Gamanya Metellus is a 24-year-old Flight Attendant and Haitian Creole Interpreter based in Philadelphia, PA. Born and raised in Haiti, she moved to Brooklyn, NY in 2016. After five years in Brooklyn, she relocated to Philadelphia for a year, then to Central Florida for about two and a half years, and is now back in Philly.
Gamanya was raised in a Catholic household that believed in God but didn’t actively walk in faith. Her personal journey with God deepened when she fully embraced the Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) faith at age 13 in Haiti and was baptized. She quickly became active in church through choir, Pathfinders, outreach, children’s ministries, and by helping wherever needed. Despite facing hardship and what felt like persecution from her own mother, she remained committed to her faith and surrendered her struggles to God.
A Hug from Heaven
During her preteen years, Gamanya battled depression and anxiety, compounded by bullying at school. She often felt an emotional void — like she needed a warm hug from someone who truly understood her. Although she attended evangelistic campaigns at Jerusalem SDA Church of Bizoton during the week, she never worshipped on Sabbath until a friend moved into her neighborhood. That friend consistently invited her to church and modeled a peaceful faith that inspired Gamanya. Eventually, she agreed to attend worship — and never looked back.
She was quickly embraced by the church community and became active in the youth choir and other ministries. Her mother, seeing her genuine commitment, began supporting her journey by buying her clothes and shoes for church and even encouraging Gamanya’s younger sister to get baptized as well.
Having once lived a life without strong spiritual commitment, Gamanya has no desire to return to it. She knows firsthand what she’s leaving behind — the “forbidden Adventist meats,” alcohol at a young age (which was not illegal in Haiti), and a lack of spiritual grounding. For her, choosing to follow Christ is far more fulfilling than anything she left behind.
She discovered Adventist Young Professionals (AYP) somewhat randomly on Instagram. After following the account, she created a profile on the AYP website and joined the Orlando WhatsApp group. Her first event was a spiritual flow potluck at someone’s home. Without a car, two AYP leaders offered to pay for her Uber so she could meet someone who would drive her to the event. Their kindness meant everything. While living in Florida away from family, she found community through AYP Orlando. She loved the weekly Wednesday night check-ins and prayer, Saturday discussions, and fun hangouts like indoor rock climbing. For the first time in a while, she felt connected to like-minded people and truly included.
Convention Moments That Mattered
Naturally drawn to anything geared toward Christian young adults, Gamanya was eager to attend the AYP Convention. The 2024 convention was her first, and she went with a large group from AYP Orlando. She enjoyed every moment — the sermons, workshops, game nights, small group discussions, exploring Houston — and returned in 2025 as a volunteer. That second convention, she says, was even better. “My teeth were out all four days from laughing,” she recalls. “A time definitely was had.” For her it was the combination of little things that made the experience special: recording a podcast at the Stewardship Planned Giving & Trust Services booth, assisting with the relationship workshop as an AV and timekeeper, going to do mission outreach, and bonding with others over her love for Korean dramas on the bus.
Looking Ahead
Not quite sure where God is leading her next, Gamanya is interested in exploring short-term mission work. She connected with Adventist Medical Evangelism Network (AMEN) at the convention and is excited about what they offer. She also has a passion for helping young SDA singles meet—not only potential romantic partners but lifelong friends as well. She co-admins two such communities: the WhatsApp group “SDA Singles Connect: Uniting Hearts Worldwide” and a platform called “AdventCourtshipConnections” on Discord and Instagram. She loves watching shy individuals break out of their shells and form new, meaningful connections.
For Gamanya, part of her calling is to be a welcoming presence for those who feel like they’re not enough or unworthy of taking up space—because she understands that feeling deeply. She strives to be the person she once needed. Her encouragement to other young professionals?
“NIKE things out—Just Do It! Whatever it is that’s on your heart to bring positivity and change in your world, do it. Do it scared, confused, unsure, perplexed, broke, whatever. Take the first step in faith, put God throughout, and walk in courage blindfolded. Let go and let God lead you.”
She stands on the promise of Isaiah 26:3:
“God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him.”
And her final word?
“So trust in Him. You got this — because God’s got you.”
Want to experience the kind of community Gamanya found through AYP? Find a local AYP chapter near you. Ready to support the mission? Your generosity helps us keep creating spaces for young adults to grow in Christ.
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