Greater New York Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Adventist Youth Ministries Department
FYI
8/4/09
1. Courage to Stand International Camporee (August 11-15, Oshkosh, Wisconsin)
2. Adventist Youth Fun Day in Dorney Park (August 30 @ Dorney Park)
3. Adventist Youth Ministries Report (Campmeetings, Summer Camp, Work Day @ Camp, and Dominican Republic Mission Trip)
4. Pastor Jose’s Schedule for August
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1. Courage to Stand International Camporee (August 11-15, Oshkosh, Wisconsin): Perhaps the most exciting and anticipated event in the worldwide Adventist Church. About 1,000 Pathfinders & Master Guides from Greater New York will be participating in this event this year. Some members of our delegation, led by Hector Perez and Walter Harris are already in Oshkosh. Pastor Lloyd Scharffernberg will be there on Thursday. They are going early in order to make sure that when our clubs arrive, everything is set up and ready. I anticipate that Greater New York will have the most beautiful entry-way in the Camporee, just like five years ago, of course, I am a bit bias. Oscar Aguilar, Pastor Pedro Gomez, and his wife Ana Delia have been working with a group of young people to make sure we have a beautiful entry way that represents our Conference very well.
Another fact to report is that our Greater New York Clubs will be hosting a good group of International Pathfinders from Fiji (27), Central Jamaica (18), Brazil (3), Dominican Republic (15), and Camp Berkshire will host 150 from East Puerto Rico. A total of 213 International Pathfinders. I am very grateful and thankful to each Club and to the Camp for being so hospitable and loving. Last time our Conference was the top International Host. Thank you for the hard work and spirit of service.
A detailed Memo with last minute Camporee details will be sent before the weekend please read it carefully and follow its instructions.
2. Adventist Youth Fun Day in Dorney Park (August 30 @ Dorney Park): Our Adventist Youth Fun Day is coming up, on August 30. This year we will be going to Dorney Park, the price for the tickets is:
Adults: $29.00
Children (3-6 and under 48 inches): $19.50
You can use the tickets during this day or any time. This is a beautiful opportunity for an outing with your church, youth group, college or university friends, Pathfinder and Adventurer Club. It is also perfect opportunity to invite your non-Christian friends and neighbors and expose them to your friends from church in a different atmosphere. Your church will receive the flyer and ticket request form; you can also check them and download them online at www.gnycyouth.com.
3. Adventist Youth Ministries Report (Campmeetings, Summer Camp, Work Day, and Dominican Republic Mission Trip): Following, you will find a brief report of what our Adventist Youth Ministries Department has accomplished in the last four weeks.
Campmeeting Season
All three of our Campmeetings were very well attended and resulted in decisions for Jesus and baptisms. The air dome was very packed and I have to admit it, it got very hot at times. We are working to see if we can put it in its permanent place and install an air conditioning. We always strive to make sure that we provide the best atmosphere possible for worship at the dome. Bear with us and pray for us as we work to make these improvements. Special thanks to the Youth Events Staff, responsible for all the technology, platform, audio-visual, lighting, and just about all the technical aspects that make the dome look beautiful as you walk in. Special thanks to AY & Pathfinder Coordinators who led and worked with the programs. We have posted some pictures of the Campmeetings on Facebook.
English Camp (June 27 & July 4)
We had the visits of Pastor James Black, North American Division Youth Director and Pastor Jonathan Tejel, World Pathfinder Director. Both messages were spectacular. Other highlights of Camp were the Bible Bowl Finals and the fully packed dome during the second Sabbath, the Pathfinder Parade, Baptism of 11 people, and the unexpected pop up visit by our Union President for Vespers.
Hispanic Camp (July 11 to July 18)
The weeklong camp was very well attended, about 200 youth during the week and thousands on the last Sabbath. Seventeen people were baptized on the last Sabbath. The speaker was Pastor Alvin Payne, Youth Pastor in the Frederick Church, Chesapeake Conference. Pastor Payne is a son of Greater New York, a former member of the Broadway Church. During the week we saw struggles and great victories for God as young people gave their lives to Jesus and were baptized. Both Sabbath Schools were phenomenal, including the presentation “Behind Iron Gates” by the Brooklyn young people. The Concerts by the Dyckman Spanish Choir, Maribel Soto and Jafed Ruiz were both packed. The programming ended at 11 PM on the last Sabbath.
Franco-Haitian Camp (July 19 to July 25)
Very well attended by young people during the entire week. The speaker, Pastor Greg Nelson, Youth Pastor of the Capitol Hill Church, in Washington DC, Allegheny East was superb. Day activities were awesome, and for the first time in Franco-Haitian Camp there was a Youth & Young Adult service on Sabbath. It was great. I had to leave during the week, in order to lead the Mission Trip, but I really need to thank Pastors Andy Lagradelle and Brian Ladiny for a job well done, together with the Youth Team (Franklin, Georgie, Evens, Farah and the staff)
Summer Camp
The two weeks of summer camp, led by the Camp Berkshire Staff were also enjoyed by the Campers; there were a total of six decisions for baptism during the two weeks. I would like to thank Hector Perez, Angel Reyes, and the summer camp staff, as well as Georgie Coxaj, who was the Camp Pastor for working hard, providing another ministry option for kids and teens in 2009. The info for Summer Camp 2010 will be out shortly. Begin to plan now.
Work Day @ Camp Berkshire
I would like to thank the groups that came out for this special work day, the Queens Faith Temple group, who came up with Neville Blackwood and the Corona Queens and Bayshore groups that came up with Tony & Elena Sandoval. Thank you guys, great job!!!
I encourage church groups and youth groups to come to Camp Berkshire for a day of work, many churches are doing it and it brings tremendous help to the Camp. You can come on a Saturday evening, have a social, use the gym and pool, and then work on Sunday till 3 or 4 PM. If you are interested in coming to the Camp with your church for a day of work, please contact Camp Manager Hector Perez,
hperez2183@hotmail.comor call (845) 832-6681.
Dominican Republic Mission Trip
This is the 15th Mission Trip led by the Greater New York Conference Adventist Youth Ministries Department since 2003. Monte Plata, a very poor town in Dominican Republic was impacted by our young people and adults who worked very hard to be the hands of Jesus during the week of July 23-30, 2009. Lots can be accomplished in one week of work. Our group managed to demolish and build a new home from scratch, for one of the poorest families in Monte Plata; lead a Vacation Bible School for 130 children; distributed food & clothes to the residents of Monte Plata for a week; had a day of free consultations for the community by 20 physicians; and of course led a week of Evangelism at the Monte Plata Church with our own Pastor Plinio Cruz of Haverstraw Church.
The project had the support of the Southeast Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Dominican Republic, the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Monte Plata, and the Manos Amigas International Foundation, with headquarters in Monte Plata. The staff of Manos Amigas was instrumental in the arrangement and preparation of the local projects in the town of Monte Plata. Of course, at the end of the week, the name of Jesus was lifted up and everyone in town knows about the Seventh-day Adventist Church. On the last day when our group deliver the new home to a very poor family, with a bed, a table with chairs, and other household items, which this family had never had, the neighbors who were there filled with joy and emotion kept on saying, “this is the church that we must go to, a church that cares and shows so much love, this is the church.”
Special thanks to the team members, young and adults, from all over Greater New York, Washing DC, New Jersey, and other places who participated on this trip. Also great appreciation to those who helped with the leadership of the project: Walter Harris (Trip co-leader & Construction leader), Pastor Abel Rosario, who is a native of Monte Plata and worked very hard through the entire project, Manuela & Abel (Vacation Bible School), Suni (Distribution & Medical Team), Maria & Maria (our chefs & cooks), Edgar (official alarm clock @ 5:00 AM), Michelle (Praise & Worship), and Pastor Plinio Cruz who stayed behind to finalize a very powerful and innovative, Week of Evangelism at the local church. During this Mission Trip, I also had the privilege of officiating the beautiful wedding of Shirley Ortiz, a youth leader in GNYC, as well as the President of Sabado Joven. She married Jose Heredia right on the beach, in Puerto Plata.
We have posted some pictures of the Mission Trip on Facebook.
4. Pastor Jose’s Schedule for August: If it was not for you, our leadership team, and the huge blessings of God, these things would never happen in Greater New York. Thank you for your support every time and for your love always. Please, keep our department, our leaders, and our families in your prayers. We love you and think of you 24/7.
During the beginning of this week, I was able to attend the Atlantic Union Pastors & Teachers Convention, then headed to Phoenix. Arizona to participate in an Evangelism Committee and an Advisory for the North American Division, which take place during the ASI (Adventist-laymen’s Services & Industries) Convention. I am in Arizona right now, it is very hot here, somewhere around 109 degrees, one more reason to want to go to heaven, LOL. On my return from Arizona, our family will be driving off to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the International Camporee. When we come back from the Camporee, we will join the Colporteurs from the Greater New York Conference and their families in their Publishing Department’s Yearly Retreat (August 20-23), they have asked me to be their speaker for the retreat. From August 27 to August 29 I will spend some time with Joanne, the boys, and my parents; together we will celebrate my 37th b-day. Just before I left Joanne found 3 or maybe 5 white hairs on my head, not cool, getting a little old here. On August 30, I will be at the wedding of one of our AY Coordinators.
Many Blessings!!!
Keep in touch:
www.gnycyouth.com (website)
ay@gnycyouth.com(Secretary’s E-mail address)
gnycyouth@aol.com(Pastor Jose’s E-mail address).
http://www.youtube.com/user/gnycyouth (For videos on YouTube)
Jose Joanne Cortes (on Facebook)
Pastor Jose & Joanne (on My Space)
(516) 627-9350 (Greater New York Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church)
(516) 467-5212 (Direct Line to Veronica/Adventist Youth Ministries Department Office)
(516) 749-2080 (Joanne’s Cell)
(516) 749-6057 (Pastor Jose’s Cell)
(516) 627-9272 (Greater New York Conference Fax)
Jose
Pastor Jose H. Cortes Jr., M. Div.
Director of the Adventist Youth Ministries Department
Greater New York Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church
7 Shelter Rock Road
Manhasset New York, 11030
www.gnycyouth.com (website)
ay@gnycyouth.com (Secretary’s E-mail address)
gnycyouth@aol.com(Pastor Jose’s E-mail address)
www.youtube.com/user/gnycyouth (For videos on YouTube)
JoseJoanne (on Twitter)
Jose Joanne Cortes (on Facebook)
Pastor Jose & Joanne (on My Space)
(516) 627-9350 (Receptionist)
(516) 467-5212 (Direct Line to Adventist Youth Ministries Department Office)
(516) 749-2080 (Joanne’s Cell)
(516) 749-6057 (Pastor Jose’s Cell)
(516) 627-9272 (Greater New York Conference Fax)
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