In 2011, a group of young students from the River Plate Adventist University, located in Entre Ríos, Argentina, had a dream to organize an international event that would gather young people together who wanted to be missionaries and world leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
The main purpose of this event was to motivate and train the participants to fulfill the Great Commission that Christ left us in the Bible: to preach the gospel to the ends of the Earth. This dream came true in the first edition of “I Will Go”, which was held that same year. On Wednesday, September 13, the third edition of the International Conference of Public Campus Ministries, “I Will Go”, began in the institution that started the event.
More than 1400 people from all around the world registered to share experiences, sum up strategies and respond to God’s invitation to live as genuine disciples of the Lord. “Every true disciple is born into the kingdom of God as a missionary […]The grace of Christ in the soul is like a spring in the desert, welling up to refresh all, and making those who are ready to perish eager to drink of the water of life.” (The Desire of Ages, 195.)
Representative space
During the event, devotionals were presented, as well as plenary lectures, testimonies, and training workshops. Two Missionary Festivals offered the opportunity to participate in the many stands related to different mission opportunities in the region. Each stand reflected some of the local missionary work and included the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) in Argentina and more than 30 missionary groups that belong to the host institution and other institutions belonging to the Argentina Union Conference. The booths also had service opportunities and testimonies from several South American countries, the Middle East and Central Asia. The missionary festivals were opportunities for the youth’s passion for service to meet the need for volunteers in different regions of the world.
Master Horacio Rizzo, Head of River Plate Adventist University, explained what “I Will Go” represents, “Today we have the opportunity to dream and to inspire hope again with the passion of training our highly qualified youth for the exercise of their profession with the distinctive seal of service, and the main goal of disciple new generations, being committed to the mission of serving wherever they are needed.” He also emphasized the extent that this event had in the world’s missionary field in so few years of existence, “More than 200 young people who studied at this university have gone to serve around the world, in about 20 countries, 10 of which are located in the 10/40 Window.”
The participants of the event found it to be an excellent opportunity to grow in their commitment of sharing God’s love around the world. “I Will Go means to be willing to listen to God’s call to fulfill the mission in any part of the world,” said Andresy Pimentel, who is from Brazil and is participating in the event.
Eva Martínez, Chilean, shared her vision of this Congress, “I Will Go gives you the chance to interact with people who can teach you how to be a missionary in other parts of the world, in such a way that Christ reaches the heart of the people.” she said.
“This Congress is an opportunity that the Church provides for the new generations to be involved in the mission of preaching the gospel of Christ. It is very nice to see such a big group of young people willing to accomplish that goal,” said Bill Quispe who came from Peru and was very impressed with what he found during the “I Will Go” congress.
“It is both a commitment and a privilege being able to prepare ourselves to be missionaries. Nowadays, there are many young people who want to work for God, but don’t know how; this is why this Congress is so important: it trains and offers opportunities to serve,” concluded Antonio Pedroz, who travelled from Paraguay.
Enjoy more stories from this event at www.uap.edu.ar or through the River Plate Adventist University’s social networks (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram: UAPArgentina.)