Young Adults Travel for Christ

CORRALES, N.M. – In 2022, when my wife, Shanna, and I joined the Texico Conference, we quickly realized we had a significant mission and abundant opportunities. Our journey began with the Texico pastors and teachers retreat in August 2022, where we were strangers in a new place. It was there that we encountered a group of young people hanging out in a hallway. We introduced ourselves briefly and went on our way, unaware of the profound relationships we would have with these young adults. 

We reconnected with Earl Velasquez and Naomi Martinez in the summer of 2024. Velasquez and Martinez are now students at Southern Adventist University. Over the past year, we’ve traveled the world with these young people, witnessing God’s work in incredible ways. From Maryland for North American Division meetings to Denver for the division-level Pathfinder Bible Experience and various other conference events, we’ve seen it all. The second year of our traveling summer camp, Camp Texico on the Go!, was a huge success, thanks in no small part to the energy and enthusiasm of our young people. We journeyed with a team of eight across five cities in our conference and then north to Gillette, Wyo., where we prepared for camp.

In Gillette, despite a major storm that disrupted our plans and forced many to scramble for supplies and food, our Texico team remained upbeat and resilient. If you follow our social media accounts, you might have seen Martinez, who was affectionately described in Gillette as “everyone knows Naomi!” Her favorite color, yellow, reflects her sunny disposition. Naomi’s journey is a testament to the transformative power of faith. From her early days of searching for truth with endless questions, to now pursuing a degree in theology at Southern Adventist University, she embodies the incredible work God can do in a life fully open to His plan.

We are proud of our Texico youth and confident that God has incredible plans for each of them.