Youth pastors working with a multi-ethnic youth revival movement reports growing unity with evangelism amongst Asian American Christian youths residing in the Los Angeles area.
"Here is a new move of God. I have never seen this unity in the campus network movement, placing campus leaders in universities," said Dennis Liu, English minister of Vineyard of Harvest Church. "Instead of bringing friends to church, we are bringing the church into the schools and the community."
The YouthMove Unplugged campaign – including those representing the Chinese, Korean and Indonesian community – has seen the rise of 36-hour "prayer tower" gatherings in local churches throughout the area, according to organizers from the Agape Renewal Center, which is working to enlist additional churches.
"Rev. Dr. Ernest Chan, our director, continually reiterates the need to adequately train and provide a support system for these leaders and the emerging leaders of the next generation," said Agape events organizer, Nakules Veran.
According to participating youth leaders, the movement stemmed from the growing need for aging youth leaders to hand over "the baton" to the next generation, whom are still in high school or college.
"We have seen the movement of God especially in the 1990s to gather the young people to pray and gather," Liu commented. "People who have seen the revival in the 90s are placing the batons to those in high school and college, for them to move forth. We are seeing this network being formed through Agape."
On Mar. 11, 300 leaders and youths gathered at the Worship Unplugged conference held at the Vineyard of Harvest Church, in Walnut, CA. The conference was a follow-up event of a series of gatherings since last November. Leaders participating at the event later emphasized that proper training is key in developing the spiritual development of church-attending youths.
"They realize they are not alone. They know they are part of a bigger plan that God is doing in the last days," says Hilly Sebadja, youth pastor of City Blessing Church. "They have the initiative and model for working with others in the body of Christ."
"I know many of them are starting prayer groups in campus where they cover their prayer daily on campus," Sebadja continued. "Almost all of them are building their relationship for evangelism."
"I’ve seen the youths inspired. Some of the youths have started evangelizing more and teaching bible study to non-believer friends," commented Samuel Tedder, youth pastor at the Orange County Chinese Christian Assembly, and a native of Finland. "Personally, as the new youth pastor… [I have received] better tools for evangelism and discipleship."
According to organizers from the Agape Renewal Center, the recent progress has given encouragement to all participants.
"It has been exciting to see the various ethnicities represented at these trainings and the influence they have in their communities and also in their countries of origin. As these leaders impact their campuses and those around them; the gospel is presented and potentially extends to the nations," concluded Nakules Veran.
