WAY Vespers brings Young People together across Melbourne
Vaai Tanuvasa
Published
On April 24, young people from across Melbourne gathered once again for another powerful night of worship, fellowship, and community at the most recent WAY (West Adventist Youth) Vespers event. It was beautiful to witness people attending from the western suburbs, the south side, and other regions around Melbourne. The night showed the growing diversity and unity that continues to shape the WAY movement and its community.
The evening was filled with praise and worship; the mix of intimate worship songs and classic church hymns had the youth singing together in harmony. The atmosphere allowed for a meaningful space for young people to commune with God and connect with one another.
Special items throughout the night included a choir performance from Melton Samoan Adventist Church and a solo item from Werribee Samoan. Each item brought its own style and touch from God, highlighting the different cultures and talents shown within the Adventist youth community.
The hosts, who were recognised from the Victorian Adventist Big Camp, Amanda and Gabriel, helped set the tone for the evening by bringing the hype. From the beginning of the program, they connected with the crowd through different moments and an icebreaker that had the audience singing, giving a welcoming atmosphere.
The youth were blessed to hear the message God gave to Jeremy Choo, who shared a message centred on the true meaning of the church. He reminded young people that the church is not a building, or a place people attend, but rather the people themselves. “Church is not something you go to or leave, because you are the church,” he shared.
Jeremy also convicted the youth by revealing how we tend to see church as a program, and rate our experience based on things like sermon length, song choice, or lunch preferences. He challenged us to change our perspective, explaining that the foundation of the church is a community centred on God and built on worship, community, and mission. Worship reflects the upward relationship between people and God, community reflects the inward relationship within the church family, and mission reflects the outward relationship between believers and the world around them. Through these foundations come fellowship, prayer, and connection with others.
To finish the night, the youth gathered for food and fellowship, prepared by Melton Samoan Adventist, who served haystacks and burrito bowls to everyone. The shared meal gave young people the opportunity to continue conversations, build friendships, and strengthen connections across different churches and communities.
As WAY continues to grow, events like these continue to show the impact of bringing young people together in worship, unity, and purpose across Melbourne.
Images by Kimberly Peñate
