This past summer, the Northern California Conference Youth Rush team knocked on doors for 10 weeks in over 28 communities around northern California. Youth Rush is comprised of both academy and college-age students both from northern California and out of state. The team worked out of the Red Bluff church and reached communities as far south as Colusa and as far north as Yreka. “The Red Bluff church was excited about the Youth Rush literature team coming,” said Ken Swanson, pastor of Red Bluff.

In spite of record high temperatures, enthusiasm ran even higher all summer as 13 students and three leaders watched people’s lives being impacted by their visits, their literature and the Holy Spirit.

Students were never quite sure what to expect behind each door. Rachel Fox, a 2006 graduate of Redding Adventist Academy, met a man at the door who had just been diagnosed with colon cancer. She was able to have prayer and leave him with a More Choices cookbook for his body and Peace Above the Storm (Steps to Christ) for his heart.

People often wonder if door-to-door work is still effective. A letter received from Steve Raley, a Youth Rush contact made this summer in Chico, Calif., indicates that it is.

“A young lady named Sarah Ward stopped by our house this afternoon representing your organization. She was extremely polite, well-spoken and a joy to visit with. I am a Bible teacher at a local evangelical church and am unfortunately wary of anyone coming door-to-door offering books and Bible studies. I have long had friends in the Seventh-day Adventist Church and am glad to help. It is nice to see polite, nicely-dressed young people come to the door.”

The impact of what these young people accomplished this summer will never be fully known this side of Heaven; what is known is the impact on young people’s lives right now. “Working as a student LE [literature evangelist] was a great experience for me,” said Dyannah Eloi, a senior at Rio Lindo Academy. “I got the opportunity to experience a relationship with God and what it’s like to be a real Christian.”

If you are a young person age 16 or older and would like information on how to be a part of next summer’s Youth Rush program, please contact Steve Nicola at 707-431-5100, ext. 125, or snicola@ncc.adventist.org.