The St. James Lutheran School Youth Acclaiming Christ group will go to New Orleans from July 16-20, 2016, to proclaim and share their faith with youth from all over the United States.
“It’s getting kids together for fellowship and to continue their faith in God,” said Shelly Dobberstein, a youth leader who will accompany the group.
So far, 11 students have committed to the trip for sixth- to 12th-graders. Sarah Schultz, St. James School math and Spanish teacher and youth adviser, will go with the students. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod National Youth Gathering is held every three years; Schultz was at a conference in 2004. The event has grown to more than 30,000 people.
“My biggest thing taking away from it was seeing we can worship God in a fun way,” Schultz said. “The magnitude of all of these people around us who love the Lord, how cool is that.”
Registration is in October, which is when kids will need to know if they plan to go to the event, which features worship opportunities and spiritual growth.
“It equips the kids to be leaders in their faith,” Dobberstein said.
Schultz is going there in July for a workshop, to check out the lodging and to get more information.
At St. James, the YAC meets every Sunday night for a one-hour Bible study, which is followed by a half-hour open gym. The group meets monthly for other activities. In December, they sang Christmas carols. In January and February, they played Bingo with the residents of Oakhaven. They made crafts there in March.
“The kids just love going there,” Dobberstein said.
Several fundraising activities are planned to help the kids pay their way. On April 12, there will be a pancake feed of all-you-can-eat pancakes, sausage, milk and juice. On Saturdays, May 2, 9 and 16, the students will be at Qualheim’s for brat frys. During the Shawano County Fair, they will be parking cars at Shawano Auto Sales. In November, they will sell poinsettias and wreaths.
A Flamingo Fun-raiser also is planned. For $20, you can put pink flamingos in someone’s yard. That person can then pass the birds onto a new location.
The national gatherings have been held since 1980 to give thousands of youth and adults a chance to come together to learn about Jesus Christ, the Christian faith and their Lutheran identity.
For more information, call Dobberstein at 715-853-5754.
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