Greater New York Conference of the Seventh-dayAdventistChurch
Adventist Youth Ministries Department
Pastor Jose’s Update*
2/18/07
*This Update is divided in three sections: Message from Pastor Jose, Report of what has happened in the last six weeks, and Update of what is to come in the next months.
Message from Pastor Jose
Joanne, Jose III, and I have enjoyed Joel Benjamin a lot, during the last four weeks. He seems to be very tired during the day and very much strengthened and lively all night. Personally I must thank God for the opportunity to serve him in ministry for the last 15 years. I first entered ministry, as a Youth Pastor, in January 1992 in the Potomac Conference. The first week of January also marked the fourth anniversary of our coming to Greater New York. Joanne and I feel much blest to be part of the family of this Conference. The one thing we enjoy the most is the spirit of unity and love that can be felt and seen among our Adventist Youth Ministries Leaders and the youth and young adults of our Conference; regardless of nationality, color, or language. The Adventist Youth Ministries Department has become a truly multi-cultural entity, where the love of God is expressed and felt in many different ways, because of the many different people who share it and receive it. Heaven will be like that, multiplied by one million though.
We are also very happy, but not yet satisfied, with some of the highs reached by the Department. We presently have the following active Conference-wide ministries: Adventurers, Pathfinders, Master Guides, Pathfinder Leadership Award (PLA), Pathfinder Instructor Award (PIA), Adventist Youth Society, Adventist Youth Leadership Certification (AYLC), Young Adults, College & University Students, NSO for young people serving in the US Military, Bible Bowl, and Camp.
During this year our department will charter into new territories: the Adventist Youth Emergency Services Corps (AYES Corps) Regional Directors, Walter Harris and Esteban Rosario have been appointed to lead the AYES Corps in this combined effort of the Adventist Community Services and Adventist Youth Ministries Departments.
Another area we are working on is “Teens.” Last year Doctor Herbert Goulding, a member and leader at the Newburgh Seventh-day Adventist Church approached me with a great proposal: to dedicate a weekend, just for adolescents (teens), to deal with issues teens deal with such as sexuality, eating disorders, career orientation, among others. We are presently working with a group of Adventist Physicians and Health Professionals from our Conference, getting ready for this special weekend for Teens which has been entitle, “Taking Care of God’s Property.” In our department we like to make sure that we meet the needs that we see in our young people. If you perceive a need in our youth, talk to us. We want to make sure we meet the needs.
Another major happening in the upcoming months will be the “Let’s Talk, New York” with Pastor Jan Paulsen, President of the General Conference of the Seventh-dayAdventistChurch. We requested it in 2004; since then, we have been dreaming and working to have a Let’s Talk in New York City. Without communicating with each other, Pastor Don King, Atlantic Union President, had also requested a “Let’s Talk” in New York City. Good things come to those who wait; there will be a “Let’s Talk” in New York with Pastor Jan Paulsen. The Atlantic Union has assigned 12 participants to our Conference, 12 to Northeastern Conference, and 8 to AtlanticUnionCollege. This event will be broadcasted to the entire world via Hope Channel, the official TV station of the Seventh-dayAdventistChurch.
Following you will see a report of what has happened and an update of what is to come. As you read these updates, keep in mind that it takes many leaders working together to make this happen. Keep all of the Coordinators, Staff Team, and Instructors in the Adventist Youth Ministries Department in your prayers.
REPORT
Pathfinder & Master Guides Trip to South Pacific Division Camporee (January 1-14, Australia): Samuel Lopez and Jonas Apau led our Conference delegation, a total of 14 Pathfinders, Master Guides, and staff. The majority of the group was from the SpanishMottHavenChurch, these young people worked hard to raise funds and saw the miracles of God to make the trip a reality. Conference Pathfinder Coordinators Agatha Irish, Veronica Williams, and Master Guide, PIA Instructor Ella Harriott also participated in the trip. The Greater New York delegation was the only group from the North American Division.
Adventist Youth Ministries Day of Prayer & Fasting (January 3): This was the first official Prayer and Fasting Day for Adventist Youth Ministries in 2007. If you did not participate in this one, check the calendar for the upcoming ones. There is power, lots of power in store for young people who pray.
Adventist Youth Ministries Coordinators, Instructors, and Staff Retreat (January 5-7 @ Tranquil Valley Retreat Center): The leadership of our department met for a weekend to pray, study together, plan, and strategize for the present and future of Adventist Youth Ministries in our Conference.
I Adventist Youth Evangelism & Leadership Congress (January 19-21 @ Tranquil Valley Retreat Center): An unbelievable attendance, not even the snow was able to keep youth, young adults, and leaders away from the event, which emphasized Discipleship, Evangelism, and Leadership in all areas of Adventist Youth Ministries. The camp was sold out. Many stayed in the surrounding hotels. Over 110 excellent workshops, great sermons by Pastors Laffit Cortes, Sheldon Cooper, and Andy Lagradelle. The social was super. The one complaint I got was very long lines at the cafeteria. Thanks to the AY and Pathfinder Coordinators, Staff Team, Pastors, and Veronica Chaug who worked hard the entire weekend. For the first time in the history of GNYC, the Teen, Young Adult, AY Director, Adventist Youth Societies, and AY Coordinator of the Year Awards were given out. A summary of all the awardees will be available in the website www.gnycyouth.com.
InterHope 20/30 (January 27 @ Church of the Advent Hope): Over 150 college, university students, and young professionals were there for worship, small groups, and social on that Saturday Night. Check your calendar; it is coming again in a few weeks. Great job by the leadership team.
Adventurer, Pathfinder, Master Guide Recognition Day (February 4 @ LindenSeventh-dayAdventistChurch): Though it was freezing cold, 5 degrees with the wind-chill factor, the church was packed. A summary of all the awardees will be available in the website www.gnycyouth.com. Pathfinder Coordinator and Master Guide Instructor Chris Bramwell, received a Lifetime Award in Youth Ministries for 25 Years of Service to the youth of Greater New York. The outdoors mission project had to be postponed to the local churches due to the cold.
AtlanticUnionCollege Collegiate & Young Adult Retreat (February 2-4 @ CampWinnekeag): This is an annual event organized by Pastor Bill Wood, Atlantic Union Youth Ministries Director. A good group, of those in attendance, was from Greater New York. The Church of the Advent Hope alone took 28 young adults and university students.
Ski Trip (February 11 @ Big Boulder): Last year the snow storm kept most of you from getting to Big Boulder. This time, it was a great day for skiing, lots of youth, young adults, and adults enjoyed the slopes. We had a few minor accidents; I understand the injured have already recovered and are ready to go again.
UPDATE
Small Groups Launching (February 17 @ local churches): Our Evangelism Strategy for this year suggests that each church created a Small Group for Teens and a separate Small Group for Young Adults. Several churches launched their Small Groups this past Sabbath, others have already launched it this week, and there are some which will begin next week. Material was given out to each AY Leader in attendance at the Evangelism & Leadership Congress. For those who did not attend, the material was sent through the mail, in some cases given to the pastor, so he could take it to the AY Leader. If you have not received the materials for your church, please contact our office.
Just Claim It (February 28 - March 4, Dallas, Texas): The I North American Division World Prayer Conference. This event will be attended by youth and young adults from all over North America and the World. You can still register without a late fee through PlusLine. There are some rooms available at the Adam's MarkHotel, if you made your reservation for another hotel and wish to stay at the Adam's Mark, they are willing to match the price of your hotel in order not to have empty rooms at the Adam's Mark; please contact the North American Division Youth Ministries Office (301) 680-6420.
A good size delegation from our Conference will be attending the event. Due to our newly born baby, our family will not be traveling. I have asked Pastor Lloyd Scharffenberg to lead our delegation there. We usually seat close by and take one day to go out to eat as a Conference, paid by the Conference. Pastor Lloyd has graciously accepted to take care of these responsibilities. Derrick Cruz, one of our young adults, who is now planting a church here in Greater New York will be one of the speakers, make sure you keep him in your prayers and support him on Friday night.
If someone has not registered yet, you still have time to do it. It will be an awesome experience. For more info, go to the official JCI website:http://www.justclaimit.org/.
InterHope 20/30 (March 10 @ Church of the Advent Hope): It begins at 7:00 PM Sharp. Allows College, University Students, Young Adults, and Young Professionals to experience their faith as a journey, giving people the space to encounter God. The purpose is to bring all of the Adventist College & University students, young adults (18-35), and their non-Adventist friends together for worship. The evening will be filled with music, the Word, small group discussions, and prayer. After the service, there will be a social activity; come ready to enjoy the spiritual and the social in each others company.
This event is open and safe for everyone, invite your friends. It is also casual; come as you are. Connect. Relate. Discover. InterHope 20/30. Session topic: Why Me?
Ice Skating Day (March 25, 2007 @ Wollman Rink, Central Park, New York): Great event for Young Adults, Collegiate, Pathfinder, Adventurers, and Teens. Adults from your church are also invited, if you wish them to come. This is an excellent outreach opportunity, you can bring along non-Adventist friends and colleagues. The prices are: $6.75 for Admission and $4.75 for skates.
Conference-wide Week of Youth Evangelism, Youth Day, and Youth Baptism (March 24-31, 2007 @ Each Local Church): We would like to encourage each church to participate in the Week of Youth Evangelism. At the Evangelism and Leadership Congress, each AY Director received a packet that had the Accent Magazine with sermons. If your church was not present, we have already sent the packet to your AY Leader. If you wish to purchase an extra magazine for your leaders, the price is: $4.00 per magazine. In many cases the young people like to prepare their own sermon, in other cases the church pastor help with the sermons.
The week of Youth Evangelism will close with a Youth Day at each church and a youth baptism at each church. Youth leaders, this can be a great week for our youth, I hope you have already began to plan, make sure you talk to your pastor and get his support, begin to promote it from now, so the church can be ready. Try to have young preachers, as much as possible; a sermon presented by a young person can be of a tremendous influence in the life of other young people and in the life of an adult.
Adventist Youth Ministries Day of Prayer & Fasting (April 4): On this day we would like to pray for the Small Groups Leaders in our Conference. For the Adventist Youth Area Evangelism, and for the Teens who will participate in the TEEN’s Taking Care of God’s Property weekend.
TEENS, Taking Care of God’s Property (April 13-15 @ Embassy Suites Hotel, Parsippany, New Jersey): A weekend, exclusively for TEENS (13-17). A coalition of Doctors/Physicians and Health Professionals from our Conference are getting together to present a program to teach our TEENS to take care of God’s property, their bodies. During the weekend, the Physicians and Health Professionals will deal with issues that are relevant to TEENS, such as sexuality from the Biblical perspective, eating disorders, and preparation for the future as Adventist TEENS.
We have chosen a high quality hotel because we have agreed that we would like our TEENS to be treated like royalty. All rooms are suites, there will be cooked breakfasts/brunch, light supper receptions in the evening, and a delicious lunch will be served on Sabbath afternoon. Saturday night and Sunday, there will be time for the indoor heated swimming pool and the exercise room. The prices are as follows:
2 Double Beds/Sofa Bed Suite (sleeps 6)$120.00 per person
2 Double Beds/Sofa Bed Suite (sleeps 5)$130.00 per person
2 Double Beds/Sofa Bed Suite (sleeps 4)$145.00 per person
2 Double Beds/Sofa Bed Suite (sleeps 3)$165.00 per person
King Size Bed/Sofa Bed Suite (sleeps 4) $140.00 per person
King Size Bed Suite/Sofa Bed Suite (sleeps 3)$160.00 per person
King Size Bed Suite/Sofa Bed Suite (sleeps 2) $195.00 per person
The limit for this event is 100, only the first 100 registered will be able to attend. We would like to have all of the time necessary to interact and to work directly with the teens during the weekend. There will not be Sabbath ONLY Registrations, we would like those attending this event to attend the entire weekend. Each church group coming needs to bring a chaperone per room.
Bible Bowl Area Eliminations: The Bible Bowl eliminations will take place by areas and the locations will be announced shortly. For information on the books by categories, please check the website: www.gnycyouth.com the Bible Bowl Section. The eliminations will take place on the following dates: Upstate, April 14; Queens/Long Island, April 21; Brooklyn/Staten Island, May 5; Bronx/Manhattan, May 12.
Collegiate Summit/InterHope 20/30 Weekend (April 21 @ ColumbiaUniversity Campus): A special weekend of worship, seminars, and fun, designed for college and graduate students. Our theme for this year is "Still Searching?" Presentations will focus on finding calling, relationships, truth, meaning, faith, and ultimately God as a student. The weekend will begin with a vespers on Friday, April 20 at the Church of the Advent Hope and will continue on Sabbath with a full day at Earl Hall, ColumbiaUniversity. The entire weekend will climax with an InterHope 20/30 on Saturday Evening at ColumbiaUniversity’s Earl Hall. The summit is free for college and university students. For more info on the Collegiate Summit, please go to www.columbia.edu/cu/sda/.
Adventist Youth Area Evangelism (May 5-12 @ Each Area of our Conference): From May 5 to 12, we are planning to have one or two big Youth Evangelistic Series in each area of the Conference (Bronx, Brooklyn/Staten Island, Long Island, Manhattan, and Upstate). During the week of the Area Evangelism Series we will invite all youth and young adults from the area to meet in one place and bring their friends so they can meet Jesus.
In June 23, 2007; we are planning a big Youth Evangelism Rally, which will take place at public open place, Central Park, Flushing Meadows, or perhaps a big Park in the Bronx. For this rally we would like to gather around 10,000 Adventist Young people, Pathfinders, Adventurers, and adult supporters to witness to the city through music, preaching, and Community Sabbath Projects.
If you haven’t, you must begin to make plans to be an active part of the Youth Evangelism “Xplosion” in Greater New York, during 2007.
National Service Organization Awareness Sabbath (May 19 @ each local Church): A day to pray for and honor Adventists who serve and have served the country in the Armed Forces. We, as a church, do not encourage our young people to join the military, yet we know that some will join and we need to educate them and love them through the time of service and deployment. This day could serve to educate our young people regarding what happens once you join the Armed Forces. There is a wonderful documentary on the life of Desmond Doss, which could be excellent resource for such a day. We have several veterans in the area, which if asked, would be more than happy to present a workshop and give a testimony and advice regarding their experience as Adventists in the military.
Youth & Young Adult Mission Trip Registration (August 2-10, Cancun, Mexico): A Mission Trip can change the lives of Teens and Young Adults in your church. If you have Teens or Young Adults who are interested in going, you must contact us and make arrangements. The AY Leaders of each church have received flyers and registration brochures to sign up for this trip. The objectives are: church construction in Region 104, Cancun, a very poor area of the city; Vacation Bible School at Region 104, Cancun; Medical Assistance in Region 103, Cancun, and of course, Public Evangelism. Last year, 11 of our own young people who went on the trip got baptized on the very last night of our trip, at the Hotel Swimming Pool.
The cost for Students is $800.00 and for Professionals is $850.00. It covers airfare, ground transportation, hotel, meals, t-shirt, and mission fee to buy materials for church building project. Everything is included, with the exception of sightseeing and souvenirs.
For more info, please contact us at the office or go to our website, under the Event Section. The flyer and registration forms are there to be downloaded.
Youth & Young Adult Mission Trip Registration (August 10-19, Philippines): This trip is a new initiative sponsored by the Adventist Youth Ministries Department. It will be led by Sonny Flores, a member of our Conference, native of Philippines. This trip is mostly recommended for Young Adults and Adults. The missionary projects are: church construction, medical assistance, musical concerts evangelism,
The cost for this trip is $1,400.00. It covers airfare, ground transportation, lodging, meals, t-shirt, and mission fee to buy materials for church building project. Everything is included, with the exception of sightseeing and souvenirs.
All of the information will be posted in our website, under the Event Section, this week. The flyer and registration forms will be there to be downloaded.
Office Closed this Week (February 19-22): The Adventist Youth Ministries Department Office will be closed this week. On Monday, due to the National Holiday, President’s Day. Veronica, will take the rest of the week off. The office will open again on Monday, March 26.
Pastor Jose’s Time Off (February 18-March 4): Joanne and I have felt the need to spend a few days, by ourselves with the kids. It is difficult for us not to think about ministry, even during off time, because this is what we live for. However, we feel that before spring and summer get here, we need to take a few days for ourselves as a family, so I have requested the next two weeks and will not be back in the office till Monday, March 5.
Leadership Directory: It is in the last page of the Adventist Youth Ministries Calendar; there you have access to the names, E-mail addresses, and telephone #s of our entire Department Leadership Team. Don’t hesitate to write an E-mail or make a phone call to the leaders listed there. They are here to provide guidance and help in the different areas of the Adventist Youth Ministries. Always keep in mind that our leadership team is multi-cultural, none of us is in leadership to represent one ethnic group in the Conference, but to serve ALL youth, young adults, and members, regardless of color, ethnicity, language, and age. The blessing of God, the multi-cultural unity, and your support is what makes Adventist Youth and Young Adult Ministries so special, dynamic, and productive in our Conference.
Keep in touch:
www.gnycyouth.com (website)
gnycyouth@aol.com (Pastor Jose’s E-mail address)
ay@gnycyouth.com (Secretary)
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