ST. LOUIS (ELCA) -- Three Lutherans currently studying at colleges and seminaries talked about their "crossroads" moments July 1 to about 22,000 high school-age Lutherans gathered here for "Dancing at the Cross Roads," the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Youth Gathering at the Trans World Dome.
The ELCA Youth Gathering is meeting 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.
John Stroeh, Luther Seminary, St. Paul, Minn., talked about doubting God. "It's 'okay' to doubt," he said.
"Many people think that doubting is the opposite of faith, and they're wrong," he said. "Doubt is an important part of the faith journey. If you don't doubt, you don't grow, and, if you don't grow, your faith won't get you anywhere."
Stroeh talked about a time when he thought he was on top of the world. He was engaged to be married and set to go to graduate school. The engagement was later broken and he dropped out of school. This was his "crossroads moment."
"At your crossroads moment, God will always reveal himself to you in some way, and for me it was finding dimes on the ground," Stroeh said. "Every time I found a dime on the ground, it was a time for me to praise and thank God." he said. God will always give you something at the crossroads.
Nathan Jackson, Fordham University, New York, said his crossroads moment took place when he was a child. He witnessed a friend being struck by a bus in the middle of the road, and the friend later died.
"This incident made me question God", Jackson said. "I was taught that life was a gift from God and that we should respect that gift," he said. Seeing his friend die made him wonder if God was respecting that gift, he said.
Jackson credited his mother for helping him get back on the road of faith. "She told me that when God closes the door, he opens a window," Jackson said. "At the crossroads, God is at his busiest hour. He will show us the way."
Tarah Demant, Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Wash., said her crossroads took place when she had to make a decision on whether or not to witness to a friend about the gospel.
"The women who saw the empty tomb didn't keep the news to themselves. They went out and told it to everyone they knew," Demant said. "Why should we be quiet about something that can change lives?"
Demant addressed the issue of what it means to be a Christian. "Being a Christian means being a child of God, and we have an incredible responsibility to tell about his love to everyone," she said.
In addition to the speeches, the hip-hop group "Raze" performed, along with the Boys and Girls Club of Kansas City, Mo.
[*Michael N. Hoffman is a junior at the University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kan.
This summer is an intern with ELCA News and Information.]
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.
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