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Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

© 2010 by The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago

 

Youth in Mission: News

Read recent LSTC News releases about Youth in Mission:

From the archives:

Youth in Mission presents Sunday evening concert with AGAPÉ

Christian Hip Hop artist Agapé (Dave Scherer) will perform in concert Sunday, June 14 at 7:00 p.m. in the Augustana Chapel at the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. LSTC's Youth in Mission Program for high school youth is sponsoring the public concert. The concert is free and open to the public.

Groups may call 773-256-0725 to reserve seats. His CDs include: Many Rooms, Bridge the Gap, and Keepin’ it Tight. His music and more information about him are available on http://www.hiphopoutreach.com/.

YIM Conference 2009.

Read all about our 2009 Youth Ministry Conference

Moving Beyond Belief to faith in action

by Heather Wallace

“(You are called)… to go out into the world and use your gifts and blessings to benefit others: You have a strong passion for what you do and then you use that in many ways.” This is how one youth describes her experience in Youth in Mission’s (YIM) Beyond Belief program at LSTC.

Beyond Belief is a week-long Chicago service opportunity available year round. Most groups choose to participate in July and August. Youth leaders and pastors are able to create a week that fits the needs of their youth both financially and spiritually. LSTC offers minimal-cost housing at the Youth Center for up to 28 people.

YIM also provides service project contacts such as the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), Willfeed/Peace Kids Café in Englewood, and the Alliance for the Great Lakes Beach Clean-up. Each organization is required to educate the youth about what it does for the community. Then they assign the youth with service-oriented activities like cleaning the beach along Lake Michigan.

Youth groups share two meals with seminarians. One meal is after a tour of LSTC to welcome them to the community. At the second meal, seminarians lead discussion about the week and how vocation or call has been present in the experience. It also gives the youth time to talk to the seminarians about life at LSTC.

Groups may also hire a seminarian mentor to accompany the group during their Beyond Belief journey. Mentors help the youth debrief their experiences, lead devotions for the group, and guide the youth in planning worship services. Rebecca Smith an LSTC dual degree student and 2008 mentor said, “During our trip to the IFYC I appreciated the honesty in the youth’s questions and their openness to consider interfaith service work as something they can take back to their community.”

Registration for Beyond Belief is required at least two months prior to arrival, but space is limited. Beyond Belief has been redesigned since its original format started by King of Glory, Dallas, Texas. LSTC has tried to design a program that is more accessible to congregations as well as one that relates to the communities it serves. It was a great statement of the program’s longevity when two former participating pastors chose to bring their youth groups back to Beyond Belief this summer.

A participant from Wisconsin said, “I have met people I will always remember. My eyes have been opened to the world.

Youth in Mission Presents Rachel Kurtz In Concert

Rachel Kurtz.Sunday, June 15 at 7:00 p.m.
at The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago in the
Augustana Chapel
1100 E 55th St.
Chicago, IL 60615
Tickets are free! Call 773-256-0725 for details
| Download Poster PDF | Read the News Release |