ELCA NEWS SERVICE

June 29, 2009  

37,000 Lutherans Heading to ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans
09-140-FI

     CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Tens of thousands of teenagers will converge on
New Orleans for the Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA), a triennial event for the high school-age members of the
4.7 million-member church, and to work alongside those who build, teach
and live in the area still recovering nearly four years after Hurricane
Katrina.
     As many as 26,725 teenagers are registered to attend the gathering
July 22-26. They will be accompanied by 8,593 adult leaders, including 37
bishops, and another 1,700 volunteers.
     "Jesus Justice Jazz" is the gathering theme. Worship, Bible study
and Christian community will bolster the participants as they work in
about 150 community service projects across the area and engage the
unique culture of the region.
     "We have done some research and have determined, to the best of our
ability, that the ELCA's service effort in New Orleans is likely to be
the largest servant ministry ever attempted in a three-day period of
time," said Heidi Hagstrom, director for the ELCA Youth Gathering. "We
have 300 buses taking young people -- about 12,000 per day -- to 154
service sites, organized around six interest areas: housing, environment,
wealth and poverty, health and wellness, the arts and culture, and
literacy."
     "We know that by choosing to hold the 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering
among the people of New Orleans we will be richly blessed by their
experiences of God's embrace during hard times, and we hope to embody the
church's commitment to stand with them for as long as it takes," Hagstrom
said.
     In advance of the gathering, each participant picked one of the six
interest areas. The program in New Orleans was developed to help the
youth practice what they've learned when they return home.
     Two events will precede the gathering and one will follow. A
Definitely Abled Youth Leadership Event (DAYLE) and a Multicultural Youth
Leadership Event (MYLE) will be held July 19-22 at the Sheraton New
Orleans Hotel. About 30 young Lutherans with disabilities and their adult
companions will attend DAYLE. MYLE will attract about 900 youth. A
convention of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) will be held July 26-
9 in Hattiesburg, Miss.
     The gathering kicks off the evening of July 22 at the Louisiana
Superdome. Wednesday night speakers are:
+ Marc Kielburger, chief executive director of "Free The Children," which
has built more than 500 schools in Asia, Africa and Latin America
+ Liz McCartney, a "CNN Hero of the Year" for 2008, founder of the St.
Bernard Project, to help Hurricane Katrina survivors in St. Bernard
Parish, southeast of New Orleans
     The three full days of the gathering will include time in the New
Orleans Morial Convention Center, an evening event at the Superdome,
music and other evening activities in the hotels, and a "Final 15" to
conclude each day with 15 minutes of small group devotions.
     A third of the participants will board buses for community service
or "ServantLife" projects each of the three full days; another third will
take part in learning programs along "Krewes Boulevard" in the Convention
Center; and the other third will join in physical activities at the
Interaction Center. Each third will rotate each day to a different
servant learning experience based on the participants' six interest areas.
     ServantLife projects will include working with staff and volunteers
at New Orleans' City Park, the St. Bernard Project and various Habitat
for Humanity sites.
     Thursday night speakers at the Superdome are:
+ Becca Stevens, Episcopal priest and chaplain, St. Augustine's Chapel,
Vanderbilt Campus, Nashville, Tenn.
+ Viola Vaughn, another 2008 "CNN Hero of the Year," who founded the
Women's Health Education and Prevention Strategies Alliance and "10,000
Girls," to benefit schoolgirls in Senegal
     Friday night speakers at the Superdome are:
+ Spencer West and Michel Chikwanine, representing "Me to We," a sister
organization that supports Free the Children through socially responsible
choices and leadership experiences
     Saturday night speakers at the Superdome are:
+ Donald Miller, author of "Blue Like Jazz," Portland, Ore.
+ Anne Mahlum who started "Back on My Feet" to promote the self-
sufficiency of Philadelphia's homeless population
+ Venice R. Williams, executive director of Milwaukee's Kujichagulia
Lutheran Center
     The Rev. Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop, will preach at
closing worship the morning of July 26 at the Superdome. An offering will
benefit selected international and domestic ministries.
     An online catalog is receiving donations toward supplies for the
ServantLife projects. Gifts will be collected in the Interaction Center
throughout the gathering for the ELCA World Hunger Appeal.
     ELCA Global Mission's international companion program is bringing
about 50 young Lutherans to the gathering from as many as 25 countries in
Africa, Asia, Central America, Europe and South America.
-- -- --
     On the Web:
Gathering: http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Youth-Ministry/Youth-Gathering.aspx

DAYLE: http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Youth-Ministry/Youth-Gathering/Definitely-Abled-Youth-Leadership-Event.aspx

MYLE: http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Youth-Ministry/Youth-Gathering/MYLE.aspx

LYO Convention: http://www.ELCA.org/Growing-In-Faith/Ministry/Youth-Ministry/Lutheran-Youth-Organization/LYO-Convention.aspx

EDITORS: "Michel Chikwanine" is spelled correctly.

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