10th Year Anniversary for Youth Ministries Leadership SUMMIT

 

We are fortunate to be a part of a division that values the leadership for its’ young people. Next year we will celebrate the 10th year anniversary of the NAD Youth Ministries Leadership SUMMIT. Truly, God has been gracious in that over 20,000 youth, pathfinders, adventurers, young adults, master guides, ACF, and camp leaders have been trained to provide spiritual leadership to our youth. As we celebrate we thank God for the journey thus far:

 

2002 – Atlanta, GA – “Leaders of Honor – Now and Beyond”
2004 – Denver, CO – “Stand Still and See God’s Salvation”
2006 – Jacksonville, FL – “It’s All About HIM!”
2008 – Dallas, TX – “Jesus Is the WAY”
2010 – Columbus, OH – “Just Claim It”
2012 – Greensboro, NC (10th Anniversary) – “1voice 2gether”

 

Many of our church leaders will be present to thank each of you for your contribution in keeping the SUMMIT ship afloat. We have had some challenging times but each moment has been worth it. Every time I witness an Adventurer, Youth or Young Adult baptism I thank God for those 20,000 trained youth leaders who are behind the scenes but present in the life of the soul, I just give glory and honor to God.

 

See you at the Anniversary SUMMIT March 7-11, 2012 in Greensboro, NC. For more information www.jci3.org

 

Pastor JB

From Pastor Black:

 

Team,

 

After getting some seriously and starling misinformation from the field about my health, I feel the need to make an official statement about what’s happening. I wish to keep each of you "in the loop."

 

Pastor James Black’s Health Issue Statement During a routine annual physical examination in the Spring of 2010, my blood test showed that I was borderline anemic. I was referred to a Hematologist and after further tests, which included a bone marrow biopsy, I was diagnosed with a blood disease called Myelodysplasia or Myelodysplasic Syndrome.

 

This basically means my bone marrow is not producing enough healthy blood cells--which causes severe anemia and chronic fatigue. I remained borderline anemic for about 9 months until this past spring, when I noticed more fatigue and shortness of breath (I thought I was just out of shape and need to exercise more).

 

Recently, when the situation escalated to the point that I could not ignore, my doctors (both medical and naturopathic) began working together to provide the best treatments for my condition. They now have my undivided attention! For many of you, this means I have had to cancel all travel and speaking engagements until further notice.

 

The good news is that my recent bone marrow biopsy results are showing that there has been no further progression of the disease since June 2010. However, it did show that my body was depleted of iron. My doctors are optimistic about getting me back on my feet, one hundred percent, although they have also cautioned me that this is a slow process. Though I tire very easily, I continue my 2 mile daily walk, my 3-point set shot still works, and I am watching my diet carefully by learning to love beet juice, LOL.

 

For those who were aware of this my family and I thank you for your prayers. I ask everyone to continue to lift my name before the Lord daily. Maybe I wrote my book too soon, but nonetheless, I am convinced that “God’s Got a Plan and I’m In It!” Honestly, I just see this as another chapter in my journey. God has not brought me thus far to leave me. I will be back on the youth ministry trail soon! Until then y’all better take care of my young people!

 

Blessings, Peace and Love,

Pastor JB

 

Loss at Andrews University:

On October 14, 2011, a car crash claimed the life of Esperanza Alvarez-Muniz, Assistant Dean of Women for Lamson Hall. Esperanza was a beloved wife, mentor, friend and colleague.

We'll Be There (Youth Department Travel Schedule):

 

Pr. James Black
November-December
None Scheduled (see health note above)

 

Pr. Manny Cruz
November 3 Columbia Union Youth Advisory, Columbia, MD
November 4-6 New Hope Family Camp, Mt Aetna Camp, MD
November 18-20 ReCharge Youth Leaders Training Quebec, SDACC

 

Pathfinder Million Miles –

As of the end of October, Pathfinders have reported 21,044 miles. Overall, NAD participants have registered more than 600,000 towards the year’s goal of 1 million miles. If you haven’t registered to report your exercise, please do so today.

 

AdventistYouthMinistries.org Offers MINISTRIES

“What exactly DOES the NAD Youth Department offer my ministry & my young people,” you might ask?
We have recently revamped sections of our website, and now the ministries that we offer are clearly described on our website.
Visit www.adventistyouthministries.org and then click “Ministries”

 

SUMMIT Training offered to Leaders

One of the long-standing traditions of the NAD Youth Ministries Department is a Convention on a regular basis to train its leaders. Whether you remember the Master Guide Convention in L.A., the Jacksonville event, or more recent SUMMIT conventions (attached to JCI or NAD Ministries Conventions), you know that you are in for a treat.

 

Tracks for the 2012 Convention (as part of the NAD World Prayer Congress)
http://www.jci3.org/ls-seminars

JCI/SUMMIT/Ignition Pre-convention

Pre-convention Advisory, taskforce, and committee meetings will take place March 4-7 prior to the World Prayer Congress in Greensboro, NC. If you serve on one or more of these groups, please make your plans to attend the preconvention in addition to the World Prayer Congress. 

NAD Resource Guide

This online full-color eMagazine highlights NAD Youth Ministries as well as the multitude of other ministries available in the North American Division. As one person put it “its like the NAD Yearbook!”
Youth Ministries is found on pages 96-98.
Resource Guide
The resource guide is also available as part of the NAD App. Search itunes store “NAD.”

 

NAD Health Summit

The NAD Youth Department is partnering with the NAD Health Department at their January 27 to February 3 event, including a youth ministries track. We also invite you to join us in celebrating the participation of Pathfinders in the InStep4Life “Million Miles” program.

 

GODencounters Testimony

“GODencounters has been an amazing experience and has led to a spiritual recharge in my life,” shared 33-year-old city planner, Alberto Mares. “Before, I felt like I was ‘running through the motions’ and now I'm excited to wake up each morning and pray, asking for GOD’s guidance in my life…This conference came along at just the right time in my life. Thank you GOD. Your timing is always perfect!”

 

Such were the sentiments of many young adults who attended the 2011 GODencounters Conference, held September 15-17 in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex of north central Texas. Over 1500 attendees from across ...

Read More

 

Submitting AY Honors?

Has your club/conference been piloting a proposed Pathfinder Honor? Please contact Terry Dodge ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) (chair) and Mark O’Ffill ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) (recording secretary) ASAP if you wish it considered for publication in 2012.

 

Mission Lifeguard – It’s new, its revolutionary, it could change how YOU look for missing young people! Training is available! January 16-18, 2012 at the NAD Ministries Convention in Palm Harbor, Florida!

Summer Camp Makes a Spiritual Impact!

According to Richard Parker, Adventist Association of Camping Professionals, there were 2913 decisions for baptism in the summer [camp] program and 1033 decisions for baptism at camps in non- summer programs (ie Bible conferences etc).

 

Our survey also included the following stats—
23125 youth campers attended NAD Summer Camps in 2011
11613 family campers attended NAD Summer Camp programs in 2011
2728 Staff (mostly young adult) served as ministers to youth during this past summer
273730 people attended camps during the non-summer season

 

Do Adventurer Awards have a colored background coordinated designation like Pathfinder honors do?

For those of you involved in Pathfinder ministry, know that Pathfinder honors are divided into color-designated categories – Arts Crafts and Hobbies (light blue) or Recreation (dark green) for example. However, Adventurers, an organization often mistaken to be “like” Pathfinders – but for a younger group – have intentionally avoided this background designation, and instead have chosen an aesthetic approach – whatever background looks best with the design! So, next time you look at yours (or your kids’) awards sash, use it as a reminder that Adventurers is its OWN, specific, FAMILY-based ministry that is NOT simply “pre-Pathfinders” but instead a unique ministry that deserves the best leaders, the best financial support, and the best of our resourcing – in their own aesthetic way!

NAD Adventurer Website

Adventist Resources:

 

Florida Hospital Adventist Church has a video ministry that occasionally adds unique, funny, and thought-provoking videos to its youtube channel. You may enjoy this “Adventist Alert App” humorous piece (or any of the other 25+.
Youtube Channel

 

20% of SDA Churches have no babies, kids, or teenagers in attendance according to Ed Dickerson.

“Oh, but today’s young adults are spiritually weak,” many say to me. “They yield to temptation.” Of course they do. Again, from C.S. Lewis, “The tempter always works on some real weakness in our system of values: offers food to some need we have starved.” -

Join the discussion of solutions.
Read Article
Source: NAD Young Adult Ministry Advisory ~ www.facebook.com/groups/NADYAMA/

 

Put Down the Remote and Nobody Gets Hurt!

“’Kids between the ages of 8 to 18 spend just more than 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media.7 Even very young children, those under 6 years of age, “spend as much time with screen media (TV, videos, video games, and computers) as they do playing outside.’” More….
Read Article
Source: Adventist Review online, November, 2011

 

Talking About Social Media

Parents and Youth leaders are faced with a group of young people increasingly attached to social media. What should we be aware of? When should we use or NOT use social media?

The Adventist Review provides so conversation starters and facts for our review.
Read Article
Source: Adventist Review online, November, 2011

 

Other Resources:

 

Does Having Children Make Parents More Active Churchgoers? George Barna, respected Christian researcher and statistician, released a study in 2010 questioning the role having children has in parents becoming more (or less) involved in church. Do the statistics/results surprise you? What roles might YOUR ministry play for parents returning parents?
Barna.org

 

Are you byslexic [sic]?

Statistics state that 1 in 5 English-readers are dyslexic. How does this affect our ministries? This article from the journal Scientific American offers one simple solution to help dyslexics read with fewer errors and less fatigue – both helpful for programs Pathfinder Investiture Achievement, where kids are required to do significant reading. Would the simple Dyslexie font help you minister more effectively in your ministry?
Read Article

 

Many Young Adults are involved in leading worship within our churches across the division…if you are involved, you may find this “Loop Interactive” resource helpful as “the place to create, share, and download worship loops.”

Loopcommunity.com
Source:  Adventist Worship Leaders FB group

We wish to welcome Paul Llewellyn as the new Youth Ministries Director in the Maritime Conference of the SDACC.

Paul is an educator by training. He has served as a teacher and school principle. He also worked as Cyril Millett as an associate youth director in Ontario, with responsibility for Camp Ministries, before his call to the Maritime Conference. Paul went to the Maritime Conference to serve as a pastor for a multi-church district in 2009. Just after Richard Williams left for the Manitoba-Saskatchewan Conference earlier this year, Paul was asked to be the Youth Ministries and Education Director.

The SDA Church in Canada has invited Paul to join the Youth Ministry Advisory & Team in the SDACC; we all wish to welcome him into the ranks of NAD Adventist Youth Directors.

We wish to send our congratulations and prayers to Wendy Eberhardt. Wendy has been appointed as the Youth Director of the Upper Columbia Conference, after serving as the Youth Director for the Kentucky/ Tennessee Conference.

3rd NAD/World Youth Prayer Congress
Just Claim It, Leadership SUMMIT, and Ignition combine for PRAYER and SERVICE. Don't be satisfied with a passive youth event, instead join JCI3, SUMMIT or Ignition to Change a community and change your way of viewing the world!

March 7-11, 2012, Greensboro, North Carolina Register NOW!
JCI3.org

 

AACP (Adventist Association of Camping Professionals) Convention
November 30-December 4
Leoni Meadows, California
Camp Directors from across the North American Divison meet for peer support, training, and long-range planning.

 

Angelfish Cruise for Singles
Nov 22, 2011 - Dec 6, 2011
Panama Canal Cruise on the Coral Princess.
The cruise will depart from Los Angeles and sail for several days before stopping in Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Other stops include Panama City, Cartegna Columbia, Aruba and final stop is Fort Lauderdale, FL. Phone: 951-929-4178. For more information, email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

CYE – Cruise With a Mission
December 11-18, 2011. Valid passport and servant heart required.
more info at www.cruisewithamission.org

 

GYC 2011: Fill Me Is Our Ernest Plea
December 28, 2011 – January 2, 2012
Houston, Texas
http://gycweb.org

 

Mission Lifeguard Training
January 16-18, 2012
NAD Ministries Convention in Palm Harbor, Florida

 

Junior Bible Camp
February 3-5, 2012
Southeastern California Conference

 

the OneProject, a ministry of the Center for Youth Evangelism comes to Seattle, Washington
February 13 - 14, 2012
Source:  Center for Youth Evangelism
www.the1project.org

 

Church of Refuge (COR)
February 15, 2012, Seattle, WA
More info about COR is found at COR Website

 

Just Claim It / SUMMIT / Ignition
March 7-10, 2012
Calling all teens who want to pray and service a CHANGE into their community! If you're just wanting a “good time” this is NOT the event for you, but if you desire an event that could reignite your prayer life and get your youth group excited about serving their community,
REGISTER NOW!: JCI3.org

 

Pacific Union Conference Pathfinder Camporee
March 28-31, 2012
Love. Live. Lead.
puccamporee.org

 

Pathfinder Bible Experience
April 21, 2012, NAD Headquarters, Silver Spring, Maryland. NAD Pathfinder Ministries introduces a Pathfinder team challenge on immersion in the Word of God. This year the books of Mark and 1 Samuel are those being studied by teams. More info: Contact Gene Clapp ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), or visit
pathfindersonline.org

 

Mid-America Union Hispanic Youth Leadership Convention
May 25-27, 2012, Union College, Lincoln, Nebraska
More Info: Hubert Cisneros This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Mid-America Union Camporee
July 25-28, 2012 Custer, South Dakota
Theme: Truth To Freedom
More Info: Hubert Cisneros  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Columbia Union Pathfinder Camporee
August 9-11, 2012
Camp Mohaven, Ohio
More info: columbiaunion.org

 

Maranatha Young Adult Mission Project
August 1-13, 2012
maranatha.org

 

GODencounters Conference
September 13-15, 2012
Arlington, Texas, USA
GODencounters.org

 

Southwestern Union Pathfinder Camporee
October 4-7, 2012, Lake Whitney Ranch, Clifton, Texas

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Biblical Perspectives on Human Sexuality.
Nov 4, 2011 - Nov 6, 2011, Sunnyside SDA Church, 10501 SE Market
Street, Portland, OR 97216.
A Symposium especially designed for young adults, parents, teachers and pastors. Presentations by Walla Walla University Faculty: Dr. David Thomas, Dean, School of Theology; Dr. Pam Cress, Dean, School of Social Work and Sociology; Dr. Julian Melgosa, Dean, School of Education and Psychology.
Phone: 509-527-2194.
For more information, email:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

 

Washington Conference Adventurer/Pathfinder Leadership Training Weekend
November 4-6, Sunset Lake Camp

 

Highland Academy Youth Rally
November 11-12
Highland Academy

 

iThirst
November 11-13, 2011
iThirst is a retreat for young adults who are interested in using spiritual disciplines to deepen their discipleship journey with Christ.
The cost is $99/person. Participants must be 18 years or older. Because of the intense nature of this weekend, participants will all receive their own private room. Space is limited to only 50 participants. Visit pcsda.org/events for more information and to download a registration form, or contact the Potomac Conference Youth Department at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 540-886-0771.

 

Witness Retreat, Southern New England Conference
Witness…Retreat….Overcome!
Ashburnham, MA, $30-$100
Source: snecyouth.org


Arkansas/Lousiana Teen Leadership Training Weekend
November 11-13, 2011, Camp Yorktown Bay


South Central Conference Leadership Conference
November 11-13, Huntsville, AL, Oakwood University


“iThirst” A Young Adult Spiritual Retreat
November 11-13, Potomac Conference
More info: Denny Grady This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Florida Adventurers - Super Fun Day -
November 13, 2011 Space Coast State Fair (Sand Point Park - Titusville)
Theme - Heart of a Hero Learn about heroes of today, yesterday and Biblical era.
More info: Brand and Lisa Gary This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Youthfest 2012 – A Washington D.C./Metropolitan rally for Youth and Young Adults
February 3 & 4 2012, Potomac Conference
More info: Denny Grady  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Texico Youth Rally
Feb. 10-11, 2012, El Paso, TX


Texas Conference Latino Youth Fest 2012
March 23-25, 2012
More info: Gene Clapp This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Texas Conference Pathfinder Camporee
April 5-8, 2012, Lake Whitney Ranch, Clifton, Texas
More info: Gene Clapp This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it


Oklahoma Conference Pathfinder Camporee
April 27-29, 2012, Wewoka Woods Adventist Center

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Fesja Youth Rally
May 4-5, 2012, Odessa, TX


Texico Adventurer Camporee
June 1-3, 2012

As we begin the holiday season, may each of us find reason to rejoice and give thanks.


Pastor JB