Greetings from the ELCA Youth Gathering!

I can't believe another ELCA Youth Gathering is in full swing. They occur every three years in the heat of the summer. This year the event is being held in San Antonio, Texas and it is HOT!!! The theme is Cruzando - Journey with Jesus (www.elca.org/gathering). The event draws over 40,000 youth and adults over a two week period of time. AMAZING!

Ron Olson, director of admissions at Luther, myself and our colleagues from the other seven seminaries are here participating in a variety of things, all of which involve reaching out to those who are attending the Gathering and letting them know about their seminaries and what they have to offer.



One of the main things we participate in is the Interactive Center, a HUGE (think football fields of space) open area of the Henry B Gonzalez Convention Center in downtown San Antonio (see photo). Here, participants learn all kinds of things about the ELCA and do so in an interactive fashion. There is nothing like the energy of a teenager.



The Seminaries of the ELCA have a display and it's a hit. Participants get to see themselves in all kinds of possible leadership positions in the church. The most interactive being a pastor and youth director (see photos). It has been fun watching everyone try on these roles, and who knows what the Holy Spirit has in mind--pretend today, reality tomorrow.

If you have never attended a Gathering you are missing a powerful event. Imagine thousands of youth and adults gathered in Jesus' name to worship, learn, serve and live in fellowship as brothers and sisters in faith. You truly get to witness the kingdom of God on earth and the Church at its best.