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ELCA Blogs

ELCA Youth Gathering Blog

Why Service Learning?

– Lisa Jeffreys Why the Gathering, and why service learning? Because Jesus! That’s the easy answer, right? But the answer really is because of Jesus.  Nothing about organizing service learning experiences for the Youth Gathering is easy.  Yet the church...

Memories of Transformation

– Jason Poole-Xiong Even after 20 years, I still remember my first ELCA Youth Gathering. The memories are some of the most formative and joyful of my entire life. I remember being nervous and scared to travel and to be...

Drum Roll Please… The Gathering Theme Song!

This is a special double entry from the writers of the theme song for the Gathering! Check out the video for the theme song! – Judi Tyler I have been learning to write songs and hymns in the past few...

ReconcilingWorks: Gathering in Beautiful Diversity

– Aubrey Thonvold I know firsthand just how magical and life changing the Youth Gathering can be.  I went to my first Gathering back in the 90s when I was a freshman in high school.  It was powerful to be...

Transformation Through Walk for Water

– Iain Chester My first experience of the ELCA Youth Gathering was less than two years ago in Detroit. I learned quickly that a Gathering is unique and that there is nothing quite like worshiping in an NFL stadium filled...

Meet Kinda

– Kinda Makini Blessings from me to you! My name is Kinda Makini. I am honored to serve as the Team Leader for the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE) for 2018. Through MYLE, we live to empower young people of...