On June 19, 2026, approximately 130 young people from different churches came together at Cana Baptist Church for another regional gathering of the Youth Ministry of the Association of Baptist Churches.
The evening was much more than another event on the calendar. It was an opportunity for young believers from different congregations to worship together, form friendships, grow in their faith, and be reminded that following Jesus is a journey we were never meant to walk alone.
The gathering began with prayer and a warm welcome from the church pastor, Hani Ballan, who expressed his joy in hosting the gathering and encouraged the young people to continue building fellowship and growing spiritually together.
The local youth group helped create an atmosphere of joy and connection through an interactive activity, followed by a meaningful time of praise and worship. Young people from different communities became one congregation for the evening, lifting up the name of the Lord together.
At the heart of the gathering was a challenge to move beyond simply believing in Christ toward intentionally following Him as disciples.
After a short word of encouragement from Fairuz Ballan, the young people participated in teaching centered on discipleship. Elias Sidran and Hanna Najjar led the two parts of the teaching, focusing on what it means to follow Christ and to live as His disciples in everyday life.
This is one of the central goals of ABC’s Youth Ministry: not simply to organize successful gatherings, but to help develop young men and women whose faith shapes their everyday choices, relationships, churches, and communities.
The evening concluded around a shared meal, giving participants time to connect personally and build relationships between the different youth groups and churches. The gathering became another important step toward strengthening unity among our young people and encouraging them to grow and serve the Lord together.
These moments matter.
When young people discover that they belong to something larger than their own local youth group, new relationships are formed, leaders are encouraged, churches become more connected, and opportunities for shared ministry begin to grow.
We are grateful for everyone who serves, prays, gives, and partners with the Association of Baptist Churches to make these opportunities possible. Together, we can continue creating spaces where the next generation is equipped not only to know about Jesus, but to follow Him faithfully and carry His light into their communities.
