Skip to content
ELCA Blogs

ELCA Youth Gathering Blog

An Aha Moment

– Natalie Zielinski Once you experience the Youth Gathering, you keep wanting to come back. I was lucky enough to attend the past two Gatherings. They were both were life-changing experiences for me. The Gathering helped me find my faith...

To Simply Be

– Allison Tice As I walked through the streets of Detroit to Ford Field one evening, I witnessed disciples that covered the streets with hope, grace, and love. That evening, I saw a man that was part of the Gathering...

Volunteering to Fill the Cups

– Theodore Kooistra After a long day of working, I refilled my water bottle but was forced to empty it at the door of the stadium. This was one of the many things I vividly remember from my trip to...

Proclaiming Community

– Chiane Hill My name is Chiane Hill and my message will be about Proclaim Community, one of the themes of the 2015 Detroit Gathering.  Proclaim Community was centered on the good news of Jesus on the cross. Through a...

Faith Changes Everything

– Rev. Priscilla Paris-Austin I traveled by train halfway across the country to attend the Youth Gathering in New Orleans with four youth. Months of preparation and anticipation were finally being made manifest as we rose early that first full...

Meet Tom: Tech and Talent

– Tom Hoegel My name is Tom Hoegel and I have the privilege and honor of serving youth and families at Bethel Lutheran Church in Cupertino, CA.  Over 30 years ago, I took my Bethel youth to the Denver National...