For High School Students who want to  increase their
circle of friends and put their faith into action—this is about a Christian faith that matters in our world practiced with people your own age and adult mentors.

For this pilot year we have three LYO Action Teams.  Choose one Action Team based on your interest.  (See descriptions below)

 

ELCA Youth Gathering - July 18-22, 2012

The ELCA Youth Gathering takes place in our synod again this year. For more information about the event, including programming, registration and schedule, visit the Gathering Website.

 

Our synod is travelling together to the Gathering by bus. initial reservations were made in December, however if you are interested in travelling with us, please contact Chris Ray, our Synod Coordinator to see if there are still seats available.

 

Training for Adults

Adult sponsors are key to a good Gathering experience for students. That’s why we are offering two training days to help those leading a group to New Orleans get prepared:

Saturday, February 25th in the New Orleans area, and

Saturday, March 3rd in the Houston area.  

There is no cost and lunch is provided. We just need to know you’re coming, so please register for the day of your choice.

 

As you may have heard, this year we will be TOGETHER as a synod for our Practice Discipleship day. Think of it as a “gathering within the gathering.”  More information about what the day looks like and how you can help to ensure a wonderful experience for your group will be presented at both training days.

 

This training isn’t just isn’t for those going to the gathering!  At our morning session, “Help I’m a Group Leader,” we will be going over information helpful to anyone leading a group, whether large or small. It’s sure to be entertaining and informative… and we will have a little help from the skit guys!

 

I hope you can join us on either of these two days. Sign up now on the Events page. Hope to see you at either of these trainings.

 

Pastor Brad Otto, Gathering Synod Coach

 

 

Do you have a passion for people living in poverty around our world, including our companion synods?  If you have traveled to a developing country or would like to use your leadership to make a difference in the world, this Zone is for you. 

 

Engage in social networking with youth around the world, be part of synod initiatives that are impacting families that live in poverty and become a voice in your congregation.  Expect to go deeper in your relationships with people around the world and to grow in your own faith.

 

This team is for youth that have traveled out of the country on an immersion trip, or have a passion for issues of poverty in our world.  They will learn about systems that effectively move families out of poverty on a global scale and learn what is happening in our companion synod relationships.  They will be a voice for Global Mission in their home congregation, encouraging prayer, widening relationships, storytelling and fundraising based on their electronic connections with young people around the world. 

Do you love working with children?  Are you already on a day camp staff?  Do you want to work at a day camp for a week or more this summer?  This Zone is for you if being part of a leadership team that is equipped to talk about Jesus with children, tell Bible Stories, play games and more gets you energized. 

 

This Team will meet electronically and face to face, be encouraged to attend The Disciple Project and meet two other times during the year to network, learn and serve together.  Expect invitations to serve in synod day camps on weekends in August and as needed during the year.

 

This Action Team is for youth who are serving on a Christian day camp staff.  They will be trained, network with each other and be the church in mission in their own neighborhoods.  They will connect electronically to share their experiences working with children.  This team will influence the Camp Hope curriculum, become leaders of their peers at future staff training events and mentor younger staff into leadership. 

 

Do you want to be prepared and ready to respond to disasters like hurricanes, floods, fires, etc.?  This team will be trained to train their own and other local congregations and called upon at least one time during the year (maybe more) to respond to crisis in our country or even in our world.  If you are ready to be equipped and be on call, this Zone is for you.  Expect training, to be a trainer and to provide hands-on response in a time of need in this country or beyond.

 

Students will be ready to prepare their own homes and their congregations.  They will be “on call” in case of a disaster.  Response to a disaster may include physical work, leading day camps for children or unexpected service, depending on the need.  

 

Goals:  (They spell the word FISH so you can remember them!)

F- Fluency: 

Get comfortable talking about your faith in Jesus—even your questions.

I–  Interdependence: 

Expand your connections with people around the world for a bigger vision of God’s love.

S– Sending: 

Faith-to-go—beyond the church impacting how you live every day, everywhere.  

H- Home: 

Praying, serving, caring for each other as a household—with the people you live with.