#1  Mentoring

Workshop leader: Jeff Newland, Executive Director of the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester

With a strong background in communications and planning, Newland will oversee all day-to-day operations of the agency, including long-range planning, fund development, community partnerships and marketing communications.

Newland came to BBBSGR after six years with Unisys Corporation,an information technology services company, where he was responsible for enhancing the quality and profitability of a $2 million partnership with the NYS Office for Technology. Key to that partnership was support of the CONNECTIONS program - the NYS child endangerment tracking mechanism. In addition, Newland and his wife share the role of Live-In Resident Manager at the Rochester Ronald McDonald House. Throughout his eight years at the Ronald McDonald House, he worked with the Board of Directors in various roles, including Strategic Planning and Internet Marketing.
Prior to Unisys, Newland was Vice President of Sales for Primerica Financial Services and earlier in his career was a Licensed Litigation Attorney for a general practice law firm in New York State. Newland spent three years as a paratrooper in the United States Army, he is a cum laude graduate of State University of New York at Geneseo and he holds a Doctorate in Law from Union University.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Rochester, Community Partners for Youth, Inc.
Celebrating a national history of 100 years and over 25 years of youth mentoring in Rochester, BBBSGR serves more than 600 youths, ages six to sixteen in communities throughout Monroe, Ontario, Yates, Wayne and Livingston Counties. Big Brothers Big Sisters has proven success in creating nurturing one-to-one relationships between adults and children. The organization works closely with parents to match every child with the appropriate Big Brother or Big Sister. Each potential volunteer is screened, trained and supervised to help ensure that the mentor-child relationship will be a safe and rewarding experience. In 2003, Forbes placed Big Brothers Big Sisters on its Gold-Star list of the top 10 charities for excellence in efficiency and effectiveness. Further information can be found at www.bigrochester.org.

#3 Band of Brothers
The Importance of Men's Ministry

Workshop Leader: Manuel Luquin, President of ABMen USA
Within the last year the question of where the men are has come up more and more.  Why aren’t men more active in ministry?  How come men don’t take their faith more seriously?  George Orwell said, the ordinary man is passive….Against major events he is as helpless as against the elements.  So far from endeavoring to influence the future, he simply lies down and lets things happen to him.  What a tragedy in which men have been put in today’s society!  I believe that men that see that other men have an “identity” in the secular world, they don’t want to have the Christian label on them. This workshop will explore why men are absent from the pews. Learn to come together in our church life for purpose, fellowship, support and to accomplish great things in the name of Jesus Christ. We will formulate ideas on ways to build that "Band of Brothers" in our local churches.  "It is not good for man to be alone" Gen2:18

#7  Stephen Ministry

Workshop Leader: Pastor Mike Childs, Hornell FBC

#2 Disaster Relief & Volunteer Development

Workshop Leader:  Rev. John Tharp, Disaster Relief Director

Did you know that our trailer responded to near Ground Zero during the 9-11 tragedy? Learn the history of the ABMen NYS Disaster Relief Trailer - How it came to be, where it has been to aid in times of need, what tools are on it and how can you help in times of natural disaster.
Learn to use some of the essential tools and safety equipment contained in the trailer such as the generators, chain saws and sludge pumps.

#4 Spread the Gospel using Illusion

Workshop Leader: Mr. Phil Pratt

Talk about making an impact, grabbing attention, and presenting the Gospel Message in an exciting new way!!!
Phillip Pratt has performed Gospel magic in over a dozen countries in four continents.  He became involved in Gospel magic as a missionary with Operation Mobilization.  He promotes the word of God using sleight of hand, optical illusion, storytelling as well as other visual arts.  In his "real" life he is psychologist.  Phillip is a member and the chairman of the board of deacons at Falconer First Baptist

Note: Presented only once at Session One - Limited to 15 people

Rainbow Acres Mission Trip
John and Lois Place have just returned from a 5 month trip as volunteers at Rainbow Acres.  John is the ABMen NYS 2006 Man of the Year,  Chief Cook & Bible Study Leader for the Men's B&BS at Hillview Community Baptist Church and a Small group leader for Macedonian Ministries for many years. - Listen to him tell the story of the very special people that are helped at Rainbow Acres.
Founded in 1974 by Dr. Showers, Rainbow Acres is located in the beautiful Verde Valley of central Arizona. A 41-acre "campus" in Camp Verde, Arizona, Rainbow Acres has helped over 350 individuals since its inception. As a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) organization, it will continue to provide opportunities for the disabled well into the future - with support from generous and compassionate individuals like you! 

THE RAINBOW COMMUNITY
Rainbow Acres is a ranch-style community for adults with developmental disabilities. (We call our residents "Ranchers" to denote that they are individuals of worth and should be treated with dignity. At Rainbow Acres, job skills, social standards, and self-help methods are taught through the love and concern of Christian people. The primary emphasis of the Rainbow Acres total-life concept is to foster a sense of self-worth in each Rancher through positive qualities of family-style living in a loving and accepting community.