CARIBBEAN UNION CONFERENCE

Youth, Chaplaincy and Public Campus Ministries

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Marvin Smith

Mr. Chairman, members of the Executive Committee, delegates, special guests and members across the Union. 

It has been a sacred privilege to serve the youth of the Caribbean Union Conference (CARU) during the quinquennium and to contribute to the forward movement of God’s remnant church in our region. Ministry to children, adolescents, and young adults remains central to the mission philosophy of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and the Caribbean Union continues to regard youth ministry as a top strategic priority, an essential dimension of the Church’s mission.

This report covers the period July 2022 to July 2026 and presents the major initiatives, engagements, outcomes, and emerging priorities of the Youth, Chaplaincy and Public Campus Ministries Department. It is offered in a spirit of accountability, gratitude, and hope, recognizing that “we are God’s fellow workers” (1 Corinthians 3:9), and that all true success in ministry is the result of His grace.

The period under review was characterized by a gradual transition from the profound disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic to a more stable ministry environment. This unique context shaped both the content and the methodology of our work. It demanded a deliberate focus on spiritual renewal, relational reconnection, and the rebuilding of youth structures at every level of the church local congregation, district, field, and Union. Our efforts were intentionally directed toward presenting our youth “perfect in Christ Jesus” (Colossians 1:28), recognizing that they stand on the frontlines of contemporary cultural and spiritual challenges.

Throughout the quinquennium, the department intentionally aligned its vision and operations with:

  1. The strategic direction and mission priorities of the Caribbean Union Conference
  2. The Inter-American Division (IAD) Youth Ministries strategic emphases
  3. The global focus of the General Conference Youth Ministries on “Total Youth Involvement”, discipleship, and mission

This threefold alignment ensured that our youth ministry in CARU remained contextually relevant to the Caribbean reality, while fully connected to regional and global Adventist mission strategies.

Our work during this period has been organized around three key strategic issues:

  1. Personal Spiritual Growth and Maturity
  2. Church Growth and Consolidation
  3. Evangelism and Community Outreach

These pillars are a major part of the strategic focus of the Caribbean Union and reflect the balanced Adventist understanding of mission nurturing believers, strengthening the body of Christ, and reaching the world with the everlasting gospel.

In keeping with the counsel that with “an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained” (Education, p. 271), the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might quickly reach the world, this department has sought to train, mobilize, and support the youth of CARU for faithful service and mission. What follows is a narrative of God’s leading and the cooperative efforts of His people across the Caribbean Union during this quinquennium.

To preserve the integrity of the document, the report is provided in full as a PDF. This ensures that all images remain intact, unaltered, and accessible in their original format.