About 1,300 leaders and youth attended the annual Hispanic Youth Congress held in the Hall of Liberty at Forest Lawn–Hollywood Hills, with additional weekend presentations at San Fernando and Lynwood Spanish churches.
Jose Andasol said, “We announced this youth congress for all of the youth in Hispanic churches, and we specifically called all youth in music ministry in the churches. I said to pastors, ‘If you can’t send your youth, at least send the music team!’” Andasol is the outgoing president of the SCC Federación de Jóvenes Adventistas (FJA), the sponsoring organization for the weekend.
The youth congress was titled “The Language of Music” to reflect the messages of featured speaker and author, Bryan Neumann. According to Andasol, “Neumann had been in a rock band for 16 years that was number one on the charts in Europe and South Africa. He converted to Adventism and is now active with two ministries, Amazing Discoveries in South Africa and U.S.-based Amazing Facts, presenting a series on worship music.
“His weekend presentations for SCC youth focused on using Scripture-based music. ‘Music rooted in Scripture will not divide churches,’ Neumann told the young people.
“We had many good comments on the presentations,” Andasol reported. “A Spanish pastor’s wife who attended all three meetings, said, ‘These meetings are such a blessing! They are what I really need for my church and for my family.’”
Andasol stated, “‘Several of our youth approached me afterward. One young man said, ‘We usually don’t hear specific messages about music, so it was really helpful to hear detailed points about it from the Bible.’"
Andasol added, “I was pleased when a number of church music team leaders told me, ‘This presentation has really changed our viewpoint. We are going to start changing the music approach in our churches, and we want to teach the youth the principles we have learned this weekend.’”
SCC Hispanic Region Director Alfredo Lee said, “Bryan Neumann’s presentations were insightful and a blessing for those who attended. I believe many will be blessed as they explore further the concepts in ‘The Language of Music’ presentation.”
Federación de Jóvenes Adventistas (Hispanic Youth Federation) leadership is already working on plans for the 2006 youth congress.
