CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Youth and young adults of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) are launching www.soulfuel.org -- a Web site dedicated to provide faith resources for 18- to 32- year-olds.
"Soulfuel is a place where youth and young adults can explore their faith questions, pain, gifts, pursuits and triumphs, and it is a place to be real with one another before God and before each other," said Desiree Quintana, project coordinator. Quintana is chair of "Connect with Youth and Young Adults," one of seven ELCA "Initiatives to Prepare for a New Century," significant areas of ministry for the 21st century.
Quintana said the Web site has three goals. The first is to provide resources to help young Christians live out their faith in = day-to-day situations, she said. That feature of the Web site is called "Faith in Daily life."
The second goal is to publish an online magazine called, "The Well: A Place of Living Water." The magazine will feature Bible study and "first-hand stories of God's love and lessons in individual lives," said Quintana. The first issue will be available in February 2000.
The third goal of the Web site is to provide resources for youth and young adults who are looking for service and volunteer opportunities in their communities.
"The Web site is an important step for the future of young people in the ELCA," said Quintana. "We must honor the angst, joy and spiritual exploration of young people, because that is how young people live and seek community every day. We must remember who we are, how we began and how we are both matter and divinity. We must recognize that the secular world is attempting to offer our community of young people popsicle-stick-support in a world of ever-changing moral reality," she said.
Content for www.soulfuel.org is being developed by youth, young adults and "those who wish directly to impact youth and young adults in the ELCA and ecumenically," Quintana said. She said suggestions, submissions and questions can be sent via electronic-mail to www.soulfuel@yahoo.com.
[**Jonathan Rietz, Tulsa, Okla., is communication coordinator for the
"Connect with Youth and Young Adults" ELCA initiative.]
For information contact:
John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
http://listserv.elca.org/archives/elcanews.html
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About the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America:
The ELCA is one of the largest Christian denominations in the United States, with 2.8 million members in more than 8,500 worshiping communities across the 50 states and in the Caribbean region. Known as the church of "God's work. Our hands.," the ELCA emphasizes the saving grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ, unity among Christians and service in the world. The ELCA's roots are in the writings of the German church reformer Martin Luther.
For information contact:
Candice Hill Buchbinder
Public Relations Manager
Candice.HillBuchbinder@ELCA.org
