More than 750 young people gathered at Yarra Holiday Park in NSW for Converge, an annual Australia-wide youth conference held this year from February 13 to 16.
The event included worship programs with guest speakers, water sports, boot camp, workshops and designated time to mingle with one another and purchase food and drinks at the café. There was also free time where attendees headed to the beach or hiked the surrounding areas.
Pastor Rick Hergenhan, who was appointed last year as Australian Union Conference (AUC) youth director, said Converge began as a way for people to be able to “come hang out with Jesus and do it in such a way that you could bring a secular friend who could hear the Gospel message and be challenged to take the next step with Jesus.” He also mentioned that the main speaker, Pastor Edsel Cadet, “articulated the Gospel in a beautiful way.”
Pastor Cadet, pastor of Berea Adventist church in Boston, Massachusetts (USA), spoke about the pain of living in a sinful world. “But we’ve been greatly loved,” he said. “The love of Christ heals and restores us, and because of that love, we’ve also been greatly called.”
Pastor Cadet also ran a relationship workshop on Sabbath afternoon, where he touched on the psychology of relationships through a Christian lens, finishing with a Q&A session.
Pastor Lyndelle Peterson, AUC ministerial secretary, presented the final session on Monday morning, focusing on developing a relationship with Jesus.
Each conference was represented at Converge, with a significant number of people—around 90—coming from Western Australia for the first time. Western Australian youth also ran the music and hosted each program.
William Mata, second year theology and ministry student at Avondale, said he loved the whole Converge experience when he came last year, and this year wanted to bring some friends and family. “My favourite part is always socialising and meeting new people,” he said. “I saw a lot of new faces this year, especially from WA. I think it’s important to make connections and build a community in Jesus.”
Pastor Hergenhan emphasised that looking forward his main emphasis is supporting young people. “We want them to go from being under the care of their parents to being independent young adults who function as part of God’s kingdom, building the church here in Australia and taking the Gospel message forward.”
