"I saw so many people it seemed like a sea,” described Anthony Kelly, Lake Region Conference youth director. Kelly was describing the United Youth Congress held in Atlanta, Ga., from Apr. 19–23, 2006.

Awash in that sea on Sabbath morning, Apr. 23, were Renee Cousins from the Conant Gardens Adventist Church in Detroit, Mich., and Bernard Wilson from the Burns Adventist Church in Detroit, Mich. Sitting behind an information booth in the main hall of the C Building of the Georgia World Congress Center, the two were impressed as they watched the flow of their fellow Adventist young people.

Cousins had volunteered much of her time at the United Youth Congress information booth. “I think it’s interesting,” said Cousins. “I see a lot of people who have come away from the workshops saying how good they were and how interesting they are, so a lot of good is going on here.” Beside her, Wilson added what he’s enjoyed. “I like seeing a lot of new people and old friends.”

Wilson and Cousins are two of the 365 delegates from the Lake Region Conference and the more than 5,200 registered delegates who attended the United Youth Congress from around North America and Bermuda. Held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, organizers say that along with the registered delegates, more than 38,000 non-delegates gathered for the Sabbath services on Apr. 23 with some estimates placing the number at more than 50,000.

It was a monumental turnout according to Claude Harris II, Allegheny East Conference youth ministries director and chairperson of the Black Adventist Youth Directors Association (BAYDA), which is the parent organization of the United Youth Congress. The mission of BAYDA is to promote the spiritual, physical, academic, moral, and cultural development of the youth of the North American Division (NAD) of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. BAYDA’s members include youth leaders of the NAD regional conferences as well as youth leaders in Southern, Southeastern, Central and Northern California conferences, North Pacific Union, and Bermuda and Ontario conferences.

Held every five years, the United Youth Congress serves as a focal point of BAYDA’s ministry. With attendance through the roof this year, Harris and his team were kept on their toes trying to facilitate the record turnout. “It was a challenging task, but we enjoyed it so much because we are doing it for our youth who we feel really need an opportunity to not only learn more about Jesus Christ but to develop their characters. We believe that Jesus is coming soon and we want to have them prepared for that,” said Harris.

The theme for the United Youth Congress this year was “No More Chains.” Harris explained that the theme refers to things that can hold youth back from a full relationship with Christ. Specifically targeted were the chains of sexual promiscuity, family decline, spiritual decline, drug abuse, and gangs. “We feel that the chains of life, if we allow them, can allow us to have a negative outlook on life, and we want a positive outlook on life,” stated Harris.

This year’s United Youth Congress accomplished its goal by bringing together youth ranging in age from 15–35 and providing educational workshops, social interaction, quality spiritual speakers, and the opportunity to perform community service. More than 30 workshops were held for participants on a wide variety of topics including single parenting, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS awareness, employment, family and spiritual decline, gangs, homelessness, community and financial empowerment, and sexual promiscuity.

For Matthew Winslow from the Mountainside Church in Atlanta, Ga., the best part of the United Youth Congress was the seminars. “It's great. It’s cool. I mean, it's like fun. It’s just cool,” expounded Winslow. “In the seminars, you understand what they're talking about; it’s not like a boring sermon where you go to sleep.”

At this year’s United Youth Congress, organizers intentionally planned outreach projects in the Atlanta community to build on what the youth were learning in the seminars. A total of 14 projects, ranging from feeding the homeless to constructing a beautiful, outdoor garden—complete with a mural—at a local nursing home gave youth the opportunity to put their faith into action. “This is so important,” said Deborah Drain, who coordinated the 14 outreach projects. “We need to teach our young people that it’s not just about us individually, but that it’s about helping. We were called to do this; we are to do service; and we don't do enough service. So, if we come here and learn to volunteer, hopefully they'll go home and do the same thing.”

Twenty-seven-year-old Bamian Grant, a mechanical engineer from Kingston, Jamaica, didn’t mind spending an afternoon painting a dilapidated wall at an area nursing home. “It’s a mission God [gives] us—for us to be here to bring a smile on the elderly face is a joy—and I know God is pleased with this,” said Grant.

Other events included an oratorical contest, drum corps and drill team exhibition, health fair rally, and a basketball competition. Each evening, attendees experienced powerful presentations of “spiritual vitamins” from various ministers across the United States. Speakers included James Black, NAD youth ministries director; Jynean Reid, Bible teacher at Greater Atlanta Adventist Academy; Jose Rojas, NAD volunteer ministries director; Carlton “Buddy” Bird, Bellfort Seventh-day Adventist Church pastor in Houston, Texas; and Paula Olivier, Church of the Oranges associate pastor in Orange, N.J.

Nineteen-year-old Oakwood College student Johnwilly Osuji said the speakers were powerful and gave him food for thought. “I learned a lot, about my responsibilities as a youth, as a Christian, as a Seventh-day Adventist—all those things,” said Osuji. “It helps me to be reminded that there are some things that I need to be taking care of as a youth.”

Two events capped off the weekend. The first was a parade through downtown Atlanta followed by a rally against the chains of drug addiction, sexual promiscuity, family decline, spiritual decline, and drug addiction. As Pathfinder clubs—some with drum corps and others with signs promoting a Christian lifestyle—marched past, Atlanta residents Derrick Hemphill and Julie Canada and their two children watched. Their children seemed particularly impressed with the drum corps element of the parade.

“We were surprised to see it; I think it was pretty cute,” said Canada. “It’s neat to see the young people all together doing something positive for Christ.” Hemphill agreed with his wife. “Anything that kids do that’s constructive and positive is good.”

Following the parade and rally, ten youth did something even more constructive and positive. They were baptized. The United Youth Congress wrapped with the Mega Gospel and Concert Choir Festival. Various Seventh-day Adventist Youth Choirs were showcased, but it was Lake Region Conference choirs that went home with two of the top three prizes. The $10,000 first prize went to Total Praise from Dallas City Temple in Texas. Second place and $5,000 went to All Nations Choir from Berrien Springs, Mich., and third place and $2,500 went to Motor City Mass Choir from Detroit, Mich.

In addition to the choir festival finals, award-winning gospel artists Martha Munizzi, Desmond Pringle, and the legendary a capella group, Take 6, joined various local talents for the Mega Gospel Concert. The concert was hosted by Gerard Henry of Black Entertainment Television's “Lift Every Voice.”

Anthony Kelly, Lake Region Conference youth director, said the United Youth Congress was a success. “I think the most significant thing is its bringing us together with a common cause, and that cause is to bring relief to watch God deliver individuals from those chains that bind them.”

Ken Wetmore is the Georgia-Cumberland Conference communication director.