Title: LUTHERAN YOUTH TAKE FAITH "TREKS" ELCA NEWS SERVICE July 27, 1997 LUTHERAN YOUTH TAKE FAITH "TREKS" 97-YG-12-MR NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Journey. Walk on. Experience something new while pondering paths already taken. That is the intent of the "treks" offered at the 1997 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering. 30,000 teens convened July 23-27 to learn more about God, community and themselves. For two days of the gathering, they had the option to attend treks covering issues such as God, Earth and health awareness. More than mere workshops, the treks aimed to involve, entertain and stimulate thousands of young minds. GOD TREK The trek with God emphasized the three parts of the Holy Trinity -- God, Jesus the Messiah, and the Holy Spirit -- a main tenet of many Christians. The setting was a dark room with cosmic music for a drama depicting God, Creation and us. Benjamin Gidmark, Mount Olive Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, acted as spokesperson for all believers. He admonished the two characters in costume representing Doubt. According to Gidmark, our existence is too powerful to ignore belief in a Higher Being. The drama was accentuated by upbeat songs, music videos on big screens, and conversations. A group of painters on stage instantaneously created a large mural representing each part of the Trinity. Gidmark was pleased to have an opportunity to share words of faith with others. "I know all of us are here under the auspices of religion, but I'm not sure everyone truly believes," he said. "I just want to open their eyes and minds and give them a taste of what is out there." MOTHER EARTH Helping to preserve our planet was the focus of the Earth trek. The keynote speaker was Melissa Poe, 17, Nashville, Tenn. She is the founder of Kids For a Clean Environment (Kids FACE) Club. When Melissa was nine years old, she took action by writing a letter to President Bush asking for help with the pollution problem. Her letter appeared on one billboard in her hometown. It was eventually seen on 250 billboards across the nation. This is why her fundamental belief is in "the power of one." Melissa is now heading a project entitled "One in a Million." This is an effort to encourage one million kids across the nation to each plant a tree by the year 2000. It takes only a small amount of work by each of us, but the outcome can have a tremendous impact, she said. Balance!, a musical group from California, entertained the audience with lively, interactive songs. THE LIVING ROOM A living room is a place in which we feel secure and comfortable with ourselves -- the focus of this trek. Jim Tuman, a nationally renowned speaker from Michigan, addressed a full room on the importance of valuing life and ourselves. In his opinion, we attach too much value to material possessions rather than finding true value within ourselves. Tuman does recognize the importance of financial stability in our society but denounces it as the top priority in our lives. Another philosophy Tuman lives by is Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!) Bishop Donald Parsons, Alaska Synod, ELCA, was asked to summarize Tuman's talk. "We are each a beautiful part of God's creation, but we allow so much outside of ourselves to dictate how we feel about ourselves," he said. "We need to acknowledge the gifts God has given us by looking within." Other guests in The Living Room were musicians Billy Crockett and Echelon and small session leaders Tiger McLuen, director of Youth Leadership, and Dr. Rollie Martinson, theology professor from Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn. WELL NOW! Kids were welcomed to the wellness trek by Nora, a survivor of bone cancer, from suburban Chicago, who shared her story and sent kids out to other sections of the trek. Workshops covered a variety of topics including: alcohol, drug, and tobacco abuse; prostitution; personal safety; stress; forgiveness; blended families; date rape; and developing a healthy self-esteem. Each of the workshops were approached from a spiritual perspective. At a health fair, young people aged 17 and older had the opportunity to give blood and learn how helpful such a simple act can be. The Tulane Medical Center sponsored a table at the health fair and provided helpful information on nutrition, including healthy recipes, exercise and general information on living in harmony with the environment. The event ended with the Rev. Tom Rogers and Dr. Ruth Busman, Concordia University, St. Paul, Minn., who led a session with information and open discussion on sexual values and practices from a Christian perspective. ADULT LEADERSHIP FOR THE JOURNEY As teenagers thought about relationship, family and lifestyle issues, adults worked on how the church can be more effective in the life of young people at the "Adult Leadership" trek. Both teenagers and adults took part in a "town and country meeting," a discussion forum "stimulated" by the participants. Discussions included building effective youth ministries, identifying the issues and lifestyles of young people today and how assessing the need of young people in their faith community. "Adults are talking about how certain values held in their youth become the basis for decision making as adults," said Dr. Dorothy Green, Louisville, Ky. Green hosted the trek. Adult participants were asked to conduct a survey to find out more about the "real world" of teenagers. Survey questions ranged from religion to health and friendships to happiness. "The information gathered will be one way for youth ministers and churches to come to a better understanding of teenagers," said Green. -- 30 -- For information contact: Ann Hafften, Director, News and Information http://www.elca.org/co/news/current.html