YOUTH
Youth 2011 Website Offers Glimpse of Next Year’s National Youth Gathering
Tom Gillem
NASHVILLE, Tenn., April 09, 2010/GBOD/
— A website kicking off Youth 2011, next year’s national youth gathering for the United Methodist Church, is now online with information and links about the quadrennial event sponsored by the Young People’s Ministries, a division of The General Board of Discipleship. For the first time, the four-day conference in July 2011 will be held twice on opposite sides of the country to better serve the denomination. The event theme is “More Than,” and the youth participants will be shown that with the presence of God they can be “more than” just ordinary.
“Youth 2011 will bring together thousands of UM youth and their leaders from across the country in Sacramento and West Lafayette, Indiana, to explore how God works through us to be and do ‘More Than’ we could ever be on our own,” said Rev. Mike Ratliff, associate general secretary of the Young People’s Ministries.
“The launch of www.youth2011.org provides a gateway to this event for youth and their leaders. Informational and interactive, it will become the hub of involvement before, during and after the Youth 2011 event,” Ratliff said. Youth 2011 will be held at Purdue University in West Lafayette on July 13- 17.
The conference will bring together top United Methodist leaders, as well as the best ecumenical speakers, bands and talent with thousands of youth from all around the nation. The event will include passionate worship experiences, concerts, Bible study, small groups, breakout workshops, interactive exhibits, onsite mission opportunities and late-night fun and games.
The Youth 2011 events are designed for students in junior high/middle school and high school.
The multimedia-infused website features photos, video and a blog page with video updates and articles for youth and youth
workers. It is linked into social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and the media sites Flickr and YouTube. The site’s Volunteer Page includes information about opportunities to help at Youth 2011, including leadership roles for breakout sessions and affinity groups. In addition, volunteers can sign up to be part of the Veteran Youth Workers Care Team, a group of pastors and veteran youth workers who will volunteer time to meet with other youth workers to listen to their situations and offer advice and encouragement, and to be servant team members who will take on active roles at the events, from setting up chairs to serving communion.
Zach Hunter, a teenage author, speaker and modern-day abolitionist, will speak the last night at each site before inviting other youth on stage to share their story in a relaxing, informal interview style. Youth ages 12-17 with stories that might inspire others who think they are ordinary to “Think again!” are being sought to join Hunter and talk about their experiences. The website includes a link to submit youth for consideration.
Tom Gillem is a Brentwood, Tennesseebased freelance writer for the United Methodist General Board of Discipleship.
2010 Youth Camp held at Lake Eufaula Forty-three youth and eighteen adults from across the conference descended on Lake Eufaula July 25 to enjoy four days of Bible study, fellowship, workshops and worship. Lay missioner Paul Tecumseh brought an encouraging message on Monday evening the 26th