WOW!

I'm back from the Colorado mountaintop - from National Youth Conference - where 4,000+ youth and leaders spent a week in worship, study, service, building relationships and the church.

I trust you will hear more about NYC from the youth of your church who will tell you about two-a-day 2-hour worship services filled with challenging messages and upbeat, energetic music. Wow that was worship!

They may tell you about hiking the mountains, service projects, building 3 Habitat Houses, or sleeping in non-air conditioned dorms with daytime temperatures in the mid 90s. Wow it was hot!

My major responsibility was a workshop leader. "If Youth Were Running the Church" attracted about 55 participates over 3 sessions and I learned to appreciate what youth want for their church today.

• They want the church to focus on working together as Christians rather than being divided by what is insignificant.
• They want the church to focus on Church of the Brethren values, helping the hungry, maintaining a peace stance, sharing our faith with others, and sharing what makes our church unique.
• Youth want music and worship that is significant and alive.
• Youth want to be heard, they want the church to respect them, listen to their ideas, and make decisions that show the church is interested in youth and in the future of the church.
• Youth want to participate in meaningful ways today in the life and ministry of the church. That includes worship participation and service on the church board.
• Youth are asking for better communication and compromise.
  

The list goes on but I want to add that more than serving as workshop leader, I was an observer of the church in action. During and after worship, I found myself sitting back, observing, and reflecting. And my conclusion is that the Church of the Brethren is gifted with some tremendous youth who are ready to serve Jesus and the church "for such a time as this." Wow, what a church!

Herman