by Katherine R. Hinck*, ELCA News Service
The 2006 Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Youth
Gathering kicked off a week of events July 5 with more than
15,000 high-school-aged Lutherans gathered in the Alamodome in
San Antonio, Texas. The event featured a mariachi band, a video
introduction with the Rev. Mark S. Hanson, presiding bishop of
the ELCA, a Martin Luther cartoon, Canadian musicians Hawk
Nelson, Chicago-based band Superchic[k], and keynote speaker Tony
Campolo.
Campolo, founder of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion
of Education, St. Davids, Pa., and author of 28 books, spoke to
participants about his experiences in Third World countries and
the importance of service. "You can make a difference," Campolo
told the group. "It's time for a new generation to rise up with
hope, to rise up with vision, to rise up with dreams," he said.
Campolo is an ardent supporter of Opportunity International, an
organization that has worked to create over 3.5 million jobs in
Third World countries around the world. "There is only one way to
eliminate poverty: Create jobs for poor people," Campolo said.
About 40,000 high-school-age and adult Lutherans from the United
States and around the world are gathering for the ELCA Youth
Gathering. The gathering is taking place in two back-to-back
events -- July 5-9 and July 12-16 -- at the Henry B. Gonzalez
Convention Center and Alamodome in San Antonio.
*Katherine R. Hinck is a senior journalism and religion major at
Augustana College, Sioux Falls, S.D. This summer she is an
intern with the ELCA News Service.
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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
