DECEMBER 21, 2021 VOL.2 NO.51
DFW FIL-AM CHORALE @ TEXAS HEALTH HUGULEY & ARLINGTON CITY HALL TODAY
Younger Generation Church is excited to partner with DFW Fil-Am’s Tamaraw Pathfinder club and Jocy’s Creations as they spread holiday cheer, Tuesday, December 21st at Texas Health Huguley, 9:30AM, and Arlington City Hall, 12:00PM Noon, respectively. The Tamaraw Pathfinder chorale will share Christmas songs as well as give gratitude cake pops to our civil servants and front line healthcare workers. This endeavor to share Christmas joy and community gratitude was brought together in part due to grant funding from YG Shark Tank.
Shark Tank is still receiving submissions. All students and young adults are invited to submit innovative ideas for sharing Jesus and His love. Go to tiny.one/ygsharktank
CHECK OUT @JOCY_SCREATIONS
Jocelyn Castillo is one of our YGers going to Tarrant County College with aspirations of going into pediatric medicine. To support her education she has a “side hustle” baking various dessert treats. Be sure to check out her small business, Jocy’s Creations.
GROWING TOGETHER COHORT INTEREST WEBINAR // TONIGHT 6:00PM CST
The North Pacific Union, in partnership with the Southwestern Union, is launching a brand new cohort learning journey for churches in mid-January 2022. The "Growing Together Cohort" is a year-long learning journey to help reach younger generations while building thriving churches for all generations. Over 225 Seventh-day Adventist Churches have taken part in a cohort learning journey over the last few years with incredible results.
If your leadership team and church are committed to learning, growing, and implementing proven strategies you will see God do something special in your local community. The cohort is 100% digital and your church can join from any location, and includes: summits, monthly webinars, personalized coaching, customized strategic plans unique to each church, accountability, and the chance to learn from others churches on the same journey.
Join in tonight at 6:00PM CST
Zoom Meeting Link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81593150896
Meeting ID: 815 9315 0896
Also visit the cohort registration website at growingtogethercohort.com, once on the site you can download a detailed "Facts Sheet" about the cohort. Bring your questions to the interest webinar and consider this amazing opportunity to change the culture of your local church so that all generations can thrive. Cohort space is limited.
CELEBRATING JESUS’ BIRTHDAY WITH PLEASANTVIEW BAPTIST CHURCH // WEDNESDAY
Join our newest campus pastor, Oddie Olazaran, in sharing some Christmas greetings with our neighbors including the Pleasantview Baptist Church. Around noon, Pastor Oddie will be bringing over a custom Happy Birthday Jesus Cake to the church staff and prayer meeting attendees as an expression of good will to our long-time neighbors. YG is delighted to partner with Bella’s Bakery to share birthday cake goodness with our friends. Opportunity permitting, there are hopeful plans to also visit City Chapel and another close by neighborhood church. If you would like to join in sharing good will with our neighboring churches contact Pastor Oddie.
This endeavor to share Christmas joy and community gratitude was brought together in part due to grant funding from YG Shark Tank. Shark Tank is still receiving submissions. All students and young adults are invited to submit innovative ideas for sharing Jesus and His love. Go to tiny.one/ygsharktank
CHECK OUT @BELLASBAKERYOFFICIAL
Isabella Gueck is a high school senior applying for various fine arts conservatories and programs across the nation. Her creative skills include a love for baking that has blossomed into a specialty local business featuring cakes, cupcakes, French macarons, and other desserts upon request. Be sure to check out Bella’s Bakery.
SNOWED INN: A CHRISTMAS PLAY // DEC 22, 7PM // KEENE CHURCH CHAPEL
Please join us for a Christmas romantic comedy written by our very own Devin Anavitarte. Put on by Enspire Productions at 7pm, Wednesday December 22 at the Keene Church Chapel!
CHRISTMAS DAY ALL-CHURCH WORSHIP // 10:00AM & 11:30AM
As a gift to our volunteers, we will be operating on an abbreviated schedule for Christmas Day on Sabbath, December 25. Please note: there will be no Legacy or YG Service, no Sabbath schools, and no UG Talks! Bring your family and plan to join us for either of two options on Christmas morning:
• 10:00am - Outdoor Service
• 11:30am - Family Christmas Service
We look forward to spending Christmas morning with you!
CONNECTING WITH YOUR COLLEGIANS OVER HOLIDAY BREAK
Parents all over the country are anticipating their young adult kids coming home for the break. For some, it’s the first time they’ve been home since they sent them off and set them up for the college school year. Home will feel like home again. Dr. Steve Argue offers insights on how to connect with your young adult this holiday.
Click the above icon or here for the blog from Fuller Youth Institute.
LEAN IN LUNCHEON // JANUARY 12, 12:00PM // SOUTHWESTERN UNION OFFICE
Young adults, student leaders, and young professionals are especially invited to join us for lunch!
The next "Lean In Luncheon" featuring guest, Penny Johnson, CEO, Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South, will be January 12, 2022, 12:00PM at Southwestern Union Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, 777 South Burleson Boulevard, Burleson, TX 76028. Young adult and student leaders are especially invited. For more information go to https://tiny.one/LeanInLuncheon
FEATURED GUEST: PENNY JOHNSON
Penny Johnson serves as the president/CEO for Texas Health Huguley Hospital Fort Worth South and AdventHealth’s Southwest Region, which also includes hospital campuses in Killeen, Lampasas and San Marcos, Texas as well as a new health care campus in Mansfield, Texas.
“Penny is a dynamic leader whose passion for our mission is evident. Her rich experience in previously serving this region in a leadership role and working closely with our valued joint venture and community partners will serve her well as she leads Texas Health Huguley and the Southwest Region into a new decade of providing whole-person care,” said Randy Haffner, president/CEO of the Multi-State Division of AdventHealth.
Johnson joined AdventHealth in 2002 and since then has served in financial leadership at several AdventHealth facilities, as well as its corporate headquarters. She previously served the organization as assistant vice president and controller for AdventHealth Shawnee Mission in Kansas, chief financial officer for AdventHealth Central Texas and chief financial officer for Texas Health Huguley and the Southwest Region.
Johnson earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounting from Union College, and her Master of Business Administration from Baker University. She and her husband Jeff have two collegians, Macy [freshmen] and Parks [senior]. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
WHEN YOU GIVE, YG GLOWS
We're deeply grateful for your generosity, especially as you think of Younger Generation Church in your year-end giving plans. Your heart for others shines brightly and blesses our young adults across the nation and around the world. Thank you.
Click the above icon or here for various ways to give to Younger Generation Church.
COMING ATTRACTIONS
ARE YOU A YOUNG PROFESSIONAL? ARE YOU AN ADVENTIST?
If the answer is yes and yes, we would love for you to join Adventist Young Professionals! Membership is free.
NEW YEAR’S DAY COMMUNION // JANUARY 1 // 9:00 & 11:30AM
Join us on New Year's Day - Sabbath, January 1 - for Communion during Legacy and Mosaic Services! As we begin a new year, let's resolve together to seek God's guidance for our church and our families, recalling the sacrifice He made to demonstrate His love for us!
YG BAPTISM CELEBRATION // JANUARY 1, 2022 // 10:15AM CST
Join in a the festivities as we hold our baptisms on New Year’s Day! If you are interested in being baptized, please click the above icon or here to let Pastor Allan know.
IN LOVING MEMORY: REMEMBRANCE SERVICE // JANUARY 1 // 5:00PM
The past two years have seen unprecedented losses within our church family, too many of which have been left unresolved. At the start of the new year, we want to come together to remember and honor those we have laid to rest, and to share in the burden of each other's grief. For more information, go to arlingtonadventist.com/remembrance
BRIDGE WEEKEND WITH ENGAGE WORSHIP // JANUARY 7 & 8, 2022
We are thrilled to have Southern Adventist University’s Engage Worship returning in 2022! Stay tuned for further details. Save the dates!
PURSUE GOD
YG SHARK TANK!
ACCEPTING YOUR IDEA SUBMISSIONS NOW!
What’s your idea for sharing Jesus and His love? tiny.one/ygsharktank
YG Shark Tank is a creative evangelism project where students and young adults create, pitch, and execute innovative outreach ideas for sharing Jesus Christ and His love.
GUIDELINES
1. EVANGELISM ACTION:
The shark tank proposal needs to clearly address one or more of the Six Actions of Evangelism: Love, Serve, Baptize, Equip, Plant, and Revitalize. https://tiny.one/evangelism
2. MISSION & VALUES:
The shark tank proposal needs to clearly express the mission and values of Younger Generation Church: Intimacy, Community, Grace. https://tiny.one/YGmission
3. CREATED BY YOUTH & YOUNG ADULTS:
The shark tank proposal can involve all ages, but needs to be created or collaboratively imagineered by a student or young adult. It is preferred that the proposal be led by a young person.
4. CONNECTED TO THE LOCAL CHURCH:
The shark tank proposal needs to clearly connect people with Younger Generation Church [http://ygchurch.com] and/or Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church [http://arlingtonadventist.com] and/or Burton Adventist Academy [https://BurtonAcademy.org].
5. RESULTS REVIEWED:
The shark tank proposal needs to have a clearly defined timeframe. At the end of the project, a review/report of results needs to be presented, including what was learned through the experience.
6. GRANTS AWARDED:
The shark tank proposal doesn’t need to involve money. However, if money is needed, a clearly itemized budget needs to be developed to which @YGchurch will determine awarding grants up to $200/proposal. At the conclusion of the project, an expenditure report will need to be provided if grant monies are awarded.
7. CHRIST CENTERED:
The shark tank proposal needs to above all be modeled after Christ Jesus with a genuine heart of love, compassion, and empathy for people. “If we say we are his, we must follow the example of Christ.” —1John 2:6 CEV
ACCEPTING YOUR IDEA SUBMISSIONS NOW! tiny.one/ygsharktank
SWN: SO WHAT NOW?
If you are inspired by a song, a scripture, or a sermon in YG, we want to encourage you to take it to the next step.
James 1:22 shares, “Put the word into action. If you think hearing is what matters most, you are going to find you have been deceived.”
The Voice paraphrase includes this commentary about this passage in James:
”God the Father is the giver of all things and is looking for every opportunity to bless us. But many people have difficulty trusting and receiving good things, even when those things come from God. The problem is that we not only have trouble trusting God’s work in our lives, but we also don’t always respond to God’s voice. People often hear the Scriptures but don’t really listen. People store truths in their brains but never put them to use. For James, the only good religion is religion lived out every day.”
To support your next steps in acting on the Word of GOD, YG’s linktree features an array of take home and take action resources. Click the above icon or here to access YG’s linktree.
EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY
FREE ACCESS TO RIGHTNOW MEDIA FOR ALL OUR MEMBERS!
Looking for resources to start your own Life Group? As part of our church community, you have unlimited access to RightNow Media—the world’s largest streaming library of video Bible study resources (it’s been called the “Netflix of video Bible studies”). This extensive library has more than 20,000 videos from leaders like Francis Chan, Jennie Allen, Matt Chandler, Dr. Tony Evans, and many more. These Bible study videos can be used as part of a group study or for personal devotions, and many series include free discussion guides and handouts.
We believe that RightNow Media is a tool that can help you live out your faith in every area of your life—at home, at work, and in your community. In addition to series on books of the Bible, RightNow Media has videos for everyone in your family on a variety of topics like marriage, parenting, personal finances, mental health, and more. There’s even a library just for kids with over 2,000 safe, entertaining videos. RightNow Media has a free app that’s available on all major streaming devices so you and your family can access content anywhere, anytime. Click the above icon or click here to gain access to our digital library!
INSPIRE HOPE // SHARE GRACE
YG SHARK TANK IS LOOKING FOR YOUR IDEAS!
Got an idea to #BeJesus #BeYG? Do you have a dream of reaching out to others for Christ? Is a creative, innovative, and relevant evangelistic project churning in your brain? Act now to see your idea become reality! #YGSharkTank is OPEN! Click the above icon or here for all the deets! Click below to sign up today!
YG Shark Tank is a creative evangelism project where students and young adults create, pitch, and execute innovative outreach ideas for sharing Jesus Christ and His love. This Sabbath we’re delighted to debut some of the projects being submitted and invite you to consider pitching an idea of your own!
BRINGING YG POTLUCKS BACK!
We love to share food and fellowship, if you have interest in helping coordinate YG potlucks, contact us! info@ygchurch.com
WANTED: MENTORS & KIND HOSTS
Every generation benefits from mentors. Our vibrant young adult ministry, @ygchurch, is looking for Christ-following adults willing to pour into our collegians, young professionals, and young marrieds. If you have interest click the above icon or here and send us your contact information.
Here are more specifics of how awesome adults can impact the lives of our young adults:
• Roaming Hosts: Regularly roam the church sanctuary before and after YG to meet new faces and engage in warm, welcoming and short conversations.
• Single parenting Moms & Dads could use a 2-3 hour break from time to time. Maybe even a manicure or pedicure, while compassionate someones take care of their kids.
• Make a call to a young adult on behalf of YG just to say we're thinking of them, and if permitted pray for them.
• Multiple new parents would benefit from "Grandparents on Demand," https://www.npr.org/2021/10/24/1048790487/an-indiana-town-is-wooing-new-residents-with-on-demand-grandparents
• Host a meal or two for young adults and others new to YG, https://arlingtonadventist.com/new-blog/2019/12/6/miyaygsummary
• Several of our young adults will be away from their family this holiday. An invitation to a holiday meal would be such a blessing.
• Many of our young adults have mental health needs, to which a compassionate adult would be so welcomed.
This list is comprised of specific young aduls who would benefit from your saying, "Yes," to acting on their need. If you have interest click the above icon or here and send us your contact information.
CREATIVE STORY TELLERS FOR MOSAIC WORSHIP
Do you have the ability to share inspiring stories with children? If yes, we are looking for you to share the children’s story during our Mosaic worship service. Contact Pastor Allan to let him know of your interest.
REVIVE COMMUNITY CARE: WE ARE HERE TO HELP EACH OTHER
Inspire those around you with the hope of grace by volunteering with Revive Community Care! Participate and refer those in need, revivecommunitycare.com
ANCHORED: 2022 ATLANTIC UNION GOD ENCOUNTERS // FEBRUARY 11-13, 2022
The Atlantic Union GODencounters is a young adult life-changing experience. Young Adults (age 18-35) across Atlantic Union, and beyond, as well as, those who support Young Adult Ministries are invited to join us for an intimate experience with God. Join the fellowship under the theme, 'ANCHORED'.
Click the above icon or here to make your registration and lodging arrangements.
TEXAS YOUNG ADULTS
Click the above icon or here for all the latest updates from Texas Young Adult Ministry!
YOUR GENEROSITY MAKES @YGCHURCH GROW, GLOW, & GO
We invite you to support @ygchurch financially. As you bless YG, our young adults overflow that blessing into our community and into the world. Your tax-deductible donation helps YG grow, glow, and go. Thank you. Click the above icon or here for ways to give.
How does your support overflow into the world? Click here for @ygchurch stories of overflow.
GRATITUDE
YG VISION: OVERFLOW JESUS
In 2014, YG set out this holy ambition in our vision statement:
In this new decade of Younger Generation Church,
we aspire to overflow Jesus Christ beyond our four walls
—blessing our community, transforming our world.
This was a mere five years into our church's internet media ministry, when "online broadcasting" was still thought to be a novelty. Our "big hairy audacious goal" was to overflow with Jesus beyond our church's physical location. Back then [2014], we had no idea of the pivotal role digital ministry would play in the 21st century and the lives that would be impacted.
Jorge & Evelyn Torres and their family were stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, when their collegiate daughter came across YG. As Chaplain Jorge shares the story:
"Our daughter was at Southern at the time and was leading in worship. On one of her school breaks she spoke of YG and we tuned in and our kids resonated with the style and messages being presented. Being in the military it has been difficult to find churches that are intentional about ministering to our young adults."
So over the past several years, the Torres family have been among our "online YGers," attending worship services from wherever the family was stationed and the children were attending college.
Recently stationed as 1st Cavalry Division Chaplain, at Fort Hood near Kileen, Texas, Chaplain Torres and his family drove two and a half hours to join us in person for worship for the first time. Completely unannounced, their in-person, pop-up visit was a wonderful surprise and it was our delight to give them a tour of the church they have been virtually attending for years. We thrilled to introduce them and their boys to UGYOUTH as well as Revive Community Care and the other physical expressions of our vision and dreams here at Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church.
On their way back home, their sons, unsolicited, shared about their experience:
Emanuel said, “It’s the best church we have ever attended.” Joshua mentioned, “This is what a church should be.”
“We are tremendously blessed to finally find a place that seeks to empower our youth to live out God’s Kingdom in the community they exist in,” reflected Jorge and Evelyn.
So when YG in faith claims to minister "beyond our four walls," GOD is honoring that faith in touching young lives across the nation and around the world.
"YG’s mission and vision has done just that for our family from afar," enthusiastically shared Chaplain Jorge regarding empowering and engaging next generations,"and now we were blessed to be able to worship in person."
Younger Generation Church is the vibrant young adult ministry of the Arlington Seventh-day Adventist Church.YG's mission is to deepen our devotion to Christ Jesus through:
• Pursuing INTIMACY with God
• Experiencing COMMUNITY with each other
• Inspiring those around us with the hope of GRACE