It all began with a question: What is Pentecost 2025? Then another: What about us?
After Jamal Franklyn, Allegheny West Conference (AWC) Youth and Young Adult Ministries director, described the NAD’s division-wide evangelistic focus, young adult Shawanda Don challenged him to include their youth. With these words, she set in motion a youth evangelism movement within the conference.
Initially taken aback, Franklyn prayerfully reflected on Acts 2, affirming that the promise of the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all people — men and women, young and old. He was further inspired by Ellen G. White’s counsel that children and youth would be witnesses to the truth in the last days.
Convicted that “true Pentecost involves children and youth,” Franklyn “ran across the office” to share this vision with Children’s Ministries director Tanya Muganda. From this first meeting, Pentecost Kids and Youth Pentecost was born under the theme “Rescue+ Ohio” — a multilingual, multicultural creative youth evangelism initiative declaring, “Jesus rescued us, and now we live to rescue others.”
Partnering with ASI to Equip Next Generation Leaders
Franklyn and Muganda began planning in the fall of 2024 with the support of AWC administration, who chose to forego camp meeting and reallocate those funds to Reach+ Ohio. They partnered with Adventist Laymen’s Services and Beyond (ASI) Mission 2000 & Beyond, the Inter-American Division’s children and youth evangelism training program.
The group of missionaries, themselves children, youth, and young adults, supported AWC young people in community projects during the day and the Youth Pentecost series and Pentecost Kids VBS at night. They also provided sermon materials and training in preaching evangelistic sermons.
Franklyn noted that under the missionaries’ tutelage, “children, youth, and young adults were preaching about law, grace, the Sabbath, judgment, and the second coming. No one could say they didn’t understand, because it was coming from [young people] in their language.”
“It was exciting to see God work through our kids and youth,” Muganda added. “The kids felt like they belonged in a way they’ve never seen or experienced.”
Youth Pentecost Highlights
Held July 19 to August 2, 2025, Rescue+ Ohio blended community service with children and youth evangelism. The first week, July 19 to 26, seven Columbus churches hosted simultaneous series in English, French, Haitian Creole, Spanish, and Portuguese. This week culminated in a Festival of Missions at the Luso Brazilian Seventh-day Adventist Church Sabbath afternoon, bringing the host churches together, as Franklyn shared, in “a display of culture, diversity, worship, and celebration.”
The festival featured churches sharing what God had done that week, as well as a baptism. Thirty others were baptized that Sabbath, including 12 Pathfinders from the Philadelphie Church. In a context where church boards are reticent to baptize youth, this moment was especially meaningful.
During week two, the series was centralized at Beacon of Hope Seventh-day Adventist Church, where the sanctuary was full each day as members distributed free backpacks, groceries, food cards, and gas vouchers to the community. Standout moments included youth and young adult testimonies and intercessory prayer.
“ASI Mission volunteers and AWC youth and young adults boldly proclaimed the gospel, testified of God’s power in their problems, and led their friends to be rescued by Jesus,” said Franklyn.
Twenty more baptisms took place at Beacon of Hope, including Kiseki Copeland, then seven, who was one of two preachers that Sabbath and one of three children to get baptized.
Pentecost Kids Vacation Bible School
Under Muganda’s leadership, AWC Children’s Ministries hosted a conference-wide Pentecost Kids Vacation Bible School based on the “Mountain of Miracles” curriculum, which focused on the prophet Elijah. Running concurrently with Youth Pentecost, VBS was held at Philadephie Church week one and at Beacon of Light week two.
Attendance rose from 30 to 40 nightly in the first week to more than 60 the following week, including repeat attendees. The ratio of community and church participants was roughly 50/50, with overall participation higher than AWC has typically experienced.
During VBS, attendees learned about God through activities including crafts, snacks, and games. “They were reminded through Isaiah 41:10, that God’s love is rock solid, He is always with you, and He provides,” said Muganda.
“A lot of kids started telling me, ‘I want to get baptized. I’m so encouraged by this.’ The Holy Spirit had a way of speaking to them during our VBS,” she said. “It inspired me, not only as a leader but [also] as an individual who loves these children and wants to see [them] saved, to see how excited they were.”
Both Pentecost Kids and Youth Pentecost drew entire families, including parents, grandparents, and extended family, to the youth evangelistic series. Pentecost Kids also served as a hands-on VBS training for local church leaders.
Ongoing Rescue+ Disciple-Making Initiative
The effort resulted in 51 baptisms and helped launch a growing culture of children’s and youth evangelism. Evidence of this growth was the transformation of AWC children, youth, and young adults who served in leadership roles. They led out in every aspect of ministry, from preaching to audio-visual operations to program logistics. As they contributed their gifts, many were moved to get baptized.
Moreover, Rescue+ Ohio affirmed young leaders in their calling. For instance, Shawanda Don, whose query started the effort, served as the series’ production manager. She coordinated program run-throughs, schedules, giveaways, and other logistics, ensuring that everything ran smoothly and on time.
Judy Beauvais, youth leader for the Columbus Central Church and evangelist for Youth Pentecost, noted, “Preaching gave me the opportunity to sharpen my skills and helped me grow in confidence.”
Reflecting on the initiative, Franklyn was clear that the success of Pentecost Kids and Youth Pentecost was a credit to the young people involved. “There needs to be a culture shift in our leadership. Youth need to be at the table, not just informed of a decision, not just handed a promotional flyer for an event meant for them, but not planned by them,” he concluded.
Building upon the positive impact of Rescue+ Ohio, plans are underway for a Youth Pentecost and Pentecost Kids initiative in 2026. This program will showcase the young adults’ creative gifts and feature presentations and training on mental health. AWC leadership has committed to continuing with dedicated child and youth evangelism in Cincinnati (2027), Virginia (2028), and Pittsburgh (2029).
What began as a conversation has grown into a movement. AWC leaders hope the initiative will serve as an example of how the church expands when young people are trusted to lead.
Franklyn and Muganda expressed gratitude in particular to Marvin C. Brown, III, AWC president, Joel E. Johnson, executive vice president, and Keisha A. Stubbs-Bone, chief financial officer; Helen Hernandez, their shared departmental assistant; Minger Nesmith, AWC Bible worker; ASI NAD; the local host churches and pastors; and other supporters.
Click here to read about how Rescue+ Ohio has inspired other churches across the conference.
