“You, the social media generation,” said Glen Guyton to the youth at Friday evening’s worship service, “you must go and get your hands dirty in order to change the world.”

Guyton, chief operating officer and director of convention planning for Mennonite Church USA, spoke passionately and urged them to avoid spreading Christ’s message passively through Facebook and Twitter.

Instead, he said, “Become the hands and feet of Jesus with each other and passionately share the love of Christ.”

Referring to his background as an Air Force officer and an African American, Guyton admitted he doesn’t fit the Mennonite profile.

“But for some reason,” he said, “God called me to be here. And it is by the grace of God that I am here.”

He joked that “Anabaptists talk about how great we are” but are too caught up in rules, laws, heritage and human traditions.

“There is a time for bold statements. There is a time for lament,” he said. “But you must walk with people in need in order to change the world.”

Speaking to the actions of the Delegate Assembly in Kansas City, Guyton urged the youth not to concern themselves with whether or not Mennonite Church USA stays together. Instead, “your concern should be that the church remains relevant to this world.”

The assembly cheered as Guyton continued: “Stop protecting our churchiness and stop protecting our institutions. Let’s go change the world.”

He pleaded with the crowd to let Jesus light a fire within them and let that fire burn.

As Guyton stepped back, his daughter Andre-a took to the darkened stage, glowing neon bracelets encircling her wrists and ankles.

Spinning, dipping, rising and rejoicing, she used interpretive dance to illustrate the lyrics to a hit song entitled “Burn,” by Ellie Goulding.

Guyton concluded his message by saying, “When Jesus becomes the conduit through which we interpret the Bible, Christ will open our eyes.”

His final instructions charged the assembly to “let your lights shine and spread that fire on your journey.”