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
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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
