Vanessa Alarcón – Maxwell, Nebraska … The dynamic 2023 Mid-America Union Conference (MAUC) Hispanic Youth Conference drew in over 500 enthusiastic attendees July 13-16 at the Maranatha Bible Camp in Nebraska. Themed “Heaven: Don’t Miss it for the World,” the event aimed to ignite the spirit of the participants. Of those 500, 129 were youth and their respective leaders from the Rocky Mountain Conference (RMC).

The event was organized by Pastor Roberto Correa, MAUC Multilingual Director in collaboration with Hispanic Youth Federations (FEJA) across the union. The Rocky Mountain Conference has two federations, RMC Metro and RMC Mountain, that serve their collective front range and western slope regions.

The main speaker at the conference was well-known and beloved speaker to Hispanic youth, Pastor Jose Vicente Rojas. He shared various messages on youth engagement in missions. His powerful messages resonated with the young audience, emphasizing the importance of the Holy Spirit.

The Maranatha Bible Camp served as the ideal venue, offering exhilarating activities such as sports tournaments, zip-lining, water activities, and seminars. The seminars covered a range of topics relevant to youth and were presented by Armando Miranda Jr. (NAD), Tyrone Douglas (MAUC), Santiago Fernandez (Union College), and Vanessa Alarcón (RMC).

For parents like Hector Bautista from the Kansas-Nebraska region, the conference was a valuable opportunity for their children to connect with other youth in the church. He expressed, “We attend a smaller church where there aren’t as many youth. These events are incredibly important. My kids are making friends with peers who share the same beliefs while deepening their knowledge of God.”

Organized by RMC FEJA Metro, the sports tournaments proved to be a significant avenue for youth to bond and connect. Jorge Aleman, a youth leader who played a key role in organizing the tournaments, shared a touching moment when three young participants approached him, expressing their gratitude for making new friends. He emphasized, “That was the most gratifying thing about organizing these events. Our youth from different conferences united to create a team and win the game. I hope our youth continue to unite with a shared goal of going to heaven.”

Pastor Hugo Guillen, a pastor in the RMC and a supporting pastor for RMC FEJA Metro, highlighted the significance of the conference. “This event was beneficial because our young people can see that our current leadership sees their value. We need them to continue the work that the Lord has left our church.”

“It was inspiring to see our young people listen to the Biblical messages of our main speaker,” remarked Pastor Ruben Rivera, RMC Hispanic ministries coordinator. “Witnessing them consecrating their lives to Jesus Christ was a profound experience.” Of the five baptisms that occurred that weekend, three of them were from the Rocky Mountain Conference.

The 2023 Hispanic Youth Conference achieved resounding success, leaving a lasting impact on attendees through inspiring sermons and activities that promoted unity and a shared purpose. The fervor exhibited by this generation offers bright hope for the future of the church.

—Vanessa Alarcón is elder and church clerk at Boulder Adventist Church. Photos by Hugh Davis.