The youth ministry of the Church of the Nazarene in Rositer Carballo, Costa Rica, is experiencing significant growth since adding a new ministry.

After a challenging year for the church’s youth ministry in 2021, the pastor and some church leaders felt the need to restart the ministry in 2022. So, without a youth president, they began to meet on Friday nights to play board games and share a snack.

Initially, two or three young men arrived. After some time, Justin, 23, took the challenge of leading the group, made several changes that would allow him to function better, and worked on forming a team of people to work with him. One of the changes was to include biblical teachings in the meetings.

Justin said this change was prompted by an 18-year-old newcomer who asked if, in addition to having regular activities, the leaders could also share a biblical message with attendees.

Currently, about 11 people are part of the youth ministry team, and about 65 young people meet every Friday.

"Worship is different now, with different activities including God's message," Justin said.

The lives of many young people are being transformed through these gatherings. Mabelyn, a young woman who attends the meetings, said that a friend invited her and during the time of worship, she felt that God spoke to her.

"I felt like God spoke to me," Mabelyn said. "He hugged me and said, 'daughter, I had waited for you for quite some time. Never again will you feel that you are alone. I have always been with you, and I will continue to be with you.' At that moment, I felt peace, strength, joy, and tranquility. That day was one of the best in my life because I felt like I was never alone. God was always with me."

Currently, Mabelyn serves as part of the youth ministry support team. She said the youth group helped her discover she had talents and that she has seen God's hand at work in her life and in the lives of the young people attending.

Nicole Viviana, another of the young assistants, said that she lived believing that her life was perfect being away from God. But one night, God spoke to her.

"That same night, I wrote to my cousin, we talked, and he invited me to the meeting of young people," Viviana said. "Since then, I have been following Christ for one year now. "

--Church of the Nazarene Mesoamerica