Donna-Marie Rowe, ContributorThousands of young Christians from across the island are expected to be at the National Stadium tomorrow, to participate in a spiritual experience that promises to take them to another level in in the service of God.
The event is the eighth staging of the National Youth Congress, a major annual event hosted by the youth arm of the Jamaica Pentecostal Union (Apostolic).
The last such congress was held in 2000 with speakers Bishop Leo Lewis of Alabama and Pastor Wayne Malcolm of London. Overseer Dexter Edmund, an ordained Minister in the United Church of Jesus Christ (Apostolic) and Pastor of the Abundant Life Community Church in Laurel, Maryland, United States is this year's guest speaker. He has a driving passion for restoration as he leads the large gathering of young people into a closer walk with Jesus Christ.
Mr. Edmund teaches the gospel of the kingdom with power and demonstration and will explore the theme of the congress, "Thy Kingdom Come and be Established".
A graduate of Morgan State University in the United States,
The overseer received the call to ministry in the second year of his studies.
He has a strong heritage in spiritual growth and development passed down through his family. Both maternal grandparents were preachers as well as his father, mother and brother, Pastor Peter Edmund.
As a pastor and evangelist, he travels extensively preaching the gospel throughout Jamaica, Canada, Europe, United States, Africa, and South America.
Other activities planned for the day are: children church, gospel extravaganza featuring the congress mass choir and a panel discussion on planning for retirement.
The congress promises to be spirit-led and a fulfilling experience for believers as well as those who desire to be used by God.
It is also the first of other events being planned by the youth arm in a bid to strengthen the resolve of Christian youth to evangelise Jamaica for Jesus.
