On Sabbath, Feb. 9, young people from around Northern California convened at the Meadow Vista church for a day of testimonies, fellowship and outreach. They gathered to learn from many speakers who shared lessons learned and wisdom gained.

The day began with a testimony by Cosmin Ritivoiu, outreach director at Weimar Academy, who emphasized the necessity of relying on Christ rather than friends, and that a relationship with Christ provides a guide for true reality.

Robert Ross, pastor of the Meadow Vista and Colfax churches, then taught from the Sabbath school lesson that the core of discipleship is to center on Christ rather than self.

By 11 a.m., the church was filled to overflowing with more than 200 people, at least 80 percent of whom were youth.

The rally’s featured guest speakers were Rich and Susan Kollenberg of the Lincoln Amazing Grace company. Rich explained how he went from drugs and rock-and-roll to a new-heart experience, showing that God is in the business of taking lives that appear to be too “messed up” to be fixed and turning them into a powerful witness for Him.

After a haystack dinner, Tim Taylor held a brief training session for outreach and Lindsey and Danny Garza addressed common objections and challenges. Then more than 50 people piled into cars and visited 228 homes in Meadow Vista and the surrounding community, where four mail-in, five in-home, six children’s, and 10 neighborhood Bible studies were requested. This was the highlight of the day.

Upon returning, Susan Kollenberg shared how drugs, men, music and lies were her “fix” to fill the gaping void she felt in her life. Her conversion experience began in prison, and she soon realized that God was the only one who could truly fill her heart. Rich concluded the presentation with a brief discourse on rock music and its origin, physiological effects on the human body, and pervasiveness in today’s society.

Dave Steward, a prosecuting attorney who most recently practiced in Southern California, gave the day’s final message. He grew up a nominal Seventh-day Adventist, but surrendered to Christ in a warehouse while attending a rave. “The great controversy is a battle, and God and Satan are fighting over your soul,” he emphasized.

Set in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, the Meadow Vista church is home to an active youth group that spans all ages, where activities such as this recent event and many others are planned with them and the entire church family in mind.