Oasis: How American Baptist youth are reviving the church
VALLEY FORGE, PA (12/25/2025)—“I matter. My story matters.”
These are the words that many young American Baptists wrote again and again, claiming the power of storytelling, at the American Baptist Youth Convention on November 7-9, 2025, in Lyons Falls, New York. They came together for renewal, reflection, and new friendships. The gathering’s theme was “Oasis” — a place in a “desert of life where participants can find Living Water.”
As denominations worry about the future of the Church, they increasingly recognize that renewal comes from the ground up. Youth ministry is increasingly organized with and by young people, rather than for them. This was recognized by the New York State region, which affirmed the youth-led model in its youth ministry. “Our region has said investing in our youth is the best thing we can do for our churches and for living out our faith,” said Rev. Stephanie Schneider, the American Baptist Youth program director. She emphasized that youth leadership brings creativity, courage, justice orientation, and relationship building to the table.
Members of the American Baptist Youth Cabinet did all the work necessary to make the Convention happen. They planned the entire event, developed theme segments, led small group discussions, designed the worship experience, and served as spiritual and programmatic leaders. They were the architects of this sacred experience, rather than just attendees.
Two American Baptist Home Mission Societies staff members participated in the event: Rev. Dr. Marie Onwubuariri, director of Intercultural Ministries, and Matthew Rivera, national coordinator for Healing & Transforming Communities. Onwubuariri was the keynote preacher, interpreting the symbolic spiritual themes of oasis, desert, and calling in the participants’ lives. She later reflected that “The number of youth who came forward was heartening… you feel what these kids are going through.”
In addition to preaching, Rivera led two storytelling workshops, where he equipped the young people to tell the world about their “aches and cries.” The workshops integrated the Healing & Transforming curriculum, “Prophetic Church / Public Faith,” adapted for youth, and the TENx10 Faith and Service Project that trains young people to tell their stories after mission projects, ministry visits, and conferences. They were organized around the “STORY framework” (Spirit-led/Sacred, Truthful/Transparent, Organized, Real/Revelatory, Yours). Proposing a series of guiding questions, Rivera encouraged the participants to claim their lived experience, faith, and the challenges they face as testimonies of faith.
ABHMS partnered with the NY State region because the region was already invested in the youth-led model through its previous work. It sponsored Ray Chang, who is one of the leadership team members of , a large, collaborative Christian movement aiming to make faith more relevant for 10 million young people in the United States, to lead a one-day adult track workshop on radical discipleship.
The majority of convention participants were Karen youth, and the convention recognized the significance of their leadership and of intercultural representation. Karen youth “are bringing the vibrancy back to the region,” commented Onwubuariri. Schneider emphasized the importance of creating spaces for second-generation Karen youth who may feel alienated by both their parents’ culture and the American culture. In those spiritual spaces “they just get to be who they are,” she said.
At the gathering, the youth were encouraged to share their reflections about their lives and faith. Some realized that “things that I go through other people go through as well, and so telling my story can inspire others to tell their stories.” Another shared, “My story matters because it can bring people closer to God.” Many young Karen people also shared about the challenges in their life, for example the Karen people being mistaken for Koreans. They said that their culture was being erased at such moments. Others wrote that they had to deal with stereotyping by others.
The ABY convention, youth-planned and youth-led, shows that diverse young people are central to ABC denominational life. Departing from old, centralized models of youth engagement, ABHMS collaborates with regions to support youth projects such as this. Join us in supporting youth who are discovering their voices and shaping the church’s witness through regional programs like ABY. Your partnership helps ABHMS nurture disciples who lead with courage and faith. Give today.
By Rev. Dr. Anna Piela, ABHMS senior writer and associate editor of The Christian Citizen
