Southern New England Conference’s (SNEC) annual Adventist Youth and Club Ministries leadership training convention, “Firm and Fearless,” held in Boxborough, Massachusetts, offered training for over 200 club leaders, adults, young adults, and even youth involved in TLT (Teen Leadership Training).
“Overall, the weekend was a blessing,” said Danny Velez, SNEC youth and club ministries director. “But the highlight of the weekend were the presentations by Pastor Mark Tamalea, who spoke on suicide and suicide prevention.”
Motivated by his own mental health struggles as a young person, Tamalea speaks regularly on suicide prevention. As part of his presentations for SNEC, Tamalea shared some of the heart-rending moments after he lost his son to suicide several years ago. He gave a special presentation to the TLTs, sharing practical steps on how to deal with depression and dark thoughts. He reminded the audience, “The things you do today will have an impact for eternity.” He admonished leaders to “give them [young people] real jobs!” This experience will give them a place and a purpose and equip them for ministry.
Attendees also enjoyed Armando Miranda, Jr., associate director for the North American Division youth department, who was the main speaker for the weekend, and Kirosha Huggan Sidelco, CEO of Kingdom Voice & Music and administrative assistant for SNEC’s youth department, and her team who led the weekend’s praise time.
“We pray that as our youth and leadership move together in mission, we'll be firm and fearless, relying on the promises that God will see us though,” concluded Velez.
Click here for more photos: AYM Convention | Flickr
Click here for a clip of Tamalea’s presentation: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DE_CwwNRDPt/?igsh=MTIweXhnNWJkb21kbQ==
The Southern New England Conference takes the anxiety, depression and suicide crisis seriously and has appointed a mental health task force to focus on these concerns, always seeking more ways to bring Christ’s hope and wholeness to their churches and communities. For more information on how you can access entry-level suicide awareness training for your congregation, contact SNEC Health Ministries coordinator, Pastor Tom Dombrowski, at 860.617.4333 or tdombrowski@sneconline.org.
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