By Lauren Davis

HAMILTON, ON - On Saturday, March 21, 2026, youth and young adults from across Hamilton gathered at the Really Living Centre and Seventh-day Adventist Church for an afternoon of service to the local community. The initiative was part of the annual Global Youth Day, a worldwide event observed by Seventh-day Adventist churches on the third Saturday of March.

“We printed 1000 cards to distribute to the residents of Hamilton that share a message of kindness and prayer,” said Hamilton Mountain SDA Church Youth Leader Akehil Johnson. 

Participants had the opportunity to take part in one of three outreach activities:

1. Preparing meals and care packages for individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown Hamilton

2. Handing out notes of hope in the parking lot of Limeridge Mall

3. Participating in a prayer walk along Twenty Road

In preparation for the outreach, a Global Youth Day worship service was held at Really Living, beginning with a Sabbath School panel hosted by the Really Living Podcast. Panelists included youth and young adults from Hamilton Mountain SDA Church, Hamilton East SDA Church, and Heritage Green SDA Church. The theme of the discussion was Practical Ways to Strengthen Your Relationship with Jesus.

Throughout the conversation, several key insights stood out.

“It’s important to start your day with Jesus,” said Hamilton Mountain Youth MJ. “Pick up your Bible instead of your phone.” 

“The hardest part of a relationship with Jesus is the start,” said Heritage Green Young Adult Kailey. “Just know you will never be perfect, so you don’t have to wait to begin.” 

“Be real and be genuine with Jesus,” said Really Living Young Adult leader and podcast co-host Hanna. 

Really Living Podcast Sabbath School Panel

In his closing remarks, Hamilton East young adult and podcast co-host Romaine Knight emphasized the importance of faith, reminding participants that “without Jesus, the world is doomed.”

These messages stayed with the group as they went out into the city to serve later that afternoon.

Following the outreach activities, participants reconvened at Really Living to reflect on their experiences. Many shared stories of meaningful interactions as well as personal challenges. 

Really Living youth member Sofia Dell’Erba was part of the team handing out notes of hope. She described an interaction that challenged the group when an individual declined the message due to concerns related to their sexual orientation.

“When she responded negatively toward us, it took us off guard,” said Dell’Erba. “That taught us there will be difficult encounters, but don’t let that discourage you from outreach activities. We still had lots of fun handing out the cards. We sang songs, had some races, and enjoyed staying positive.”

Really Living Youth Members Sofia Dell'Erba and Lenie Hannes.

Shenae Williamson, a young adult from Hamilton East, participated in the prayer walk. During the walk, the group encountered a man who plays pickle ball at the Really Living Centre during the week. They spent about twenty minutes talking as he shared his testimony, and their time together concluded with a group prayer.

The team serving individuals experiencing homelessness in downtown Hamilton included young adults from McMaster University’s Adventist Christian Fellowship group, Cornerstone, who regularly spend time supporting the local community.

“Today was a wonderful experience,” said Cornerstone member Jasmine. “Everyone was open and engaged, and we even met up with the Bronte Seventh-day Adventist Church from Oakville, who were also serving meals.”

Shayne Brooks, speaker for the morning worship service and Youth Week of Prayer evening meetings, shared a meaningful moment from the day. One of the youth participants, Marco, spent time speaking with a homeless resident who revealed that he, too, was a Seventh-day Adventist. The man expressed deep gratitude for the interaction, describing it as an experience that “humanized” him and others in his community.

The day concluded with evening worship, games night, and a reminder that we are not only called to listen to the sermon, we are called to be the sermon.