By Shenalyn PagePosted July 15, 2025
Over 500 youth and their families attended the fifth annual Amazing Facts Youth conference, Vertical Vision: Learn to Look Up, from June 11 to 14, 2025, with as many as 1,500 attending the Sabbath services. Held at the Granite Bay Hilltop Church on the Amazing Facts W.O.R.D. Center campus, the Spirit-filled conference inspired young people to stay focused on Jesus and provided them with practical tools for their spiritual journey.
“Vertical Vision was a huge blessing to me!” said Elliana, from San Diego. “All the speakers had such powerful messages. I could tell the Holy Spirit was speaking through them. It was also encouraging to meet fellow youth who love the Lord. By the end of the conference, my faith was greatly strengthened, and I feel so encouraged to make changes in my life for Jesus!”
The weekend also included outreach activities, a special concert on Sabbath afternoon put on by the young people, and afterglow sessions. Delicious meals prepared and served by volunteers provided the perfect venue for young people to build meaningful friendships. A special Amazing Adventure program designed for children aged 7 to 11 was also held.
The Holy Spirit’s Moving
God worked powerfully to reach the hearts of the young people. “I’ve been to past AFY meetings and all of them have been powerful,” said Benjamin from Costa Rica. “But this time I saw people listening who I thought maybe didn’t care. I saw a movement within God’s people—the Holy Spirit was working.”
Pastor Doug Batchelor, president of Amazing Facts International, saw the same thing: “Sometimes you can just sense the Lord parting the waters. He did that at AFY 2025. It increased my belief that God really wants to reach the youth at this time in Earth’s history.”
Young people, and often their parents, streamed forward for appeals given throughout the weekend. “It was thrilling to see the youth dedicating themselves to serving the Lord,” said Tony Scarpino, AFY coordinator. “Vertical Vision left a deep and lasting impact. I saw so many encounter Christ in a fresh, powerful, and deeply personal way. There were so many divine appointments!”
Inspiration to Look Up
Weekend speakers challenged the youth to put away distractions and focus their energy on knowing Jesus and sharing Him with others. Pastor Doug, Carlos Muñoz, David Shin, Dr. Eric Walsh, and Oceana Munsey each gave inspiring messages and participated in a question-and-answer session.
“I truly felt God working in my heart during AFY 2025,” says Misha, who traveled from Tennessee to attend. “The speakers openly addressed issues that youth face today. I learned why and how to guard my mind from worldly influences and instead lift my eyes to God. I experienced a spiritual revival and feel a deeper desire to lead others to the same truth and live with intention away from the world’s influence.”
“It’s so refreshing to hear speakers preach the truths that are hard to hear but need to be said,” added Natalie, who watched from Chicago. “The messages were engaging and gave me practical ways to strengthen my faith and focus the habits and decisions I make on Christ. Every young person should come in person if possible—or watch online!”
Family Blessings
Many families traveled long distances to attend Vertical Vision. They came from Florida, New York, Washington State, Southern California, and everywhere in between. One family had never been to a Sabbath-keeping church but had been watching Amazing Facts programming and decided to attend.
Jessica and her family made a three-week road trip from Virginia to attend the youth conference. Her 13-year-old daughter, Isabel, was baptized on Sabbath afternoon. “It’s been a huge blessing for our family to be here. We’re really happy that Isabel could be baptized as part of this weekend.”
Janine brought her four children from Southern California to Vertical Vision. “It’s the first time we’ve been to an AFY conference,” Janine shares, “but we’re so glad we came. It’s been such a powerful thing to see how it’s affected my kids and their commitment to follow Christ and live for Him.”
One father said, “I had lost hope for my daughter. I’ve been trying to hold her back from the world but was almost ready to give up. Thank you for giving me hope to keep praying for her.”
“The Amazing Facts Youth Conference marked a before and after in our family,” said a family from Alaska. “We returned home with a renewed and firm decision: to keep looking up, cleanse our lives from every trap of the world, and pursue our sanctification with diligence and joy. We’re already planning to come back next year—and bring others with us!”
Outreach Opportunities
On Thursday and Friday afternoons, AFCOE instructors Carlos Muñoz and Daniel Hudgens taught the youth how to share their faith. Their enthusiasm for witnessing was contagious, and over 100 young people went out each afternoon to pray with people and give out free copies of Footsteps, a reprint of Steps to Christ by Ellen White. Many came back with stories to tell.
Eden from New Mexico reported: “We went to a park to witness. Some people gave us a cold shoulder, but we were able to give books to several people. It was my first time doing something like this, so I’m glad I was able to get over the dread of it.” It was the first time for many of the other kids as well.
Some of the young people got creative. One group went into Walmart and prayed for the people they saw there. Another group of boys slipped them into unexpected places in a grocery store and dropped them in shopping carts. The Farnham family played their guitars in front of a local music store and gave books to people who came by. A duo of girls left books on park benches. “They kept disappearing,” Abby said. “So it must have been working.”
“Attending the AFY Conference was such an enriching and spiritually reviving experience!” says Alyssa, who came from Georgia. “Being able to serve alongside my friends, meeting and connecting with new people, and hearing impactful sermons really encouraged me to dive deeper into the Word. It was a great reminder of how we, as young people, can be a light in this world and an example this generation needs!”
Get Connected
Amazing Facts Youth also hosts two weekly youth-led meetings online. “Hey Let’s Pray” is a prayer meeting for youth that meets every Monday at 6:00 PM PT. AFY Live vespers on Fridays at 6:00 PM provides a place for youth to draw closer to God, share their talents, and build friendships with other young people who love God.
Recordings of the Vertical Vision sessions are available for viewing at www.afyouth.com.