By Henry R. Moncur III | ACTU Communication
Hundreds of Seventh-day Adventist young people from across the three countries and four conferences of the Atlantic Caribbean Union (ATCU), on March 15, 2025, left the confines of their church buildings and took to the streets. Enthusiastically supported by the wider membership of their congregations, youth engaged their communities through various service projects and acts of kindness.
The initiative was a part of Global Youth Day (GYD), an annual event of the Adventist Youth Department of the Seventh-day Adventist church that takes place on the third weekend of March and is implemented locally for young people to be the sermon in their communities.
Under the theme “ACT: A Transformed Community,” young people sought to transformed the communities around their churches by making an impact on the quality of lives of the people through serving them.
Andrews Burrows, ATCU youth director, noted that GYD continues to be a much-anticipated event not just for the youth of the Seventh-day Adventist Church but for the entire church. “I am excited to see our youth’s creativity and the various ways they have served our communities this year. This year’s theme of ACT: A Community Transformed underscores the importance of impacting the communities through various service projects and acts of kindness. I commend the young people and youth leaders across our Union for spearheading this initiative, and the difference they have been able to make in the communities served this year.”
Cayman Islands
Youth in the Cayman Islands distributed personalized cards they created, along with custom stickers and brochures on mental health, vaping, healthy eating, and supporting children with depression. They also took time to pray with individuals in their homes and passing by in their vehicles and donated essential items such as pots, pans, toasters, and drinking glasses to the North Side Civic Centre, ensuring community resources remained well-stocked and special-needed supplies to the local health clinic.
The impact made a significant impression on officials. Hon. Johany “Jay” Ebanks, elected member for North Side, commended the initiative, stating, “I’m so happy to see so many people in one location in North Side, coming together to give back to the community.” Ebanks also spent the afternoon with the youth as they carried out a number of their service projects.
Merle Watkins, Cayman Islands Conference youth director, shared “Global Youth Day is more than an event—it is a time of ‘Total Youth Involvement’ that speaks volumes about the dedication, passion, and talents of our young people. No matter their backgrounds, they come together in unity, demonstrating true fellowship and camaraderie.”
Turks and Caicos Islands
In the Turks and Caicos Islands, youth engage in varied outreach activities that included donations to the blood bank, health checks, food donations, literature and clothing distribution, and outdoor evangelistic meetings.
The day culminated in a grand motorcade and march against youth violence, though the streets of Providenciales. Hundreds of young people, carrying banners and placards, forcefully denounced the wave of crime and violence that has plagued the nation and enthusiastically encouraged young people to choose Jesus instead. The march ended at Farmers Market at Kewtown, an area close to the community of Dockyard, which has been one of the main focal points of the violence, where various ministries within the church set up booths and were able to serve the public.
Jermaine Reid, Turks and Caicos Islands Conference youth director, expressed how timely and relevant this march was. “The leadership of Youth Department of the church feels that this is an opportune time to say that as young people and as a church we will not condone youth violence. We are encouraging our young people to make the better choices, and the best choice of course, is to choose Jesus.”
North Bahamas Conference
Youth in the North Bahamas saturated the communities of Eight Mile Rock and South Abaco, on the islands of Grand Bahama and Abaco respectively, to share God’s love. Youth distributed over 100 gift bags of love on each island. One gift bag recipient said “I didn’t have anything to eat for me and my children, I thank God,” noting their deep appreciation for the act of the young people.
In Grand Bahama, the youth also collaborated with the Rand Memorial Hospital and a held a blood drive, where 35 persons were screened to be able to donate blood for use by the local blood bank. Thanks to their sacrifice, many lives will be impacted in a positive way.
Peter Watson, North Bahamas Conference youth director, noted that “Global Youth Day was a powerful reminder that when our young people serve, the church comes alive. I’m incredibly proud of their passion, their energy, and their commitment to transforming their communities through acts of kindness. This year’s impact was truly inspiring.”
South Bahamas Conference
In the South Bahamas Conference (SBC), the young people conducted a community rally and health screening and gave away food packages.
Manessah Simms, youth director of the SBC, noted that “Global Youth Day is more than an event—it’s a mission mindset. It is a call to serve selfishly, impact intentionally, and love unconditionally, and we were excited to see the enthusiasm with which the young people in the South Bahamas engaged their communities in relevant and innovative ways.”
Testimonies abounded of how young people who participated in the activities for GYD were elated to be a part of united, organized effort, and grateful for the opportunity to engaged their communities and make a difference. “Everyone was so receptive” was the description of several team leader. Plans are already underway as many are looking forward with great anticipation to next year’s Global Youth Day events.
As Global Youth Day concluded, it commenced the launch of the annual Youth Week of Prayer in several churches across the union territory. Youth and senior youth will be leading out in night services, from the singing to the preaching, under the theme “ACT: A Community Transformed.”
The ATCU, headquartered in Nassau, New Providence, The Bahamas, comprises 27,694 members across four fields: the Cayman Islands Conference, the North Bahamas Conference, the South Bahamas Conference, and the Turks and Caicos Islands Conference. Additionally, Northern Caribbean University in Mandeville, Jamaica, is co-owned and operated by both ATCU and the Jamaica Union.
Contributors to the article: Devarro Whittaker | CIC Communication; and Jacob Daniel | TCIC Communication