UBC Welcomes Our Next Student Pastor

Since the Spring of 2011 we have prayed about and considered candidates to lead our UBC Student Ministry.  The spiritual development of our youth is especially critical, and so the selection of a person in whom we would have the highest confidence was also critical.

Today we are pleased to announce that the search has been concluded, and a person well known to many at UBC has been selected.  Anthony Gonzalez, presently UBC Student Ministry Associate, has accepted the call to as the UBC Student Pastor Associate.   Over the past several months he has provided leadership in the Student Ministry in the absence of a Student Pastor, and has continued to expand our student outreach.

Anthony grew up in UBC, and is himself a product of the Student Ministry programs.  He understands our mission, has a clear call from God to ministry, and has a heart for student ministry at UBC.  Anthony holds a Bachelors degree in Religious Studies, and is attending seminary now to obtain his MA in Theology and Ministry with a Youth, Family, and Culture emphasis.  His formal service at UBC includes two years as a Student Ministry Intern, before leaving for a nine-month global missions experience, and return to UBC in the Student Ministry Associate role in 2010.

While serving as Student Ministry Associate, and during this interim leadership period, Anthony has done a remarkable job leading Tribe (our Middle School ministry) and Roots (our High School ministry), despite staffing vacancies.  We have baptized more students, taken more students to Camp University, and had more significant outreach than in any year in the last five years.  Anthony’s leadership has been at the center of these accomplishments.

The search for our next Student Pastor has taken nearly a year, and throughout the process Anthony has been a partner.  He prayerfully considered the direction God has for his life and ministry, and the needs of the UBC Student Ministry program as he confirmed interest in consideration as a candidate.  Having conducted a national search, and consideration of many candidates, the UBC Leadership Team and Personnel Committee unanimously endorsed extending a call to him as our Student Pastor Associate.  He will remain in the  “Associate” role pending completion of his ordination requirements.

We believe that Anthony is uniquely qualified to fill this position at this time.  He has demonstrated gifts as a communicator, as an administrator, and as a leader.  He knows and loves our Miami culture.  He knows and loves our UBC culture.  Our students know and love him.  We believe that God has directed our steps to this decision.

As we welcome Anthony on-board, we want to invite parents and volunteers of Middle and High School students to join us at one of two receptions on January 28^th and 29^th:

·      Saturday, January 28:   UBC Chapel at 7:15pm following the 6:00 service.

·      Sunday, January 29:  UBC Chapel at 12:15pm following the 11:00 service.

As we move into this new era of Student Ministry, we hope that you will:

·      Pray for Anthony each day over the next month as he shoulders the full weight of leading our UBC Student Ministry.

·      Step up and volunteer to help in our Student Ministry.

·      Pray for the UBC staff team as they now begin the search for a FT Associate in our Student Ministry to serve alongside Anthony, giving focused      attention to our Middle School ministry.

You’ve been invited!!! Don’t Wait! Register TODAY.

STUDENT MINISTRY LEADERSHIP RETREAT

When: JANUARY 28, 2012

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Where: University of Miami

Cost: $15.00    (Includes breakfast & lunch at Titanic Brewery & Restaurant)

Click on this link to register: Leaders Retreat

We will be engaging in worship, leadership development & training, discussions & outdoor/indoor activities. More details will follow.

T-Shirts will be provided for this event.

Student Ministry ‘2012 here we come….

TOMORROW is the MAZE event. If you haven’t gotten a ticket, or you aren’t planning on coming…make sure that changes right now! Jim Munroe(Maze) is going to blow your mind with his illusions and challenge your heart with his story. Everywhere this guy goes, lives are CHANGED. Invite your friends and family, register online and be there tomorrow!

www.ubcmiami.org/maze

There are only a few more days left before Maze comes to UBC. Maze(Jim Munroe) will be an amazing, mind-blowing night not only of magic and illusion, but of an incredible testimony of how God has worked in his life. We want this to be an opportunity for people to invite their friends. Jim will amaze people with his tricks, but will use that attention as a platform to tell his own story. Check out this video to see Jim tell his own story - http://www.iamsecond.com/seconds/jim-munroe/

Hey guys, here is the page to get your tickets for MAZE coming up November 16th. Make sure you invite your friends! This is an awesome opportunity to challenge our thinking about what is real and what is a lie.
http://www.ubcmiami.org/maze

What is the Maze?

http://www.vimeo.com/26325075

Find out November 16th

Advent Info/Auditions are this Sunday, October 16th @ 3pm. All middle schooler and high schoolers are welcome. We will first meet in the FamJamz theater for a quick orientation and then split up into audition groups. If you sing, dance, act, etc. and want to help out, make sure you come out to this. Also included in this meeting will be those interested in helping out with Production(lights, media, audio) or first impressions.

There will be a Core Disciples class at David Wideman’s house THIS SUNDAY for those who have expressed interest and plan on being baptized this upcoming Ocean Baptism, next Saturday, October 15th. This class will be from 1:45pm to 3:30pm. If you are interested, please sign up with Anthony Gonzalez.

Freeze(High School) and Frigid(Middle School) is coming up October 1st and 8th at Kendall Ice Arena. We will be playing broom ball and dodgeball on the ice!! To get in, you will need to bring a can of food for us to donate to the UBC pantry. Make sure you invite all your friends to come! Its gonna be COOL!!

MOVIE NIGHT @ UBC

Where and when will this be you ask?

The MOVIE NIGHT will be happening in the student lounge and will start @ 5:00 pm and we will probably have a double feature so plan on leaving at 10:00

What should you bring you ask?

These are good questions, you should bring any candy or movie snack you want with $5 for pizza and then of course your choice of a movie to watch (please keep it PG 13 or under) and we can vote on which two to watch.

Thats all folks see you then.