YCE News

La Asociacion Internacional de lideres Hispanos de nuestro departamento, HCYLA, se reunio en la ciudad de Orlando, FL durante los dias 3-4 de Abril, 2009 con el proposito de ofrecer talleres y confernecias de capacitacion, dirigida a lideres juveniles, niños y educadores. 

Los que pudieron estar alli tuvieron la oportunidad de conocer a lideres de otras regiones, confraternizar, y asi enriquecer sus ministerios con el intercambio de ideas y la ministracion que recibieron. Gracias Dios, el evento fue de gran exito!

Hemos recibido varios testimonios de lideres que fueron impactados. Estamos trabajando para duplicar este tipo de evento en otras Regiones de los Estados Unidos y en America latina. Por favor sigan orando por este ministerio, cuyo proposito es preparar, entrenar y certificar lideres de Juventud y Educacion Cristiana de la Iglesia de Dios.   

HYCLA se estara reuniendo otra vez en el proximo Congreso Hispano en la ciudad de Oaklad, CA durante la primera semana de Agosto. Para más informacion, comuniquese con el Coordinador Hispano, Robert Rodriguez.

Posted in Hispanic Ministries News | | Comments Off

During the days of June 8-12, National and Regional YCE leaders from Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Panama, and Venezuela met with Robert Rodriguez, Hispanic Ministries Coordinator for the International YCE Department, at the COG Seminary, SEMISUD, in Quito, Ecuador. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss different ways to strengthen Youth ministries in their countries.

We thank God that the meeting was a great success. Several proposals were presented, including the adoption of all International YCE Certification programs for youth, Children and Education leaders. We also established tentative dates for HYCLA conferences in the next couple of years in Central and South America. Each leader returned to his country with a new sense of enthusiasm to continue the work and development of youth ministries.

We have a great group of YCE leaders in Latin America…they are very sharp. They love the Lord, youth ministries and the Church of God! We look forward to great things that the Lord will be doing in the near future.

Posted in Hispanic Ministries News | | Comments Off

Posted in Poza Rica | | Comments Off

June 13, 2009-Day 5

Today started off right with a time of devotion by Stephanie from North Carolina. She reminded us of the abundant life that Christ gives (John 10:10) and that it is a message that we’ve come to share with the people of Poza Rica.

Afterwards, we headed to Papantla to tour the ruins of El Tajin (A.D. 600-1150) and enjoyed the Flying Boys’ performance. The STEP team had a great time just being together. After shopping in the market there, picking up handmade items and vanilla that is grown and processed in the region, we headed to the orphanage.

While some of the men finished the project of installing screens on the windows and doors of the boy’s dorm, other members of the team prepared for the birthday party. The kids loved the giant inflatables! Each child and staff member received a gift and there were lots of hugs and smiles and thank you’s.

Six months of supplies were bought at Sam’s Club for the orphanage today as well. There were 7 fully loaded carts! Mucho rice and beans!

It was extremely hot today.  We have come to live with the fact that sweat is going to pour from us but God has a way of helping us even in the heat!

As we headed into the evening, we shared in an awesome time of worship together. We were blessed by music from the Casa Hogar staff and we ended with a time of prayer and reflection in the Prayer Tower. The Holy Spirit moved upon hearts as only He can do.

It was a long day but a fruitful one. There was more work done than we were able to humanly accomplish. The Lord, however, will strengthen us for the rest of the journey.

Posted in Poza Rica | | Comments Off

June 12, 2009-Day 4

Today we went to the beach with the children of Casa Hogar y Alfa y Omega. Since the children usually do not visit the beach it was a special day for them. Some of the guys from the STEP team played football, well American football, with the boys from the orphanage. This was the first time the boys came across a football game. The girls were having a lot of fun in the water getting sandy, digging holes and building castles. Some people were in a raft in the water. Others were in hammocks eating mangos. It was a good day had by all! The beauty of it was that for a moment in time the constant cares of the work of ministry and the monotony of having to spend every minute at the orphanage for the kids were put aside. It was such a treat that you would have thought that we took them for a trip to Disneyland.

In the afternoon, after lunch/dinner at Enrique’s, we visited the bridged were Pastor Elias and his wife Teresa founds kids and started their ministry. While we were taking pictures a man appeared, who was meet with a girl believed to be 12 or 13. We were so surprised to find out that people still live there. We ask you to please pray for all these people who are in desperate need of Christ.

When we got back to the hotel we got together and arranged the gifts and clothing for the kids because we are celebrating everyone’s birthday. Then everyone split up to do different things. The teenagers from Casa Hogar came over for a talk, the girls in one room and the boys in another. Some worked on a drama and music and others finished other projects.

Keep praying for us. We have two more full days, especially tomorrow and the heat is almost unbearable. The heat index for tomorrow alone is to be about 135. But as we have been learning, that it is not about us, we drink plenty of water and go on with what God has for us.

Posted in Poza Rica | | Comments Off

It was a great day for STEP participants in Poza Rica. To start the day this morning Miguel Ayala, STEP participant from Los Angeles, California reminded us of the words of Christ in Matthew 25:35-40, “For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. …Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.” Following morning devotions we headed to the orphanage and spent time there with the children doing crafts and activities. They made colored sand crosses and many other crafts. The kids also enjoyed getting their faces painted. Some of the team members participated in the project to put screens on the windows of the boy’s dormitory (in the 5000 degree heat). This will help to keep the mosquitoes out of their rooms. English and Spanish, laughter and music, saws and hammers blended together to make the sounds of an enjoyable morning.

After a delicious Mexican lunch at Enrique’s, we headed up the dirt roads to Lucia’s Mission via truckbeds. This is one of the poorest communities in the area. The gospel was shared through song, rap, drama and clowning, and food was given to the children. This groups is extremely talented and God has truly placed us together for such a time as this.

We then had a late dinner at the food court of the local mall before doing some shopping for our trip to the beach tomorrow. It is going to be a fun day!

Meeting the people of Mexico, spending time with Pastor and Sister Herrera and getting to know the beautiful children here has reminded us of the awesomeness of the body of Christ and how blessed we truly are.

Posted in Poza Rica | | Comments Off

Posted in Kibera Kids Center Orphanage, YWEA | | Comments Off

June 9-10, 2009-Days 1 & 2

Our first two days in Poza Rica have been great. God gave us great favor in our flight connections, going through customs, getting money exchanged, loading the bus, traveling from Mexico City to Poza Rica, and so much more. And with us taking an earlier flight we were actually able to get to Poza Rica before dark!

Once we arrived in this beautiful city, we headed straight for some authentic tacos and they were great. Everyone was hungry and ate a lot. Then we checked in to the hotel and called it a night.

Day two started with a devotion by Brother Tony with the reminder that “INAM”-It’s not about me. God has brought us to Poza Rica with the divine appointment to serve others and touch souls.

We had the opportunity to meet the children of Casa Hogar and tour the facilities, which included dormitories, a kitchen, a school, and a prayer tower at the top of a hill. The children were eager to guide us through their home and make new friends.

As we walked around Pastor Elias and Sister Teresa’s home, a sign on their wall caught my eye: “Mi Dios suplira todas mis necesidades”….My God shall supply all my needs. God has truly supplied for Casa Hogar, and it was humbling to know that God is using us as instruments to fulfill this promise.

We bought groceries for 18 families that live in a local trash dump. Before we distributed the boxes of food and goody bags for the children, we had a short service filled with songs, drama, story time for the children, and an invitation for prayer. We were able to minister to several families by offering our prayers.

Please continue to prayer for our STEP team as we continue to be vessels for Christ!

Posted in Poza Rica | | Comments Off

Frontier Kidfest–April 9-11, 2010–Arlington, Texas

Carolina Kidfest–April 23-25, 2010–Charlotte, North Carolina

Midwest Kidfest–April 30-May 2, 2010–Mason, Ohio

Sonshine Kidfest–May 14-16, 2010 (Tentative)

Smoky Mountain Kidfest–May 21-23, 2010–Gatlinburg, Tennessee

Posted in Kidfest 2010 | | Comments Off

The 2010 Winterfest dates and locations are as follows:

Midwest-January 22-24, 2010–Indianapolis, Indiana

Pacific Coast–January 29-31, 2010–Riverside, California

Frontier–January 29-31, 2010–Arlington, Texas

Premier–February 5-7, 2010–Ocean City, Maryland

Northeast–February 12-14, 2010–Rochester, New York

Wildwest–February 12-14, 2010–Rapid City, South Dakota

Ozark–February 19-21, 2010–Branson, Missouri

Smoky Mountain–March 12-14, 2010–Knoxville, Tennessee

Sonfest–March 26-28, 2010–Orlando, Florida

Posted in Winterfest 2010 | | Comments Off