Quando Logos Hope anunciou uma parada no seu país de origem, a Espanha, no início de 2026, Abel Ele estava muito entusiasmado. “Queria estar num navio da OM desde que era criança, então finalmente cumpri o meu sonho ao me juntar ao programa em Málaga”, disse ele.
A atividade de voluntariado na Feira do Livro do navio combinou duas das paixões de Abel — livros e conhecer pessoas novas. Ele particularmente gostou de recomendar livros para as pessoas enquanto os conhecia. Para si mesmo, Abel comprou mais de 20 livros, “por isso tive que ter alguém levar os livros [para casa] para mim, porque eles não cabiam na minha mala”, disse ele com um riso.
Enquanto estava a bordo Logos Hope, Abel conheceu membros da equipe espanhola da OM e perguntou se havia alguma oportunidade de voluntariado durante o verão. Ao ouvir sobre sua experiência de anos como professor de inglês para jovens, eles responderam: venha trabalhar conosco no TeenStreet!
Small group leader
TeenStreet helps teenagers discover their potential and empowers them to make Jesus known to those who have not heard the gospel. With annual events and year-round activities across several continents, TeenStreet partners with churches and communities to motivate, equip, and walk alongside teens, helping them build a real friendship with Jesus and reflect Him daily in their world.
Every year, TeenStreet Europe runs a week-long event for teens from across the continent. In 2026, the theme was PATHS, Wisdom’s Call and the event was held in Offenburg, Germany, from 1-8 August. Around 1,800 teens were encouraged to have fun, go deep and be bold as they explored what it means to walk in wisdom and to make choices that shape who they become and how they live in the world.
Around 1,300 volunteers ensured the week ran smoothly, with people involved in areas such as catering, the food court, communications, cleaning, security, sports, music, the Prayer Zone, the Art Zone or — in Abel’s case — leading a small group.
Small groups are at the heart of TeenStreet year-round and a vital part of the TeenStreet Europe event, where each teen is placed in a small group with others of the same gender from their country. The small groups meet daily to delve deeper into the main session topics and check in with each other.
In preparation for the event, Abel participated in a small-group leaders training in Spain with around 20 others. “It was very good,” Abel recalled. “Lots of good input and advice on how to deal with teenagers; how to ask them the right questions and get them talking.”
Though he had never met the five teens in his group before the event, they became fast friends as they journeyed together during the week. The biggest takeaways for Abel was the need to really listen to teens and that adults and teens are not so different. “To be heard — this is something that all teenagers want,” explained Abel. “I want to matter. I want someone to care for me. I want someone to listen to me, even though my problem is not an adult problem, but it is still my problem; it is my world. And especially in relationships with God and with the rest of people.”
“I’m 54, so you know, a grown-up, an adult, but you never stop learning,” Abel continued. “In some ways, we are sort of teenagers for all our lives, even though our problems are not teen problems. But our quest to be heard, to be understood, to be part of a group and to be useful to the Lord is the same quest that teenagers have. We are all teens.”