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Faith, Fellowship, and Service: Young Adults Make an Impact in San Diego
Nearly 300 young adults unite for a weekend of worship, spiritual growth, and community outreach.
Nearly 300 young adults, ages 18–35, gathered in San Diego for Pacific Union Conference Impact ‘26 in San Diego, a weekend filled with faith, fellowship, food, and service. Young adults from Northern California Conference, Central California Conference, Southern California Conference, Southeastern California Conference, Hawaii Conference, Arizona Conference, and Nevada/Utah Conference came together at Liberty Station, located near the ocean, for an experience designed to strengthen their relationship with God, build lasting friendships, and make a positive difference in the community.
Organized by the Pacific Union Young Adult Directors, the event provided opportunities for young adults to grow spiritually while connecting with fellow believers from across the participating conferences.
Friday evening featured powerful worship and inspiring messages from speakers Ty Gibson and Carl Wilkens. Their presentations challenged and encouraged attendees to deepen their faith and consider how they could make a difference in the lives of others. Sabbath continued with more uplifting worship and thought-provoking messages, reinforcing the weekend’s emphasis on spiritual growth and Christian fellowship.
The afternoon brought an opportunity to put faith into action. With a goal of making a positive impact on San Diego, young adults selected from a variety of community service projects, each offering a practical way to serve others and care for the community.
Projects included distributing Glow Tracks, building playhouses, participating in homeless ministry, cleaning up parks, removing debris from the ocean while kayaking, restoring habitat trails, building bunk beds for children, and creating street art. Through these activities, participants worked together to meet community needs, support worthwhile causes, and demonstrate the spirit of service at the heart of their faith.
Beyond the projects themselves, the afternoon allowed young adults to connect with people and places outside their usual circles. Working side by side, they discovered new ways to serve and formed relationships that extended beyond their local conferences.
Delinda Hamilton, Young Adult Director for CCC, highlighted the value of these connections, stating, “There is high value in an experience like this because it provides an opportunity for young adults to serve and network outside of their local conference. Those connections are valuable and you never know how God will use that in the future.”
CCC had the highest attendance among the participating conferences, demonstrating a strong commitment to bringing young adults together for this shared experience.
Throughout the weekend, attendees enjoyed time to worship, socialize, share good food, serve the community, and make new friends. The combination of spiritual inspiration and hands-on outreach created an atmosphere where young adults could grow in faith while discovering the joy of serving alongside others.
Special thanks goes to Randy Hill for spearheading the event and helping bring this gathering to life, along with the Pacific Union Young Adult Directors for organizing a meaningful weekend for young adults across the participating conferences.
Pacific Union Conference Impact ‘26 in San Diego was a reminder that faith grows not only through worship and the hearing of God's Word, but also through relationships, fellowship, and service. As the young adults returned to their home communities, they carried with them new friendships, renewed inspiration, and the shared experience of making a positive impact in San Diego.
When young adults come together with a common purpose, the result can reach far beyond a single weekend—strengthening faith, building connections, and sharing God's love through service.
Article Written by Pastor Delinda Hamilton, Director of Youth, Young Adults, and Summer Camp
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