By By Stanley O. Williford
Director of Publications
Jesus Global Youth Day, the brainchild of a number of denominational leaders from around the world, was held on August 8 through August 10 at the Mall of Asia Arena in Manila, Philippines, and it was designed to impact youth and ministries worldwide.
The Mall of Asia Arena accommodates up to 20,000 persons.
The inaugural event was the outgrowth of the concerns of many leaders “over the growing competition for the hearts and minds of young people” and the fact that many Christian leaders "are finding it increasingly difficult to reach the younger generation for Christ."
According to several leaders, “young people are submerged in a tidal wave of technology and moral revolution sure to make the smart phone and social media craze” appear irrelevant in comparison, according to one press source.
As a result, church leaders are being encouraged to focus on the next generation.
The event reportedly partnered with 10,000 churches and was streamed live to 1,000 locations. According to the source, it had the potential of “reaching up to one million Filipino youth alone.” And it was expected that on August 10, the last day of the three-day event, about 100,000 churches around the world filled with young people would have joined the broadcast.
Jesus Global Youth Day was reportedly conceived by Bishop Efraim Tendero, the general secretary of the World Evangelical Alliance, which is in 129 nations, and Ron Luce, CEO of Generation Next.
