BY
LIBNA STEVENS/Inter-American
Division

Young people throughout the Adventist Church in
Inter-America were urged to choose Jesus and commit to training and pursuing a
victorious life during an online event held in Cayenne, French Guiana.

The four-segment annual program, themed “Win With
Jesus”, challenged hundreds of thousands of young people across borders to
pursue a daily walk with Jesus by praying daily, studying the Bible and sharing
God’s love in their communities.

Louise Nocandy, IAD associate youth ministries
director and guest speaker of the event challenged young people to let Jesus
give them the desire to change their life to reach the finish line. “To win
with Jesus is not about just a game, it’s not about getting a good score, but
it is about our destiny,” said Nocandy. “Yes, we are in a race, a race to reach
heaven; so you must leave the ball to Jesus and let Him give you the desire to
change your life to reach the finish line.”

Nocandy reminded the more than 400 young people
gathered at the Salem Seventh-day Adventist Church in Cayenne, and online
viewers, that there is no secret recipe to win the race. “You have to be
intimate with God,” she said.

It is that intimacy that youth leaders across the
territory have been promoting for decades and more so during the last four
years, said Pastor Benjamin Carballo, youth ministries director for the church
in Inter-America and organizer of the event.

“We want our nearly 2 million young members to
understand that they are already winners and they must continue training and
seeking Jesus every morning, following His guidance and being active in the
mission of sharing God’s love,” said Carballo.

The event was the second online youth campaign held
in Inter-America and the first to be held in the French territory. Last year’s
program was held at the IAD office Miami, Florida. This year’s program was
translated into English and Spanish.

“It was so
wonderful to see that the youth in French Guiana are committed to sharing Jesus,
using their gifts and talents and technology for a fresh message—within the
youth culture and supported by leaders who love them and guide them in
evangelistic efforts,” said Carballo.

The one-hour online evening segments, which began
May 7, featured music, prayer sessions, spiritual messages, drama performances,
Q&A segments and interviews with successful young French athletes.

Marie Angelique Lacordelle, a sprinter and relay
runner from Cayenne, who has participated in competitions in France as well as world
championships, spoke on perseverance and hard work to reach her goals. “You
must persevere, be patient, stay motivated and love what you’re doing because
that is the only way you will succeed,” she said. “Use your weaknesses as your
strengths and win by faith.”

Persevering to keep focused on Jesus during a
time when young people are facing temptations in all shapes and forms is one
message leaders want to keep communicating, said Carballo.

“Programs like this online campaign motivate our
young people to continue enriching their spiritual experience while clinging to
Jesus as they gain strength to continue being the powerful generation that will
fulfill the mission of the church to a dying world,” said Carballo.

The concluding program on May 10 featured the
baptism of seven young people during the live program. Some 23 more young
people are interested in preparing for baptism, local leaders reported.

The “Win With Jesus” campaign from Cayenne, will soon
be available for viewing soon at winwithjesus.interamerica.org