ELCA Youth 'Go the Extra MYLE'

EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (ELCA) -- "Let the Spirit Move You ... Go the Extra MYLE" was the theme that gathered more than 600 young people here at Southern Illinois University for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's (ELCA) Multicultural Youth Leadership Event (MYLE), June 25-28.
MYLE participants came from many ethnic/cultural backgrounds to create a multicultural community of faith in which diversity was celebrated and respected.
"The purpose for MYLE is to provide a leadership opportunity for youth of color who come from cultural and ethnic heritages which we want the ELCA to embrace," said the Rev. Kelly Chatman, director for youth ministries, ELCA Division for Congregational Ministries, Chicago.
"It is a time to celebrate their culture in terms of worship and fellowship in an unapologetic way. It is a time for the youth to be introspective, to celebrate who they are and provide a foundation and identity as they go into the national gathering with more than 20,000 other youth," he said.
The MYLE preceded the ELCA National Youth Gathering June 28- July 2 and July 5-9 in St. Louis. The two events bring together 40,000 Lutheran youth of high school age for worship, Bible study, learning, community service projects and fun.
The ELCA youth gathering is the largest Protestant gathering of youth in the United States, according to Chatman.
"MYLE provides for them a very positive sense of self and orientation as they go into an experience that many of them may never experience again in their lives," Chatman said. "MYLE is a 'leadership opportunity' not an event. It is not a mini-gathering for youth of color. The focus here is leadership development and training," he said.
"We are a diverse group, but the thing we have in common is our baptism," Hmong Ly told participants during the MYLE opening worship service.
Ly is a recent graduate from North Carolina State University, Raleigh, where she majored in microbiology. She started her sermon by para-phrasing a popular television commercial for a major credit card company "Nike gym shoes, $80.00, Mercedes Benz 2000, $60,000.00 ..." and coming around to the cost of one's baptism, "priceless," she said.
"Be proud of who you are, embrace the other cultures around you; humble yourself, celebrate the diversity among you," Ly said.
MYLE participants spent time in worship, caucuses, "bonfires," worship groups and workshops. "Bonfires" were small group settings offering an opportunity for young people to rest and get acquainted. Youth gathered in "worship groups" for Bible study and discussion.
Workshop topics included:
+ "Youth and the Criminal Justice System." An exploration of juvenile justice in the United States, and how youth can be advocates for the those affected by the criminal justice system;
+ "Keeping in Step with Immigrants." Participants learned how many people who enter this country face rejection, racism, discrimination, poverty and hunger. They learned how to support immigration rights and help ease the burdens of those entering the United States;
+ "What Shall I Do?" Making smart choices on decisions involving school, jobs and relationships;
+ "Me? Talking directly to God?" A workshop for those who love to pray and for those who have a hard time with prayer.
David Scherer, Minneapolis, Agape Hip Hop Ministry, lead a workshop called, "Shake Your Booty for God," that was attended by about 150 young people and adults.
"I've been performing for a long time," said Scherer. "I started out doing secular rap until my freshman year of college. I had a type of spiritual awakening and decided then that I needed to start using my gifts for something other than 'worldly' things. I started using my gifts for God," he said.
"I designed an inter-active program using Scripture, rap, dance and storytelling and wove it all together and started performing it for kids," said Scherer. "Being able to tell a story and connect with kids and have them respond with their stories is a sort of ministry. It's about sharing our stories with one another," he said.
Ethnic-specific caucuses where held daily, offering opportunities for youth to gather with young people whom they do not see "every Sunday," to discuss cultural issues as they see them with and in the church.
Each caucus elected two representatives one female and one male to represent them on the Multicultural Advisory Committee (MAC). MAC representatives serve three-year terms.
MAC is a committee of the Lutheran Youth Organization (LYO) board that advises the board on the specific needs and interest of young people from ethnic-specific communities in the church.
Chosen as African American representatives were Simone Hylton and Hank Rawlerson, both from Reformation Lutheran Church, Philadelphia.
The American Indian/Alaska Native youth chose Gail Smithhisler, Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Nome, Alaska, and Lawrence Leonard, Anchorage, Alaska.
Representing the Asian-Pacific Islander youth will be David Foley, Our Savior Lutheran Church, Milwaukee, and Mai Her, Hmong Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis.
Representatives for the Latino/Hispanic youth are Guillermo Howell, and Aiyanna Machado, Todos Los Santos Mision Luterana, Minneapolis.
"My three years as a MAC representative has been a wonderful experience," said Kristina Diaz, Rio Pedras, Puerto Rico.
Diaz, is outgoing female representative for Latino/Hispanic youth to the MAC. She will be a sophomore at the University of the Sacred Heart, Santurce, Puerto Rico, this fall.
"I have learned how the church is structured, what roles I can play, and I have made an incredible group of friends. "In these last three years, we've worked a lot and have grown spiritually and emotionally as leaders," she said.
"I feel really blessed to have been a part of MAC for three years," said Angel Miles, Philadelphia. " I've met people that I probably would not have had an opportunity to meet had I not been a part of this committee."
Miles, is outgoing female representative for African American youth. She will be a junior at Penn State University, University Park, this fall.
"It's cool that the Holy Spirit has bonded us. Even though we are all different, we all believe in God. One of the most moving things for me has been being with all these different people here praising the same God I praise," Miles said.
"I've encouraged other young people in the church to do what we've done in serving the church. I've encouraged them to be mentors to other youth and to take this gathering home with them and tell other people about the good news of Christ," she said.
Youth leaders and pastors, serving as chaperons for the event, had caucuses separate from the young people to discuss their own concerns with the ELCA.
Concerns included a need for more full-time youth ministry leaders in congregations, a need for more people of color in ELCA seminaries; and assistance for Lutheran students attending college.
Discussion was held on worship styles and the need for worship that encourages young people to want to be a part of the church and to stay in the church.
"We must make a place in our congregations for our youth all year," said the Rev. Reginald W. Hansome Jr., Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Milwaukee. "MYLE is great, but it is not 'it.' Our youth must be able to participate in the full expression of the church," he said.
Discussion also included how congregations handle youth ministry and the need for a more intentional process of selecting individuals who serve as youth ministry leaders.
"Congregations often take the least experienced person in the congregation and put that individual in charge of youth ministry," said Marsha Stewart, Jubilee Community Church, Country Club Hills, Ill. "