April 18, 2023 VOL.4 NO.13
BUILD COMMUNITY BY ENJOYING MEALS TOGETHER
Anytime is a great time to share meals with new acquaintances, family, and friends. Put what you’ve learned from our Young Adult LIFE Tour into practice, by launching an “Open Table,” this new quarter. Click the above icon for a “how to host guide booklet.” Pray and plan, and begin this Spring meeting with old friends and making new ones.
WEAR YG WEEKEND
Got a @ygchurch shirt? This Sabbath wear it with pride. Vintage YG shirts welcome!
#IAmYG
BROKEN TO BEAUTIFUL: THE WAITER // SAT, APR 22, 10;15AM CDT // @YGCHURCH
Seventh-day Adventists are waiters; We await His soon return, and we wait on those around us, serving them in love.
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." --Isaiah 40:31 [KJV]
“You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” —Galatians 5:13 [NIV]
Join Younger Generation Church, Saturdays, 10:15AM CDT, as we discover the beauty in sacrifice, and the power of Love that can arise from suffering and pain.
OPEN HOUSE // SUNDAY, APR 23, 2:00-4:00PM // BURTON ADVENTIST ACADEMY
We hope you are planning to join us for our upcoming Open House event for families interested in exploring what Burton Academy has to offer your family! Click the above icon, complete the form to lock in your spot and receive a free gift during the event! And of course, don't hesitate to reach out with any questions prior to the open house event. burtonacademy.org/open-house
SUPPORTING HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS
When she was in high school, youth leader and FYI apprentice Laura Atwood remembers adults talking often about how tough adolescence was. But no one seemed to say much about the challenges that would come in young adulthood.
Let’s offer high school seniors support that can help them navigate the instability that lies ahead.
Read more from Laura and discover two ways to serve high school seniors in the transition to young adulthood.
We’re with you as you help young people find Jesus-centered answers to their questions of identity, belonging, and purpose. —Fuller Youth Institute
COMING ATTRACTIONS
WORSHIP & SPORTS WEEKEND // JULY 20-23 // KEENE, TEXAS
Worship and Sports Weekend is taking place in Keene, Texas, on July 20-23, 2023. You are invited to worship and play sports with us. We are excited to provide youth and young adults the opportunity to meet and compete in a Godly fashion. We know that many young people don’t have the opportunity to participate in sports due to honoring the Sabbath as part of their commitment to God. Leaders, parents, and pastors-- please invest your time and plan to bring your young people for a dynamic extended weekend of worship and sports. Click the above icon to register.
YG HAS LIMITED DISCOUNTED TICKETS TO AYP CONVENTION!
We are excited to announce that the 2023 AYP Thrive Convention will be in Texas on July 28-30, 2023! Join us for this leadership convention focused on helping young professionals thrive toward the next level of their journey in Christ! YG has acquired tickets and is giving our YGers a great discount. Click the above icon to reserve your YG discounted registration. For general convention information, go to AYP.me/Convention for all the deets.
PURSUE GOD
LIVING WITH INTEGRITY // DEVOTIONAL BLOG WITH TIM KOSAKA
Values are not about what you want to get or achieve; they are about how you want to behave or act on an ongoing basis; how you want to treat yourself, others, the world around you.
At Adventist Young Professionals we value discipleship grounded on growing in faith, living in integrity, and serving in love. The words discipleship, faith and service are likely familiar to us as Christians. However, what does it truly mean to live in Integrity and how can we put this into practice each and every day?
Click the above video or here to read the devotional by Tim Kosaka.
STORY ENCOUNTERS: THE CHOSEN // HOPE CHANNEL INTERNATIONAL
Hope Channel International, an Adventist global media network, has launched the premiere of its new interactive Bible discussion series, "Story Encounters: The Chosen." Hosted by Adventist Pastors Ty Gibson and David Asscherick, the series explores the Biblical themes and stories depicted in the hit series, "The Chosen." Click the above icon for more information.
EXPERIENCE COMMUNITY
ATTENTION ALL HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS & COLLEGE/UNIVERSITY STUDENTS
We’re looking to connect with all our students: high school seniors, trade school, collegians and graduate students! Click the above icon to submit your contact information so that we might include you in care package projects and other efforts to minister to you no matter where you are going to school. Go to tiny.one/YGstudent to submit your info.
WHEREVER YOU ARE, GATHER TO WORSHIP TOGETHER
If you can’t be with YG in person, why not gather with friends and family to join your worship with ours. Anytime. Anywhere. Be blessed or blessed again. https://www.facebook.com/ygchurch/videos
Bingeworthy? Check out our YG Video Vault for events, worships, and media from the past 13 years. https://vimeo.com/channels/ygchurch
YG can also be found on YouTube,
https://www.youtube.com/@YoungerGenerationChurchTv
#BeJesus #BeYG
YOUNG PROFESSIONALS YOU ARE WELCOME HERE!
No doubt work consumes a lot of your focus and energies. Our hope is you will find at @ygchurch meaningful relationships, inspiration, and refreshment for your spirit. Our desire is for you to experience a sense of belonging with us; That you will find your purpose affirmed here; That you will discover more fully your identity in Christ. We think of you as family and hope you will discover in us a place you can call home.
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 AYP CHAPTERS IN TEXAS!
We’re excited to share that AYP now has chapters in Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio, and Austin - making a local AYP presence accessible to many young professional Texans!
I invite you to join the WhatsApp chat for the chapter nearest you and ask that you help us spread the word with your friends across Texas!
If you are interested in volunteering with one of these chapters by either planning events/gatherings, helping with communications, or supporting in another way, please email Mechee.Cherine@AYP.me or visit AYP.me/apply!
RIGHTNOW MEDIA VIRTUAL LIBRARY
As a YGer you have access to RightNow Media—the world’s largest streaming library of video Bible study resources. 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.
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. Click the above icon or click here to gain access to our digital library!
INSPIRE HOPE // SHARE GRACE
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
SIGNING UP GREAT PEOPLE WITH A HEART FOR SERVICE
Younger Generation Church thrives on the passion and service of volunteers of all ages. Our young adult ministry has all kinds of roles where you can play an important part whether you are 9 or 90! Click the above icon to complete our volunteer form and stop by the welcome booth this Sabbath to pick up your YG volunteer team shirt. Join YG in Loving GOD and Loving People. tinyurl.com/YGvolunteer
GOT AN IDEA FOR SHARING JESUS AND HIS LOVE?
@ygchurch wants to support all the creative ways you may have in mind for outreach, evangelism, and sharing GOD’s love. Click the above icon and submit your idea to YG Shark Tank.
TEXAS YOUNG ADULTS
Young Texas Adventists provides great ministry support to young adults including young professionals. Pastor Justin Yang is available to speak, train, and resource you and your peers. He also publishes a regular newsletter filled with coming events and relevant resources.
Click the above icon for the Texas Young Adult website. Click the below icon for the newsletter link.
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
THANKS COACH MURRAY
Posted by Matt Murray: “Thursday evening (April 17, 2023) my father, Rick Murray went peacefully to sleep at my parents home in Texas. His long battle with various health related issues has come to an end. My family and I thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.
Until his last breath he was still able to talk about old war (coaching) stories, basketball, life, sing his favorite beach boy’s songs and of course give his opinions on the seahawks.
He was fiercely loved by his wife Jane Murray and was able to be with her in the end. He will be remembered by his kids, Matt, Megan, Zach and their families.
So many of you were able to call him coach, mentor, colleague, and friend. It has been a huge blessing to be able to see how many people he has impacted over his lifetime. He always told me he felt incredibly blessed to be able to coach so many, and be able to see his players grow old, accomplish their own dreams, and have families of their own.
Dad, you loved so much, and you were incredibly loved by so many. Rest easy and we will all get to see you again.”
CONGRATULATIONS DR. KISHA NORRIS!
Kisha R. Norris inherited a passion for Christian education. Raised in a single-parent home, her mother determined it was worth the sacrifice to give Kisha a Seventh-day Adventist education. Kisha holds a bachelor’s degree in biology with a secondary education and music minor as well as a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, all from Southwestern Adventist University (SWAU). In 2022, Kisha completed her doctoral degree in education from Capella University.
She recalls her years at Southwestern as some of the most memorable times of her life—participating in student association and dorm events, meeting new people, making memories on trips, and worship services. She treasures the people she met at Southwestern who shaped her life for the better.
Since 2019, Kisha has served as the vice president for education and superintendent of schools for the Texas Conference of Seventh-day Adventists in Alvarado, Texas. Prior to her appointment, she spent a number of years in leadership in Seventh-day Adventist higher educational institutions, including Southwestern Adventist University, Loma Linda University in Loma Linda, California, and Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, working in the philanthropy departments as a director of development, senior director of development, assistant vice president, and an executive director of advancement. She has returned to education, her passion, which she pursued after completing her undergraduate degree. She is a former high school chemistry and Spanish teacher.
Kisha says, “Not only can I credit Southwestern for the beginnings of my training in the two professions I have chosen, but Southwestern developed my passion for giving back in any way I can to assist students who may need a little extra financial help. In 2004, I established an endowment at SWAU in my mother's name, the Peggy Norris Memorial Scholarship, to benefit education and or music education majors in the pursuit of their education.
“My time at Southwestern was a special time in my life. I met amazing people who mentored me and introduced me to my future careers, one in non-profit fundraising and management and one in education. I gained amazing friends and was able to nurture my love for music by singing in recruitment groups, choirs, and ensembles. Southwestern will always have a special place in my heart because it brought people and experiences into my life that have continued to shape my love for God.”
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