I’m writing this note from the office of the Center for Youth Ministry at the Baptist Seminary in Santa Clara, Cuba. We’ve had a great time with the team here, and we’ll be finishing up tomorrow morning with classes.
Everyone’s family is coming in for graduation that takes place tomorrow night. It is the graduation for the entire seminary, and the graduating class of 13 Master’s Degree students in youth ministry will be the largest group graduating.
It’s been 3 years of hard work, but it’s been great. I’ll write more later, but I wanted to let you know what’s going on.
I’m writing this from a hotel room in Miami, waiting my trip to Cuba for one last class in the youth ministry program.
Tomorrow morning, I take off for Cienfuegos and then to Santa Clara. I’ll be co-teaching the last class in the three year youth ministry program with Randy Smith, the President of Youth Ministry International.
Next week, we’ll have a graduation. I’ll take tons of pics and video, and I’ll put it up when I get back.
There are people in life that do great things but go unseen, or their legacy is known to only a few. Today as I was grading papers from my class on Camps and Retreats, I came across one such hero.
Helen Black was a missionary in Cuba long before the revolution. She arrived in Cuba in the 40’s and founded an interdenominational campground known as “Mi Campamento.” Her work with young people raised up some of the greatest Christians who would carry on the work of the gospel in a country where it hasn’t always been easy to be a Christian.
She was also a professor at the New Pines Seminary, and “Aunt Helen” was known for her ability to teach the Bible. She loved Cuba and dedicated her life to the Cuban people. She died in Cuba at the age of 84, but her legacy lives on in the lives of Christian leaders and young people who still attend activities at the camp she founded.
I pray that my life can have an impact like Helen’s life did. She may not be known to man, but she had an eternal impact in the Kingdom of God.
What about you? Do you have any good stories of unknown heroes who have impacted you or the lives of those around you?
(Sources: CIMPEC; Noticias)
Youth Ministry International offers certification for youth workers who have demonstrated certain qualifications for ministry. In fact, there are 52 essential qualities for a certified youth worker. We basically see these qualities as our goals for the students in the Centers for Youth Ministry throughout the world.
The essential qualities fall under 5 categories: skills, character, knowledge, programming, and academic and experiential training. Receiving the certification also allows the youth worker to conduct training and seminars on behalf of Youth Ministry International.
Almost one year ago, on May 27, 2007, YMI certified the first youth worker in the Ukraine. Today, we gave Huberto his youth ministry certification. He is the first Latin American youth worker that Youth Ministry International has certified, and it was an honor to be able to give him his certificate at his church this morning.
I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in his church and community now that he’s finished his seminary degree (of course, I am encouraging him to continue his education, but he’s finished for now). He should have more time to dedicate to the ministry, and he’s already doing a great job.
I could see today how great of a relationship he has with his students, and I could tell that they were looking for him for counsel. It was great to see him in action.
Here’s a video of the 2008 graduation at the Mexican Baptist Theological Seminary, which included the graduation of the first student from the Center for Youth Ministry with a bachelor’s degree in youth ministry.
You can read my thoughts about the day here.
(Here’s a larger version on Vimeo)
We need your help. A few weeks ago, I sent an email to our mailing list that said that we really needed prayers for the last of 6 encounters for a Master’s program we are directing in Cuba. I have been going there each January and June for the last 2 and a half years (almost 3 years), and this time will be the last trip I make for a while.
Many of the 13 students in the program have serious issues at home or in their ministries that are affecting them in their quest to complete this once in a lifetime opportunity. Here are a few of the situations that they are facing. Please pray for them.
- Maykel’s wife is pregnant, and her pregnancy is very high risk. She is due right around when we should be in class. Maykel has been finishing up a thesis he is researching for another degree he is completing at the same time.
- Pancho was recently told by his doctor to avoid doing anything that requires much effort due to the amount of stress that is in his life. He is taking a sabbatical from his job as the director of the youth program at the Eastern Baptist Convention, but he is continuing his studies to obtain his Master’s in youth ministry.
- Abdiel and Leza are expecting their first child. While this is a good thing, it’s not easy to be pregnant and do the required work for the youth ministry classes.
- Giancarlos’s wife has very serious eye problems and may lose her sight if something isn’t done soon. They say there isn’t much that can be done.
We know that these are difficulties that need to be overcome, and we are confident that your prayers will help (James 5:16). Thanks.
(Image by: Carf on flickr)
