Picture a worship setting with a room full of teenagers. Are they checked in? Checked out?
Come look inside the Soonago Youth Rally hosted each year by Washington Conference!
This is a time of worship, interaction, Bible study, spiritual growth training, and faith sharing. It is designed for teenagers to grow in their spiritual walk and start a new year on the right note.
Soonago, a Greek working meaning "a coming together," is illustrated by the disciples coming together in the upper room when the Holy Spirit fell on them. Washington Conference calls its youth rallies "Soonago" because youth come from different schools and walks of life to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
"There is nothing like walking in the front door and coming home," says David Yeagley, Washington Conference youth director. "Our goal with youth rally this year is to show a new picture of Jesus, a new perspective on the church, so teenagers see that they are welcome to come home to Jesus and that there is a place in God's house for them."
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
David Yeagley, Washington Conference youth director, warms up the crowd of 350 teenagers with a quote quiz: “Is It Leviticus or Taylor Swift?”
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
The youth rally musicians lead teenagers in music sets about worshipping God. Selections included "Blessed Be Your Name," "Our God is Greater," and "How Great is Our God." Teenagers had their cell phones out to capture video music clips!
Credit: Todd Gessele
Dan Jackson, North American Division president, is here to talk with teenagers about their place in the home of Jesus. “I’m never discouraged [about the church’s future] when I interact with youth,” says Jackson who goes on to share a series of stories, examples, Bible verses and invitations.
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
“You need to be part of God’s house,” says Dan Jackson, NAD president to Washington youth. “The home needs to be expanded; the fellowship needs to be increased.”
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
Dan Jackson, NAD president, explains on how youth can be a part of God’s house: be a minister, mediate God’s grace and tell the world about Jesus. “Every one of us accepts a responsibility to minister when we accept Jesus into our lives,” Jackson says.
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
The teenagers from through western Washington participated in five afternoon breakout sessions including a Bible study, mass choir, community building exercises, a prayer room and a Q&A session with Dan Jackson.
Here, youth participate in a Bible study led by Pastor Mika Devoux.
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
A key question in an afternoon Q&A: How can we as young adults fulfill the Gospel Commission? “Every day when you wake up,” responds Dan Jackson, “commit yourself to God and pray for God to bring you to the right people. This is how the Gospel Commission will be fulfilled.”
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
For His Glory, a popular singing group in western Washington, share musical number at Youth Rally 2014.
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
A group of teenagers participate in a mass choir and sing "Our God is Awesome."
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
“The church is in good hands,” says Dan Jackson, NAD president, during his afternoon presentation. “I see this when I look at you. Don’t live your life without God’s word. When it comes to making decisions, look to the Bible.”
Credit: Heidi Baumgartner
Dan Jackson closes his presentation with an appeal for young people to be ministers for God in their lives. The teenagers come forward to the cross to make a commitment to find a home in Jesus and finish the Youth Rally by singing, “Jesus at the Center of it All.”
Credit: Todd Gessele