FloridaYouth.net

2009 SYC will be held at the beautiful Wyndham Orlando Resort, 8001 International Dr,  Orlando, FL 32819; (407) 351-2420. This is a  phenomenal site - maybe the best we’ve had.  The resort offers a great ballroom for our main services, excellent conference space, newly renovated rooms, and some nice amenities - 3 pools, workout rooms, miniature golf and other activities.  It is located north of the Rosen Centre and Rosen Plaza, where we have been for the last two years.  The Wyndham is across the street from one of the coolest McDonald’s in the world, as well as other fast food restaurants, with access to the I-trolly and I-drive.  It should be a great location!

O.K., the date for convention is Nov. 20-22, 2009.  This is the weekend before Thanksgiving day.  The per person registration cost will include a room for 2 nights (with 2-3 other persons from your youth group), and entrance to all worship services, concerts, conferences, & hotel amenities.  Each person will also receive an embossed wristband I.D., a ticket for the all-convention lunch buffet, and a convention t-shirt (for those registered by Oct. 20, 2009).  Here is the cost schedule* for SYC 2009:

Early-bird Registration (Postmarked by Sept. 30) $125.00 per person
Registration (Postmarked by Oct. 20)                            $130.00 per person
Late Registration (Postmarked after Oct. 20)                 $135.00 per person
Day Attendance Registration (no hotel room)                  $85.00 per person

*Individual registrations within your group can be transferred to another group member prior to the start of convention.    In cases of medical emergency or family death, a full refund will be given to students in this situation.  After Oct. 20, 2009, a $100.00 per person back-out fee will be charged to your church group for students who have registered but choose to “back out” for other reasons.

I’ll update this site soon related to convention theme, speaker, worship band, concerts, conference themes and schedule.  A registration packet will be available for download in early August from this website.

I look forward to seeing you at SYC 2009!

BIll Ferguson

State Youth Pastor and Coach

Florida Church of God Ministries

Youth Pastors, Group Leaders, Adult volunteers and Student participants,

The 2008 Florida State Youth Convention was a great event! We want to learn from what happened. Would you take a brief survey that should take less than 5 min? Your insights, suggestions and opinions will help us make the 2009 Florida State Youth Convention and even better convention!!

Tell your friends who attended Illusion ‘08 to help us by taking the survey. Oh by the way, the 100th survey-taker will win a new Ford Mustang!!!! O.K., that wasn’t true - but we still need your help. Thanks. Here’s the link to the survey (just click):

Click Here to take survey

Hope to see you and other leaders from your group at FSLI - Florida Student Leadership Institute - February 27-28, 2009. FSLI information will be coming to your church in early December.

Bill Ferguson
State Youth Pastor and Coach
Florida Church of God Ministries

Youth Leaders and Students,
THERE IS STILL TIME & ROOM TO REGISTER FOR:

Illusion ‘08
Florida State Youth Convention
Oct. 31, Nov. 2, 2008

For last minute registration and information please contact me a.s.a.p.!!!!
You won’t want to miss this convention

Bill Ferguson
State Youth Pastor
c-786-521-1505
o-305-388-4518

Illusion ‘08 is quickly approaching!!!!

This Friday, registration forms and deposits ($75.00) per person are due.  Please send these items by mail to:

Tiffini Brown, convention registrar, 1012 Mohican Blvd, Jupiter, FL 33458.

Most importantly, if you are sending a check by mail with your forms, please put it in the mail by Friday and then Fax or email copies of all forms to Tiffini, tiffinib@gmail.com or fax: 561-622-4382.  This is a new fax number -the old published number has had problems.
**We must have registration forms and the housing list by Oct. 10, because we have a block of rooms reserved with our convention hotel at a rate that is half the normal rate for the time.  We must know who will be needing rooms by this date, because the hotel will release our rooms (that are not reserved) by then to the public at twice the cost.  I will have to pass this increase on to those who don’t identify their participation with us by then.

Thanks for your help to get these forms to us on time!

Praying for a great convention!!!

Bill Ferguson
State Youth Pastor and Coach
Florida Church of God Ministries

Dear Youth Ministry leader,

I hope this comes as good news to you.  I emailed the info. below to church offices last weekend and hopefully you’ve seen it.  If not, the SYC registration deadlines have been moved back!!!  Here’s the scoop:

Because this is the first year that we are moving State Youth Convention off of Thanksgiving Weekend to an earlier date - Oct. 31 - Nov. 2, we are extending the registration deadlines and eliminating registration late fees (for this year) in order to give youth groups and teens every opportunity to get registered, etc. for SYC ‘08.  I don’t want anyone to miss this awesome convention that is developing because of early registration deadlines!!  This gives each group 10 days from today to identify their group participants (10 days past the original deadline) and over two extra weeks to pull all the funds together.  Please pay close attention to the deadline schedule below so that the appropriate forms get to us on time!!!!

The new deadlines:

By October 10 -

a) A convention registration form and a housing form for your group must be faxed (561-575-4091) or scanned and emailed toTiffini Brown - tiffinib@gmail.com**
b) A deposit check ($75.00 per participant) must be mailed and postmarked by Oct. 10, with any other convention forms (FSLI, 3-on-3 bball, New Way, SYC Ambassador recommendations)

By October 31 -

a) The balance ($60.00) due at convention registration table, Oct. 31 upon arrival.
b) There will be no late fees for this year’s convention if balances are paid on Oct. 31; after convention there is a $15.00 per person late fee.

**I must have registration forms and the housing list by Oct. 10, because I have a block of rooms reserved with our convention hotel at a rate that is half the normal rate for the time.  I must know who will be needing rooms by this date, because the hotel will release our rooms (that are not reserved) by then to the public at twice the cost.  I will have to pass this increase on to those who don’t identify their participation with us by then.

I need your help: Please help me get this info. out to other youth ministry leaders in the state - forward this email to your colleagues.  I greatly appreciate your help.

Blessings,

Bill Ferguson
State Youth Pastor and Coach
Florida Church of God Ministries

Dear Youth and Leaders,

I’m excited about Illusion ‘08, this year’s State Youth Convention. FYI - This convention is not being held on Thanksgiving weekend!!!!  Check out the information below.

Illusion ‘08 is going to be a high energy, captivating, God-event for the youth of our state!  You won’t want to miss it!!  For more information, go to the “SYC info” button on this site and you’ll find a complete, downloadable, 20-page registration packet (with group registration and housing forms, Florida Student Leadership Institute forms, 3-on-3 b-ball tourney registration, New Way state choir audition form, conference info. and more).  Here’s a snapshot of our leadership and events:

Illusionist Brock Gill will be our main service speaker on Friday night and Saturday morning. For a video clip of his performance go to www.brockgill.com.  He is amazing!   Brock will also perform in a live show late night Friday (like a concert … only he doesn’t sing. He does illusions that will blow you away!).

Also, Rev. Suzanne Haley, a dear friend and colleague, will be our speaker on Sunday morning.  She will lead our Youth Ministry Institute for adult leaders during the Saturday night breakout conferences, as well.  Suzanne is our national Director of Leadership Development for the Church of God and a champion for young people.  Suzanne and Brock will undoubtedly inspire all who attend.

Breakout Conferences for youth will focus on “Everyday Illusions” — materialism, images and expectations of what is “beautiful or handsome,”  living life on-line, relationship issues, etc.  These conferences will help expose these illusions and point to Jesus’ way, perspective and life, which is real life and real perspective.

Collin Moneymaker and band from Miami will lead worship this year.  Collin led worship for Anderson University’s Open Door while attending college.  He will connect the themes of each service with high energy and relevant worship experiences, utilizing a variety of musical styles and genres. It is going to be an awesome experience!!

Convention Text: Ecclesiastes 5:7:  “Against all illusion, fantasy and empty talk, there is this rock foundation: fear God. (Message)”
Convention location: Rosen Plaza, International Dr., Orlando, FL
Date: Oct. 31 - Nov. 2
Cost: $135.00 per person - this includes registration, lodging, entrance to all services, breakout conferences, a ticket to an all-convention pasta and salad luncheon on Saturday, and more. Registration deadline is OCTOBER 15 (or a late fee will be applied).
Who can attend: 6th - 12th graders and adult leaders
Deposit:- $75.00 due with registration form, Oct. 1; full payment due Oct. 15.

Please help get this information out to your group members and friends, a.s.a.p!  If you have questions, or need more info., contact me.  I hope to see your youth group at SYC ‘08!

Bill Ferguson
State Youth Pastor and Coach

billf@flcog.org
www.floridayouth.net
www.flcog.org

Dear Youth Leaders,

We ordered extra copies of the “Illusion ‘08″ SYC postcard we sent to your church in August.

If you would like a FREE set of these postcards to use in promoting SYC ‘08 to your group members, email me at billf@flcog.org. Please indicate the number of cards you need and your mailing address. I’ll get them out to you a.s.a.p.

Get the word out, now. This is going to be a great SYC!!!!

Bill Ferguson,
State Youth Pastor and Coach
Florida Church of God Ministries

Hey all! Be sure to check out the new Facebook Group called Florida Student Ministries. Be sure to join the group so that you can be the first to get new updates about events and other random happenings of the Florida Church of God Student Minsitries.

To check it out, all you have to do is:

1. Have a facebook account
2. Click here to view the group
3. Click on the button that says “Join Group.”

And TA DAAA! That’s all you’ve got to do, so go ahead. Get to it! And by the way, don’t forget to get you’re State Youth Convention Registration Packet by clicking on the “SYC Info” Tab at the top of the page!

Hey all, we are very, very excited to let you know that it’s official, Brock Gill will be our convention speaker at this year’s State Youth Convention. If you get a chance, you’ll definitely want to check out his website at www.brockgill.com to get an idea of just how crazy Brock’s illusions are.

Brock will be speaking at our Friday night and Saturday morning worship services and will also be putting on one incredible performance on Friday night after worship. Believe me, you are not going to want to miss this!

Also be sure to keep checking our “SYC Info” Page for more updates and registration information.