Argentina Convention 2001
In early September, there was
a small revolution in South America. No, not a military coup. More like a spiritual
coup!
Youth Specialties was honored to partner with a young grass-roots Agentinian
youth ministry training organization called LAGRAM to host the first-ever International
Youth Workers Convention in Buenos Aires. It's difficult to describe how exciting
this was—how it felt like we were at a hinge-point in church history in Latin
America. It was clear that God was moving in a powerful way, and that things would
no longer be the same.
1200 youth workers packed out a government-owned auditorium
(which had never before been rented to a Christian group) for two and a half days
of groundbreaking stuff. Here are some comments from delegates:
"The
Convention was excellent in every sense. I was really blessed by each of the speakers
and all the general sessions were unforgettable. We went back to our church full
of new enthusiasm and ideas. We are going to revolutionize the whole church."
"I am very thankful to God for being able to attend the Convención
de Liderazgo Juvenil. I belong to a very conservative church where I always try
to be innovative. I have had a hard time trying to work among the youth in my
church because the older people doesn't want me to introduce any change. Before
the convention I was ready to give up and conform to what they were telling me
but after this weekend I am ready to go back and take the chances to do what is
necessary to disciple the teens in our church." (Hmmm, maybe youth ministry
is the same all over the world...)
"The Convention helped me to
dream about doing something great among the youth in my country. I got so many
new ideas that I am praying to know where to start. I am the president of the
youth of my denomination and I will try to implement what I learn in the convencion
in our denominational agenda."
"I felt really privileged
to be able to be at the convencion. I am sure I saw history on the making. The
way the convention was organized, the level of the peakers and the atmosphere
of service created by the team that organized and verybody on stage was really
unique. I am pretty sure that the impact of this event will last for years. Go
ahead with this ministry. All of us who love teens will be very grateful to you".
And
here are some comments from Lucas Leys, the director of LAGRAM, on the significance
of this event:
"Every time you realize you are part of God's work,
you can't do anything else but simply enjoy it. Being part of the Convencion Internacional
de Liderazgo Juvenil was an enjoyable adventure. It was evident that God was touching
his latinamerican youthworkers. Everybody was really inspired and you could smell
that something good was being cooked. The place was packed, as were the expectations
of the attendees. This was not just the biggest youth leadership-training event
in spanish (which it was), but also one that all the people that took part are
not going to forget. Things that youth workers take for granted at a Youth Specialties
convention in the US were radical here—from the casual clothes, to no VIP
chairs all over the stage, to the diversity of speakers (even speakers who disagree
with each other), to late night forums where opposing ideas could be expressed
and discussed. I've received countless calls and letters about the significance
of this event—some even literally crying with gratitude for what God did.
We know this is the beginning of something huge God is doing in our churches through
youth ministry."
We have a tentative date on the calendar (September
6-8, 2002) for a next step. But please pray with Youth Specialties and LAGRAM
as we try to discern God's will for us in Latin America.
Mark Oestreicher
Youth Specialties
Wisdom On ... Making Good Decisions
