigan Conference ministerial director

"I have realized that one reason why I was immensely blessed was that a group of Adventists have come together and were supporting each other. I really could feel the Holy Spirit while we were there. A thank you to all who made it possible for my group to come! Your support will turn the campuses into lighthouses for God.”

Ashlee Chism, Indiana Academy senior

“I know that my vision was too small as it relates to these types of events. I recall saying again and again, ‘I should have brought a bus load’; ‘I should have asked every department leader to encourage one person to come’; or, ‘The whole church needs to experience this!’ … [At] previous conventions, I sent the people (four participants), but this one I brought the people (21 participants, including myself). I caught a vision of what it meant to bring them and [not] simply send them.”

Ralph Shelton, Conant Gardens (Detroit) Church senior pastor

"It was a very inspiring weekend. I learned so much from the presenters. It fueled my excitement about evangelism, and encouraged me in my faith. It was a wonderful experience for me and I really was blessed."

"Although I did not know exactly what to expect, Share the Light gave me more than I could have hoped for.... I was encouraged that the church (the people) are wanting to rise to even greater heights in their walk with God and wanting to be more effective as a movement.”

Lance C. Michleau, Fox Valley (Wis.) Church youth Bible worker

"I answered the phone early one morning and was glad I did. It was a call from one of our pastors who had taken a group of seven people to the Share the Light church ministries convention that very weekend. He excitedly and enthusiastically related to me what a blessing the weekend had been for both him and his members. They had learned so much and knew that this not only benefitted them spiritually, but would positively impact their church also. Everyone I talked to since, as well as my own experience as a participant of this event, expressed the exact same sentiments. This weekend was a great spiritual blessing to all and will positively impact our entire Union!"