5th Adventist Young Professionals Convention Equips Young Adults for Christ-Centered Impact
By: Gerald Bedney, Vice President for Strategy & Brand Development
Adventist Young Professionals (AYP) has officially concluded its fifth annual convention, “Behold,” held from July 17-20, 2025, in Houston, Texas. Marking a new milestone, this was AYP’s first four-day convention, drawing hundreds of young adults back to Houston for a second consecutive year of connection, growth, and worship. United in their pursuit of spiritual renewal, leadership development, and meaningful connection, attendees gathered for a transformative experience of Christ-centered programming, inspiring messages, and dynamic community engagement.
Themed around the sentiments of Isaiah 43:19, the weekend invited participants to pause, reflect, and behold the new things God is bringing into their lives, while also intentionally recognizing where His hand has been at work in the past.
General Sessions
Our two keynote speakers, Dr. Calvin Kim, ASI Vice President for Evangelism and co-founder of F5 Challenge and Pickleball Joy, and Dr. Eric Walsh, physician, administrator, and renowned speaker on Christian living, led attendees in dynamic general sessions filled with insights from their personal journeys and practical, biblically-based wisdom that young professionals could immediately apply to their lives.
These messages were beautifully underscored by the spirit-filled worship of Contagious Faith, whose melodies created an atmosphere of reverence and opened hearts in anticipation of the impactful messages that followed.
Breakout Tracks
Throughout the weekend, participants engaged in powerful breakout sessions, featuring over a dozen speakers and facilitators. Notably, AYP introduced four distinct tracks focused on key areas of interest for young professionals:
- Relational growth (Stephen and Felecia Lee)
- Missional impact (Clifmond Shameerudeen & Umesh Nag)
- Personal growth and development (Dana Philossaint)
- Leadership track (Alex Bryan)
These sessions fostered practical learning, and created environments for spiritual enrichment and community building.
Kevin, a returning attendee, shared, “What stood out to me most was how relevant every session felt. The speaker lineup was really strong this year—whether you came for professional development, spiritual growth, or community, AYP created a space where all those needs could be met.”
Outreach Projects
For the third consecutive year, AYP kicked off the convention weekend with a specific focus on outreach. This year though, rather than being a pre-convention activity, an extra day allowed for a full afternoon to be dedicated to outreach efforts.
In collaboration with Adventist Community Services, attendees served on four distinct initiatives: supporting refugee families, beautifying a local school, writing encouragement cards for global missions, and assembling cooling packs for local outreach. The project gave attendees a tangible opportunity to live out Christ’s call to love and serve others.
Chiemela, a first time attendee, shared: “This was my first convention, and I’m so glad I came. I really enjoyed the whole weekend, but if I had to pick a favorite part, it would be the outreach on Friday. The people I connected with there ended up being who I spent time with for the rest of the convention, and the outreach itself was a huge blessing. I definitely felt the Holy Spirit there.”
Moving Forward
With a global network now surpassing 12,000 young professionals, AYP continues to see God move in unexpected and powerful ways. The organization’s focus on discipleship, leadership development, and chapter-based community has resonated with a generation seeking both purpose and belonging.
AYP Founder and President Tim Kosaka shared, “This year’s convention was a clear reminder that God is not finished with this generation. He is doing a new thing, and AYP is honored to be a part of the story He is writing through young professionals around the world.”
He added, “As we move into the next year, we are committed to serving our members even more effectively, and building a sustainable future for AYP by continuing to invest in the support of local chapters, expanding missional outreach, and equipping leaders to reflect Christ in their day-to-day.”
2026 Convention
AYP’s sixth annual convention will take place in the Austin, Texas area from August 20-23, 2026, and our theme is Unshaken! To stay updated or register, visit AYP.me/Convention.
Sponsors
Adventist Young Professionals was blessed to have 40+ sponsors partner with us for this year’s convention.
The exhibit hall showcased a diverse mix of ministry, education, and mission-driven organizations offering opportunities for professional and spiritual development. Attendees were able to network with peers, learn about global impact initiatives, and explore how they can integrate faith into their career paths.
One exhibitor, Cinthya from Hope Channel International, mentioned, “This is my third year attending, and my second year as an exhibitor. Every year, meeting fellow exhibitors and talking with them about the exciting projects we are all working on is so fun. And, of course, seeing friends I’ve made at previous conventions is always a highlight.”
Each and every one of these sponsors played a pivotal role in making this event a reality, and AYP is deeply grateful for their collaboration. In particular, the following are some who went above and beyond to demonstrate their belief in AYP’s mission and commitment to empowering the growth and development of young professionals around the world:
Diamond
Emerald
Platinum
Gold
Silver
- Good Life Coaching
- NAD Volunteer Ministries
- MyDonors
- Waters AV Productions
- Texas Conference of SDA
- Kentucky-Tennessee Conference
- La Sierra University
About Adventist Young Professionals
Adventist Young Professionals (AYP) is a global organization that fosters Christ-centered community through faith development, authentic connections, and ministry engagement. AYP globally unites and locally connects over 10,000 young professionals through a digital social network, virtual groups that foster intentional Christ-centered discussions, and local city-based chapters that collaborate with churches to facilitate spiritual gatherings, service activities, and social meetups. With an emphasis on missions, AYP seeks for all of its programs to unite, engage, and inspire young people to glorify God. Beyond fostering intentional community, AYP educates young professionals for missional impact through an annual convention, mentorship, and inspirational devotional resources. For more information about Adventist Young Professionals, visit www.AYP.me/about.
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