January 3-7, 2007 was the global Third Wave conference for emerging youth leaders, hosted by Nazarene Youth International (NYI) in Johannesburg, South Africa. This was a landmark event for the Asia-Pacific NYI with 37 in attendance from the region.

This only speaks of the exciting things that God is doing on the region for NYI.

These 37 participants represented 13 different countries around the region (Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, East Timor, Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Guam, Pohnpei, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand). For many, it was their first time to ever leave their home country.

The conference was a time to become more globally aware of issues that youth experience internationally and was time of relationship-building, networking, leadership development, and seeing how God was working around the world.

Many of the Asia Pacific participants began to recognize that the problems and issues that are important to them and the youth they represent are similar issues that others face region and world-wide. This awareness and interaction not only served to show how God has and is using youth to address these critical issues, such as social injustices, the need for evangelism, and hope for the future, but it also has begun to show how youth are addressing these issues in various ways around the world.

It is difficult to put into words the power of God at work in seeing newly created friendships as they laughed, cried, and prayed together; as they talked about the issues that youth face in their homes and wrestled with how to minister effectively in these situations; in seeing them worship together singing in their own languages, but united in heart and spirit; and seeing them share communion with one another and in the final service washing one another’s feet.

The two days following Third Wave, the Asia Pacific region had a time of regional training in which they looked deeper into the issues and concerns that youth face and ways in which God has equipped them and the youth they represent to address these issues. There was also a time of leadership development training along with presentations of how they can be more involved in other regional programs such as compassionate ministries and communications. The themes of the regional training time were “God is at work around you,” and “He wants to use you just as you are to minister in these situations.”

A highlight and major theme throughout the event was prayer. In prayer, God gives us His vision of what He is doing around us. Daily, the region met in prayer groups to pray for one another and pray for non-believers and individuals God was calling them to disciple at home. There was also an interactive prayer room, where walls were covered in paper which was covered with the prayers, thoughts, and art of the participants by the end of the conference.

The personal impact that Third Wave made is probably beyond measurement. Amanda Nanpei is from the tiny Pacific Island of Pohnpei. The Church of the Nazarene has only recently been established there. During her time at Third Wave, she began to see that she had a church family from around the world that was dealing with the same issues she and other youth face on her island, and that are praying for her and encouraging her as she continues to help spread the good news of Jesus to her island.

The five participants from Papua New Guinea were so excited of all that God had done throughout the event and in their hearts that they are planning a tour across their whole country to share with youth and youth leaders all that God is doing.

“I am really on fire now” Jacob Urri said on his way to the airport, “we have a duty to share this with the youth and youth leaders across Papua New Guinea.”

One of the miracles that happened throughout the time in South Africa was to see 37 different individuals from a great variety of home situations, countries, languages, backgrounds, and ages come together as one: one in prayer, one in worship, and one in community. It was God’s great hand that brought together the finances, the visa approvals, and the logistics so they could unite with over two hundred Christian NYI from 55 nations.

Events such as the last Melanesia Nazarene Youth Congress, Third Wave, the Australia/New Zealand Nazarene Youth Congress, and upcoming Philippine Nazarene Youth Congress, as well as countless other evangelistic, training, and community building events highlight how God is on the move and setting up the Asia Pacific Region for exciting days ahead.