27 Nov 2025, 14:35Kyrah McIntosh
Flirting with the Enemy and Compromising Covenants
NEC Youth Identity Weekend
Who are you in Christ? What does the covenant of Adventism mean to you? And how, as a modern Seventh-day Adventist, do you demonstrate your commitment to the vows of your faith and represent the church in today’s world? These were the searching questions posed by Elder Andrew Crawford during Identity Weekend on Sabbath, October 25th, as he called listeners to reflect deeply on their relationship with God and the promises they have made to Him.
Held at Chelmsley Wood Seventh-day Adventist Church, the programme brought together Adventists of all ages from across the NEC for a series of messages and discussions centred on rediscovering spiritual identity and remaining true to the church’s mission in a changing generation.
The Sabbath School programme opened with an engaging discussion led by members of the Youth Executive Committee. They guided attendees through the theme of identity using the stories of Samson, David, and the Israelites in Deuteronomy. The open-discussion format encouraged young people to share their reflections and apply biblical lessons to their own experiences.
The message was preached by Elder Andrew Crawford, visiting from Manchester. In his sermon, “Flirting with the Enemy,” he examined the life of Samson as a warning against compromise and spiritual neglect.
Drawing from Judges 13–16, he highlighted that although Samson was chosen as a Nazarite to deliver Israel, his repeated disobedience led him to flirt with the very ones he was meant to oppose. “Samson made choices that led him away from his purpose, using his strength for personal gain, forgetting that it had been given for a divine purpose,” Crawford declared.
Citing Galatians 6:7, he reminded the congregation that “you will harvest what you plant,” warning that “sin will take you further than you planned to go and cost you more than you ever intended to pay.” He urged the youth to guard their spiritual lives carefully and not allow the devil to deceive them into paying a price far greater than they could imagine. Just like Samson, Adventists also have an identity and a purpose in Christ, and must honour the covenants made with the Lord - ensuring that every gift is used for His glory.
During the Afternoon Youth Service (AYS), also led by Elder Crawford, attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions about how the Adventist message can remain relevant while maintaining its biblical foundations.
The importance of preserving distinctive doctrines - such as the sanctuary message, the state of the dead, and the hope of Christ’s second coming - was emphasised, along with the need to present these truths in creative and accessible ways that help modern society understand and engage with them. The conclusion underscored the need to “repackage our message, not replace it.”
In closing, Elder Crawford shared his vision for believers to be like the evergreen tree in Psalm 1. He encouraged the congregation to remain steadfast even through spiritual “winters.” “Our identity is our strength,” he said. “When we forget who we are, we lose the power God has given us to stand apart.”
Organisers expressed hope that Identity Weekend inspired Adventist youth to deepen their understanding of doctrine, strengthen their covenant with God, and share their faith with confidence and conviction.
Who are you in Christ? What does the covenant of Adventism mean to you? And how, as a modern Seventh-day Adventist, do you demonstrate your commitment to the vows of your faith and represent the church in today’s world? These were the searching questions posed by Elder Andrew Crawford during Identity Weekend on Sabbath, October 25th, as he called listeners to reflect deeply on their relationship with God and the promises they have made to Him.
Held at Chelmsley Wood Seventh-day Adventist Church, the programme brought together Adventists of all ages from across the NEC for a series of messages and discussions centred on rediscovering spiritual identity and remaining true to the church’s mission in a changing generation.
The Sabbath School programme opened with an engaging discussion led by members of the Youth Executive Committee. They guided attendees through the theme of identity using the stories of Samson, David, and the Israelites in Deuteronomy. The open-discussion format encouraged young people to share their reflections and apply biblical lessons to their own experiences.
The message was preached by Elder Andrew Crawford, visiting from Manchester. In his sermon, “Flirting with the Enemy,” he examined the life of Samson as a warning against compromise and spiritual neglect.
Drawing from Judges 13–16, he highlighted that although Samson was chosen as a Nazarite to deliver Israel, his repeated disobedience led him to flirt with the very ones he was meant to oppose. “Samson made choices that led him away from his purpose, using his strength for personal gain, forgetting that it had been given for a divine purpose,” Crawford declared.
Citing Galatians 6:7, he reminded the congregation that “you will harvest what you plant,” warning that “sin will take you further than you planned to go and cost you more than you ever intended to pay.” He urged the youth to guard their spiritual lives carefully and not allow the devil to deceive them into paying a price far greater than they could imagine. Just like Samson, Adventists also have an identity and a purpose in Christ, and must honour the covenants made with the Lord - ensuring that every gift is used for His glory.
During the Afternoon Youth Service (AYS), also led by Elder Crawford, attendees engaged in thought-provoking discussions about how the Adventist message can remain relevant while maintaining its biblical foundations.
The importance of preserving distinctive doctrines - such as the sanctuary message, the state of the dead, and the hope of Christ’s second coming - was emphasised, along with the need to present these truths in creative and accessible ways that help modern society understand and engage with them. The conclusion underscored the need to “repackage our message, not replace it.”
In closing, Elder Crawford shared his vision for believers to be like the evergreen tree in Psalm 1. He encouraged the congregation to remain steadfast even through spiritual “winters.” “Our identity is our strength,” he said. “When we forget who we are, we lose the power God has given us to stand apart.”
Organisers expressed hope that Identity Weekend inspired Adventist youth to deepen their understanding of doctrine, strengthen their covenant with God, and share their faith with confidence and conviction.
