Andrew Miller and Hosanna Wong help set the tone for this summer’s International Youth Convention

By Carl Stagner | Read Time: 4 minutes

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Schools are letting out for the summer, signaling a shift away from the typical weekly schedule for students, their families, and their churches. For teenagers in the Church of God, poolside leisure, sleeping in, and video games aren’t the only daydreams about to become reality; the International Youth Convention (June 29–July 2 in Cincinnati, Ohio)  is being met with thrilling anticipation, if only as a getaway to a big ballroom in a big city. What they’ll soon come to discover, though, is potentially life-changing encounters with the living God through powerful moments of worship and incredibly effective spoken communication.

CHOGnews has already featured two IYC2026 speakers (Monté Dillard and Beth Wolff) this year, but two incredibly clear and creative communicators—Andrew Miller and Hosanna Wong—warrant a closer look.

Andrew Miller

“I certainly feel honored and humbled for the invitation,” Andrew Miller notes in consideration of the opportunity to speak at IYC2026. Andrew, executive pastor of outreach and operations at Church at the Crossing in Indianapolis, may not be known everywhere, but deserves to be; his ability to articulate the Scriptures is remarkable. That includes the ability to relate the Word to a younger generation.

“Prior to joining the team at Church at the Crossing, I was a youth pastor in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, for nearly ten years, and I have fond memories of working with students and helping them know Jesus.”

Church at the Crossing has long been one of the most influential congregations of the Church of God in Indiana, not to mention the country and beyond. Andrew’s ministry has proven invaluable to the flourishing of the Indianapolis hub of hope, yet he’s excited to make an impact on the broader movement of which he’s blessed to be a part.

“Our movement is one that values and believes in the younger generations,” he reflects, “and I believe students and young people have a passion for Jesus that is inspiring and contagious. I am excited to gather with students from across the Church of God because I am hopeful God will speak to each one and grow their faith.”

At this critical juncture in history, it’s may be more important than ever that the good news of Jesus is preached with clarity, especially to the next generation.

“While I am still in the process of writing, studying, and preparing the message I hope to share,” Andrew explains, “I am prayerful that students will have a personal, supernatural encounter with God during IYC—not just from what I share, but from the entire event. My prayer for the generation of young people in the Church of God is that they will love Jesus wholeheartedly and recognize and obey his voice—even when he calls them to take risky steps of faith.”

Hosanna Wong

Having preached both at the 2021 Church of God Convention in Denver, Colorado, as well as IYC2022, Hosanna Wong is no stranger to the Movement. She’s back on the International Youth Convention stage this year, excited again to speak creatively and effectively to students—including via her iconic spoken-word presentations.

“As I fell more in love with Jesus,” Hosanna recounts, “my spoken-word poems naturally became about him and [well over a decade ago] I packed my life into suitcases and started traveling the country sharing the gospel through spoken-word poetry full-time. (I love how God will use what we love and what we enjoy to point people to him, if we let him!) It was no small step of faith. I lived in guest rooms, hotel rooms, and cots in living rooms for years, performing these pieces in prisons, recovery programs, conferences, and churches.”

“Eventually, I started preaching and sharing the gospel through sermons,” she continues, “as well as spoken-word poetry. But before I ever preached a full sermon, I first learned how to talk about Jesus through spoken-word. Spoken-word poetry taught me the power of authenticity. I learned that people don’t want to be impressed. People want to be known. People want to be seen. People want to know they are not alone. Years later, as I now preach sermons, and lead team, I never want to forget that.”

Hosanna’s approachable style wins the hearts of her listeners, regardless of age. Teenagers especially appreciate her relatable communication. As she observed at the 2021 Convention, “I might not change the world,” she said, “but I can be the girl who opens the door for others.”

And that’s something anyone can do for Jesus!