wfn.org | Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod Youth Gathering Attracts 35000

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

LCMSNews -- No. 59
July 30, 2001

LCMS YOUTH GATHERING BEGINS

NEW ORLEANS -- Almost 35,000 young people and their adult leaders are here
for The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod's 2001 National Youth Gathering,
July 28 through Aug. 1.

This gathering has the largest attendance of any regularly-scheduled,
single-event youth gathering of any religious denomination.

Before joining the gathering, about 600 Lutheran youth met on the campus of
Tulane University here July 25-27 for a cross-cultural gathering.  With an
attendance of roughly half Anglo and half from other ethnic groups, the
cross-cultural gathering included about 130 young people from 21 countries.
Their event ended with a rite commissioning the youth for the larger
gathering.

Before the opening gathering event at the Louisiana Superdome on July 28,
waves of youth registered at their hotels, and for the gathering at the
Morial Convention Center.

Wearing indigo gathering backpacks, they spread to check out the Crescent
City.  Many walked through the historic French Quarter, where the strains of
Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" could be heard from a
calliope near the banks of the Mississippi River.

The gathering, with the theme of "Higher Ground," began with a dome event
around the sub-theme, "Battle Ground."  The event included drama, music and
speaker Rev. Tom Rogers, a Synod pastor from Lake Forest, Calif.

"It is absolutely amazing what the church and God can do when they put their
heads together," Rev. Terry Dittmer told the throng as the event started.
Dittmer is director of the Synod's Board for District and Congregational
Services Office of Youth Ministry, sponsor of the gathering.

"Gracious God," Dittmer prayed, "you have brought us to this place  below
sea level that we call `higher ground.'"

The night's Bible study-drama was heightened by a contemporary depiction of
Christ's Passion and Crucifixion, with young actors portraying reactions
that today's youth would have to those events.  It included a Palm Sunday
procession with paraders twirling New Orleans jazz-funeral umbrellas behind
a young Christ waving from a pickup-truck bed.

After a video clip of rain falling, with band and lights providing
thunder-and-lightning effects, those with umbrellas were joined by marchers
carrying tinsel-topped standards (signifying rain).  Others unfurled massive
strands of light-blue fabric as they descended the arena and made their way
to the stage, where dancers brandished smaller cloths -- all standing for
rising water.  As explained from the stage, like rain, surging problems
cannot reach those on the higher ground where Christians stand.  A cross at
center stage signified that high point.  The cross, lifted and lowered at
various times, also carried the Crucified Christ in the drama.

Rogers, who hobbled around the stage on crutches because of recurring polio,
offered Bible passages, personal testimony and humorous anecdotes to
illustrate the deliverance God promises believers facing danger and
adversity.

"In your baptism, you were blessed with the sign of the cross," he told the
assembly.  He said he wishes that would always be followed with a statement
such as "Now, do the best with what you've got."

Rogers injected a sprinkling of local flavor when he introduced the New
Orleans Saints cheer, "Who dat say dey gonna beat our Saints?" Armed with
faith, he said, Christians can battle any adversity.  "Who dat say dey gonna
beat God's Son?" he offered as the Christian's cheer.

Just as the city welcomed the Lutherans with their "anthem," the day ended
at the dome with the gathering band leading the throng in the spiritual
often synonymous with New Orleans -- "When the Saints Go Marching In."

The evening ended with dances in a number of the 60-plus hotels where youth
and adults are housed.

*************************************

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