In 2021, the Young Adults department of the North New South Wales (NNSW) Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in collaboration with South Pacific Division (SPD) Literature Ministries, launched a pioneering ministry project called Youth Rush. This program, a new initiative for Australia, has since become a staple ministry event on the youth calendar and cornerstone of evangelistic outreach in NNSW. In the years since its inception, Youth Rush has blossomed into a highly successful movement, partnering with local churches to (so far) run six programs in various locations in NNSW including Hamilton, Tamworth, Kempsey, Raymond Terrace, Muswellbrook, and Warners Bay and has also expanded to almost every other Conference in Australia. With its profound impact on both the participants and the communities they serve, Youth Rush has emerged as a transformative experience, engaging young people from a wide variety of different backgrounds in the mission of the church.
So what is Youth Rush all about?
Youth Rush was designed with a clear goal: to engage young people in frontline evangelism, equipping them with the tools and training necessary to share the gospel through literature distribution, prayer, and Bible studies. The program’s format typically includes an initial week of training, followed by active outreach in the community. During these outreach weeks, participants go door-to-door offering Adventist literature, praying with residents, and establishing connections for ongoing Bible studies. The program not only focuses on sharing the gospel with others but also emphasises the personal spiritual development of its participants. Through daily worships, prayer, active service, sharing of daily testimonies and divine appointments and Christian fellowship over meals, and leading out in church services on Sabbath’s at host churches, participants find themselves growing in their relationship with Jesus, developing leadership and communication skills, receiving mentorship and gaining valuable experience in ministry.
The success of Youth Rush lies not only in the number of participants (each program attracting 20 to 30 young people) or in the evangelistic success (with each program representing thousands of books and tracts shared, residents prayed with, and bible study contacts generated) but in the transformative experiences these young evangelists undergo. One young adult described Youth Rush as a life-changing experience; “I really loved going to Youth Rush. The group setting established at the program helped to inspire and encourage each other in witnessing. I was also really blessed and challenged by some of the morning worships. And I cannot leave out testimony time in the evening, which was so powerful and such a blessing to hear the ways in which the Lord is working”. The impact of Youth Rush has also been felt by the families of participants. One parent expressed their gratitude for the program, noting the positive change in their child’s life: “My boy came back changed. I really hope you offer this program again and again as it is so positive for so many reasons!”
Looking Ahead
As Youth Rush continues to grow, so does its potential for furthering the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in NNSW and beyond. With plans already underway for the next program in Ballina this October, and for a 3-month program that laps around Australia in 2025 (coinciding with the 100-year anniversary of literature evangelist Nevill Westwood circumnavigating Australia while sharing literature in a tiny Citron 5CV car affectionately known as ‘Bubsie’), the future of Youth Rush looks bright. The consistent participation and positive outcomes from previous programs have solidified its place as a vital component of youth ministry in the NNSW Conference.
The success of Youth Rush also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of investing in young people and providing them with opportunities to engage in meaningful mission work. Ellen White emphasised the value of involving young people in the church’s mission: “With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world!” (Education, p271). The Youth Rush program exemplifies this vision, empowering a new generation of Adventists to carry the gospel message to their communities and beyond.
Youth Rush has not only been a success in numbers but in the deep, spiritual impact it has made on the participants and the communities they have served. As the program continues to expand, it promises to bring even greater blessings to the NNSW Conference and the wider Adventist Church.
Would you like to see Youth Rush partner with your local church? We are looking for more locations and churches to partner with in 2025 and beyond so would love to discuss partnering with you and your church leadership team to bring light to your community.
To learn more about Youth Rush or register for upcoming programs please visit our NNSW Youth Rush website (https://nnsw.youthrush.au/) or the SPD Literature Ministry website (https://literatureministry.info/youth-rush/). To register for the upcoming Literature Ministry Summit celebrating 175 years of Adventist literature please visit https://literatureministry.info/summit-2024/.
