I am so Salty

“I am so Salty” was the theme for the Young Adult Weekend in Red Deer on March 10-11, 2023. It was hosted by Pastor Donovan Diminyatz and the Epic Church.

We used the word “Salty” because it’s a popular slang word in pop culture amongst the youth demographic. Meaning they are hurt, angry, resentful, bitter, slighted or annoyed over something.

Some young adults now a days are salty about church, family, friends, school or even work.

But it’s also a double entendre. “Salty” also meaning …as Christ followers we are the salt of the earth. But the challenge today is how are we supposed to be salt of the earth if your salty about Christianity and the church?

We were so grateful to have Pastor Paulo Tenorio from Texas. Paulo Tenorio was born in Paraguay to missionary parents. They moved to Washington, D.C., in 2000. After graduating from high school, he served as a missionary in South Korea. That’s when he felt God’s call to ministry. He graduated from Southern Adventist University and completed his Masters of Divinity at Andrews University. He served as a chaplain at South Texas Christian Academy for two years. He then worked as an associate pastor for Austin Spanish First and Kyle Seventh-day Adventist Churches as well as the Central Texas Youth Area Coordinator.

Paulo served as Texas Conference Youth Director for over seven years and is now leaving with his wife and two daughters to be missionaries in Guam-Micronesia.

He shared a powerful story of how he was injured by an accident while lifting a heavy box. This accident left him in a wheelchair for many months. He even mentioned that he would have to preach from his wheelchair while pastoring a church. He was overcome through the power of healing from God. But the experience has made him more sensitive to people with physical challenges. It was a powerful weekend where young adults were blessed by the word, community, and food. We are also grateful for the music ministry of Brandon Napod and Donovan Diminyatz.

Submitted by Lyle Notice, Youth Ministries Director