TYI: Southern Youth Find Their Role in the Storyline
By Gloria Diavangama /
On July 27, 2026, around 400 delegates reported to The Salvation Army’s Camp Keystone in Florida for the annual Territorial Youth Institute (TYI). Young people from every part of the territory came thirsty for an out-ofthe- ordinary encounter with God’s presence.
The theme of this year’s TYI was “Storyline.” Through images of stained glass across the camp, intentional worship services, classes, and night programs, delegates were taken on a journey through the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, in a week, reminding them that they are part of God’s story of reconciliation with humanity.
With the help of special guest Tim Benitez, executive pastor of ministries at Home Church Roswell in Georgia, our territorial leaders, and many officers and youth leaders of the Southern Territory, delegates delved into the stories of the Creation and Fall of humanity, the Exodus, the life of the Israelites in the wilderness, the Law given to Moses, the foreshadowing of Jesus in the Old Testament, the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, the birth of the Church, and the revelation of what eternity will look like.
In the fall of 2024, the Territorial Youth Department realized that far too many young people do not know the Bible stories that have transformed countless lives across generations. Determined to change this, they have made it their mission to promote biblical literacy in the Southern Territory. TYI 2026 was an opportunity to do their part, encouraging the young people of this generation to make the Word of God not just something they know about, or not merely something they are familiar with, but what they choose to base their lives upon.
TYI 2026 was also an opportunity to recognize and hear from the Salvationist Service Corps (SSC) teams that served around the world this summer. Teams Argentina, New Zealand, and World Cup shared their experiences with TYI delegates and staff, encouraging the young people present to consider SSC as a possible way to serve the Lord in future years, selflessly serving others beyond their borders.
The response of the delegate teens and young adults who went running to the altar every chance they were given from the very first day of the retreat confirmed that this generation is hungry for a move of the Holy Spirit, not just in brief moments, but throughout their lives. Young people praying with and over their peers, speaking life to each other, and responding to the call to officership and local officership showed that our young people are ready today to not just receive God’s Word, but to pass it on and make disciples just as Christ has commanded.
As we reflect on the beauty of this year’s TYI, we pray it will not just be a sweet memory in the minds of the nearly 400 attendees, but a marker that signifies a turning point in their walk with Christ as they continue to discover their purpose in the Storyline written by the Almighty One.
