In 1930, Ira Gershwin made the lyrics “Who could ask for anything more?” popular in the song, “I Got Rhythm.” Some delegates asked the same question at the youth prayer conference Just Claim It 2007(JCI) in Dallas, Texas, February 28–March 4. Upon their arrival at registration, delegates were given the opportunity to select from a myriad of community outreach projects and enrichment seminars. For some, it was overwhelming; for others, it was a challenge. But all seemed excited to get started.
After breakfast each morning, delegates walked or rode the DART rail to the Dallas Convention Center for a morning devotional meeting. At these morning meetings, delegates heard inspiring and challenging messages from youth presenters and guest speakers such as Dwight Nelson, senior pastor of the Pioneer Memorial Church in Berrien Springs, Michigan. When he spoke, Dwight challenged delegates to fulfill the mission his generation had not finished.
Delegates later disbursed in the morning to outreach projects, such as Just Make Overs! The homes of some Dallas residents were given a facelift as energetic young people scraped and painted.
Other outreach projects corresponded with seminars delegates attended each morning. To make learning experiential, practicums were offered each afternoon so delegates could watch their teachers in action and try out their own new skills. These practicums included street art, street preaching, nursing home ministry, drama ministry, clown ministry, and many more.
The opportunity to practice ministries that delegates were interested in was exciting to many. A group of young people from Indiana were curious about street art ministry. After listening to Milton Coranado, of Chicago, Illinois, tell about sharing Jesus on the streets using street art, Daniel, Melissa, and Vanessa Vazquez, of Noblesville, Ind., and Ricardo Escarfullery, of Anderson, Ind., were ready to give street art a try. Arriving at the selected spot, they learned an Adventist member in Dallas had donated a wall near her home for their street art. After practicing various painting techniques, they spread white paint over existing messages on the wall. Then the painting began. All agreed it was a fun experience. Melissa Vazquez said, “It is good to get a positive message to the community through street art.”
JCI delegates definitely left a positive mark on the city. One young elevator operator at the Reunion Tower said wistfully, “I wanted to take a break from work. I asked if I could get off work and go with them. They were having so much fun.” She added, “It’s a good thing that they are learning over there about prayer. My generation needs to know that. At the rate we’re going, we’ll all be dead by 25 if we don’t make some changes.”
Jordan Vallieres, a student at Great Lakes Adventist Academy, was excited to learn his name was selected to win an iPod at a drawing in the Exhibit Hall. Each day the Exhibit Hall was open for delegates to visit. Though very crowded at times, delegates collected information as they visited college booths, academy booths, and booths with mission opportunities such as the Center for Youth Evangelism’s Cruise with a Mission (see www.cruisewithamission.org) and Maranatha Volunteers International’s The Ultimate Workout (see www.ultimateworkout.org). One interesting stop in the Exhibit Hall was Oklahoma Academy’s Messiah’s Mansion, a life-size replica of the sanctuary. There, delegates learned the significance of the sanctuary and were given the opportunity to make a personal commitment to Jesus at the end of the tour. Another favorite booth featured Milton, a street artist who designed custom T-shirts for delegates.
Throughout the convention center, the JCI prayer ministry team provided opportunities for enriching prayer experiences. Dean Whitlow, Indiana Conference Pathfinder director, and Charlie Thompson, Indiana Conference youth director, erected several three-dimensional prayer walls for delegates to write messages to God. Some of these messages included prayer requests for youth groups at JCI; some mentioned family and friends back home, while others left heart-felt cries for help for themselves. The walls were soon filled with messages and artwork to God, and many groups chose to take their farewell pictures by the prayer walls as they were leaving Dallas.
Another prayer experience opportunity was provided at strategically placed prayer rocks. At the prayer rocks, pieces of paper were provided for delegates to slip a prayer request into the rock, which Jim Micheff, Michigan Conference youth director, said signified bringing their needs to the “Rock of Ages.” Duffle bag after duffle bag of these prayer requests were collected throughout the convention, and they were taken to a prayer chapel where young people prayed over their peers’ petitions.
During the convention, the Bible Reading Marathon took place. Delegates visited a room at the Dallas Convention Center during the day and another at the Hyatt Regency hotel at night. They were provided a variety of Bible versions to select from and given the opportunity to read as many verses as they chose. Most read a chapter, but some individuals and families read a whole book. The reading continued throughout the night, and some individuals who had difficulty sleeping slipped down to the room at the Hyatt to offer their reading services to the sleepy coordinator, Gene Clapp, who read when no one else was present. The Bible reading was completed about 3:00 a.m. on Sabbath morning, but the final verses of Revelation 22 were reserved for a Pathfinder to read during the Sabbath morning worship service. All delegates were invited to read along with the Pathfinder for the final verses.
Following the reading, the JCI mass choir and orchestra performed “Lift Up the Trumpet,” which brought tears to some. Students from the orchestra and chorale at Great Lakes Adventist Academy were among those who traveled to Dallas to perform. Though some were ill during the conference, they still practiced diligently and performed beautifully on Sabbath morning as more than 12,000 delegates and visitors listened.
On Sabbath, special recognition was also given to world youth leaders when the celebration of 100 years of youth ministries in the Seventh-day Adventist Church was announced. In an earlier interview Baraka Muganda, world youth director, said, “As we celebrate 100 years, we’ve seen how the Lord has led in this department in preparing young people to meet Jesus Christ, in nurturing young people, discipling them so they can become strong Christians, and providing opportunities for them to participate in the mission of the church. These 100 years indeed have led many young people to the cross of Calvary. As for us, we are excited, and we are glad that the church gave us this department to serve. Some of us wouldn’t be here if there were no youth ministries. We have camporees today; we have youth congresses. We are here in Dallas today because of the 100 years of youth ministries.”
Sabbath afternoon a parade was held in downtown Dallas. Pathfinder clubs created displays on bicycles to correspond with the books of the Bible. Also present for an enthusiastic crowd were Pathfinder drill teams and riders on horseback.
Some youth groups distributed literature on Sabbath afternoon in Dallas. One individual shared her experience at the evening meeting. She said that after praying with a stranger, he came back later and told her he had been driving around Dallas contemplating suicide that day. After seeing and hearing her faith in God, he said he now believed God is real.
These types of testimonies were heard throughout the conference as Adventist young people challenged themselves to see what God could do through them. For many, it was the first time they ever had the courage to talk to strangers on the street, in a nursing home, or at a childcare center. For others, they bravely tried new skills they never thought possible to accomplish. It was inspiring to watch confidence grow throughout the conference.
At the closing meeting on Saturday night, delegates watched a dramatic presentation of the Second Coming and the resurrection. While some youth described the production as “awesome,” James Black, North America youth director, reminded them “it’s not just about drama.” He added, “It’s about trying to get youth to understand and see what’s happening in the great controversy over [their] souls.” James challenged JCI delegates to “get connected to the Master,” and encouraged them to make prayer and salvation their priority in life. Inspired by what they had accomplished at JCI, he also challenged delegates to continue reaching out to their communities back home.1
The Dallas Convention Center did not clear out quickly. Many new friendships were formed at JCI, so e-mail addresses were exchanged, hugs given, and plans made by some to meet again at Impact Taiwan, the next large youth event scheduled for December 24, 2007–January 5, 2008. To learn more, visit www.youth.gc.adventist.org.
You may also visit www.adventistphoto.com to read more about the JCI convention and to view hundreds of pictures that help tell the story.
Diane Thurber is the assistant communication director for the Lake Union Conference.
1. Information in this paragraph adapted from an article written by JCI communication team member, Patricia Humphrey. Used with permission.
