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Over 100 young adults gathered at The Meeting Place this past Sunday for the Open Space Gen Z Rally, a night of worship, intercession, and fellowship.
MBL Worship, the worship team from EveryHeart Missions in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was present and led worship alongside the OpenSpace team.
Volunteer greeters welcomed people into the building as the door opened, and people headed to a space for a time of fellowship. Afterwards, people went into the main sanctuary for worship and prayer.
OpenSpace began as a worship night in mid-2023 after its head director, Isaac Josue, attended a young adult conference, Collide.
Taylor Friesen, the worship leader of OpenSpace, remarked about the beginnings and the ongoing growth of the ministry. "It grew from a living room to what it is now."
Friesen talked about how involvement in the ministry has impacted her. "A highlight for me is seeing young adults ruthlessly chase after the heart of Jesus in a room together." She added, "I watch this age group either leave the church or choose to follow Jesus, and I love watching the amount that have chosen to follow and come together to worship Him."
OpenSpace aims to create a space where people, particularly young adults, can encounter Jesus in a tangible and memorable way.
"When young adults gather in a space like OpenSpace, they have a moment they can reference where God was present to them", said Ryan, the family director at The Meeting Place. He continued, "They take that back to the local church and apply that to their ministry."
Another leader with OpenSpace said there is an earnest desire within Christian young adults to continue to meet with God at events like these.
"The most exciting thing I've learned at OpenSpace is how hungry the young adults are in Manitoba, and how willing they are to drive wherever to meet with Jesus," said Janae, a social media volunteer with OpenSpace. About the evening, she continued, "The Lord is ready to meet them here."
Leaders say that prayer is at the center of the vision that OpenSpace has for Manitoba.
"What the leadership is pushing for is just more prayer", said Nick, an attendee of the rally. "It's pretty special what we have going on here in Manitoba, and a push for prayer is always amazing no matter where you are in the world."
He continued, "We want to see hearts ignited for prayer. Every man or woman of God in history that was a great man or woman of faith was marked by prayer. That's what we want to see here in Manitoba: more young people praying. "
Sunday evening was a chance for believers to come together as one, in worship and intercession.