After a summer spent knocking on doors, praying with strangers, sharing Christian literature, and watching God answer prayers, Michigan Youth Rush students gathered for one final weekend—not simply to celebrate what they had accomplished, but to share what God had done.
Held August 7–8 at the Cedar Lake Seventh-day Adventist Church, iShare marked the concluding weekend of Michigan Youth Rush, the Conference’s summer student literature evangelism program. Youth, young adults, family members, and friends from across Michigan were invited to join the students for a weekend of worship, testimonies, music, and spiritual encouragement.
Throughout the summer, Youth Rush students traveled throughout Michigan sharing books and connecting with people in communities across the state. Along the way, they experienced answered prayers, unexpected encounters, and opportunities to share Christ with people searching for hope.
At iShare, many of those experiences became testimonies.
Students shared stories from their summer, along with special musical selections, giving those attending a glimpse of how Youth Rush had impacted not only the people they encountered but the students themselves.
That impact became especially evident Sabbath afternoon when Youth Rush student Melodie Metzger was baptized. Through her experiences during the summer, Melodie made the decision to publicly give her life to Christ. Surrounded by fellow students, family, friends, and the larger church community, her baptism provided a fitting picture of what Youth Rush is ultimately about—leading people into a deeper relationship with Jesus, including the students who participate.
The weekend also provided opportunities for students and guests to grow in their own walk with Christ. Carlos Munoz, director of the Amazing Facts Center of Evangelism (AFCOE), served as the main speaker, challenging young people in their commitment to Christ and His mission.
Mark Howard led the Sabbath School program, while Sabbath afternoon included a panel discussion and question-and-answer session with speakers. Leeroy Hernandez also presented a workshop on building godly relationships, addressing an important area of Christian life for youth and young adults.
While iShare concludes the Youth Rush summer, the weekend is about more than bringing a program to an end. It gives students an opportunity to reflect on how God has led them and allows their families, friends, and church members to hear firsthand what happens when young people step outside their comfort zones and make themselves available for His service.
For some, that means remembering a door where someone needed prayer. For others, it is seeing how God provided at exactly the right moment or discovering greater confidence in sharing their faith. And for at least one student this summer, the experience resulted in a decision for baptism.
The books have been distributed and another summer of Youth Rush has come to a close, but the experiences shared at iShare point to something that continues. Seeds have been planted in communities throughout Michigan, and a generation of young people has experienced for themselves what God can do when they are willing to be used by Him.
– Communication Team