wfn.org | Re: National Youth Conference Daily Journal -- July 30, 1998

[COBNews@aol.com]

What’s up -- Even more “must read”  NYC announcements 

How not to see Jars of Clay—If you were given a replacement, hand-written
nametag by the NYC office, please come back to get a new one that is computer-
generated. Hand-written name tags will NOT admit you into the Jars of Clay
concert. The pen may be mightier than the sword, but only the laser printer
will get you a seat!

Hats, books, and various articles of clothing, misfit toys, and other
inanimate objects are congregating in the lost and found area in the NYC
office (in the basement of Durrell, down the hall from the Press office).
Before they stage a coup and take over, please see if any of them belong to
you and return them to the cozy isolation of your dorm room. There is also
another lost and found at Lory Student Center, so if at first you don’t
succeed, try try again. 

Bethany Seminary and the Church of the Brethren General Board request prayers
for two Nigerians from Ekklesiyar Yan’uwa a Nigeria (our sister denomination)
who wish to begin studies at Bethany this fall. They have been denied visas
the past two years but will be applying for them again next week. Your prayers
can help make a world of difference.

Name tags, get your name tags here! Many youth have rescued their name tags
from the NYC Office, but many more remain to be picked up. If you are missing
a name tag, or a meal card for that matter, please stop by, say hello, and
pick it up—free of charge.

Don’t be caught short! NYC “Eyes of Faith” shorts are on sale in the Brethren
Press bookstore for the discounted price of $13 plus tax. They are available
in sizes M, L, XL, and XXL.

Looking for a book fit for a King? The Brethren Press bookstore has copies of
Bernice King’s book Hard Questions, Heart Answers for $11 plus tax. Visit the
bookstore in the Lory Student Center main ballroom.

They walk down stairs, alone or in pairs, and make a slink-ety sound. Everyone
knows it’s Slinky! The following folks’ names were drawn from among the many
faces that appeared Thursday on the official NYC web site. They can pick up
their prizes at the NYC Press office in Durrell, lower level (down the hall
from the NYC office!)—Patrice Young, Greg Hignite, Chris Brown, Jessica Goad,
Becky Sells, Brittian Bollenbacher, Brad Eaton, David Williford, Josh Sown,
and Stacy Swigart. The five question-of-the-day participants also can come
over for a Slinky to call their own.

----------------------------------

Strength in numbers

Since 1974, all NYC coordinators have themselves been NYCers, inspired by
coordinators before them, and all are working at NYC this week. 
   Rhonda Pittman Gingrich, ’90 coordinator, is a Bethany graduate living in
Minneapolis writing for Brethren Press. She remembers seeing ’82 coordinator
Christy Waltersdorff in action and thinking, “I want to do that some day.”
   Christy, herself, was in awe of ’78 coordinator Dave McFadden. Now pastor
at the York Center congregation in Lombard, Ill., and General Board member,
Christy says that “NYC opened my eyes spiritually.”
   Brian Harley, ’86 coordinator, had a “mystical moment” during his ’82 NYC
experience as a youth, as it helped him understand that he didn’t have to be
or do anything special to be part of the church.
   Wendi Hutchinson, ’94 NYC assistant coordinator, was introduced to the
Brethren at NYC ’86 when she attended in place of someone else. In 1988 she
joined the denomination’s youth cabinet, helping to plan NYC ’90. Not only is
Wendi staff at the Goshen (Ind.) City church, she is here with 33 youth and is
helping with small groups and the eyeglasses project.
   Dave, a Manchester College VP and NYC youthworker coordinator, has
volunteered at four of the past five NYCs. Randy Miller, World Vision editor
and associate coordinator of NYC ’74, is covering this conference for
Messenger. Christy, Brian, and Rhonda are also helping out in many ways, as is
Shawn Replogle, 1994 NYC coordinator and pastor of the South Waterloo, Iowa,
congregation.
---------------------------

Pen Pals
According to Emily Shonk, NYC assistant coordinator, one concern some NYCers
have expressed in the past is that they come to NYC not knowing any youth
outside their own congregations or districts. So for the first time ever, the
1998 NYC coordinated a youth group pen-pal exchange.
   From the letters sent to congregations last year seeking interest, a total
of 71 congregations were paired with those of a similar size but from diverse
geographic locations. Congregations from as far apart as Pennsylvania and
Arizona participated.
   At a special luncheon Wednesday, partner youth groups shared stories about
how they interacted during the past year. 
   Some youth groups sent letters by snail- and e-mail. One pair tried a
conference call on speaker phones. Another sent each other “silly things in a
box,” including a video of the various shoe sizes of the youth group’s
members. Other modes of communication included a scrapbook showing pictures of
those coming to NYC and a video of a congregation’s youth Sunday worship
service.

------------------------------------
NYC speech finalists describe their vision of faith

They first began thinking about it late last year. They wrote and taped their
speeches, and then in March found out they had won. And on Friday, they
finally took the stage as the NYC speech contest winners.
   Linetta Alley explored the points of the II Corinthians NYC theme passage,
telling NYCers to keep walking in faith and to walk together. Cindy Laprade
followed, opening with the poem “Footprints” and urging reliance on God
through faith.
  “I wasn’t nervous at all,” Linetta said. “It just feels like a group of
brothers and sisters.”
   
-------------------------------------

Tonight's worship

Bernice King, an ordained pastor who serves as Youth and Women’s minister at
an innercity Atlanta church, is the youngest child of Martin Luther King Jr.
and Coretta Scott King. She has written a book titled Hard Questions, Heart
Answers.
   Tonight’s monetary offering will be used to assist Shalom Ministries in
Tijuana, Mexico, which works with disadvantaged children. 

--------------------------------------

Friday

   • Milton Garcia, a former Brethren pastor and General Board staff member,
will deliver the sermon during morning worship. Joining Milton in the service
will be “A Gift of Song” by youth Puerto Rican youth, and a mime scripture
presentation.
   • Afternoon events include “Wacky Olympics,” the finale of the NYC
volleyball tournament, and the dedication service of the two Habitat for
Humanity houses.
   • The evening concert—Jars of Clay, the nationally known pop and
alternative Christian band. Their first single, “Flood,” broke into the Top 40
charts.

------------------------------------

Question of the Day -- What inspired your National Youth Conference pillow
creation?

Sean Bryant
Roanoke, Va.
I hadn’t been at youth group for a while so they decided to make one for me.
They all signed it.

Lauren Eby 
Oak Park, Ill.
A lady at my church who designs the worship centers helped me choose the
beaded design of a dove for my pillow.

Erin Furry
New Bloomfield, Pa.
I chose the jungle print because I love elephants and also I’m a crazy and
wild person. I have a shoulder strap so it’s easier to carry around.

Ojeta Oke
N. Liberty, Ind.
My pillow design was inspired by Kung Fu and Jackie Chan movies. It has Asian
and Oriental patters and a dragon design.