The Multicultural Youth Leadership Event is a pre-event to the Gathering. It empowers young people of color and those whose primary language is other than English to claim their story as a part of God's story. MYLE 2018 will be held June 24–27, 2018 at the University of Houston.
MYLE’s core values include:
The theme for MYLE 2018 is “ONE” based in the scripture of Ephesians 2:14-19,
“For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us.15 He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace,16 and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it]17 So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near;18 for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father.19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God”
In God’s eternal plan and wisdom there is a way to remove these barriers. This new humanity would no longer be many, but ONE believer in Christ. In other words, this was God’s plan for the unity of many into ONE new people in Christ.
Each day of MYLE program pieces will focus around a sub-theme:
One body, many parts (1Corinthians 12:14-26)
One mission, many gifts (1Corinthians 12: 4-11)
One household, many rooms (John 14:2)
ONE in CHRIST (Ephesians 2:14-19)
As each individual, congregation, ethnic community and language gathers at MYLE, we will celebrate our uniqueness, dive into scripture, serve in the Houston community, learn from teachers and elders, spread joy in fellowship and most importantly worship the Lord who makes us ONE!
To learn more about previous MYLEs, follow the event on Facebook and check out pictures from past events.
Rev. Curry’s first involvement with a Lutheran ministry was an uncommon one. Similarly, the congregation he serves had an uncommon beginning. Shekinah Chapel Lutheran Church in Riverdale, Illinois, grew out of an ELCA sponsored youth development - mentoring program and camp for young African-American men called, Safe in My Brothers’ Arms (SIMBA), on the south side of Chicago. Pastor Curry’s life’s journey informs and influences his youth / young adult apprenticeship model which says, "bring them in, train them up and Ship them out."
The Rev. Leila M. Ortiz is an Assistant to the Bishop of Metropolitan Washington, D.C. Synod of the ELCA. She is a Latina Luthercostal (Pentecostal experience meets Lutheran theology) pastor and theologian who is less interested in the "right" way to do church and more interested in "being" church for the sake of our complicated, colorful, and ultimately, beautiful world.
Rev. Patrick P. Gahagen is entering his 20th year of ordained ministry in the ELCA. He is a recipient of God's grace and unashamed preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His ministry span two cities: Detroit, MI and Baltimore, MD where he has fought against the sin of racism in the world, the church and himself. Pastor Gahagen is an over 20 year survivor of a double lung transplant, which was needed due to lung damage from cystic fibrosis.
Mary Huntington has been an educator and administrator for 15 years, in her hometown of Shishmaref, Alaska and neighboring villages. She has been a leader in the Seward Peninsula Lutheran Ministries for much of her adult life. She takes great pride in her Inupiaq heritage and Christian faith, striving to live a life that emanates and entwines both - particularly through singing.
Make an online gift to support the ministries of the tAble, the Multicultural Youth Leadership Event and the ELCA Youth Gathering.
MoreThe Gathering produces a number of free, downloadable resources to help you and your congregation prepare for and plan your time at the Gathering.
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