The Q1 2025 Youth Week of Prayer's theme was Focusing Our Eyes on You, which began with the Word of God and ended with a baptism.
It began on Sunday with Elder Lewis Geter II, Sport Director at Ron Ronser Family YMCA, introducing the 4Ps: Prepare, Position, Purge, and Perform. Prepare involved prayer, Bible reading, and listening to those who know Jesus. Position emphasized focusing on Jesus, attending church, and keeping the Sabbath holy. Purge meant removing distractions from one's spiritual journey, while Perform encouraged attentiveness and kindness to others.
Monday evening’s focus was the story of Naaman and the little captive maid (2 Kings 5:1-19) when attendees learned how God uses unlikely individuals to fulfill His will. The simplicity of the maid's words led to Naaman's healing and a great material reward. This story also prompted reflection on how Ellen White, with minimal formal education, started the vision that birthed institutions like Loma Linda and Andrews University, impacting many lives.
Wednesday evening featured a panel discussion with the panelists addressing topics such as the distinction of the Adventist Church, the definition of a Christian, and their ministry involvement. Thursday’s focus was on the spiritual message from Matthew 4:4 and John 6:35, highlighting that Christ, the "Bread of Life," nourishes everyone. The Youth Week of Prayer emphasized that Jesus' message is for all ages, with the responsibility to share it with the world. We ended the evening with an outdoor campfire filled with fellowship, songs, testimonies, and laughter. Friday evening, we held a prayer and testimonies service. We sang songs and gave praises to God for the week and welcomed God’s Holy Sabbath. We also prepared to celebrate the baptism of one of our youth during the Saturday morning service, when we will also host Pastor Sherilyn O’Ffill, Associate Youth Director, Potomac Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, as our guest speaker.