wfn.org | ELCA Youth 'Go the Extra MYLE'

[News News <news@ELCA.ORG>]

ELCA NEWS SERVICE

July 1, 2000

ELCA YOUTH 'GO THE EXTRA MYLE'
00-YG09-BW

     EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (ELCA)   "Let the Spirit Move You ... Go the
Extra MYLE" was the theme that gathered more than 600 young people
here at Southern Illinois University for the Evangelical Lutheran
Church in America's (ELCA) Multicultural Youth Leadership Event
(MYLE), June 25-28.
     MYLE participants came from many ethnic/cultural backgrounds to
create a multicultural community of faith in which diversity was
celebrated and respected.
     "The purpose for MYLE is to provide a leadership opportunity
for youth of color who come from cultural and ethnic heritages which
we want the ELCA to embrace," said the Rev. Kelly Chatman, director
for youth ministries, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries,
Chicago.
     "It is a time to celebrate their culture in terms of worship
and fellowship in an unapologetic way.  It is a time for the youth to
be introspective, to celebrate who they are and  provide a foundation
and identity as they go into the national gathering with more than
20,000 other youth," he said.
     The MYLE preceded the ELCA National Youth Gathering June 28-
July 2 and July 5-9 in St. Louis.  The two events bring together
40,000 Lutheran youth of high school age for worship, Bible study,
learning, community service projects and fun.
     The ELCA youth gathering is the largest Protestant gathering of
youth in the United States, according to Chatman.
     "MYLE provides for them a very positive sense of self and
orientation as they go into an experience that many of them may never
experience again in their lives," Chatman said.  "MYLE is a
'leadership opportunity'  not an event.  It is not a mini-gathering
for youth of color.  The focus here is leadership development and
training," he said.
     "We are a diverse group, but the thing we have in common is our
baptism," Hmong Ly told participants during the MYLE opening worship
service.
     Ly is a recent graduate from North Carolina State University,
Raleigh, where she majored in microbiology.  She started her sermon
by para-phrasing a popular television commercial for a major credit
card company "Nike gym shoes, $80.00, Mercedes Benz 2000, $60,000.00
..." and coming around to the cost of one's baptism, "priceless," she
said.
     "Be proud of who you are, embrace the other cultures around
you; humble yourself, celebrate the diversity among you," Ly said.
     MYLE participants spent time in worship, caucuses, "bonfires,"
worship groups and workshops.  "Bonfires" were small group settings
offering an opportunity for young people to rest and get acquainted.
Youth gathered in "worship groups" for Bible study and discussion.
     Workshop topics included:
     + "Youth and the Criminal Justice System." An exploration of
juvenile justice in the United States, and how youth can be advocates
for the those affected by the criminal justice system;
     + "Keeping in Step with Immigrants." Participants learned how
many people who enter this country face rejection, racism,
discrimination, poverty and hunger.  They learned how to support
immigration rights and help ease the burdens of those entering the
United States;
     + "What Shall I Do?" Making smart choices on decisions
involving school, jobs and relationships;
     + "Me? Talking directly to God?" A workshop for those who love
to pray and for those who have a hard time with prayer.
     David Scherer, Minneapolis, Agape Hip Hop Ministry, lead a
workshop called, "Shake Your Booty for God," that was attended by
about 150 young people and adults.
     "I've been performing for a long time," said Scherer.  "I
started out doing secular rap  until my freshman year of college.   I
had a type of spiritual awakening and decided then that I needed to
start using my gifts for something other than 'worldly' things.  I
started using my gifts for God," he said.
     "I designed an inter-active program using Scripture, rap, dance
and storytelling and wove it all together and started performing it
for kids," said Scherer.  "Being able to tell a story and connect
with kids and have them respond with their stories is a sort of
ministry.  It's about sharing our stories with one another," he said.
     Ethnic-specific caucuses where held daily, offering
opportunities for youth to gather with  young people whom they do not
see "every Sunday," to discuss cultural issues as they see them with
and in the church.
     Each caucus elected two representatives   one female and one
male    to represent them on the Multicultural Advisory Committee
(MAC).  MAC representatives serve three-year terms.
     MAC is a committee of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO)
board that advises the board on the specific needs and interest of
young people from ethnic-specific communities in the church.
     Chosen as African American representatives were Simone Hylton
and Hank Rawlerson, both from Reformation Lutheran Church,
Philadelphia.
     The American Indian/Alaska Native youth chose Gail Smithhisler,
Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Nome, Alaska, and Lawrence Leonard,
Anchorage, Alaska.
     Representing the Asian-Pacific Islander youth will be David
Foley, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, and Mai Her, Hmong
Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.
     Representatives for the Latino/Hispanic youth are Guillermo
Howell, and Aiyanna Machado, Todos Los Santos Mision Luterana,
Minneapolis.
     "My three years as a MAC representative has been a wonderful
experience," said Kristina Diaz, Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico.
     Diaz, is outgoing female representative for Latino/Hispanic
youth to the MAC.  She will be a sophomore at the University of the
Sacred Heart, Santurce, Puerto Rico, this fall.
     "I have learned how the church is structured, what roles I can
play, and I have made an incredible group of friends.  "In these last
three years, we've worked a lot and have grown spiritually and
emotionally as leaders," she said.
     "I feel really blessed to have been a part of MAC for three
years," said Angel Miles, Philadelphia.  " I've met people that I
probably would not have had an opportunity to meet had I not been a
part of this committee."
     Miles, is outgoing female representative for African American
youth.  She will be a junior at Penn State University, University
Park, this fall.
     "It's cool that the Holy Spirit has bonded us.  Even though we
are all different, we all believe in God.  One of the most moving
things for me has been being with all these different people here
praising the same God I praise," Miles said.
     "I've encouraged other young people in the church to do what
we've done in serving the church.  I've encouraged them to be mentors
to other youth and to take this gathering home with them and tell
other people about the good news of Christ," she said.
     Youth leaders and pastors, serving as chaperons for the event,
had caucuses separate from the young people to discuss their own
concerns with the ELCA.
     Concerns included a need for more full-time youth ministry
leaders in congregations, a need for more people of color in ELCA
seminaries; and assistance for Lutheran students attending college.
     Discussion was held on worship styles and the need for worship
that encourages young people to want to be a part of the church and
to stay in the church.
     "We must make a place in our congregations for our youth all
year," said the Rev. Reginald W. Hansome Jr., Our Savior's Lutheran
Church, Milwaukee.  "MYLE is great, but it is not 'it.'  Our youth
must be able to participate in the full expression of the church," he
said.
     Discussion also included how congregations handle youth
ministry and the need for a more intentional process of selecting
individuals who serve as youth ministry leaders.
     "Congregations often take the least experienced person in the
congregation and put that individual in charge of youth ministry,"
said Marsha Stewart, Jubilee Community Church, Country Club Hills,
Ill.  "Generally, this person is given no instruction and the
expectations are nothing more than being able to say that this person
is the youth minister," she said.
     "Willingness to serve the congregation is great, but a clear
understanding of what a youth minister is to do and is equipped to do
is better.  It will result in a stronger youth ministry organization
within the congregation," said Stewart.
     During the closing worship at MYLE, the Rev. Sean McMillan, The
Shekinah Chapel, Chicago, told participants, "When God created
everything from nothing, he destroyed "impossible."  God wants you to
be glorious in the 'you' that is you."

For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html