1. `
2015 ELCA Youth
Gathering

2. WELCOM
E!

3. OPENING
DEVOTIO
Nhttp://www.sermonspice.com/product/37571/big-but

4. Why Are We Here?
• Leadership Development
• Faith Formation

5. Leadership
Development
Framing Youth
www.practicediscipleship.org

6. What is a Gathering?
• History
• 36,000 youth and adults
• Leadership Development
• Faith Formation
• More than an Event

7. ELCA Gathering Mission
The ELCA Youth Gathering, a unique
community by size and scope, exists to
accompany young people in their faith
journey, to claim their baptismal identity
and articulate their faith in Jesus Christ.

8. Welcome to Detroit!
Vibrant Detroit
www.youtube.com/watch?
v=_OAf45aVZXE

9. Why Detroit?
• Not the whole story
• Detroit has much to teach us
• Journey to the cross: Join our brothers and
sisters and Rise Up Together
• “In a culture of death, we choose to live the
resurrection”

10. Safety & Security
www.gatheringleaks.com
“Video Announcements Archive”

11. Getting Around Detroit
Airport Shuttle
•Nearby hotels may have a shuttle
•Gathering is working for other options
If you fly to Detroit
•Gathering Transportation will drop you off in the
morning and bring you back in the evening
If you drive to Detroit
•You will be able to use your vehicles throughout

12. Housing
• Hotels are throughout the city and
suburbs
• Budget for $150/room/night with 2-3
people in a room
• Synods will not be housed together,
but efforts will be made to be close

13. Food
• Work of the Gathering Teams to
connect with restaurants
• Food trucks being contracted
• Finding local groceries to support and
utilize for some meals
• Cash & carry options at some hotels

14. Rise Up Together
Gospel of Mark
•Break Chains
•Bear Burdens
•Build Bridges
•Bring Hope

15. The Gathering Design
• Proclaim Community
• Proclaim Justice
• Proclaim Story

16. Proclaim Community
Act in a way that reflects God’s value for
everybody, engaging one other’s story
with respect and love.

17. Proclaim Justice
Live boldly in the face of injustice, crisis
and suffering

18. Proclaim Story
Demonstrate the capacity to articulate
their unique witness as part of God’s
story.

19. Community Life
Community Life happens wherever the
community gathers

20. Mass Gatherings
Music, speakers, dancing, inspiration!

21. `
Gathering Details

22. ALL of the Gathering
July 12-15, 2015
•DAYLE - Definitely-Abled Youth Leadership Event
•MYLE - Multicultural Youth Leadership Event
July 15-19, 2015
•ELCA Youth Gathering

23. Participant Eligibility
(For ELCA Youth Gathering – This is Different for the Synod
Journey)
Youth Participants
•Must be in 8th
-12th
grade this Fall
•Youth graduating in 2015 can come!
Adult Participants
•Must be at least 21 years old
Adult:Youth Ratio
•Recommendation: 1 adult to 5 youth
•Requirement: 1 adult to 10 youth

24. 3 Ways to Attend in NE MN
Synod:
1. Register for the NE MN Synod Journey
2. Partner with an Organization
 Luther Crest Bible Camp
3. Organize Your Own Group

25. Registration for NON-Synod
Journey
• Registration Available Online ONLY
• Fees
• $325/person program fee (includes $150 non-
refundable deposit per person)
• Goes up to $375/person after January 15, 2015
• Participant Worksheets

26. Volunteer Opportunities
• Gathering Volunteer Corps
• Servant Companions
• Community Life Volunteers
Application Links Open May 15:
www.elca.org/YouthGathering/Volunteer

27. Financial Assistance
• Applications open May 15
• Covers Gathering Registration Fee for YOUTH
participants (none available for adults)

28. Gathering Timeline
2014
May 15th
:
volunteer applications open;
financial assistance available;
Gathering website goes live
September 15th
:
soft opening for registration
October 15th
:
official opening for registration

29. Gathering Timeline
2015
January 15th
:
early-bird registration closes;
registration fee goes up to $375
Late January:
housing is assigned to registered congregations
March 15th
:
begin sending info to hotels
May 15th
:
registration closes, no additions/substitutions

30. More Information
• ELCA Gathering website:
www.elca.org/gathering
• ELCA Gathering Facebook Page:
www.facebook.com/youthgathering
• Gathering E-News
• NE MN Synod Website:
www.nemnsynod.org/SynodJourney

31. `
Questions?

32. The Synod Journey:
Dig Deep and Rise Up
Know the Story
Be the Story
Tell the Story

33. What is the Synod Journey?

34. What is the Synod Journey?
•Dig Deep and Rise Up:Dig Deep and Rise Up:
• ““Dig Deep” in your faithDig Deep” in your faith
• ““Rise Up” as a leaderRise Up” as a leader
• Know the StoryKnow the Story
• Be the StoryBe the Story
• Tell the StoryTell the Story

35. Synod Journey Planning Team
Team Manager: Catherine Anderson
Coordinator of Youth Ministry,
NE MN Synod
Team Leaders:
Adult Leader Support: Katie Rich
Luth Church of the Good Shepherd, Duluth
Service Learning: Marty Hancer
Trinity Lutheran Church, Princeton
Worship: Erika Nilsen
Lord of Life Lutheran Church, Baxter

36. HIGH Expectations!
• Yes, we do have high expectations:Yes, we do have high expectations:
• Adult Leaders trained and ready to do ministryAdult Leaders trained and ready to do ministry
• Youth who have experienced Bible Studies to help them prepare,Youth who have experienced Bible Studies to help them prepare,
process, and understand God at work.process, and understand God at work.
• Cell Phone and Clothing PoliciesCell Phone and Clothing Policies
• There are other options with different expectations – “aThere are other options with different expectations – “a
trip somewhere” vs “a process of development.”trip somewhere” vs “a process of development.”
• Luther Crest is a great exampleLuther Crest is a great example
• We fully support those programs, especially if it fits your group’sWe fully support those programs, especially if it fits your group’s
needs bestneeds best

37. Who MAY participate?
•Youth in the 9th
-12th
grades during the
2014-2015 school year
•Adults over the age of 21 by July 2015
•Minimum of 1 adult per 7 youth
• Maximum of 1 to 5

38. Who SHOULD participate?
• This is a big commitment
• Journey itself: intense schedule
• Financial and Time commitments that should not be
taken lightly
• Full Year Including:
• Bible Studies
• Trainings
• Meetings
• Fundraisers
• Participants will be challenged to “dig deep” in their
faith and “rise up” as leaders.

39. Inviting Youth
• Disinterested
• If you don’t like church, you probably won’t like this…
• Attending Resister
• If your parents “make you go”, you probably won’t like this…
• Status Quo:
• They often attend because their friends are involved or it’s the
“normal thing to do”
• Really think about this and pray about this – is this a commitment
you’re willing to make? Or are you just interested because your
friends are going?

40. Inviting Youth
• Seeker:
• Young person wants to learn and asks a lot of
questions.
• Yes! Come! You will love this!
• Committed:
• Young person is serious about his/her faith and
tries to live it out on a daily basis
• Yes! Come! You will love this!

41. Inviting Youth
• The spectrum of faith interest levels are only a
guide – the Holy Spirit can and does work within
everyone!
• Consider: Will this be the best way to engage this
young person to grow in faith?
• Will the expectations of the Synod Journey/ELCA Youth Gathering
frustrate or inspire this young person on their faith journey?
Bottom Line: We want young people growing in
faith! How will that best happen for your
youth?

42. Choosing Adult Leaders
• Be Intentional!
• A committed faith centered in Christ
• Cares deeply for youth and is able to relate well with youth
• Mature
• Focused on youth and their needs
• Can be firm in setting boundaries and limits
• Flexible and patient
• Good common sense
• Sense of humor
• Committed and reliable
• Makes good decisions under pressure

43. Choosing Adult Leaders
• Build a Team!
• Male/Female Ratio
• Early Risers/Night Owls
• Extrovert/Introvert
• Big Picture/Detail Oriented
• Specific Skills
• Organization
• Health Care
• Safety
• Relational Ministry

44. Choosing Adult Leaders
•Meet with interested adults
•Explain everything:
• Trainings
• Schedule
• Their Role as Leader
•Keep them involved
•Background Checks

45. Saturday, July 11
Depart Minnesota; Arrive in Lansing
Settle in and Supper at Michigan State University
Adult Leader Meeting; Worship; Family Time

46. Michigan State University
Staying in Dorms; Eating in the Cafeteria
Lounge Areas in dorms; Volleyball and Green Space Outside
Intramural Building: Gyms and Workout Rooms; Pool;
Bookstore; Starbucks; Ice Cream

47. Sunday, July 12
Breakfast at MSU
Worship and Lunch with local congregations
Group Activities; Lansing Lugnuts Baseball Game
Supper, Adult leader meeting, Worship, Family Time

48. Monday, July 13
Breakfast at MSU
Servant Events; Lunch at Worksites
Supper at MSU
Adult Leader Meeting; Worship; Family Time

49. Tuesday, July 14Breakfast at MSU
Servant Events; Lunch at Work Sites
Supper at MSU; Riverboat Cruise/Dessert
Adult Leader Meeting; Worship; Family Time

50. Wednesday, July 15
Leave Lansing around noon (or earlier, for special activities planned by your
bus group.)
Begin ELCA Youth Gathering Schedule

51. Thursday - SaturdayThursday - Saturday
ELCA Youth Gathering ScheduleELCA Youth Gathering Schedule

52. Sunday, July 19Sunday, July 19
Load Buses at Hotel; Attend Closing Worship;Load Buses at Hotel; Attend Closing Worship;
Synod Journey LunchSynod Journey Lunch
Depart for Minnesota – Arrive early, early, early July 20Depart for Minnesota – Arrive early, early, early July 20

53. Housing at MSU
• Two sleeping rooms, plus a small living room,
bathroom, and shower
• Each sleeping room has two twin beds
• MSU does NOT allow adults to be housed with
youth
• Adults may be housed with adults from another
congregation
• Youth may be housed with youth from another
congregation

54. Cost and What’s Included:
• $1,050 (youth AND adults)
• ELCA Gathering Registration Fee
• Transportation
• Housing
• 12 Meals
• Activities/Experiences in Lansing (baseball game;
river boat)
• T-Shirt
• Speaker and band
• Administrative Costs
• Adult Leader Trainings/Support
• Adult Leader criminal background check fee

55. Meal Planning
• 12 Meals are included in the cost of the trip
• 15 Meals are NOT included in the cost
• Saturday, July 11: Breakfast and Lunch on the Road
• Wednesday, July 15: Lunch and Dinner in Detroit
• Thursday through Saturday: Three Meals per day in Detroit
• Sunday: Breakfast in Detroit, Dinner on the Road (Lunch is
included)
• Groups may want to add some of these expenses to the
amount they fundraise

56. Fundraising
• “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be
also.” - Matthew 6:21
We want our congregations filled with people whose hearts are
with the youth. We want them to give, not just because we
need the money, but because we want them to care about the
youth – to care about Detroit – to care about the ministry and
what God is doing.

57. Fundraising
• Inform
• Who is going? Where? What will they be doing?
• Motivate
• Why are you going? We want kids to grow in their faith.
We want our students to see God at work.
• Ask
• Be honest: we need $_______
• Thank
• People like to know their gift made a difference
• When kids say “Thank You”, that also helps them process and
prepare for the event.

58. Fundraising
Please share some positive fundraising experiences.
What has worked well for you in your church?
Maybe it will work well for someone else, too!

59. Start Planning
• What am I going to do next?
• Who can I call to help me?
• Adults Leaders?
• Students?
• Parents?
• People to help with fundraising?
• When should I start?
• Start spreading the word though phone
calls/emails/newsletters
• Host an informational meeting
• What information, specifically, do I want to
share?

61. Stop Planning: Start Praying
• On the opposite side of the piece of paper,
I want you to stop planning and start praying
Write down a prayer to God:
What are you excited about?
What are you worried about?
Who are some people you want to pray for?
Dear God, please help me…

63. Planning and Praying
Two sides of the same paper.
We need both! Do plan. But don’t focus so much on your plans that you forget
God’s role in this.
When you are feeling overwhelmed, turn the piece of paper over and pray.

64. How to Register:
• Registration will be limited to 450 participants
• Registration opens September 19
• Make sure all forms are complete
• SYNOD Online Forms:
• Adult Leader Registration Information
• Youth Participant Registration Information
• Room Assignment Requests: Lansing & Detroit
• SYNOD Printed forms to mail in:
• Group Registration Form
• Adult Leader Expectations and Covenant
• Youth Participant Expectations and Covenant
• Background check information and consent
(adults)
• Confirmation letter will be sent by mid-October

65. If you are registering for the
Synod Journey…
DO NOT REGISTER
ONLINE WITH THE
ELCA YOUTH
GATHERING!!!

66. Payment Schedule
• September 19, 2014: $250 per participant
• with registration
• February 1, 2015: $400 per participant
• May 1, 2015: $400 per participant

67. Fall Trainings
• October 4: 9:30 – Noon
• October 5: 2:00 – 4:30
• October 12: 2:00 – 4:30
• Locations will be posted in August
• Spring training dates/locations will be
announced in the fall

68. Any questions?