When was the last time you sat in complete and total silence? When was the last time you sat in complete and total silence with 1,300 teenagers? When was the last time you sat enveloped in the presence of God with your heart overflowing with love and gratitude listening to sacred music with hundreds of young people, most of whom cannot speak due to the upwelling of emotion in their souls? Does this sound impossible? With God all things are possible!

In April of this year at Youth in Mission, I experienced these things and felt the words of the prophet Isaiah, "The work of righteousness will be peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance forever." (Isaiah 32:17) We all felt those words because we were in the presence of the Holy Spirit and, “where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom.” (2 Corinthians 3:17) We were free from anxiety. Free from guilt and sin. Free from selfish ambition. Free from arrogance and pride. Free from this temporary world. And what a blessing it was!

The presentations were simple, straightforward, and Bible based. No frills, no manufactured excitement. How then were the youth so moved, and so obviously impacted? How was it that they were so interested in the plain teaching of God's Word? In 1 Kings 18 we see two groups of worshipers and they are in conflict. A test is determined to find out who it is that worships the true God. Who is it that has a connection with the divine? The prophets of Baal put forward extraordinary effort to gain the attention of their God and in spite of all the display there is no fire. No power. No Spirit. Their antics prove ridiculous when put to the true test and are shown to be mere pretense. How different is the worship and prayer of Elijah? How simple? How ordinary? He does not need to overcompensate. He does not need to work himself up into an emotional frenzy. He simply kneels and prays and the fire of God comes with the confidence that can come only with a living connection to the Creator; the man of God pours water on the altar. Most Christians today would rather pour gasoline on it.

At Youth in Mission we preached and we exercised faith in the One who said, “Ask and you will receive.” He blessed and for His sake we testify. God is on the move and he is calling young and old to be a part of what is beginning to happen in our church. Specific appeals were made on the last two nights of the conference. “Commit a year of your life to full-time ministry in some capacity.” Hundreds of youth responded. “Be baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Hundreds responded. “Answer the call to pastoral ministry.” Over 20 responded. “Attend a mission school like LIFE, Amazing Facts, Josiah Mission, or ARISE.” Hundreds responded.

What are you doing with the life God's given you? Are you doing anything to assist the youth in the call that they are pursuing? Where are you investing your treasure? Why not seek God's call in your life? Why not be more than a spectator in these last days?

Youth in Mission is a South German Union Conference initiative geared toward inspiring and encouraging young Adventists. Its fourth annual conference was held in April 2010.  Matt Parra, the associate director of ARISE, preached the evening meetings.

AYC (Australian Youth Conference) 2010 was the third installment of a youth conference that began because of a desire among the Adventist youth of Australia to fulfill the gospel commission. Matt Parra was invited as a plenary and workshop presenter along with Pastor Dwight Nelson of Pioneer Memorial SDA Church, Peter Gregory of Iona Missions, and Dr. Neil Nedley of Weimar Center of Health and Evangelism.

Over 900 young people gathered at two sites (Melbourne and Sydney) to be inspired, challenged, and trained to share their faith in the risen Saviour. Not only were the youth hearers of the Word they were also doers as they went out from door to door doing surveys and seeking for those who were interested in studying the Bible. Dozens of Bible study contacts were made and a faithful group of It Is Written Bible workers are already following up those interests. Matt Parra testified that he had the best time going door-to-door that he has ever had during a youth conference.

God is working through various ministries in these last days in order to achieve His objective of alerting the world of His soon return. ARISE is blessed to be a small part of what He is doing and we, along with ministry partners like you, can praise Him for what He is doing. If you have not already, will you join with us as we continue to inspire, train, and empower our young people to serve God with their whole hearts?

Between his time as the Director of ARISE and preaching the Gospel around the globe, David Asscherick has found the time to produce two books.

The first, entitled God in Pain, looks to answer the age-old question, “If God is so good, why is there suffering in the world?” Follow Pastor Asscherick as he goes straight to the Bible to resolve the problem of evil and its impact on our daily lives.

The second, entitled Twice Upon A Time, is a biography of David Asscherick and, longtime friend and co-founder of ARISE, Nathan Renner. Written by their close friend, Jennifer Jill Schwirzer, this book walks through the inspiring testimonies of how two people came from a world of punk-rock and atheism to become passionate ministers for the Lord.

Both of these books are available through Pan de Vida Productions. Contact them today at www.ppvida.com or 1-866-772-9368.