I recently hosted the first-ever Let's Connect Live in the Atlantic Union territory. The program, designed for youth and young adults, aired live on auam.tv, the Internet site for the Atlantic Union Adventist Media (AUAM), a self-supporting media ministry of the Atlantic Union. At the event, held at the Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in Harlem, New York, I was joined by the youth directors of the two New York City conferences (Northeastern and Greater New York) and the Atlantic Union. We responded to the tough questions youth are asking. This included questions that came in live from viewers using Facebook.

It was an exciting experience to interface with the young people from the Atlantic Union through this youth-favored medium and to have the opportunity to emphasize the importance of center-staging the youth as important in the life of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. (See story on page 4 of this issue.)

Permit me to emphasize once more that the Seventh-day Adventist movement was started by youth and young adults in their teens, 20s and 30s. What a tremendous opportunity we have to again mobilize our "army of youth" to win, make, and send disciples to a world filled with hopelessness. I'm convinced the time has come to marshal all believers to deploy themselves for the mission of Jesus Christ! This includes the paid and unpaid, male and female, junior/senior high and college/university students, evangelists and pastors, experts and novices, and youth workers in all settings—big and small, rural, urban, and suburban, and struggling and growing churches.

We ought to be passionate about rallying students and youth for the cause of Christ. From the school campus to the church, we must empower our youth to reach this generation with the gospel of our Savior.

I believe that involving young people in ministry is part of the transforming intent of God. He has sent us to make disciples who, in turn, will make disciples. This involves helping them discover, develop, and deploy their gifts and talents while growing in their understanding of and communication with the Word of God.

Youth who are trained and "prayed up" will be ready to take youth ministries to the next level. That means they will be ready to go! Go where? Go to a world desperate for hope—sharing the gospel of hope.

Please join me in praying for all of our young people that they may become ambassadors and champions for God, ministering His love as a way of life for themselves and others.

Donald G. King is president of the Atlantic Union Conference and chairman of the Atlantic Union College Board of Trustees.