citizens with the saints

The ELCA Youth Gathering will take place this week, Wednesday through Sunday.  In excess of 33,000 folks from across the ELCA will be in New Orleans for this event.  The vast majority, of course, are youth from our congregations.  Adding to their numbers are their adult leaders/chaperones, volunteers, and institutional representatives.  The theme for this year’s gathering is, “citizens with the saints.”  It is based upon this paraphrased passage from Ephesians:

Jesus is our peace. In his life and death on the cross, Jesus broke down the dividing walls so that we are no longer strangers and outsiders, but we are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. The foundation of God’s house was built of apostles and prophets, and Jesus, the cornerstone, holds it all together.

The gathering website states that the “theme also blends the rich faith history, diverse cultures and arts of New Orleans with the communion of saints that is present whenever and wherever God’s people gather!”

I first accompanied a group to a national event in 1979 when The American Lutheran Church’s youth event was held in Kansas City.  I watched as our youth participated in the mass gatherings and were challenged by such speakers as the Rev. Jesse Jackson.   I shared the awe of our youth, who had never previously realized that there were thousands upon thousands of young Lutherans from across the country, some just like them and some very different from them. I witnessed lives being changed by Christ.

Youth ministry is a lot different today than it was 33 years.  But, in all these intervening years, I have believed and still believe that there is nothing better or more important that a congregation can do than to encourage its youth to attend the ELCA Youth Gathering.  Lives are changed.

These days, not only are the lives of our youth being changed, but the lives of those whom they serve are changed.  Can you imagine the impact on New Orleans as our youth are sent out for a day of service in the community?

A common concern regarding the youth gathering is the expense to participants and congregations.  I know it takes a lot, and I do mean a lot, of fundraising, congregational gifts and sacrifice on the part of families.  But, for what the youth receive in terms of transportation, accommodations, resources, facilities in the host city, not to mention the opportunities for which we cannot place a value such as faith building and service to the community, the experience is, in my opinion, worth every penny.

There are 600 youth and adults attending from the Northern Illinois Synod.  I will be among them.  Would you please remember all of us in your prayers this week?  If you have youth attending from your congregation, please pray for them by name.  They will be encountering Christ in new ways and they will come home to you changed.

Comments?  Please go to the blog website or comment on Facebook.  --JC