wfn.org | Church of the Brethren National Youth Conference

[Church of the Brethren News Services]

Date:      Aug. 1, 1998
Contact:  Nevin Dulabaum
V:  847/742-5100   F:  847/742-6103
E-MAIL:   CoBNews@AOL.Com

Youth explore “. . . with Eyes of Faith.”

Through worship, service to the larger community, and fun and fellowship with
friends new and old, NYCers learned to see themselves and others in a new
light at NYC 1998. For many, the week opened their eyes and hearts to
acknowledge personal pain, the pain and disappointment of others, and the pain
people cause God when they don’t seek and follow his purposeful plan for their
lives.
   But the conference theme, “With Eyes of Faith,” ultimately encouraged youth
to look at themselves as God looks at each of us—“with value and with love,”
according to opening speaker Paul Mundey. Seeing themselves in a new and
forgiving light was only one way that youth were reminded to open their eyes.
Other speakers and leaders asked NYCers to look beyond the labels and
stereotypes they often place on other groups and individuals.
   Even as some NYCers struggled to explain what it means to live with eyes of
faith, Paul Grout reminded conferencegoers that to live in the mystery of
faith is not defeat. After all, said Paul, the blind man who was given sight
at the hands of Jesus couldn’t explain what it meant. “All I know,” said the
blind man, “is that once I was blind, but now I see.”

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Yada Yada Yada

   • The largest crowd ever, 4,524, attended NYC 1998 —3,397 youth and 1,127
advisers from 39 states, Germany, Croatia, Mexico, El Salvador, and Puerto
Rico.
   The previous high attendance was in 1994 with 4,120 attendees; 3,500
attended at in 1990, the first year it was held at CSU.
   • Atlantic Northeast District sent the largest number of participants (662)
from a district; Frederick (Md.) Church of the Brethren sent the most for a
congregation—51 youth, advisers, and staff.
   • The youngest NYC attendee was 13 years old; the oldest was 78.
   • The CSU food service staff served 13,572 meals to Brethren this week.
   • NYC offerings this week produced—$10,013 for Shalom Ministries in
Tijuana, Mexico; 2,412 pounds of canned goods for the Larimer County Food
Distribution Center; 4,602 pairs of glasses for shipping to El Salvador; and
$7,482 for the NYC scholarship fund.
   • In the five days of NYC ’98, 259 people called on the medical services
staff—the top three ailments were sprains and strains, stomach viruses, and
colds.

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Spirituality

Paul Grout erecting a huge wooden figure of Jesus Christ crucified on the
stage. Clowns illustrating points of Scripture and sending balloons into the
crowd. Bernice King, daughter of Martin Luther King Jr., sharing her life
story. Ted & Lee linking the gospels and humor. Youth speech contest winners
Linetta Alley and Cindy Laprade addressing their peers. Paul Mundey opening
the week with a high-energy challenge. Tiny lanterns sparkling around Moby
Arena. A service of anointing.
	These are some of the scenes that stand out from a week of powerful, varied,
and inspiring worship, coordinated by Jim Chinworth, Dave Witkovsky, Bonnie
Kline Smeltzer, and Deanna Brown.
	Songwriter Lee Krahenbuhl started things out with a bang Tuesday night by
introducing the “. . . With Eyes of Faith” theme song with its popular “Na na
na” bridge.
	Even before the morning worship time kicked off Wednesday to Saturday,
conferencegoers had the opportunity to engage in Bible study with leader Jim
Myer. Myer pulled on the II Corinthians 5 theme passage and many other texts,
explaining why people should believe the Bible and take a leap of faith.
    Through personal stories, symbols, creative worship elements, times of
commitment, exploration of Scripture, and powerful music, NYCers learned new
ways to truly see “with eyes of faith.”

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Service

Close to 1,200 NYCers volunteered throughout the week at service projects that
ranged from reservoir cleanup to canned food sorting and new home
construction. 
	Two Habitat for Humanity houses built on the Colorado State University campus
for families in nearby Severence, Colo., alone drew 600 NYCers. Another
30-some off-campus service projects placed 572 youth in 87 different work
crews at homes for disabled individuals, homeless shelters, soup kitchens,
public parks, thrift stores, and a variety of other volunteering venues.
	The witness of NYC youth was felt throughout the Fort Collins community,
whether volunteers sat and sang hymns with residents of an adult day care
center, cleaned out pens at the local Humane Society, or put a fresh coat of
paint on a porch. 
	Two of the service projects had a direct connection to conference offerings.
Eyeglasses collected one night were cleaned and packaged during the next
several days in preparation for shipment to El Salvador. And some of the
NYCers volunteering at the Fort Collins Food Distribution Center sorted the
canned goods donated earlier in the week. The eyeglasses and canned goods were
main components of two evening worship services.

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Workshops

All NYCers were required to attend seven workshops during the week, and they
had plenty of options to choose from.
	Well over 100 workshops were offered at locations scattered across the CSU
campus. Volunteer youthworkers helped people find their way and set up
workshop leaders with the necessary equipment.
	Themes of the workshops ranged from peace to dating to workcamps to music.
Highlights included several keynote workshops featuring special guests of the
conference. Christian musician Ken Medema and Mennonite drama team Ted & Lee
each presented two programs in their specialty areas, and Bob McCannon
discussed media literacy. Special workshops were given for advisers, too.
	Most workshops were given at least twice during the week, and some were
offered as many as four or five times, often to capacity or over-capacity
audiences. An assortment of General Board and other Brethren staff, pastors,
lay leaders, and others shared their expertise in the sessions.
	Other topics included college and career options, Brethren Volunteer service,
environmental concerns, conflict management, a session with Annual Conference
moderator Lowell Flory, humor and faith, Brethren heritage, and even “Eeyore’s
Birthday Party.”
    Whatever the topic, it could be found at NYC.

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Late Nights

^From music groups to comedy troupes to show-your-talent shows, NYC 1998 late
nights offered entertainment options for the masses. 
	The pop and alternative Christian rock band Jars of Clay shared their faith
on stage Saturday night in front of an energetic crowd. Other music
performances throughout the week included Kindling, a four-member Church of
the Brethren folk group that sings inspiring messages of peace, justice, and
inclusivity.
	Internationally-known singer, songwriter, and pianist Ken Medema performed
his usual musical trick of composing songs on the spot based on stories told
to him from the audience. 
	Twenty-two youth from Western Pennsylvania District performed “Cotton Patch
Gospel,” a musical rendition of the gospels of Matthew and John.
	The six-member Middlebury, Ind.-based band Conviction—with ties to the Church
of the Brethren—demonstrated their conviction through a variety of mostly
original Christian songs.
	Ted and Lee, a two-man Mennonite comedy crew, performed their “Armadillo
Tour,” a dramatic sketch about life as we know it. 
	And for youth wanting to showcase their talent, two open mic nights offered
time for skits, music, and virtually any other creative expression.

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Activities

I n between all the worship services and the workshops and other main events,
a plethora of possibilities awaited NYCers.
	One mandatory daily activity was small groups, with more than 300 meeting in
various nooks and crannies of Colorado State University. Volunteer group
leaders led their circles in group-building games, discussion, and reflection,
while participants learned to know some new people.
	Those who wanted to explore the mountains visible at the western end of the
campus could take one of the hiking trips offered during the week. A fleet of
buses trekked hundreds of youth and advisers up into Rocky Mountain National
Park for several choices of hikes.
	Informal activities filled the afternoon free-time period, with soccer,
frisbees, skateboards, volleyballs, and basketballs flying. A swimming pool
and fitness room were also available. Rain couldn’t dampen plans, either, as
people either just kept playing or went for jumps or dives in the puddles.
	Volleyballs flew in more organized fashion, as well, with 80 teams taking
part in a two-division volleyball tournament.
	Those wanting a more leisurely pace could stroll around the campus, shop in
the Colorado State bookstore, browse exhibits, get some ice cream, or just go
back to their rooms and catch a nap.

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Snapshots

Brethren youth seem to love their pizza. A driver for a pizza place near CSU
reported that Brethren youth ordered a minimum of 150 pizzas each night
throughout NYC. Domino’s could not be reached for its numbers; Pizza Hut
refused to divulge such secret trade information. The real winners in all of
this? Late-night youth workers, who were able to purchase the pizza that was
undeliverable to NYCers after the midnight curfew at reduced prices.

Hot sellers this week at the SERRV booth were rings, wooden boxes, and onyx
dolphins, while foxtails, buttons, and bumper stickers were in demand from the
Peace Place. Brethren Press favorites included “bouncing eyeballs,” AWOL
(Another Way of Living) bracelets, and Bernice King’s Hard Questions, Heart
Answers, of which more than 100 copies were sold.

Favorite workshops from the week were “Fist-Stick-Knife-Gun-Gang,” which
explored the fast-moving gang violence in schools and its effect on families;
“Juggling Made Easy,” which taught all skill levels; and “Shoulder Massage,” a
hands-on demonstration of how to give a good back rub. One workshop in
particular inspired action. Of the 500 youth and 275 advisers attending “The
Gospel of Sex” workshop, 171 individuals signed a “True Love Waits” pledge
card, making the commitment to remain abstinent until marriage.

NYCers can keep connected after today by joining the Youth and Young Adult
listserv. To subscribe, send an email to listserv@bridgewater.edu. In the body
of the e-mail type the words Subscribe CoB-YYA.

Photos and information from each day of NYC are on the NYC home page at
www.brethren.org.

Wrap-up was produced by the NYC News Services Team—Nevin Dulabaum, editor;
Melissa Collett, Karla Hignite, Walt Wiltschek, and Regina Bryan. Mary
Dulabaum and Frank Klein contributed.

(Twenty-two pictures were included in this publication)