VALLEY FORGE, PA (ABNS 01/17/07)-National Ministries announces the 2008 National Gathering of American Baptist Youth, "MtW," at YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colo., July 5-11.
The text-message-like theme, which means "More Than a Week," lifts up the gathering's focus-that youth will carry the mountain-top experience back home where they'll live out their lives as disciples of Jesus Christ, making a difference in their communities and relationships, thereby extending the experience far beyond the week they're in Colorado.
Two thousand youth and adults are expected to attend the gathering, sponsored once every four years by National Ministries. Youth will travel from every region, including Puerto Rico, to create a community inclusive of all American Baptist backgrounds, cultures, ethnicities, and worship and learning styles.
Planned for youth from ages 15 (or those who have completed grade nine) through 20, along with those who work with youth, the gathering will include speakers who connect with youth, small group Bible study, dynamic worship and music, and recreation. Youth events will correlate with National Ministries' "Children in Poverty" initiative, and attendees will have opportunities to connect with American Baptist colleges and seminaries.
An Adult Trek track will provide high-quality training for youth ministers and workers, and "MtW" planners will follow up faith and vocational decisions made by both youth and adults at the gathering to underscore the "more than a week" emphasis.
The initial planning team for the gathering included the Rev. Y. Trevor Beauford, DeiVision Minister of Children and Youth, Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, Charlotte, N.C.; Kimberly Budd, assistant professor of youth ministries, Judson College, Elgin, Ill.; the Rev. Sarah Culp, ABC of the Rochester/Genesee Region; the Rev. Rob Ely, Director of Discipleship Ministries, West Virginia Baptist Convention; Nancy Peto, ABGIRLS; Layman Pierce, ABBoys &Young Men; the Rev. John Polite III, Senior Pastor, Panorama Baptist Church, Arleta, Calif.; the Rev. Jackie Saxon, Admissions, Austin Presbyterian Seminary, Austin, Tex.; and the Rev. Wallace Smith, Associate Minister, First Baptist Church, Indianapolis, Ind. Also on the planning team are National Ministries' staff members David Chandler, online managing editor; Lynne Eckman, financial aid/ABPS coordinator; Dr. David Laubach, associate executive director, Program Ministries; and the Rev. Marilyn Turner, associate executive director, Program Ministries. Each left the planning session with a pine cone as a visible reminder to pray for this conference that will be remembered for a lifetime.
Youth at the 2004 gathering praised the event as "awesome." In the coming months, watch for more details about the 2008 event, guaranteed to be just as awesome as the last one.
Andrew C. Jayne American Baptist Churches, USA Mission Resource Development http://www.abc-usa.org/