ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 23, 2003

ELCA Youth Hear About Courage, Selflessness
03-YG-12-JAC*

     ATLANTA (ELCA) -- The Rev. Alise D. Barrymore spoke to
23,000 Lutheran youth and adults Saturday during the final
evening program at the first week of the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America (ELCA) Youth Gathering here.
     The ELCA Youth Gathering is meeting here at the Georgia Dome
and Georgia World Congress Center in two back-to-back events:
 July 16-20 and July 23-27.  The Gathering, "Do Life! Ubuntu," is
bringing together some 40,000 high-school-age and adult Lutherans
who are engaging in worship, Bible study, community service and
fun.
     Barrymore, Dean of University Ministries and campus pastor,
North Park University, Chicago, has worked with youth in a
variety of capacities.  During her speech, Barrymore talked about
the "Lord of the Rings" movies and their major character Frodo.
She compared the life and adventures of Frodo to the life of
Jesus Christ and to the lives of the youth.
     "What do you do when destiny chooses you?" she asked youth.
Frodo, who receives a ring from his uncle, finds himself
engrossed in an adventure that leads him to leave his home and
security because of his care and devotion for others.
     Barrymore talked about how important tasks can fall on
unlikely candidates.  "Frodo was such an unlikely character," she
said.  "He didn't even wear shoes."
     She extended this concept to the crowd.  "Why him?  Why us?
Why me?  Why would God call us to do this?  To do life?"
     Barrymore told youth that it is natural to feel fear and
doubt at times, and that fear is powerful.  "Sometimes I live in
a fairy tale.  I like to pretend," she said referring to the way
many people like to live in ignorance to world problems.
     "I don't want to admit that there are people hungry and
starving in the richest countries in the world," she said.
     Referring to New Testament Scriptures, Barrymore said to
youth that it is important to use God-given gifts and also to
love without self-interest.  "Love is an act of worship," she
said.  "When we serve our brothers and sisters, we are loving
God."
     "Frodo carried the ring for everyone," she said.
     Barrymore ended her speech by telling youth that God has
given them all of the gifts and talents they need to make a
difference in the world.
     A video address by Bono, lead singer in the band U2, was
featured.  Bono delivered a special message to the ELCA youth
about the AIDS problem in Africa.  In his video address, Bono
said that there are currently 11 million children in Africa who
are orphaned because of AIDS, and that at the current rate this
number will rise to 25 million orphans by 2010.  He said about
7,000 people die daily because of AIDS.
     Asking youth to write to members of U.S. Congress about
supporting AIDS relief in Africa, Bono said, "The potential to
beat this has never been greater."
     Matt Shimkus, a 2002 graduate of Pacific Lutheran
University, asked the youth to think back to when they were five
years old.
     "You've got super powers when you're five years old," he
said.  Shimkus said that at five years old, everything seems
possible.
     "When is it we're taught that there are things that we can't
do?" he said.  Shimkus encouraged the crowd to overcome the
mindset that some things cannot be accomplished.
     "You and I have the power behind us," he said.  "We do this
not by our own power, but the power of the resurrected Christ."
     Other performers during the evening program included bands
Seven Points and Lost and Found and the Clark Atlanta University
Panther's marching band.

*Jessica A. Crane is completing her bachelor of arts degree at
Concordia College, Moorhead, Minn.  She is an intern this summer
with ELCA News and Media Production.

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or [log in to unmask]
http://www.elca.org/news