"Helping Adventist young people has become the most beautiful experience for my wife Vanessa and me,” said Pastor Pablo Gaitan, youth pastor for the San Fernando Spanish church. “When we see youth making good decisions in God’s direction, our hearts jump ‘from the inside out.’ We love it that Jesus is our real Lord and the Lord of my young people at the San Fernando Spanish church.”

Since the church implemented the new youth ministry led by Gaitan, youth attendance has zoomed from 30 to more than 100 each week in the past year.

The ministry has involved prayer and a vigorous plan to visit both attending and non-attending young people in their homes. Scheduling varied, Spirit-filled programs involving the youth has been another key factor. Plays, projects, youth rallies, talent programs and community service have attracted and involved young people. All day rallies topped off by sports activities have filled the church’s youth chapel.

Gaitan went online on MySpace, drawing some Adventist and nonattending youth to rallies. Youth attending the rallies came from area Spanish churches and from Las Vegas. The youth pastor also conducted a week-long evangelistic series for the youth.

When young people expressed a desire to attend the 2007 NAD World Youth Prayer Conference in Dallas, Texas, the church hired them to clean the sanctuary to help with their travel costs.

Juan Carlos Velasco, a sophomore communication major at California State University at Northridge and a part-time production assistant at a Spanish TV station, returned to the church, though at first deciding to stay inactive. “But, little by little, God started working,” he said. “The biggest impact was spiritual. I used to play in a rock band. Now I am playing for God. Velasco also conducts a workshop offering free guitar lessons and bass lessons, and the worship leader offers voice lessons. Between them, they teach 24 students Christian music for instruments or voice.

“The church has supported the youth, despite any differences that may arise,” Velasco added. “I was skeptical until the church hired a youth pastor. From the very beginning, he and his wife have gotten involved with youth on a one-to-one basis.” “By developing a youth ministry, our young people now have their own church and

Sabbath school,” noted Carlos Ramirez, senior pastor. “Once a month they have an English Sabbath school, and once a month they have an English sermon, joining with adults for worship. The Lord has blessed.