VNTB #38

VNTB#38 Visual

Director | Phil Granucci

Theme | Greatness Through Servant Leadership

Date | March 22 -24, 2024

Weekend Song | Nobody by Casting Crowns

Weekend Verse | Matthew 20:26-28 “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Jesus came and gave a great example of what it meant to serve others before ourselves and the importance of serving others. He fed thousands, He healed the sick and raised the dead, He washed the feet of the disciples, and then told them that they should follow His example and do what He had done to them… wash one another’s feet. Washing of someone’s feet was considered a job for the lowest of servants and Jesus should have been the last person to wash the disciples’ feet!

What better way to live the life Jesus has called us to live and to show the love of Christ to others through how we treat and serve those around us. We need to do this every day for everyone from our closest friends to our enemies. We need to go to our families, schools, work, and friends and be the servant that shows God’s love for them!

The world we live in encourages us to “look out for number one” and tells everyone that it is okay that “you do you.” The focus is increasingly self-centered, but that is exactly the opposite of what Jesus commands us to do. In Matthew 20:26-28, Jesus tells us that “whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave– just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

If we can focus on serving others instead of ourselves, what kind of difference can we make in this world? I encourage you to sign up to serve and find out! Join me as we serve the candidates of Young Men’s VNTB #38.

Phillip Granucci
TBTD #38 Table of Mark
VNTB #38 Director

VNTB #37

Director | Andrew Blank

Theme | Stoke the Coals

Date | October 27th thru 29th, 2023

Verse | 2 Timothy 1:6-7 (ESV): "For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

As Christians, we often talk about being “on fire” for the Lord. We sing songs and pray prayers asking God to set a fire in our hearts. So let me ask you one thing; how do you keep that fire burning? If it were a campfire then I’d tell you to make sure that you place the logs just right to let in the oxygen, start with kindling and move on to bigger and bigger logs, and, eventually, to stoke the coals. The coals are the hottest part of the fire. They are comprised of the fuel that the fire has taken its time to digest and can be so hot that they easily burn any new fuel tossed into the blaze. As children of the Lord, you are on fire. But what do you feed your fire? Are you discerning about what you consume? Is your fire built so that air can feed it, or are you suffocating it? And finally, are you stoking the coals? I’ve been in the community for a long time and it often breaks my heart. I see young men so on fire for the Lord, many of them new Christians. They experience the “camp high” or the “mountain top moment” and some even go so far as to loudly proclaim that they’re going to be pastors. So many burn so bright, but in the end, it’s just kindling, or lighter fluid tossed on a spark. Beautiful - - but brief. And you can certainly make an amazing fire by starting it out with just kindling, in fact all good fires start with kindling, but eventually you will need to throw some real fuel on there and cultivate some coals. It is my hope and prayer that we can encourage the candidates in this way. That they take the fire that they’ll experienced on the weekend and bring it home. Teach them to feed their fire good fuel. Hand them logs of scripture and help give them room for their fire to breathe deeply of the Holy Spirit. We do all this so they can take that warmth and spread it in their homes, their schools, and their churches. That they stoke the coals of their heart, tending their fire so that it never cools down. October 27th-29th I have the opportunity to lead a weekend. The theme God has laid on my heart is Stoke the Coals. I’m asking you to prayerfully consider joining the team that I’ll be putting together for that weekend. In serving, you will not only be helping a whole new batch of new monarchs to stoke the coals of their heart, but by serving, you will also be tending to your own fire. Andrew Blank VNTB#37 Director

VNTB #36

Director: Scott Parker

Theme: ABBA Father

Date: March 24th - 26th, 2023

Verse: Galatians 4:6 (AMP): And because you [really] are [His] sons, God has sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts, crying out, “Abba! Father!”

VNTB #35

Director: Bob Morreale

Theme: Break The Chains

Date: October 21st – 23rd, 2022

Verse: Psalms 107:10-14

"Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness. Prisoners suffering in Iron Chains, because they rebelled against God's commands and despite the plans of the Most High. So, he subjected them to bitter labor, they stumbled, and there was no one to help. Then, they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress, He brought them out of the darkness, the utter darkness, and Broke Away Their Chains."

Weekend thirty four has been a long time coming! And the team of servers has gone through some changes during the nearly two years of COVID. In fact, Ben Witherell, who was the original Director for the weekend, has prayerfully stepped back from that role due to personal reasons. Ben has served the VN community for many years and he assures us that he will continue to serve for years to come. But this is not the time.

The Vida Nueva weekends are created according to a blueprint that is used by local Vida Nueva communities all over the world. That blueprint includes a backup plan for just a time as this. The many months of work that Ben has dedicated to creating a team for the weekend were structured in a way that allows for a backup Director to continue the planning process seamlessly. I am grateful that the Vida Nueva Tampa Bay Council asked me to receive a handoff from Ben and continue to carry the ball for him.

The last couple of years have been ones that we will all remember for the rest of our lives. Fear, uncertainty, and sorrow have been emotions that we’ve all been impacted by over this time. Virtual learning, working from home, social distancing, wearing a mask. and vaccines all have new meaning to us. And having church gatherings, spectator sports, concerts, and even parades all cancelled has really caused some changes in our society. But the sun is finally starting to shine on us and, we all pray, that the worst of it is behind us!

I believe that God wants us all to know that, by His grace and mercy, He is with us! Through the tough days and the good ones, He is right here with us. Jesus intercedes on our behalf. He lifts us up, sinless before God! The Holy Spirit surrounds us, communicating with us, guiding us, teaching us, and protecting us. We may not always feel His presence but we can rest assured that He is here, always. When the government shuts down our schools, churches, businesses, sports and recreation outlets we can still know that God is in control and He has our backs.

In Hebrew, the word Immanuel translates into: God with us. What a great word! It’s a word that we can trust in. In good times and in bad, God assures us that He is present with us. And that’s the focal point for Young Men’s Weekend #34.

A great team has been assembled for the weekend! Yet there are still plenty of roles left to fill. So please prayerfully consider joining the team! We will be holding the weekend at Camp Sonshine, in Brooksville. I always feel like the Holy Spirit is present on that camp ground like a thick fog. Come and serve with us and see if you feel the same way!

Thank you and God bless you!

Dave McFadden

Director, YM VNTB #34

VNTB #34

Young Men’s VNTB #34

Director: Dave McFadden

Theme: Immanuel, God With Us!

Date: March 25th – 27th, 2022

Verses:

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 3:38-39 (NIV)

Thank you and God bless you!

Dave McFadden

Director, YM VNTB #34

VNTB #33

Director: Ron Buzzetto
Theme: His Voice

Date: November 1-3, 2019

Verse:

VNTB #32

Director: Adam Gillespie
Theme: Authentic Manhood

Date: April 12-14, 2019

Verse: 1 Cor 13:11

Defining authentic manhood is difficult because we don’t see it much in our modern progressive culture. The very idea of manhood has been emasculated, and masculinity has been under attack for quite some time. Watch prime time TV for just 2 hours and you will witness men portrayed as clueless, bumbling idiots who can’t seem to get anything right.

Authentic Manhood encompasses 4 main objectives:
1. Authentic manhood recents passivity. We refuse to live in the shadows and instead choose to stand and fight for righteousness.
2. We expect Gods greater reward. We understand that God has very definite boundaries, and obedience to those boundaries brings reward.
3. Authentic manhood accepts responsibility. We, as men understand that we have God given work to do that is part of our inner design. Work is not just our profession but includes our homes churches and communities.
4. The authentic man leads courageously. We give good direction to those we lead. Protect those we are leading and most importantly, we give those we are leading a reason to follow.

On our journey to Authentic Manhood ,we can not do it alone. We need a source of strength to help establish our steps. We need a solid role model and that role model is Jesus Christ!

Jesus did not live passively or back down from his responsibilities. He went about His Fathers work obediently and with passion. He led His followers with purpose and compassion.

If you want to see what authentic manhood is, don’t look to a TV or movie screen. Don’t look to me or even the pulpit. Instead, look to the only perfect man. Look where He put Himself. Look to the cross. Providing the ultimate example of leadership and love. Laying down His life for ours.

VNTB #31

Director: Tim Hebert
Theme: Be

Date: November 9-11, 2018

Verse: John: 16:33

What does it mean to be a Christian? The obvious answer to many may be that a Christian is a believer in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ – Jesus Christ who is completely God and completely human – Jesus Christ who is one of the persons of the Holy Trinity of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. These are all truths of mainstream Christianity, but it doesn’t tell you how to BE. Being a Christian is also not about following a set of rules to remain in good standing with God. So, it is not about pleasing God, but it is to BE in relationship with God.

When I was asked to be director of Young Men’s VNTB #31, I answered “yes” purely out of obedience. I had no revelation from God. I didn’t know why he would choose me, or how He would use me. I prayed and asked God to reveal His theme to me, but no great revelation was provided. I asked God if I made the right choice – if He made the right choice. Not long after, the answer was provided. Although I do not hear God speak to me audibly, I do, at times, feel His presence and can feel Him working in and around me. I can remember having a thought accompanied with a strong sense that it came from God. His revelation to me was that He had been giving me this theme over the course of several years. The theme the Lord has placed on my heart is “BE”. B – E. It began with my own Tres Dias Weekend where I learned that I didn’t know how to let people love me well – that is, I didn’t know how to “BE” loved. I immediately thought of Young Women’s #20 “beloved” – “Be Loved”. On Young Men’s #22 I wrote in my letters to the candidates that they’ve been “Set Free” so they now they need to “Be Free”. I then thought about the other weekends where I served, and a message that we are to BE Obedient, BE Strong, BE Bold, BE Present, BE Wise, BE Authentic, BE Joyful, BE Holy, and BE Victorious. These are not things we have to be or do to be Christians – we get to be all these things!

The mission statement from Vida Nueva International is that “Vida Nueva is an ecumenical, evangelical Christian retreat weekend and movement. It encourages teenagers to commit their lives to Jesus Christ and to live as Christians.” To BE Christians.

The scripture verse for the weekend is John 16:33 (NIV):

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

It is only because Jesus Christ has already overcome the world that we can live as Christians. It is only through our choice to believe and surrender to Him that we get to BE Christians. As we submit to Him, others will see Him in us.

VNTB #30

Director: Steve Gruber
Theme: Deeper Waters

Date: April 20-22, 2018

Verses:

Psalm: 46:1-3

Isaiah 41:9 & 10

The theme for VNTB #30 Young Men’s weekend in April, 2018 is “Deeper Waters.”

What “Deeper Waters” means to me will be different than what it means for those attending and those who will be serving on this weekend.
For me, God’s Revelation of “Deeper Waters” is about getting out of the boat of complacency and leaving the safety of the shoreline
or shallow water living and launching out into “Deeper Waters.” See, there is this “fear” I have of just trusting the “Captain” of my life
when it comes to navigating the “Unchartered Waters” or unknown. The weekend theme centers around “fear.
” My main “fear” has been to walk in my calling as spiritual leader in the home and church environments but also includes people He places in my path.
The root of this “fear” comes from past failures and a need for acceptance and approval. The only way I can find victory from that fear is by keeping God
as my “Reference Point” or “True North” in my daily walk with Him through prayer, through the reading and meditation of His word and applying those things learned into my life. God has called me into something “deeper.” There are a lot of voices out there wanting our attention. God wants us to recognize His voice and be obedient to whatever
He is calling us to.

My prayer for the young men attending the upcoming weekend in April, is that they experience God’s Amazing Love on a deeper level and understand
that God has enlisted them into serving Him with all their heart, soul, mind and strength when they return into their environments at home, church, school and work places.
Also, that they would recognize those “fears” in their lives that hinder them from stepping out of the boat and trusting their “Captain” by surrendering
to His direction and staying on course.

If God is calling you into “Deeper Waters” and you want to have an impact in the next group of candidates lives, please enlist
and see God’s transforming power not only in their lives but possibly yours as well. I would love for you to you embark on this journey with me. Thanks!

The weekend theme verses come from:

Psalm 46:1-3—“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not “Fear,” though the Earth give way and the mountains fall into the sea, though it’s waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.”

Isaiah 41: 9 & 10: “I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, “You are my servant;” I have chosen you and not rejected you; So, do not” fear”. For I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Please consider serving or sponsoring someone you may know that could benefit from this experience of Vida Nueva. I look forward to seeing what God will do. Thank You!

VNTB #29

Director: Dave McFadden Theme: The Revelation

Date: November 10-12, 2017

Verses:

Jeremiah 17:5-8 (GNT) ⁵ The Lord says, “I will condemn those who turn away from me and put their trust in human beings, in the strength of mortals. ⁶ He is like a bush in the desert, which grows in the dry wasteland, on salty ground where nothing else grows. Nothing good ever happens to him. ⁷ “But I will bless the person who puts his trust in me. ⁸ He is like a tree growing near a stream and sending out roots to the water. It is not afraid when hot weather comes, because its leaves stay green; it has no worries when there is no rain; it keeps on bearing fruit.

1 Corinthians 16:13 (ESV) ¹³ Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong.

The rising generation of Christian men are being bombarded by negative ideology. Our society continually sends messages to them through the world of entertainment, the news media, peer pressure and, sometimes, even adults. They tell young men that Christian men are weak, feeble minded, or both! They say that the real excitement in life comes from wild living, doing whatever you want to do, and being self-dependent. They show strong images to drive sinful desires and they tell the young men that it’s all acceptable to the world and just another way to exercise their freedom.

Many young men feel like God would be angry with them if he were to meet them face to face. Some think that the bad things they’ve done are so bad that God would despise them for it. Others think that God may have forgiven them but he’s still pretty mad about their sinful actions. This fear of God’s anger keeps them from having the personal relationship that God and men both deeply desire.

This is the theme for Vida Nueva Tampa Bay’s young men’s weekend #29, “The Revelation.” God reveals truth to us! He exposes the lies that the world is trying to sell to us. He will give us examples of real men who love God and are happy followers of Jesus Christ. He tells the young men, who are wise enough to seek His council, who He says they are; His sons and warriors in His army!

Please prayerfully consider sponsoring a candidate to attend the weekend and serving on the team. It’s going to be a fantastic weekend of fun, food, fellowship, and great music! I hope you will join us

VNTB #28

Director: Jeb Berleth
Theme: Live for Christ 24/7

Verses:

Philippians 1:21
Mark 12:30-31
Galations 2:20

Twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. 24/7,
an expression for the totality of our existence in space and time.
Stores are open 24/7,
the internet is available 24/7,
we can watch TV 24/7,
and we are able to explain anything we are committed to 24/7.
But the real question for followers of Jesus is this,

Are we committed to Jesus Christ 24/7? Do we Live for Christ 24/7?

Galatians 2:20 states, “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live,
but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me.” Paul tells us that our life is not our own. We belong to God. We must live for Christ.
Being a Christian does not mean going to church every Sunday and merely going through the motions. It does not consist of simply saying the Lord’s Prayer, singing some inspiring hymns and then trying to stay awake during the sermon.
So what does it mean to be a Christian?
What does being a Christian mean to you?

Young men – Being a Christian, being a believer, is a Lifestyle!!
We need to Live for Christ 24/7. It is an everyday relationship with Him.
We are to make sure that Jesus is part of every area of our lives – church, home, school, work, and even socially.

Are you committing all aspects of your life to Jesus Christ?
Jesus needs to be your #1 in everything you do and in everything you are.
Jesus needs to permeate every area – every aspect of your life!
Remember – Jesus died for you therefore you MUST LIVE FOR HIM.

To be a 24/7 Christian we need to devote all we are and all we do to things that really count – things of God.
Paul said, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 1:21.
We all need to develop eternal values and to see life from an eternal perspective.

Guys you need to “Seek God’s Kingdom first” and foremost in your lives, and to really be able to “Live for Christ” 24/7 you need to start where Jesus Himself commands in Mark 12:30-31 – that you need to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength…and love your neighbor as yourself.”

As Christians we should not be “weekend warriors” we are to be “Daily Disciples” following Jesus our Lord 24/7,
obeying Jesus our Lord 24/7 and to Live for Christ 24/7!

I challenge you to join the Team of VNTB #28!!

Let us all be examples of Jesus Christ this weekend for these Young Men to see,
so they too, may be examples of Christ in their own worlds –
Let us and them all be able to exclaim that
“I Live for Christ 24-7!

VNTB #27

Director: Jonathan Garafolo Theme: Burn Bright

Verses: Philippians 2:14-15, “Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation. Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky”.

A flashlight. Most smart phones have an app for a flashlight. Most houses or apartments have a junk drawer with a flashlight buried underneath pizza coupons and pens. Some people keep a flashlight in the car for emergencies. How well does that flashlight work when the batteries are old or drained? How often do you put new batteries in or recharge them to make sure the light is brightest when you need it the most?God’s word says in Philippians that we are to shine like stars among the people of the world. The sun is classified as a star so think about how bright it burns. Think about how bright the stars in the sky burn in order for that light to travel all the way to us. The flashlight with new or charged batteries dispels darkness. We are that flashlight and the presence of God in our lives is our batteries. How bright our light burns is directly related to how much we seek God in everything we do. I challenge you to join the team of VNTB #27 and be the bright light that our world so desperately needs. Prayerfully consider finding a young man to attend the weekend that needs to recharge his batteries in a new way.

Jonathan Garafolo Director Young Mens VNTB #27

VNTB #26

Director: Adam Warshowsky Theme: The Hammer Strike

Verses:

Isaiah 54:16-17 “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to wreak havoc; no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. Ephesians 6:14-17 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

"The Hammer Strike" Greetings fellow warriors in the faith,

I have embarked on a journey that I have never been on before. God saw fit to put me in a humbling position of introspection and self reevaluation. I am on a rescue mission.

A mission to use Vida Nueva as a warriors tool in battle to open blind eyes and crumble calloused hearts. To take a group of young men who may be lost, disheartened,

confused and frustrated, through an amazing weekend with a community of Christians who take pleasure in the defeat and humiliation of our spiritual enemies.

I want you to come with me. I not only want you to, but I need you to.

Grandfathers! Fathers! Uncles! Brothers!

Stand with swords unsheathed between the enemy and your loved ones!

Mother-bears surround your cubs! The wolf is on the prowl! Stand tall and bare your teeth!

God has given me the vision of a blacksmith. A blacksmith does the work that is needed to equip warriors with the weapons and armor that is employed to conquer. If those weapons and armor are maintained properly they will protect the wielder and wearer. If not, the soldier is subject to wounds or even worse; death.

As warriors who have spent years on the battlefield, we have the opportunity to show these young men how to best use the tools provided for them in this life. We will tell them our stories of overcoming our foes by using the word of God. We will show them love with our songs our prayers and our support! And they will eat like champions!

Vida Nueva #26 is happening March 18th - 20th 2016; but the meetings start in December!

The Hammer Strike - Isaiah 54:16 -17 and Ephesians 6:14-17

Answer the clarion call! Sign up now! vntb.com

God wills it, Adam Warshowsky TBTD#17 Table of John

VNTB #25

Director: Jim Lockhart Theme: Higher Calling

Verses:

Philippians 3:13-14 'Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus'

There is a battle being waged against our young men. Outside forces and influences inundate them daily; from TV, internet, drugs and alcohol, cell phones, computers - the enemy uses everything at his disposal to distract them from being everything God wants them to be. As Christians, we are called to be in the world but not of the world. This means we should stick out from the crowd- to look and act completely different from most people in the world. This is sometimes easier said than done. But definitely not impossible! We have this assurance in Philippians 4: 13 - 'We can do all things through Christ who gives us strength'. In other words: if God calls us to do something, He will equip us to accomplish it. I have to believe that the Lord called us out of darkness setting us on a solid foundation and forgiving us our sins for more than getting us in to Heaven. While our eyes are always focused on being with Him in Heaven for all eternity – He has work for us to do here on earth – a Higher Calling. Young Men’s VNTB #25 will encourage our young men to run the race set before them. Philippians 3:13-14 (ASV) states: 'Brethren, I count not myself yet to have laid hold: but one thing I do, forgetting the things which are behind, and stretching forward to the things which are before, I press on toward the goal unto the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus'. My prayer is that each young man will come away from the VN #25 weekend with a renewed sense of just how crazy Jesus Christ is for them. They need to know that their past doesn’t define them. God’s love is so much bigger than any of our past mistakes. He has a plan and a purpose for our lives. All we have to do is trust Him. Once we have truly put our trust in Him; we start to live the good life- a life lived beyond ourselves. There is no Higher Calling!

VNTB #18

Director: Tom Gillingham Theme: Then They Will Know

Verses:

Hebrews 4:12-13 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.

What does Jesus mean to you and what are you going to do about it?

St. Francis of Assisi said, “Go out and preach the Gospel, and if you have to, use words." and I began to wonder, just how do you do that?

How effective is it to preach the Gospel with just action and service?

Whether or not it is clear to you at this point in your life, you are a leader with influence over others and having a significant impact on their lives from your actions and deeds and words. As a leader you will be challenged, challenged to step up and step out of your comfort zone.

“Go out and preach the Gospel and if you have to, use words.”

Quite often, I find people with no desire to speak actually have a lot to say and it is worth listening to... everyone has a story. It is in what we do as individuals and how we live our lives that shows others who we really are… and honestly, people will know if it’s from the heart.

By your acts of service, will they know you are a Christian? Will they know about God’s forgiveness, grace and mercy and eternal life given freely to you by Christ?

You can presume people know these things about Christ but the one sitting next to you in school or the one next to you at work, they may not know.

You need to tell them. We can be the hands and feet of Christ… we can serve and do good works… but will they know;

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

As common as that might seem to you, when is the last time you actually spoke this truth to someone that didn't know it? When is the last time you told someone about Colossians 3:16, Acts 3:16 or love, sacrifice, devotion, peace, comfort, forgiveness, grace, mercy and all that we know about Christ?On the weekend you will be given the pieces of the puzzle. It’s all there except for one and that one missing piece is you.

Study, Piety and Action will equip you to tell them, to tell them the good news and to walk as Christ did. And then you need to tell "them". Tell them about forgiveness, grace, mercy, love and that Christ died on the cross for them. Each and every one of them. Then They Will Know.

May God Bless you in all you do!

Tom Gillingham VNTB #18

VNTB #24

Director: Chuck White Theme: God's Amazing Love

Verses:

1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.

GOD’S AMAZING LOVE God's story of redemption is found not only in the pages of scripture but also found in the lives of His children. On every page, in every story, in every life, one thing is constant - the Amazing Love of God. The world can teach our young men to be macho, tough, successful and to conquer the world. But without love, it means nothing. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3 says, If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing. We all need love. Maybe you never experienced the love of a father. Perhaps it's difficult for you to love because your life has been difficult.

VNTB #23

Director: John Metz Theme: Full Throttle

Verses:

1 Corinthians 9:24

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Philippians 3:13-14

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

VNTB #23 “Full Throttle”

On your mark, get set, GO!

What comes to mind when you hear these words? Some may envision sprinters coming to life in an instant off the starting blocks. Others may imagine the drop of the green flag to begin a big race. How can this inspire our Christian walk?

We have a great example in the life of Jesus Christ. He was sent to be a perfect sacrifice and pay the penalty for our sins. His goal was set and He fulfilled the calling set before Him with flying colors. Along the way, there were definitely hurdles to be overcome and the road was not always without its share of potholes. We can see that, ultimately, the heavenly reward for a race run to win is bountiful and everlasting.

Paul writes in Philippians 3:13-14, ‘No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. (NLT)’

Paul encourages us that, no matter what we have done before, and no matter what has come to pass, we should follow his example and strive to achieve the goal set before our own lives. It matters not whether your path has been thus far wrought with victory or failure. Right now, you have your finish line set before you and an opportunity to achieve the trophy awaiting you at the finish line.

Now, having your sights set, how should you run this race? We read in 1 Corinthians 9:24 ‘Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! (NLT)’ It is not enough to be pointed in the right direction. With your prize in mind, you should pour yourself entirely into whatever you do, and do it to the fullest of your capabilities.

Picture, if you will, a drag car positioned at the starting line. Blood, sweat and tears go into the preparation of that car before race day. How would you feel if you were the one to sink your life savings into car parts and slave in the garage installing engine upgrades and modifications just to watch the driver idle down the track or take off in the wrong direction? The only way that car serves its purpose is to get its nose pointed at the checkered flag, and put the pedal to the metal.

In like manner, you should set your eye on the goal which God has set before you, and give it everything you have to achieve it. Be diligent in your efforts, and know that your prize awaits you at the checkered flag.

Fasten your seatbelt, set your eye on the finish line and press on toward the finish line God has set for your life.

Is your seatbelt fastened? Do you have your eye on the finish line? Are you giving it all you have?

On your mark. Get set. Full Throttle.

John Metz Director, VNTB #23 Full Throttle

VNTB #22

Director: Mark Chadwell Theme: Set Free

Verses:

Acts 3:25-26 "Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities." John 8:36 "If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed."

Sons of God, I wanted to welcome all of you to the unified body of deeply Spirit filled believers whose fellowship is centered on the Father, His son Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit.

This is only the beginning… Important lessons to remember in continuing your walk with God: 1. Prayer: Go to your secret closet and pray and talk with God along with listening to what He is saying to you… Philippians 4:6 2. Study: Reading and studying His word will change your life by revealing more about who He is along with His plan for your life. John 1:1 and John 8:32 3. Action: Make sure to serve God in any capacity He’s calling you to be a part of for the Glory of His Kingdom. James 2:14-26 4. Fellowship with other Believers: The bond with other Christian brothers and sisters in Christ is powerful. Iron sharpens Iron… Proverbs 27:17 Lastly, you were chosen by Him (Acts 3:25-26 and Romans 8:29) and His Mighty Angels are surrounding you for protection (Psalm 91:11). You have also been filled with the Holy Spirit which will empower you to do anything and everything He commands you to do. John 14:26

It was an absolute honor to serve as last weekend’s director and I look forward to serving and fellowshipping with you again next fall for VNTB #23 “Full Throttle.” I pray the Lord’s blessing upon you, your families, your children and your children’s children.

In Christ, Mark Chadwell "Set Free" VNTB 22 Director

VNTB #21

Director: Jon Brown
Theme: Wage War Daily

Verses:

2 Corinthians 10:3-5
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down of strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”

We are born into the middle of an ageless war. Our enemy has been warring and plotting and scheming against us before we were ever born, even before we knew anything about God. Every day the enemy looks for ways to set us up to either fail or to trap us in passivity. Daily he whispers in our ears, hoping to snag us and convince us to believe his lies over the truths that our Heavenly Father has already spoken about and over us, His Sons and Daughters. In Romans 8: 14-17, Paul states:
“For as many are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of Adoption by whom we cry out, Abba Father. The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.”

We are sons of the Most High God, through adoption, by the power of the blood of Jesus Christ!! We are SONS of the Most High God!!! The enemy has declared war on our Father, His Kingdom and upon us! This war is not a physical war. This is a spiritual war. In Ephesians 6:12 it says:
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

These are the things that are warring against us every single day just trying to devour us. The enemy is coming at us non-stop. It is time that the Sons of The Most High God put on their armor, take up their cross and stand strong against the powers that come against us DAILY! We must come against the lies of the enemy and come out of agreement with the spirits of fear, of passivity and apathy and stand on the truths that our Father has already DECLARED over us. We must trade in the orphan spirit and put on our mantle of Sonship. We must recognize the authority and power that we have in the name of Jesus as a heir of God!!!

The theme that God has given me for the Fall 2013 weekend is “Wage War Daily”. Our verse for the weekend is 2 Corinthians 10:3-5.
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down of strongholds,
casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ”

Our weapons are mighty in God for pulling down the strongholds of the lies that we have believed that the enemy has fed to us for years. Men, it is time to train for and go to war against the enemy of our Father and the enemy of everyone that we love. I humbly ask that you pray about joining me for battle in the fall at VN #21.
The weekend dates are November 22-24. You can sign up online at VNTB.com after you log in.

Thank you for your time and prayers,

Jon Brown
TBTD #16
VNTB #21-Director

VNTB #20

Director: Alex Veloz
Theme: All In

Verses:

Ephesians 1:4
“Long before He laid down earth’s foundations, He had us in mind, had settled on us as the focus of His love, to be made whole and holy by His love.”

Mark 8:34-35
“When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them,
“Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.
For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it.”

Think of that! Before the Creation of the world, God was planning His special places for us,
His children, joint Heirs with Jesus Christ.
When God was fully immersed in perfect and pure Love with Jesus and the Holy Spirit not lacking in anything, it was then that He decided you and I were worth going “ALL IN” for. Willingly He sent His one and only Son to be sacrificed on the cross.

Yet is that how we see ourselves as sons of the most High God and King of the Heavens and Earth? Or do we see ourselves as the world sees us? When we look at ourselves and see only our sin, our flaws, our flesh, losing sight of the freedom that was already purchased for us, are we telling our Savior that what He did on the cross was not good enough?
You see, he never lost sight of His eternal and unconditional Love for us. He loved me and you from the very beginning.

Our response should be that of worship. We should worship Him with our entire being. We should love Him in times of blessings and in times of trials and tribulations.
We should love Him with all of our hearts, mind, soul, and strength. With man this is impossible but with God’s Holy Spirit pumping his Love and power through our HEARTS to every area of our being, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE!!
It is my vision that the young men and team of VN #20 will understand deeper “ALL IN” the center of their HEARTS just how GOOD is the Love of God.
Chains will be broken and freedom to love others will be to God’s Glory. The enemy and the lures of this world will be exposed for the lies that it offers.

God has already shown me changed hearts, He is revealing to me miracles that he will perform, and he has shared that the leaders that will serve and candidates that will experience this weekend will become our future teachers, pastors, evangelists, missionaries, and spreaders of the good news.
Would you sign up and go “ALL IN” in serving VN #20 and the rest of God’s team? I look forward to fighting this battle for the hearts of the young men God has predestined to go through. Love you ALL!

Alex Veloz
Director
VN #20
“ALL IN”

VNTB #19

Director: Jason Mitchell Theme: Man Up

Verses:

1 Peter 5:8-9 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

There is a war for the heart of our Christian leaders specifically our men and young men. The enemy knows that if he can strike down the leaders of our homes, churches, schools, community's that he can create a separation from our Father in Heaven. The spirit of the weekend theme of "MAN-UP" is that we as men and young men need to answer God's call to lead our community's of influence with Honor, Respect, Kindness, Service, Love and so much more. The most important of all of these is Love. We are called to be BOLD and reject what the enemy is offering and accept the responsibility that God has called us to. We are to lead courageously but knowing and expecting that God has a greater reward for us. Far greater than what the world or the enemy can offer.

He will reward you with confidence, respect of men in your community of influence, a wife, children who love and seek the Lord, success at your job $$$$, and so much more. He promises abundance when you seek Him with all of your heart.

Jason Mitchell Director VN #19 “Man Up”

VNTB #17

Director: Sid Miles Theme: You Rock!

Verses:

1 Thessalonians 5:11 "Encourage one another and build each other up."

1 Peter 2:4-5: 4 As you come to him, the living Stone –rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him– 5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

One of the greatest needs in this world is the need to know that we have value - that the world is a better place because we are here. A simple but powerful way to make a difference in the world is to use the power of our tongue to speak God’s affirmation into the lives of those we touch and with our actions to build others up even at the expense of our own self interest. In this way, we become the living, sacrificial stones that Peter describes.

It is a matter of choice how we deliver the message of God’s Love into the worlds around us. I challenge you to let His Love resonate throughout our world, one live at a time as we each highlight the part that each of us play in the beautiful symphony that God has written for our lives.

What will be your legacy? Will you help us echo God’s loving encouragement into the hearts and spirits of our young men?

Will you help us strengthen them with weapons of our Christian faith that none fashioned in this world can stand against? And remember, You Rock!

In His Name, Sid Miles Director, VNTB #17

VNTB #16

Director: Steve McDaniel Theme: Game On - God's Game Plan

Verses:

Jeramiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

There are times when life does not make sense to us. God says he has a Game Plan to prosper us, not to harm us.

Consider Joseph, who went from being a most-favored son to being sold by his brothers into slavery in Egypt. After some years and blessings from God, he was exalted in Egypt, second in rank only to Pharaoh. Later he was able to provide food for the Egyptians and his family in a time of great famine so they would not starve. When Joseph’s brothers learned of his identity they feared he would seek revenge. He told them God sent him to Egypt, not the brothers, so he could provide food and preserve the family.

We live in the present and cannot see what God has planned for our future, but that is no reason for us to wallow in self-pity, depression, frustration and confusion. Even when things look the worst (like slavery in a foreign country), we must get in the game, love God, seek and follow His Will, and trust that what God says is true; that God will cause all things to work together for our good and that we will see God’s plans to prosper us and give us hope and a future.

Steve McDaniel VNTB #16 GAME-ON: GOD'S GAME PLAN

VNTB #15

Director: Darrell Troup Theme: I Will Not Be Shaken

Verses: Psalm 16:8 I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

I believe the Lord chose these verses for this weekend, first I will not be shaken to encourage you young men to be rooted in the Word, so when life's trials come and they will come, you my young brothers will not be shaken because you will know the Lord is right beside you. Second Runners take your mark ,in my minds eye I see us at this training camp preparing for life's race, where you will receive the directions you need to stay on track and not be tripped up by those things that might hinder us from reaching our goal. After you have completed the weekend the race begins. I pray that you will collect the directions you will need to endure the race, and everyone of you finish well.

Thanks for your servants heart, Darrell Troup VNTB #15

VNTB #14

Director: David Giddens Theme: Get Real

Verse:

John 3:30 "He must become greater; I must become less." (NIV)

Welcome to the VNTB #14 Team as it is great having you aboard.

Our theme for the weekend is Get Real.

We as believers need to get real with our faith. The reality is that we often let our circumstances dictate who we are as Christians. The struggles we face in life are very real and so is the enemy who will take them and use them to destroy our moral character and the very foundation of our faith and beliefs.

In order for Jesus to be real, we have to make him real. In order to get real with Jesus we have to have more of him and less of us. His love and faithfulness continues forever from generation to generation.

Join me as we serve the next generation of sons, brothers, husbands, son in laws, fathers, uncles, grandfathers, and friends as we Get Real with Jesus. Count Your Blessings Every Single Day.

David Giddens VNTB #14 “Get Real”

VNTB #13

Director: Donny Adkins Theme: Tap In

Psalm 144:1 (Today's New International Version) 1 Praise be to the LORD my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.

John 16:33 (Today's New International Version) 33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

VNTB #12

Director: Michael Priolo Theme: Walking the Line Verse: Matthew 7:13-14

To the Team of VNTB Young Men’s #12

As we prepare for VNTB #12 lets be in constant prayer for those that will serve and those who will attend and that the Lord would prepare their hearts for the experience that HE has preordained for each one of them. March will be here before we know it, so let’s be vigilant on our Christian walk.

For VNTB Young Men’s #12 the Lord has given the theme, “Walking the Line”. In Scripture there are 244 references to the term Walking with/in the Spirit. Think the LORD maybe telling us something here!

The Line I’m talking is the straight and narrow path (line) that leads to eternal salvation. In Matthew 7:13-14: it tells us 13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

As a Christian, you must make a continual choice between walking according to the desires of your old self and walking according to the desires of the Holy Spirit. You can learn to walk in the Holy Spirit as you read and obey God’s Word; give thanks to Him in all things, just to name a few. If you want to live your life walking in the Spirit, tell God now that you want Him to teach you. There is only ONE thing you must do to be successful in your Christian walk.

WALK IN THE SPIRIT

It’s quite plain to see that the Spirit of God expects us not only to live but to walk—not only to claim to live but to walk it out. Do your actions speak more than your words? Or better yet, does your lack of action do the talking for you? This is part of the vision for VNTB #12. If we live in the Spirit let’s act in the nature of the Spirit.

To my friends of the VNTB community, I have been searching my heart regarding this theme and asking myself…. Am I Walking the Line?….Am I Walking with the Spirit?…..Or am I walking in the world?

Lets go for a Walk!

Michael J. Priolo Director VNTB Young Men’s #12

VNTB #11

Director: Tommy Shilling Theme: Fear Not!

I am so blessed to be serving you as the Young Men's Vida Nueva #11 Director. The weekend theme that God has given me is FEAR NOT!

The Bible boldly proclaims in Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." In Deuteronomy 20:1 "When you go to war against your enemies and see horses and chariots and an army greater than yours, do not be afraid of them because the Lord your God, who brought you up out of Egypt, will be with you." God tells us through these scriptures not to be afraid in whatever situation we find ourselves. He is there with us and in control of all things, so Fear Not! If you feel God is leading you to serve on this weekend, please sign up by filling out the application. My prayer is that you will be blessed just as much as the candidates. Thank you and may God Bless You. Tom Schilling

VNTB #10

Director: Mark Musser Theme: Who Am I?

Verse: Matthew 16:15

"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

Who do you say Christ is in your life? Is he your friend, your buddy, someone you can call on when you are lonely, or your insurance plan when you can’t seem to get by or fix the mess you made? It’s my prayer that through this weekend we along with the candidate’s can focus on a living God who just like the living bible- all things at all times. He never leaves us even when we stray away. In Matthew 16:15, Jesus asked, “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “You are Christ.” Who or what would your family and friends say you are? Do they know you are Christian or just a nice guy most of the time? It’s my prayer that we can all evaluate our lives and our relationship with the Kings of Kings, Lord of Lords, our heavenly father, Jesus Christ

Mark Musser

VNTB #9

Director: Jim Keenan Theme: Abundant Life

Verse: Isaiah 2:12

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

This is an open invitation that challenges/invites young men and adults to come and "explore the full life that Jesus offers all of us!"

Jim Keenan

VNTB #8

Director: Tom Shilling Theme: Victory in Jesus

Verse:

Isaiah 2:12

"See, God has come to save me. I will trust in Him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory."

For young men’s Vida Nueva #8 God has given us the theme of Victory in Jesus. What image does the word victory bring to your mind?

Victory is one of those words that just to say it makes us feel good. Why? What does victory really mean? The dictionary defines it as, “the ultimate and decisive superiority in any battle or contest.” Every battle is defined by the Victor and the Enemy, by the field it transpires in and by the weapons we chose to use in the course of the battle. Young men your life is a battlefield. In your life you will have skirmishes and full scale battles. There are two strong opposing sides fighting to win these battles. On the one side we have God and on the other there is Satan. The bible says Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. So first you must chose whose side you will be on. For me and this team who will serve you it will be God side. We chose Him because He first chose us and we recognize that there is only one way, one man and one God, who we are fully relying on, and that is Jesus Christ our Lord. In this battle we will face many giants, we will grasp on to him for he is our anchor, we will hold fast and we will stand strong in Christ. I am here to tell you our leader in this battle is Jesus. He has provided all the ammo we need and all the gear we are to wear as we go out to fight. He is the one who has come to save you. He did that on the cross when He died and was buried and resurrected to pay for our sins. We have no reason to fear because He is trustworthy and has proclaimed our Victory. He is our strength. He has given us a new song to sing and He has given us the Victory.

Tom Schilling

VNTB #7

Director: Dan Casseday Theme: Stand Strong

Verse:

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Armor of God 10Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.

12For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. 18And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.

Gentlemen and ladies called to serve, I’m excited to be the Young Men’s Tampa Bay Vida Nueva 7 Director for fall 2006, Nov. 17-19. Why? Because I’ve seen great things happen on the Vida Nueva weekend and I’ve seen the results of the Holy Spirit filling the campground with God’s love. I invite you to be a part of this spiritual (pre-Thanksgiving) weekend and understand why Ephesians 6:10-18 is an important part of my daily prayer life. You need to know, gentlemen and ladies, if you don’t already, that like it or not, we are in a war – a cultural war, a war on Christianity, a war on our beliefs. The Enemy’s message runs counter to God’s message for our lives: to be righteous and holy. And when we do stand up for God, we quickly realize are in the minority and are under enormous peer pressure to conform to the world, not the Word. This is a time in young men’s development where understanding the world and God’s plan for their lives is so critical – because they are so vulnerable at this transition stage in their lives. So it seems appropriate that the theme for the Young Men’s Vida Nueva 7 weekend is Stand Strong. Ephesians 6: 10-18 tells us emphatically that “Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then…you will be able to stand strong, and when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing. So stand strong...To do this you must always be ready.” (New Century Version) I am calling on you to join us as we equip ourselves with God’s shield of faith and His sword of the spirit. The spring 2006 VN theme was “Godside” and the young men took up that battle cry.

The Tres Dias men’s fall theme is “Battle Ready.” Do you see a pattern here? There must be a reason why the Lord is telling us to equip ourselves spiritually. So let’s Stand Strong together and make this a powerful weekend for the Lord, the candidates and the team. As I said at the beginning, I’m already excited, and I look forward to serving with you this weekend.

I can’t wait to see who will join God’s army for VN 7.

Your servant in Christ,

Dan Casseday

VNTB #6

Director: Jeff Wood Theme: Godside

Verse:

Exodus 32:26 26 then Moses stood in the entrance of the camp, and said, “Whoever is on the LORD’s side—come to me!” And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together to him NKJV

"The Message" translation 26He took up a position at the entrance to the camp and said, "Whoever is on GOD's side, join me!" All the Levites stepped up.

Application Scripture: Ephesians 6: 10-18 NLT (Read verse 10-18 for application of fighting the good fight) "The Whole Armor of God"

There comes a time in every man's life where you have to stand up for what you believe. That time is now and here is the battle cry for God's weekend; " Whoever is on GOD's side, join me!"

Gentlemen this is the time to serve God's Army to strap on your gear and go straight into battle! This battle is not one of flesh and blood but of principalities, we are fighting the good fight my friends. We are fighting for our brothers and sisters in Christ. God has been working on me just as he has been working on you and I pray that you prepare yourself for this battle. Be prayerful and be willing to open your heart to what God is saying to you. God will be calling on you to serve and I will be praying for you also.

In His Hands,

Jeffery B. Wood

VNTB #5

Director: Jay Witherell Theme: The Anchor Holds

Verse:

Hebrews 6:19-20 19 [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it--a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil, 20 Where Jesus has entered in for us [in advance], a Forerunner having become a High Priest forever after the order (with the rank) of Melchizedek.

Ahoy Mates of the Vida Nueva Tampa Bay and Tampa Bay Tres Dias communities!

This is the "Cruise Director" for Young Men's VN # 5, calling for all hands on deck!

With Jesus as our Captain, we set sail on November 18th-20th. Our theme is "The Anchor Holds", taken from the 6th chapter of the book of Hebrews. "Among men it is customary to swear by something greater than themselves. And if a statement is confirmed by an oath, that is the end of all quibbling. So in this matter, God, wishing to show the heirs of His promise even more clearly that His plan was unchangeable, confirmed it with an oath. So that by two utterly immutable things, the Word of God and the Oath of God, Who can not lie, we who are refugees from this dying world might have a powerful Source of strength, and might grasp the hope that He holds out to us. This HOPE we hold as an utterly reliable ANCHOR for our souls, fixed in the inner-most shrine of heaven, where Jesus has already entered on our behalf, having become, as we have seen, "High Priest Forever, after the Order of Melchezidek." We see that Jesus is the Anchor of Hope in our lives, because of His work on the cross. In this world of "storms of life," He is the only Anchor to keep us from drifting and being tossed and shipwrecked. In the lives of teens who will be candidates on this VN # 5 weekend, storms are raging! These young men are facing major decisions which will affect the rest of their lives: · What career am I to pursue? ·

Who am I to marry? · Am I to remain single? · What is my purpose in life? For this VN weekend, our focus will be seeing Jesus as the ONLY ONE to help us answer those questions and weather the storms of life. Not only the love of the Father in us, but as Jesus prayed, "that I Myself may be in them." We want to come away with a deeper understanding of "Jesus in us," and living our 4th day anchored by the Truth. To give you some ideas for palanca, we plan to use a lot of ANCHORS, boats, nautical things, like rope, life-preservers, flags (hurricane warnings, etc.)

Sincerely,

Jay Witherell

VNTB #4

Director: Roy Hooker Theme: Got Giants? See how they fall / Giant Killer

Verse:

Zephaniah 3:17

"The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious Warrior. He will exalt over you with joy. He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy."

Roy Hooker

VNTB #3

Director: Chris Caravetto
Theme: One Love One God One Way

Verse:

1 Tim 2:5
"For there is one God and one mediator between God and Men, "The Man" Christ Jesus."

My prayer for this weekend is that we will all come to realize how fun and real our God is.
There is only One way to the Father, and that is through Jesus Christ.
He is "The Man!" Most of you have heard my testimony, and I know that without Jesus in my life I would be a mess.
My vision for this weekend would be that each candidate and team member see and feel how Awesome it is to be with Christ.
Each of us bring something special to the weekend and I pray that God will have His way with each of us.

This is His weekend. In Ephesians the Bible says "It was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up..." For this period in time, God's plan is for you to serve these candidates and each other the way that God would serve. WOW!
He chose YOU and I for this awesome weekend! It will be "Off the Chain!!!" I have one request as you begin to prepare your hearts to serve Him on this weekend. The weekend verse is 1 Tim 2:5.
Please read it and also read Ephesians Chapter 4. Meditate on God's word and ask Him to teach you something in these scriptures as you read.
I love you guys and I can't wait to serve you and the candidates on VNTB #3!

Serving "The Man"

Your Director
Chris Caravetto

VNTB #2

Director: Jason Johns

Theme: F.R.O.G (Fully Rely On God)

Verse:

Proverbs 3:5-6
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Its time for us to give up and realize that God controls everything in our lives.
In the Bible, the author of Hebrews talks about having faith in God, in chapter 11.
To have faith like the men outlined in this text, means we have to fully rely on God's wisdom.
Our Lord want us to rejoice in him, and to be assured
that He controls every aspect of our lives. So sit back and F.R.O.G.

(Fully Rely On God)

Jason Johns

VNTB #1

Director: Don Russell Theme: I Chose You Verse: “You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” John 15:16