wfn.org | New Orleans Mayor Praises Youth of LCMS National Gathering

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@wfn.org>]

The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Board for Communication Services

LCMSNews -- No. 59
Aug. 7, 2001

Mayor praises work, 'good cheer' of youth-gathering participants

NEW ORLEANS -- Although sometimes described as "the city that care forgot,"
this place won't soon forget the acts of exemplary care and behavior of some
35,000 people who attended the National Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod
Youth Gathering here July 28-Aug. 1, according to city officials and local
media.

"We have never been touched by a group of visitors as much as we have been
touched by you," New Orleans Mayor Marc Morial said Aug. 1 at the final
gathering mass event in the Louisiana Superdome.

"Everywhere you have gone, you've showed good work and good cheer," said the
mayor, referring particularly to the servant events that involved about
7,500 of the gathering's young people over three days.

"You are leading by example," Morial said, presenting appreciation plaques
to representatives of the gathering and the Synod.

The July 31 edition of "The Times-Picayune," New Orleans' daily newspaper,
reported that 1,500 servant-event participants kicked of a major local
effort when they painted walls at public schools.

"Public schools Chief Executive Officer Al Davis applauded the out-of town
help and encouraged locals to follow their example," the newspaper said.

"They'll remember the fun when they return to their homes across the
country," an editorial in "The Times-Picayune" said. "But thanks to their
energy and enthusiasm, New Orleans will have something to remember them by,
too."

"It's great to see that there are youths who are being brought up to know
hard work and community activism are self-rewarding traits as well as
rewarding to others," Mary LaValla said in a July 31 letter to the paper.

The newspaper carried prominently-placed stories about the gathering
throughout the event, as did local television stations.

This gathering also involved worship; Bible study with young people
portraying events of the early church, but in contemporary dress, settings
and language; interest-center presentations on scores of topics; music by
popular contemporary Christian artists; remarks from government, church and
sports leaders; a mile-plus parade down Poydras Street; dances in some of
the 68 hotels that housed participants; an outdoor event on the riverfront
that ended with fireworks; and a mammoth interactive exhibit area in the
city's mile-long convention center.

During the gathering, youth groups donated 22,000 Bibles for Concordia
Gospel Outreach to distribute and 10 tons of nonperishable food for the
hungry, gave 804 pints of blood, and brought along thousands of gel pens for
needy school children.

Also, a cross-cultural gathering July 26-28 at Tulane University here
brought together 600 participants from 21 countries, before they joined the
larger gathering.

"Higher Ground" was the gathering's overall theme, based on the opening
verses of Colossians 3 ("Since then, you have been raised with Christ, set
your hearts on things above ...").

Synod President Robert T. Kuhn delivered the sermon at the Holy Communion
service July 29, which had a subtheme of "Victory Ground." He challenged the
young people to consider full-time church work, "since you know that you are
on victory ground and why your are there."

At that service, the worshipers gave an offering of approximately $190,000
for missions and youth-related projects.

Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick, the Synod's president elect, spoke briefly to the
gathering Aug. 1, along with his wife, Terry.

"Remember to keep your chins up," Kieschnick said. "It's easier to be
vigilant and walk on higher ground that way."

"You've electrified this Superdome," said Terry Kieschnick, who reminded the
youth that they are the church of now, "not tomorrow."

The final event also included videotaped greetings from President George W.
Bush and Mike Jones, the football player -- and Missouri Synod Lutheran --
who made the game-saving tackle for the St. Louis Rams at the end of the
2000 Super Bowl game.

Tim Goeglein, deputy director of the White House Office of Public Liaison
and also an LCMS Lutheran, introduced the video with Bush.

"It is very possible that in the dome right now is a future president of the
United States," Goeglein told the assembly, which set off countless camera
flashbulbs as soon as the President appeared on-screen.

"Here are 35,000 reasons why the future of America is on higher ground,"
Bush said, while encouraging the young people to "make a difference in your
neighborhood," and to uphold integrity, honesty, loyalty and responsibility.

Jones, who works with youth in church programs, challenged audience members
to be active in their congregations.

Laura Wilkinson, a gold-medalist in platform diving at last year's Olympic
Games, told the gathering throng July 30 to "... have a plan and put it in
God's hands."

At that evening's "Solid Ground" mass event, five young people from St. Paul
Lutheran Church, Dallas, were confirmed -- a first for an LCMS youth
gathering.

The next morning in the Superdome, participants heard from Gianna Jessen,
who survived in spite of her natural mother's intention that she be aborted
24 years ago.

Jessen spoke of the cerebral palsy she has as a result of the abortion
attempt, calling it "a gift that reminds me that I did not die, because of
God's love and the sheer power of Jesus," she said. She challenged the young
people to practice sexual purity.

"I am overwhelmed with how good this gathering is," said Mary Halberg, an
adult leader with the group of 19 from Immanuel Lutheran Church,
Albuquerque, N.M. "Please thank the Synod for us," she said.

"It's been amazing, unbelievable," said Andrew Walquist, a 17-year-old in
the Immanuel group. "It's given me more insight and made my faith stronger,"
he said.

"It is certainly the grace of God in Jesus Christ and the power of His
Spirit at work in the lives of young people that makes the gathering such an
amazing event," said Rev. Terry Dittmer, director of youth ministry for the
Synod's Board for District and Congregational Services (BDCS), which
sponsors the national gathering.

He indicated that as many as 2,000 people " with an ...  array of talents,
skills and interests worked behind the scenes" on the event.

Dittmer said that the Synods national youth gathering "has the largest
attendance of all church-related, regularly-scheduled, single-event youth
gatherings."

The next National LCMS Youth Gathering will be July 24-28, 2004, in Orlando,
Fla.

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