Ministry is the focus of the new publishing programs in the Pacific Union and our youth are carrying this banner with great success.

This summer, the Pacific Union will be hosting nine literature evangelism programs. Each program will have 15 to 18 students and three or four leaders. They will be sleeping on gym or church floors, cooking their own food and spending most of the day preparing for or doing ministry. Every day, each student will knock on 100 to 150 doors, sell 10 to 15 Magabooks (magazine-like books) and give away scores of copies of Happiness Digest (Steps to Christ).

The Pacific Union Youth Rush (literature evangelism) ministry has a new element — after each sale, the buyer takes a small survey that offers cooking schools, stop-smoking classes, Revelation seminars and Bible studies. Many Magabook programs employ a Bible worker who organizes and starts Bible studies with individuals and trains local church members to give Bible studies. Youth and church members are now joining together to spread the gospel into all the world.

A major benefit of the Pacific Union’s Youth Rush program is that it helps supplement the cost of Christian education. The average student earns approximately $3,000 for the summer and many Adventist schools match these funds up to 25, 50 and even 100 percent, depending on the school. This gives many Adventist youth who may not be able to afford Christian education the ability to attend Adventist schools.

One of the greatest blessings of the Youth Rush program is what it does for the personal characters of the young people. Youth who share Jesus with people on hot, sticky summer days do not leave their faith easily. This is a ministry that grounds young people in their faith and walk with Jesus.

In the last five years, Youth Rush programs have involved more than 830 students, sold materials of approximately $3.9 million, $2.6 million of which went to scholarships for Adventist education. Students knocked on 4.7 million doors and more than 516,000 books were distributed. They distributed hundreds of thousands of Discover Bible study request cards and cultivated thousands of Bible study interests for local churches.

Souls West

The Pacific Union started Souls-West five years ago. This college equips young people for personal evangelism and teaches leadership skills. This month, 43 students will graduate from Souls-West. Seventy percent of Souls-West graduates are currently working full time for the Church. Thirty-eight graduates will be involved in summer programs. Souls-West is also involved year round in programs like It Is Written’s “Net 2006” meetings in Phoenix, Ariz., and San Francisco ’s “What’s Next” project. They are finding Bible study interests, giving Bible studies and training church members to do outreach and Bible work.