The poet’s admonition underscores two of our most frequent errors when engaging Adventist youth and young adults in the mission of this end-time people.
In many regions of the world Adventism is overwhelmingly a faith of children, youth, and young adults. In some countries even the percentage of baptized members in these categories exceeds 60 percent. And though we have often been slow to both count and incorporate that reality, the urgency of the task given to this church requires that we not postpone for another decade—or another day—the opportunity to involve those under age 30 in every possible level of leadership and service.
As you hear the voices of the talented young adults who so ably represented their church at the 2010 Atlanta General Conference session, commit yourself to encourage the church’s youth and young adults as the leaders of today. Help create the openings—even if that means stepping aside yourself—through which the gifts given them by the Spirit will dramatically increase the power of our witness.
1 Ellen G. White, Counsels to Parents, Teachers, and Students, p. 169.
2 Ellen G. White, Messages to Young People, pp. 148, 149.