Chris Franklin
Chris Franklin
Chris Franklin
On a cool fall weekend in Raleigh, North Carolina, young adult leaders, local pastors, and church members gathered for a transformative experience of worship, conversation, and community. The Young Adult LIFE Tour (YAL) event, hosted by the Southern Union Conference and supported by the Carolina Conference, created space for meaningful dialogue and practical training to grow young adult ministry where it matters most: on the ground in the local church.
Those who gathered on October 24-25, 2025, in the Raleigh ARC recreation center were there for a purpose. From panel discussions and spiritual reflections to informal conversations around a bonfire, attendees were equipped to lead and encouraged to belong. Many participants described the event as uplifting, eye-opening, and long overdue.
“I didn’t even realize how much I needed this,” said Stesha Rampersad, director of nursing and Sabbath School leader at Pursuit Worship Church in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It taught me a lot about myself as a leader, but also how to empower other young adults to step up and serve.”
That sense of empowerment was echoed by other attendees. Jordan Davis, a student at Union College and young adult leader at Calhoun Church, said the LIFE Tour helped him see how God is actively working in young adults’ lives. “It was a blessing to be on the panel, make new friends, and learn more about how God leads us,” he shared.
The gathering brought together a diverse mix of backgrounds and church experiences. For Emmanuella Goureige, an OT technician and vice president of the South Atlantic Conference Haitian Adventist Youth Federation, seeing other young adult leaders in action was especially meaningful. “It was a joy to be part of something where I could learn from others and also see God’s Work in different communities,” she said.
The tour stop in Raleigh marked one of the final events in a multi-year initiative launched by North American Division [NAD] youth and young adult ministries. The Young Adult LIFE Tour began with a simple but urgent goal: help churches that love their young adults but don’t always know how to start or grow ministry with them. Built on four key priorities — Leadership Impact, Intergenerational Relationships, Faith Development, and Everyday Compassion — the tour has brought practical tools and encouragement to churches across the NAD.
“The joyful atmosphere of all who were there demonstrated a sincere desire for community and connection to the family of God,” said Leslie Louis, president of the Carolina Conference. “It was a special blessing.”
“In young adult ministry, it is super important that we continue to innovate forward and not just continue doing what we have been doing,” said Tracy Wood, D.Min., NAD youth and young adult ministries director. “We must keep pushing outward beyond our natural limits to connect with young adults in ways that will speak their language and connect in their world.”
The format of the LIFE Tour has done just that. With a balance of spiritual depth, ministry training, and real-life storytelling, it has shown how young adults are not only capable of leading — they are already doing it. “It was a great time to meet other leaders and share about our ministries,” said panelist Samar Ojha, a data analyst and young adult leader at Raleigh Church, noting he wished there had been even more time for collaboration.
Ross Knight, Raleigh pastor, shared, “It was a blessing to see so many young adults gathered for the purpose of learning best practices in young adult ministry.” “My prayer is that they take what they’ve learned and use it in their home churches.”
The Young Adult LIFE Tour may be wrapping up, but its mission is far from finished. A new chapter begins with the first-ever NAD-wide Young Adult LIFE Experience, set for January 23-25, 2026, in Louisville, Kentucky. The event promises to bring together young adults, ministry teams, and mentors from across the Division for a weekend of worship, training, and community.
Whether just stepping into leadership or already mentoring others, young adults across the Southern Union are finding their voice, vision, and purpose. And as the Young Adult LIFE movement continues to grow, one message rings clear: young adults are not the future of the Church, they are the Church now.
Carolina | January 2026
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