7 Sep 2026, 22:11Shola SemakulaValència, Valencia, Spain
AYC Valencia - "Made for More"
Welsh Mission Youth at AYC Valencia
Young people from across the Trans-European Division (TED) gathered in Valencia for AYC Valencia, a youth congress that brought together young people from across the Division. For our small delegation from the Welsh Mission, it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the wider community of young people from across the British Union Conference (BUC) and TED.
The theme of the congress was “Made for More,” inviting young people to step into the life of fullness and flourishing that God has designed for them. The theme challenged participants to consider not only who they are, but who God is calling them to become.
Pastor Ivana Mendez led the morning devotions, exploring three key themes: made for belonging, made for believing and made for becoming, all through the lens of Abram’s story. These sessions encouraged the young people to reflect on their identity, their relationship with God and the journey of becoming all that God has called them to be.
The morning devotions were followed by small-group discussions and a variety of workshops, giving the young people opportunities to engage more deeply with the themes and to learn from one another. The main speaker for the evening services was Pastor Damian Chandler, whose ministry brought powerful messages that challenged and encouraged the young people in their faith.
Worship was also a significant part of the congress, with diverse groups and praise teams from across the TED leading the young people in worship. Every day, Psalms 139:7-14 was read by a young person and during the divine service Joshua from our Welsh Mission had the privilege of doing the scripture reading. For many of our Welsh Mission young people, seeing and worshipping alongside such a large and diverse community of young Adventists was a powerful reminder that they are part of something much bigger than their local church or region.
But AYC Valencia was not all theology and teaching! There was plenty of time for socialising and enjoying the experience together. Excursions into Valencia gave the young people an opportunity to explore the city and experience a different culture, while the evening lounge provided a relaxed space to mingle, play games and sing together.
For our young people from the Welsh Mission, AYC Valencia was a truly memorable experience. It allowed them to build new friendships, experience a different culture and connect with a much wider community of young people who share their faith. Most importantly, they returned having been challenged in their faith, encouraged in their walk with God and reminded that they really are made for more.
Welsh Mission Youth at AYC Valencia
Young people from across the Trans-European Division (TED) gathered in Valencia for AYC Valencia, a youth congress that brought together young people from across the Division. For our small delegation from the Welsh Mission, it was a wonderful opportunity to connect with the wider community of young people from across the British Union Conference (BUC) and TED.
The theme of the congress was “Made for More,” inviting young people to step into the life of fullness and flourishing that God has designed for them. The theme challenged participants to consider not only who they are, but who God is calling them to become.
Pastor Ivana Mendez led the morning devotions, exploring three key themes: made for belonging, made for believing and made for becoming, all through the lens of Abram’s story. These sessions encouraged the young people to reflect on their identity, their relationship with God and the journey of becoming all that God has called them to be.
The morning devotions were followed by small-group discussions and a variety of workshops, giving the young people opportunities to engage more deeply with the themes and to learn from one another. The main speaker for the evening services was Pastor Damian Chandler, whose ministry brought powerful messages that challenged and encouraged the young people in their faith.
Worship was also a significant part of the congress, with diverse groups and praise teams from across the TED leading the young people in worship. Every day, Psalms 139:7-14 was read by a young person and during the divine service Joshua from our Welsh Mission had the privilege of doing the scripture reading. For many of our Welsh Mission young people, seeing and worshipping alongside such a large and diverse community of young Adventists was a powerful reminder that they are part of something much bigger than their local church or region.
But AYC Valencia was not all theology and teaching! There was plenty of time for socialising and enjoying the experience together. Excursions into Valencia gave the young people an opportunity to explore the city and experience a different culture, while the evening lounge provided a relaxed space to mingle, play games and sing together.
For our young people from the Welsh Mission, AYC Valencia was a truly memorable experience. It allowed them to build new friendships, experience a different culture and connect with a much wider community of young people who share their faith. Most importantly, they returned having been challenged in their faith, encouraged in their walk with God and reminded that they really are made for more.
