Adventist Youth Ministries Department
Urgent FYI
2/21/08
1. Teen & Young Adult Small Groups Kickoff (February 23, 2008 @ LocalChurch)
2. Adventurer, Pathfinder, & Master Guide Recognition Day & Mission Project Update (February 24, 2008 @ FrenchGethsemaneSeventh-dayAdventistChurch, Brooklyn)
3. Mission Trip to Jamaica Update (March 16-23, 2008)
4. Check out the New Poll at our Website
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1. Teen & Young Adult Small Groups Kickoff (this Sabbath February 23, 2008 @ LocalChurch): Many of our churches have already established a small group ministry. There are several churches which still have not begun to work with this great ministry.
One of the initiatives of the Adventist Youth Ministries Department is that each church will have at least one small group for Teens and another small group for Young Adults. Sabbath, February 23 has been designated as the official kick-off day for Teen & Young Adult Small Groups.
Small Groups are one of the most effective methods, not to say the most effective method; the church has in order to fulfill its mission. Here are a few common sense reasons why:
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Small Groups allow for each teen & young adult of the church to be involved in ministry.
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Teens & Young Adults who are involved in ministry usually do not leave the church. They have a sense of belonging and ownership. People do not leave when they feel they belong.
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Small Groups are a great way to introduce someone to Christ and to the church. They create a non-threatening atmosphere for non-Christian friends and colleagues who otherwise would feel uncomfortable coming to church for the first time.
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Small Groups are a very effective tool in the process of conversion, acceptance of Christ and helping the young person to make a commitment for baptism.
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Newly baptized young adults & teens who are part of a Small Group don’t drop out soon after their baptism because they already have a good group of friends in the church (the small group)
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Young people like to spend time together. Small Groups provide a great opportunity for teens and young adults to study the Bible in a group and enjoy it more, due to the company of friends.
If your church needs more info regarding Small Groups, please contact our office. In the next few days we will open a new section in our website dedicated to Small Group Ministry, this section will include tips, how to, and Small Group Lessons for each week for Young Adults and for Teens.
If you would like to download a workshop (PowerPoint Presentation) on Small Groups for Teens and Young Adults, please go to our website www.gnycyouth.com, click on the Resources Section and check under Adventist Youth Leadership Certification PowerPoint Presentations & Workshops.
2. Adventurer, Pathfinder, & Master Guide Recognition Day & Mission Project Update (February 24, 2008 @ FrenchGethsemaneSeventh-dayAdventistChurch, Brooklyn): This is an exclusive event for Pathfinders, Adventurers, and Master Guides. Recognitions will be extended in the following areas: Adventurer, Pathfinder, Master Guide, Director, and Coordinator of the Year. The same thing will be done for the Adventurer and Pathfinder Club of the Year. There will also be a very special Lifetime Recognition Award for an Individual, in our Conference, who has served Adventist Youth Ministries for many years.
During this ceremony we will have the dedication service for several new Pathfinder Coordinators, who will be joining the prestigious Greater New York Conference Ranks. The schedule for the day will be the following: Ceremony from 10 AM -12 PM, the Blood Drive will begin at 10:00 AM as well. The Fruit Basket Project will begin at 12:30 PM.
Let parents know ahead of time, so they can make a lunch bag preparation for each kid.
MISSION PROJECTS
BLOOD DRIVE: The Red Cross would like to have an idea of how many people will be donating. Please reply via E-mail and let us know how many people from your club or church will be donating. It is important for them to know, so they can provide the appropriate staff to carry it out successfully. Please, just hit reply and let me know how many you anticipate from your church and clubs. If more people make the decision to donate between now and Sunday, please bring them, it may take a bit longer but it will be a precious gift to someone in need of blood.
Anyone who is 16 Years Old or Older can donate blood. Those who are minors need to have special parental permission. Forms and Info were mailed to each Pathfinder & Adventurer Director. You can also access these forms & info at the following link: http://www.nybloodcenter.org/files/Media/27/mediumFilename/16yr_donate.pdf .
All donors must show:
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Proof of Age
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Identification with signature and photo (School ID for Minors/Drivers License for Adults)
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Someone who is undocumented must bring his/her Passport from country of origin (even if it is expired. No one will be asking questions regarding your immigration status).
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Eat well before donating Blood
For the first time, our Pathfinder, Adventurers, and Master Guides will hold a Blood Drive in connection with the Red Cross, and sponsored by the Adventist Youth Ministries, and the Adventist Community Services Departments. Each club is encouraged to find blood donors (Pastors, Parents, Uncles, Aunts, Church Members, and Church Elders). I will be the first in line to donate blood and I am sure that many of our Coordinators, Leaders, and Master Guides will also be present to give a bit of the many blessings we receive from God. The top three churches, which are able to recruit the most people to donate blood, will receive one of the following prizes from our Department:
1. One Individual Free Registration for the Oshkosh International Camporee
2. Three Individual Free Registrations for the GNYC Pathfinder or Adventurer Camporee
3. Three Greater New York Conference Official Umbrellas
Each Club that contributes with at least two donors will receive 1,000 Bonus Points which will go towards the Club of the Year for 2008.
The Adventist Community Services Van will be there providing free health screenings and free blood pressure checks for those who donate blood. The Red Cross will also have $10.00 Gift Certificates from different stores and entities for, as well as refreshments and snacks for donors. I asked the organizers what would be a success: they told me that 50 people donating blood on that day will be a success; I think we can double that. Let’s join together and let’s find 100 people who are willing to donate blood on that day.
Fruit Baskets: We are asking each Pathfinder and Adventurer club to collect 1-2 fruit baskets. These fruit baskets will be distributed during the Mission Project which will take place in the afternoon, right after the recognition ceremony.
Offering for JamaicaMission Projects: We would also like to ask each kid and adult attending, who is able, to bring $2.00, since we will collect an offering for the upcoming Jamaica Mission Trip. The offering collected will go directly and exactly to an Infirmary (Nursing Home) and an Orphanage that we will repair and work with in the area of St. Catherine. We are also planning to distribute clothes, personal hygiene items, and school supplies to the individuals in these two institutions. Offerings will go towards these items and materials.
If you are able to give more than $2.00; we are also collecting Tax Deductible Donations. If you find people who are able to donate $1,000.00, $500.00, etc. The funds will be used to alleviate the needs of a deprived community in Jamaica.
MASTER GUIDES ID REGISTRATION will also take place between 1-3 PM
3. Mission Trip to Jamaica (March 16-23, 2008): For this year we have planned several Mission Trips. The first one is the Mission Trip to Jamaica. Walter Harris, AY Coordinator and Mission Trip Specialist in Greater New York, and Teddy Williamson, AY Coordinator have been working together with us and the Central Jamaica Conference President and Youth Director in order to make this trip a reality. This trip is for Young Adults, College University Students, and of course we will not turn down a teen or an adult wanting to go. The Mission is open for Missionaries wanting to make a difference for the Lord outside of our US boundaries.
The Mission will include the repair and painting of an Infirmary (Nursing Home) and an Orphanage in the area of St. Catherine. We are also planning to distribute clothes, personal hygiene items, and school supplies to the individuals in these two institutions.
We will be staying at CampVerley, in Central Jamaica. The trip will include a visit to the Central Jamaica Conference Headquarters, a tour of SpanishTown, a sightseeing trip to the NorthCoast, and a stopover at the NorthCaribbeanUniversity, in Mandeville.
The cost of the Trip is $800.00 and includes: Airfare, Food, Lodging, local transportation, T-shirt, bottle water, and donation towards the mission projects we will work on while there. Sightseeing trips, tours, and souvenirs, will be optional and will have an extra cost.
If there is someone who wishes to contribute to this trip with funds, Tax Deductible Donations are welcomed and needed. They will go directly and exactly to our mission projects. If you find people who are able to donate $1,000.00, $500.00, etc. The funds will be used to alleviate the needs of a deprived community in Jamaica.
The Registration Form will be posted in our website later tonight and will be mailed out to each local church Youth Leader by Monday. People have already called and e-mailed to reserve their spot. You can e-mail or call us right away to reserve your space in this trip.
Once you download and send your registration it must be accompanied by a down payment of $400.00. The remaining $400.00 must be paid prior to March 6.
4. Check out the New Poll at the Website: Joanne is presently working in the new look and added features of our website, www.gnycyouth.com. We are also working in establishing a new website dedicated to Adventist Youth Videos, it will be www.gnycyouthtv.com. Someone is already working on it and as soon as it is ready we will unveil it and make it available to you.
In the meantime, do not forget to vote and give your opinion in our new poll at www.gnycyouth.com
Keep in touch:
www.gnycyouth.com (website)
ay@gnycyouth.com (Secretary’s new E-mail address)
gnycyouth@aol.com (Pastor Jose’s E-mail address).
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