– Mark England

Why do we go to the ELCA Youth Gathering? I wonder this as I think about all of the time we will spend fundraising, the energy we will spend organizing, and all of the logistics involved in travel. The ELCA Youth Gathering is not quite a servant trip. We are not there to save a city.  We aren’t tourists there for sightseeing.  So what is the ELCA Youth Gathering and why do we attend?

I would argue that the ELCA Youth Gathering is our opportunity for pilgrimage.

A pilgrimage is often a journey made to a holy site such as Jerusalem or Rome. It’s just that our holy sites, the cities where we gather in the name of Jesus, are movable.

Traditionally, pilgrimages have been made for answers to specific prayers.  In our pilgrimage, we do not seek answer to prayer, but instead, we leave with prayers on our hearts, in our minds, and on our lips. Pilgrims have profound spiritual experiences as a part of their journey.  The ELCA Youth Gathering has certainly been one of the places where our youth and adults have experienced the fullness of God’s presence and the wideness of the church’s work.

When I think of the ELCA Youth Gathering as recovering the lost art of pilgrimage, then I can recognize that it’s not just about the destination, but it is the whole journey that is holy. In this way, the car washes, the sponsor banquets, and all of the planning become sacred parts of the pilgrimage and more than just a means to an end.

Some may argue that Wittenberg is the proper destination for a Lutheran pilgrimage. For me, I’ll happily join all of the other Lutheran pilgrims in candy colored shirts finding our way to our domed stadium destination.

– Tara Gilbert

I had the amazing opportunity to attend two Gatherings as an adult leader with our youth group at Trinity Lutheran in Marysville, Ohio: San Antonio and Detroit. There are many places where I saw Jesus at work as I reflect upon my Gathering experiences.

The biggest places I saw Jesus at work were where we witnessed to, fellowshipped with, and served those in need.  While in San Antonio, I was placed at a retired military assisted living facility where we did yard work and fellowshipped with the residents. I truly was able to see Christ at work in our youth as they did yard work in 95 degree heat without complaining, and then fellowshipped with and asked questions of a retired military general.  I was able to see God at work in our youth as they showed appreciation and respect for our elders and shared Scripture with them.

While in Detroit, my group was placed at a homeless shelter for families that had struggled and were trying to gain a second chance in life.  While  there, a bishop from Minnesota and I helped improve the facility by painting the walls in the facility and in the residents’ rooms.  I saw Jesus in every stroke that we painted as we fellowshipped with one another and with the families as they walked by us.  I saw Jesus in the kids’ smiles as we ate lunch with them and learned that everyone deserves a second chance.  Our youth learned that just because you have had a hard time in your life, that you can strive to be strong again.  The families there taught me to appreciate all the moments of life.

One of the other places where I saw Jesus at work was in worship.  I could not help but be brought to tears as I witnessed 30,000 youth praising our Lord through song and listening to speakers share their faith.  Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.”  As an adult, I have been inspired by these worships services to continue growing in my faith and to have my eyes opened to the different ministry needs all over our country.  Jesus can use all of us to better the kingdom.  I saw our youth grow together as one community as we sang, laughed, cried, and read Scripture together.

It all comes down to the cross, as we are reminded at the Gatherings with the big colorful cross on the stage, displayed for all to see.

I saw Jesus everywhere through these Gatherings, and I can’t help but smile as I think about Houston.

Tara Gilbert is a member at Trinity Lutheran, Marysville, Ohio

– Chris Clay

Hello, I’m Chris Clay. I’m a lifelong Lutheran, born in Chicago. I grew up and spent most of my life in Atlanta.

I served at five of the last six Gatherings. In 2000, I “Danced at the Crossroads” in St. Louis, performing concerts with my band. In 2003, I was in my hometown of Atlanta to “Do Life” or “Ubuntu.” I was a member of the House Band in 2009 for “Jesus, Justice, Jazz” in New Orleans.  I was back in N’awlins in 2012 where we celebrated being “Citizens With the Saints.” I also served as a member of the House Band and as worship leader for “Practice Peacemaking” Day. In 2015, I served as the House Band Music Director in Detroit guiding the community to “Rise Up, Together.” Creating music for the Gatherings has been one of the greatest joys and honors in my life.

Each Gathering has been a beautiful place where I’ve created friendships and relationships with SO MANY people… people from different places, all walks of life, all colors, all generations. But here’s the BEST thing—even though there are vast differences and delightful diversity—there is an overwhelming sameness and oneness that I feel… and I hope YOU feel it, too.

We come together and share a common faith.
We come together and serve an AWESOME God by serving others.
We come together to listen and learn.
We come together to sing and dance.
We come together to WORSHIP and PRAISE!

One of my favorite praise songs I’m listening to right now is called “Spirit, Break Out” by William McDowell. A lyric in the chorus describes what I see, feel, and hear at the nightly mass gatherings:

Our Father, all of heaven roars your name,
Sing louder—let this place erupt in PRAISE …
Can you hear it?
The sound of HEAVEN TOUCHING EARTH!
The sound of HEAVEN TOUCHING EARTH!

THAT IS IT!  That’s what the Gathering has been for me—the sound of Heaven Touching Earth.

– Ben Remmert

I am Ben Remmert and I am serving on the Community Life Team for the 2018 Youth Gathering in Houston. This is my first time serving on a leadership team for a Gathering, but I have brought youth to the previous two in Detroit (2015) and in New Orleans (2012). As a Houstonian, I am very excited for all of y’all as you begin your journey and also discovering the rich history and diversity of Houston.

I believe that the Gathering is an integral place for faith development for our youth. I also believe that the 2018 Youth Gathering will change lives in a way that will make the church grow in new and dynamic ways.

I first experienced the Gathering as a youth ministry intern for the Texas Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod in New Orleans. Working alongside the Service Life Team (with only nine hours of sleep for the week), I had the privilege of accompanying youth and adults. They encountered the local community in new ways and discovered their calls as servant leaders in the church. I discovered my call as a minister of Word and Service from the Gathering.

I am passionate about raising youth as leaders of the church and the community. I live out this passion where I currently serve as the Director of Youth and Family Ministries at Christ the King Lutheran in Rice Village. I’ve lived in Houston for 26 years and I am always discovering new restaurants and events. I am celebrating my first year of marriage with my wife, Lindsay, and our two dogs Lou and Blue. On my days of Sabbath, I enjoy mountain biking trails, collecting comic books, catching up on movies, and finding new hole in the wall places for the best chicken fried steak.

I am excited to see y’all in 2018!

– Julie Stecker

As our world worried about what would happen when the calendar changed from 1999 to 2000, I was smack dab in the middle of my junior high experience, worrying about what role I’d get in the school play, whether my outfit was cute enough, and if I’d accumulated enough gel pens for the popular girls to deem me a valuable asset to their friend group. I was always worried about what I could do to make people like me more, to have greater worth in the eyes of my peers.

This deeply affected the way I viewed my relationship with God. It must be transactional, I thought, since this was how I understood relationships. If I was “good,” then God would bless me with friends, good grades, and the cool stuff I wanted. If I was “bad,” God would take all of that away as punishment. I tried to be the best at everything, just so I wouldn’t chance falling out of God’s favor. This was exhausting. And, I learned along the way, that’s not how God’s love works.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.” You have been saved. This is not your own doing. This is the good news that changes everything, friends. Long, long ago, before we were even thought of, God saved us. We didn’t (and still don’t!) have to do anything to earn it. Yes, we “do” things like serving our neighbors and trying to live a compassionate, grace-filled life in response to this great gift. But just as surely as we will mess up, God will be there with grace, love, and mercy, reminding us that Jesus has already done the work of saving us. Nothing can change that, but God’s love can absolutely change us – from people who work to earn God’s love to people who work to show God’s love. I can’t wait to see how we show God’s love in Houston in 2018!

Julie Stecker is currently the Director of Communications at the Delaware-Maryland Synod.

– Jennifer Schultz

I’m Jennifer Schultz, and I’m thrilled to serve as Team Leader for Volunteers for the 2018 Gathering. I currently serve as an ELCA pastor in Los Alamitos, California.  As a student, I didn’t have the opportunity to participate in a Gathering, but I’ve served as an adult leader at two Gatherings. For the 2015 Gathering, I served as Co-Leader for the Volunteers Team. There are so many volunteers that serve throughout the Gathering. The Volunteers Team includes Gathering Volunteer Corps (GVC), Servant Companions, and local volunteers. 
 
The Gathering is an incredible ministry. It provides a dedicated space, time, and ample opportunities to live out our Christian faith in new and different settings with so many siblings in Christ. The experience of the Gathering is not only life-changing for students and adult leaders, but also for the myriads of people who serve in preparation for, during, and after the Gathering. I had no idea how many people were involved until I served on the leadership side of the 2015 Gathering. There are so many dedicated people who come together from a variety of settings, backgrounds, ages, and experiences. This variety actually unites us for the common goals for the Gathering: to bring the love of God through Jesus to life for all participants, to be of service to neighbor, and to experience faith in unexpected, new, and renewed forms.     
 
As you prepare for the Gathering, please know there are so many dedicated people working towards the common goal of everyone of having a faith-filled experience!