Dear Friends,

I'm writing this Heart Talk from Uganda, in the midst of my visit here. As I prepare to return to our ongoing meetings, my heart is filled with gratitude and awe. Fifteen years ago, a small team came here with a dream—a mission rooted in prayer and trust. Today, I see how that humble beginning has grown into a vibrant, fruitful mission bearing much fruit, raising up local leaders, and even spreading into other African countries.

Standing here, I feel the deep truth of our identity as a missionary movement in the heart of the Church. The mission field is not a distant land—it is wherever we are sent, wherever we respond with love. And now, with the election of Pope Leo XIV, whose first words already echo a missionary heart, the whole Church seems to be reminded of this call: go forth, make disciples, bring the Gospel to the peripheries.

This is a powerful moment for us as Jesus Youth—a time to break into the missionary spirit with fresh courage and joy. Whether you are in a parish, campus, office, or mission land, may this season stir in you a deeper desire to be the light of Christ to the world around you.

Let’s keep walking, building, and witnessing—together, for His glory.