These are the questions that nearly 1,000 young people reflected on during a long weekend in Waterloo, Ontario as part of this year’s All Ontario Youth Convention (AOYC).

While this annual conference traces its roots all the way back to 1975 when a group of young adults began hosting province-wide gatherings for young people within the Christian Reformed denomination, today it draws youth and leaders from a variety of denominational backgrounds all across Ontario! World Renew is blessed to be a part of this long weekend event each year as well as partner in an annual Spring Break “service and learning” trip with AOYC attendees.

All of the activities for this year’s AOYC weekend event were built around the theme of “Imago Dei”—“Image of God.” From soccer and ultimate Frisbee, to personal devotions and mass worship, young people were encouraged to reflect on God’s intent for their lives as His children. They also learned about the importance of meeting people in their brokenness as a way of living out their identity as Christ’s image bearers.

This theme was rooted in 1 John 3:1: “See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him.”

1 John 3:1 also fits well with the youth team that went to Nicaragua with World Renew from March 13-21.

During this trip, the team of seven young people and three leaders took part in small construction projects, enjoyed times of fellowship and worship, and also developed relationships through games, question and answer sessions, and other activities with the local YMCA group in Santa Lucia.

Some of the young people who participated in this Spring Break trip also shared about their experience at AOYC in Waterloo.  They led two workshops about what it was like to walk alongside and learn from God’s children in Nicaragua.

“I really enjoyed holding the Nicaragua trip learning session for others,” said team member Bethany Goral. “I liked seeing all the people who were potentially interested in going on the trip, as I had such a good time and I want everyone to experience what I experienced in Nicaragua.

“Everyone who to the workshops came seemed interested and excited,” said World Renew staff member, Ryan Geleynse. “It was a great way for more youth to learn about World Renew’s ministry and think about the opportunities to serve internationally through the Global Volunteer Program.”

In addition to workshops, World Renew also had a main stage presence and a booth during AOYC where they encouraged attendees to learn more about and get involved in World Renew’s ministry. This year’s both focused on raising awareness and support for adolescent health programs in Senegal, where poverty can place young people at an increased risk of early marriage and other harmful activities.

Over $750 was raised—and all of it is matched 3:1 by the Canadian government.

As a way of creatively engaging youth and leaders with the theme “Image of God”, participants who visited the World Renew booth also had the chance have their caricature drawn by professional portrait artist, Robin Oakes. These portraits contained the message “Created in Christ to Do Good Works”. The portrait pages were then collected and posted on a wall to create a mural that emphasized that each person is a beloved child of God, made in His image and worthy of love, dignity, and the opportunity to live out their potential.

"AOYC was a great experience. Even though it was my first time attending the convention, I felt at home and comfortable immediately,” said Leah Drost, who was also a member of the AOYC-World Renew team that went to Nicaragua in March. “Personally, my favorite parts of the convention were the prayer sanctuary, where I really felt God's presence, and also the various times throughout each day where we could all come together in worship. Those two parts of the convention really made my experience, and I wish that I had been able to go in previous years as well!"

World Renew is deeply grateful to all who make the AOYC event and partnership possible! These opportunities equip today’s youth to grow in their faith and celebrate being children of God who are created to do good works in His world.

 

PHOTO ABOVE: Caricature Artist Robin Oakes