Dokoda Holt-Sharp left the Global Young People’s Convocation with a renewed passion for ensuring young people are fully involved at every level of leadership in the Church.
DOKODA HOLT-SHARP
Director of Children, Youth, and Family Ministries, Ludington UMC
When I boarded the plane for the Global Young People’s Convocation (GYPC) in Dublin, Ireland, I knew I would attend an incredible event. What I didn’t anticipate was how deeply it would shape my heart, my ministry, and my vision for the future of the Church.
One of the first things that struck me was the incredible diversity around me. Everywhere I looked, there were people from different countries, speaking different languages, and carrying different traditions and experiences. At first, those differences were simply fascinating. But as the week unfolded, they became something much more meaningful.
Despite our different cultures, languages, and backgrounds, we gathered for the same purpose: to worship our Creator and seek God’s vision for the future of the Church. There is something incredibly powerful about hearing voices from every corner of the world lifted together in praise. Even when I couldn’t understand every word, I understood the language of worship. It was a beautiful reminder that God’s Kingdom has never been confined by borders, cultures, or languages. We are one family, united by Christ.
One of the greatest blessings of this journey was the opportunity to bring two youth from my church along. Looking back, I don’t know if I can fully put into words what it was like to watch their transformation throughout the week.
Like many young people, they arrived with varied expectations and comfort levels. New environments can be intimidating, and meeting people from around the world can feel overwhelming. But day after day, I watched them grow. They began building friendships across cultures, participating more fully, asking deeper questions, and discovering they truly belonged in this global community of faith.
Watching their confidence grow and their passion for ministry ignite was one of the greatest gifts I’ve ever experienced as a youth leader. It reminded me that sometimes all young people need is the chance to see what God is already doing in the world. Once they see it, they begin imagining how God can use them, too.
Perhaps the biggest lesson God taught me during the convocation was about the role of young people in the Church. I have always believed that youth matter and that they should have a seat at the table. But this experience challenged me to think even bigger.
I left Dublin with a renewed passion for ensuring young people are fully involved at every level of leadership in the Church. I want to see young people preaching, leading worship, facilitating conversations, serving on committees, organizing events, advocating for justice, and helping shape our denomination’s direction. They shouldn’t simply be included because they represent the future of the Church. They should be empowered because they are an essential part of the Church today.
That realization has changed me.
The Church is strongest when young people aren’t waiting for permission to lead but are empowered, trusted, and equipped to use the gifts God has already given them. Their voices matter. Their ideas matter. Their leadership matters. Not someday — but right now.
As I reflect on everything I experienced in Dublin, one emotion stands out above all others: hope.
In a world that often focuses on declining church attendance or the challenges facing Christianity, I experienced something entirely different. I joined more than 600 passionate disciples from around the world who love Jesus deeply, care about their communities, and are committed to building a Church that reflects God’s love for all people.
I came home more convinced than ever that the future of The United Methodist Church is incredibly bright. The passion, creativity, compassion, and leadership I encountered among young people from around the world left me inspired beyond words.
The Global Young People’s Convocation reminded me that the Church is bigger than my local congregation, bigger than my conference, and even bigger than my country. God is powerfully present across the world, and young people are helping lead that movement.
I am grateful to have witnessed it firsthand. Even more, I am grateful to return home with a renewed passion for investing in the next generation, creating space for young leaders to flourish, and continuing to build a Church where everyone knows they belong.
If this is what the future of The United Methodist Church holds, I cannot wait to see what God does next.
Youth and young adult attendees of GYPC received partial financial support through grants from the Board of Young People’s Ministries and district grants, made possible by generous financial gifts from local United Methodist churches in Michigan through Ministry Shares. Thank you for investing in our young people! Learn about the impact of Ministry Shares on mission and ministry in Michigan and around the world.
Last Updated on August 3, 2026