YIM : Serving Christ in the World : Class of 2006 Reunion

Serving Christ in the World - "Class of '06" Reunion

YIM is now able to offer reunion weekends for former participants of the Serving Christ in the World program. LSTC is offering the opportunity for these participants to stay connected with each other and the seminary as a way to assist them in their continued discernment.

The first YIM sponsored reunion weekend was held May 23-25, 2008. Seven young adults who participated in the 2006 Serving Christ in the World program were reunited for a weekend of worship, discernment, service and fun. Paired with two new seminarian mentors, Jason Bense and Monica Villarreal, these now college students were able to serve at the Inspiration Café weekend center by supplying and packing 80 meals for the homeless. They also visited the Garfield Park Conservatory, Lincoln Park Zoo and watched part of the Chicago Memorial Day parade.

Former SCITW Participant and current Luther College student, Erin Daubert talked about the program and the reunion weekend:

"One of the best things we did was listen to the stories of the men and women working in Mexico. One woman was working with the Mexican government and other organizations so that the Mayan children in rural areas would be educated. She was an inspiration because she didn't just let the broken system leave these children alone and without educational resources, but instead worked to make changes; these changes changed many lives.

"One of the things I struggled with most at the time was how I, as one person, could make a difference in the world. With more than six billion people and so many problems in this world, what can one person do? However, this trip gave God the opportunity to answer this question for me. While in Mexico, one of the Mexican women said, "A mind is a world. If you can change a mind, you can change the world." God was telling me that I don't need to try to change the whole world, but instead need to do what I can and realize that each person I affect is important.

"On our reunion weekend we were also able to listen to our new mentors call stories. I have been struggling with trying to figure out what my call is lately. I am impatient and have been trying to discern what God's path for me is. At this point in my life I have no idea in which direction I will go and what I will do… The reunion really helped me to see that that's ok. I don't have to know what I will spend the next 70 years doing yet; there is no deadline for when I have to choose a career. The reunion really helped reaffirm that God is calling me to do something and that it's ok that I haven't figured out what it is yet.”

Kayla Pankow, a reunion attendee who will be a sophomore at Wartburg College this fall, said:

“When you are at home you grow as a family, YIM is no different. I found that the people I met at YIM became my family, a family that prayed, worshiped and grew together. Though this family experience I have found how God works through us to help his other children. This program opened my eyes to the Work of the church not only in the city, the state and the US. It also opened my eyes to the work in the world.”

| Check out photos from the 2006 Serving Christ in the World Reunion that took place in Chicago Memorial Day weekend 2008 |

Keep watching the website for the next reunion weekend to be announced.
For more information on Youth in Mission Programs please contact us by email at youthinmission@lstc.edu or by phone at 800.635.1116 ext.725.

YIM : Youth in Mission, a ministry of LSTC

Serving Christ in the World - "Class of '06" Reunion