wfn.org | Lutheran Youth Receive Power and Grace in the Superdome

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: Lutheran Youth Receive Power and Grace in the Superdome
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>July 24, 2009  

Lutheran Youth Receive Power and Grace in the Superdome
09-161-FI

NEW ORLEANS (ELCA) -- Bursts of dancing spotlights and bass notes
that drove deep through the crowd resembled more a rock concert than a
church meeting at the Louisiana Superdome. The audience of 37,000
Lutherans, mostly teenagers, heard gospel messages and music July 23 they
may not have experienced back home across the United States and Caribbean.

Lutheran youth, adult leaders and other volunteers are here July 22-
26 for the 2009 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America (ELCA). "Jesus Justice Jazz" is the theme of activities at the
Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Louisiana Superdome.
Participants are also fanning out across the area to nearly 200 community
service sites.

Jay Bakker dedicated his part of the program to his mother, Tammy
Faye Bakker Messner, who died two years earlier.  Bakker grew up with his
parents' high-profile ministry, and he witnessed that ministry's demise
in the shadow of scandal and public scrutiny. Now he
pastors "Revolution," which his Web site calls "a church for those who
feel rejected by traditional approaches to Christianity."

Tattoos cover Bakker's arms and piercings punctuate his face. His
message was about God accepting people where they are in spite of the
mistakes they've made.

Bakker recalled that was the message that distinguished Martin
Luther nearly 500 years ago. "Thank God for grace," he said.

"Don't take it for granted that you know (God's love) is a free
gift," Bakker said. "There are millions of Christians out there suffering
because they don't feel God loves them. They're dying to know they're
loved."

A video of girls in Senegal introduced Viola Vaughn to the
Superdome. Vaughn was a 2008 CNN Hero of the Year. She founded the
Women's Health Education and Prevention Strategies Alliance and "10,000
Girls," helping schoolgirls in Senegal succeed in school and learn
business skills.

Vaughn was born in the United States and raised as the daughter of a
Baptist minister. She is retired, caring for her grandchildren in Africa.

Vaughn talked to the Lutheran youth about "the power of one." One
nine-year-old girl convinced Vaughn to home school her. That girl brought
more girls, and after six years she works with 2,567 girls in college,
high school, middle school and primary school programs, and in three
entrepreneurial projects selling biscuits and dolls around the
world. "And you know, I'm still the only adult," she said.

A litany of advice concluded Vaughn's remarks. "Love yourself," she
said. "Read, read, read, learn, read, read, read."

"The power you have is yours.  Learn how to dance, and, when you
know how to dance, marry, have children and teach them how to dance,"
Vaughn said.

Becca Stevens, an Episcopal priest and chaplain for St. Augustine's
Chapel, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., founded "Magdalene," an
organization helping women with a history of prostitution and drug
addiction.

Stevens told the Superdome audience of young Lutherans some of the
hard lessons she learned doing that work. It takes "communities" of
people to put young people on the street, selling themselves for drugs,
she said, "and it's going to take those same communities to welcome
people back off the street and to love without judgment."
-- -- --

Information about the Youth Gathering is at

http://www.ELCA.org/gathering on the ELCA Web site.

Jay Bakker's home page is at http://www.jaybakker.com/ on the Web.

Information about Becca Stevens is at

http://www.vanderbilt.edu/staugustines/staff.htm on the Vanderbilt Web
site.

Information about Viola Vaughn is at

http://www.10000girls.org/violav.html on the Web.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog