Attending conventions within the North American Division is always an engaging experience. There is the promise of exceptional speakers, vibrant music, interesting breakout sessions, and an exhibit hall overflowing with new organizations to discover. Yet for many, as wonderful as the schedule may be, it is not the highlight of the convention weekend. What makes conventions such as the 2024 Adventist Young Professionals Conference exciting, is the whole person benefits of connection and community. 

We cannot deny the convenience of technology. The Internet has brought the world to our front door, and a wealth of information into our hands. When the pandemic forced us into virtual silos we found amazing advancements that expanded our reach beyond physical connection. But nothing can replace a good old-fashioned, in-person conference. The power of these events lies in the opportunity to meet and mingle and engage in full personhood.

There is a heartwarming camaraderie in meeting someone in a shared discipline. For example, this year's AYP convention in Houston, Texas, hosted hundreds of attendees despite the setbacks and headaches of collecting during what has been dubbed “The biggest IT blackout in history” and those who made it were met with endless opportunities. Breakout sessions on emotional regulation, practicing perseverance, and others reminded attendees that our lives are not as easily compartmentalized as individuals in the workplace, especially for young people. Not engaging in healthy boundaries with work can lead to burnout and emotional dysregulation. In the same way, neglecting our identity as a child of God to focus on our identity as a worker can have equally disastrous effects.

At the conference, young adults from across the world had the opportunity to meet peers, former classmates, and new friends. Professionalism in a secular sphere is one thing, however, Christ-followers exploring their professional goals adds another element. Within the secular world, networking is a necessary feature within corporate systems that allows a soft introduction and subtle probing of potential business partnerships. It is the nature of the beast and Adventist professionals are no different. Yet the conversations taking place amongst peers at the AYP convention contain an element normally missing from secular networking: faith. 

It is not unique nor groundbreaking that a faith-based convention would contain faith-based conversation yet the understanding that no matter the topic, a mutual love of the Gospel offers a grounding connection. Across exhibit halls, lunch lines, dining halls, hotel lobbies, and even bathrooms people connected on a level that goes beyond professional or even personal, but into spirituality. This is a whole-person connection that recognizes the integration of faith and profession. 

A 20-something from Ontario with a creative arts ministry spent hours in conversation with a 30-something editor for a magazine from Arizona, bonding over how their journeys of faith led them to their profession. Many individuals have had moments where their faith has influenced the way they engage in their profession, whether it is as an accountant, a healthcare administrator, or as someone who works directly in ministry. Conventions for specific professions are called to exist as more than research and network opportunities for people trying to make money, but as spaces where people can explore a larger calling. 

Orchestrating a good convention is one thing, but recognizing that the human element is what makes it impactful is another. Convention attendee Sofia Hernandez, a graphic designer, said “A lot of work conventions can be really helpful but they can be a bit cold and you never know how you’re going to connect to people. Here I know that I can talk about my walk with Jesus and how it influenced me to pursue design. In other conferences, I feel like there’s this chunk of my identity as a professional that [people] can’t connect to.”

The 2024 AYP convention and others like it have an impact when this human element and spiritual element are allowed to flourish. We as Christ-followers have the benefit of identifying as more than just our profession and recognize that following Christ means we have a stewardship to do our work and do it well. To exist in spaces where our careers and our faith are acknowledged and encouraged in equal measure is to recognize that we are more than employees, but kingdom workers.