During the Global Youth Summit (GYS) in 2015 in Pennsylvania, USA, Mennonite World Conference (MWC) general secretary César García said, “If you want a revolution, ask someone young to lead.”
This year’s GYS was the latest step in MWC’s journey of walking with young leaders in following Jesus together.
From the creation of the GYS in 2003 in Zimbabwe, through the formation of a Young AnaBaptists (YABs) Committee and creation of a staff role for YABs mentor, young people have had increasing participation in sharing gifts in the global church through MWC.
Space for young leadership grew this year with the first triennial GYS, 29 May-1 June 2025 – occurring halfway between Assemblies.
It was also the first time YABs delegates* met for several days before the GYS, concurrent with the General Council. They shared some worship and resourcing sessions together.
“We aimed to prepare these 38 young leaders to analyze their own contexts and listen to the others… and also learn from others around the world,” said Ebenezer Mondez.
All five continents had at least one representative. “Sadly many others were not able to join due to visa denials.”
“This experience was very enriching for the YABs delegates and opened their eyes to a much bigger church reality around the world,” said Ebenezer Mondez.
YABs proposal
The proposal to include YABs delegates in the body of General Council did not reach consensus. In the discussion that ensued, General Council members affirmed the work of the YABs and the importance of training young adults for leadership. However, there was reticence to bring on a young adult as an additional voting General Council delegate for each full member church.
In the end, the General Council wasn’t ready to make a decision. The decision was postponed for more discernment.
Watching the consensus videos before attending the meetings and seeing it in action at the General Council gave Isaac Gborbitey trust in the process. “If anyone has any questions about us and our involvement, what gifts we bring to the church, how we can work together, it’s good to talk to have to find a way to come together and bring out something beautiful,” said the YABs Committee member for Africa.
“We want to pay respect to the GC process and give reverence to the scale of the responsibility of being in General Council,” said Sebastian Mireles, YABs delegate from U.S. Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches.
“This would be a good opportunity for us, but in God’s time – not ours,” said Laura Mesa Perez, YABs delegate from Anabautistas, Menonitas y Hermanos en Cristo – España (AMyHCE), Burgos, Spain.
Nyah Tindlsey, YABs delegate for LMC, USA, heard the General Council delegates’ concerns about finding capable young leaders. “I made a mental note to talk to my co-youth leader. How are we teaching new leaders to step up when it’s our time to move on?”
“While I’m a little bit sad because I was hoping for a ‘yes,’ it was especially moving that my continent, Latin America, stated that they [GC leaders] will do more discipleship and mentoring of young people for leadership,” said Sol Silva, YABs delegate from Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Argentina. “It is important for young adults to live out biblical principles and show leadership capabilities before becoming a part of the General Council.”
Even with the decision deferred, General Council delegates can still consider young people’s perspectives, said Sumantha Mandi from BCJPM India.
“We could have discussion before they go and make decisions,” said Tusia Andini from Jemaat Kristen Indonesia (JKI church). “This way, their vote will already include our voice.”
“We are learning from the experience of coming to GC and YABs meetings,” said Aman Ganjboir, YABs delegate from Mennonite Church India, and Torsten Sawatzky, YABs delegate from Asociación Hermanos Menonitas, Paraguay.
GYS
Following the energizing day in Zurich, 195 young people attended the Global Youth Summit, Empowered by love” (1 John 4:10).
In total, 51% of young adult participants came from Europe, 24% from North America, 15% from Latin America, 7% from Asia and 3% from Africa.
Worship sessions were led by the young people themselves, with an ad hoc band representing each continental region leading one event. Plenary speakers Anne Hansen (Germany), Maude Burkhalter (Switzerland) and Lane Miller (USA) spoke on ‘Who are we in God’s love?’ ‘What does loving ourselves look like?’ and ‘What does it mean to love others?’
“The highlight of GYS was digging deeper into God’s love with the global family and sharing thoughts with one another,” said Sunil Kadmaset, GYS participant from Brethren in Christ Church Odisha, India.
The three short days were packed with the worship session, discussion groups (by language) and 10 workshops ranging from conversations on the value of community for the Anabaptist family, prayer, mental health, climate to activism (Mennonite Action) and using playfighting to transform aggression nonviolently.
The event closed with a prayer time for the global church. Participants gathered around a large world map to post notes on which they’d written their prayer requests.
“This generated a special moment of bonding in what brought us there: the fact that Jesus is so much bigger than our own communities and calls us to be aware of the global church community, and be actively part of it,” said Valentina Kunze, YABs Committee chair.
“I would like to encourage the youth of all our member Conferences to participate in GYS 2028 that will take place in Ethiopia. It’s a great opportunity to fellowship in-person with other youth from different parts of the world who share our faith. It’s also an important enrichment opportunity to learn from the culture of our Ethiopian host conference, one of the largest in MWC. What a wonderful way to get to know one another and each of our stories!” said Ana María Morales, GYS participant from Colombia.