Site, theme, and date set for 2009 youth rally
Filed Under: CYD, Iowa, Youth Discipleship, Youth Rally
The planning committee for the 2009 WELS International Youth Rally has selected Iowa State University in Ames as the site for the event, to be held July 8-11. The theme for the rally, "Follow the Path, Lead the Way," is based on 1 Timothy 4:12.
"Going to a university campus is largely due to the teen committee members' interest in giving rally participants a taste of college campus life," says Dr. Joel Nelson, administrator for WELS Youth Discipleship. "And the theme passage really captures how this rally committee wants everyone to focus on the talents, abilities, and gifts teens bring to the ministry table."
"The most important thing we had to consider was the youth—which is the reason it is good to have teens on the planning committee," says 16-year-old Tatum Gormley-Nettles of Henderson, Nev., one of the three teen committee members. "We are the bridge between our adult leaders and our peers. As teens, we plan things that we would enjoy and benefit from. As for our peers, they are more apt to attend a rally organized by people their own age."
Tatum hopes that the rally will encourage teens and help them deal with their struggles. "One of the greatest challenges that our synod, and any congregation faces is involving the youth and inspiring them to trust, follow, and rejoice in God's Word," she says. "We are determined to overcome this challenge with our rally."
The committee will visit Iowa State University in June as part of its ongoing planning for the rally. Nelson says, "We hope that all the rally participants grow spiritually and in their desire to follow the path and lead the way in their churches, communities, and schools, and that WELS sees the amazing resource we have in our youth."
For more information, visit www.welsyouthrally.net.
