ELCA News Blog
July 8, 2006
ELCA Youth Gathering features athlete Emmanuel Yeboah
By Annie Lynsen, ELCA Washington Office
Each morning during the 2006 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), more than 15,000 high-school- age youth gather at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas, for speakers, music, and Bible study. Emmanuel Yeboah, a man from Ghana who rode his bicycle across his home country to challenge stereotypes of people with disabilities, spoke July 8.
"I used my one leg to ride 610 kilometers," said Yeboah. "What is holding you back?" he said, challenging young Lutherans. After speaking about overcoming the social stigmas against people with disabilities in Ghana, he told the youth, "Don't give up, don't take no for an answer, and God will be with you all the time." Yeboah's story is portrayed in the film "Emmanuel's Gift."
The gathering also featured the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) choir. MYLE, which involved 800 participants, took place July 2-5 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. About 40,000 high-school-age and adult Lutherans from the United States and around the world are attending the ELCA Youth Gathering. The gathering is taking place in two back-to- back events -- July 5-9 and July 12-16 -- at the Gonzalez Convention Center and Alamodome.
*Annie Lynsen is the director for grassroots advocacy and education, ELCA Washington (D.C.) Office
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