ELCA Youth Play at 'The Beat'

ST. LOUIS (ELCA) - Youth from the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) participated in the interaction center at the 2000 ELCA Youth Gathering -- "The Beat" -- a place that features high adventure games.
The ELCA Youth Gathering is meeting at the America's Center June 28-July 2 and July 5 9. The two events bring together some 40,000 Lutheran youth of high school age, who are engaging in worship, Bible study, learning, community service and fun.
Young Lutherans crowded the Cervantes Center for activities that included wall climbing and "zip lines" in which participants hang on to a handle attached to a cable and slide from one end to the other. In addition, sports, an indoor garden, dance and lessons about swing, samba, rock and country music and drumming make up The Beat.
"The 'cooperational' games are good for group building," said Nate Moehring a volunteer at The Beat and a member of Grace Lutheran Church, Bandera, Texas. "Things like the zip lines help the kids ease their fear of heights and learn about God, too," he said.
Along with the activities, various ELCA colleges and Lutheran nonprofit organizations had information booths.
Among the many exhibits is the ELCA "tent." During the gathering, the tent is offering activities about personal identity, stewardship, vocation, peace and justice and service, said Kristi S. Bangert, Chicago, coordinator of the ELCA tent, Chicago. One project was "Facing the Future as a Child of God" in which participants had impressions of their faces made in plastic-filled gauze, and "Who Wants to be a Missionaire" in which participants answered trivia questions about the world.
"The point of this tent is to bring together the units of the ELCA to help young people understand themselves, the church and their place in the church better," said Bangert.
Colleges used The Beat as an opportunity to reach out to college-bound youth as well. "We want to promote Gettysburg College as a great institution for all students and to be supportive of the efforts of the ELCA," said John Corona, assistant dean of admissions, Gettysburg College, Gettysburg, Pa.
"Being a college of the ELCA, this is the best place to meet young Lutherans and introduce them to Dana," said Daurine Petersen, interim director for admissions, Dana College, Blair, Neb.
Organizations such as Lutheran Brotherhood, a fraternal benefits society based in Minneapolis, and Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, a joint ministry of the ELCA, The Lutheran Church- Missouri Synod and the Latvian Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, had representatives at The Beat.
"We believe in young people, and we want to make them aware of the various volunteer opportunities offered through Lutheran Brotherhood," said Tami Wendt, project manager, Lutheran Brotherhood.
Cindy Stadum, program assistant for the LIRS "ambassadors circle," was there to make the youth aware of the struggles of immigrants and refugees. "We want to help raise issues of immigrants and refugees among youth and to encourage them to be advocates for these people," she said.
Youth at The Beat seemed to enjoy it. "I like the activities and social aspect of it," said Markus Bentsen, a member of St. Matthew Lutheran Church, Columbus, Ga. "It's great to meet so many other Lutherans because in Georgia we can feel isolated."
"It's pretty cool," said Jennifer Albert, a member of Christ Community Church, Columbia, Ill. "No matter what your interests are, there's something to do," she said.

[*Michael Hoffman is a junior at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan. This
summer he is an intern with ELCA News and Information.]

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John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or NEWS@ELCA.ORG
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