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Youth from every Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod district and several nations filled the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, FL, July 28-August 1 for the 10th triennial LCMS National Gathering.
Sponsored by LCMS District and Congregational Services-Youth Ministry, the event was themed CHOSEN, based on 1 Peter 2:9: “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” 
Some 25,000 youth and adult paid participants were joined by 1,500 volunteers for the five-day Gathering. The program was driven by daily general sessions for all participants, workshops, experience-based activity, fellowship, Bible study, worship and service projects. Those service projects included 7,500 participants serving 39 elementary schools, 17 parks and community senior centers as well as nine private residences throughout Greater Orlando. At the Orange County Convention Center, eight sheds and 250 door/window headers were constructed with Thrivent Builds! and Habitat for Humanity; key verses were highlighted in 3,500 Bibles to be distributed throughout the Florida penal system; 2,500 fleece blankets were prepared for hurricane impacted families of the Southern District; 64 pints of blood were donated; 4,000 pounds of food were collected and sorted for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida; and 10,000 pairs of eyeglasses were donated, washed, inspected, calibrated, sorted and packaged for needy in Nicaragua. 
Gathering services connected congregations back home to the events in Orlando. Each evening, an average of 1,800 viewers accessed free live streaming video of Gathering mass events, with more than 2,800 online viewers watching the Tuesday evening worship service alone. |
In his address during the Sunday evening plenary session, LCMS President Gerald B. Kieschnick said, “The focus of these National LCMS Youth Gatherings is on your relationship with the God of the universe.”
In his remarks, Kieschnick referenced Resolution 2-05, titled “To Support National LCMS Youth Gatherings,” which was adopted by delegates to the 2007 LCMS convention in Houston earlier in July. “You are all chosen. You are also the Church at its best,” Rev. Terry Dittmer, Director for Youth Ministry, shared with participants at the close of the event. “You are the Church with a smile on its face and the joy of Jesus in [its] heart — and it’s time to go back out into the world and tell the world what we know about being chosen in the Name of the Chosen One.” The first LCMS Adult Gathering, drawing 160 participants, was held concurrently with the Youth Gathering. LCMS congregations and participants have been sent copies of “CH07,” a pictorial guide of the 2007 event, along with copies of a 2007 post-event DVD. Congregations may purchase the “Gathering Media Pass” at www.lcmsgathering.com. The pass includes high-resolution photography, graphics and video for use in building media presentations. 
“Our goal has been to provide media that allows the whole church to access the Gathering experience,” said Gretchen Jameson, associate director for Youth Ministry and Gathering communications director. “The Gathering is the very best of the church at work together for its youth. Through media, parents and congregations can connect with participants and share in the Gathering together.” Planning is under way for the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering. Jameson said that event’s location will be announced in the coming months as contract negotiations are completed. |
