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Youth Workers Connection: A Time of Renewal
CHICAGO (January 29, 2001) - The sounds of praise and music wafted through the corridors of the Hyatt Regency O'Hare hotel here this morning as hundreds of youth workers filled the makeshift sanctuary for a final worship experience as part of the 2001 Youth Workers Connection.
More than 425 registered for the event, which began with worship Saturday morning. Numerous workshops were conducted throughout the weekend, with the Sunday worship attracting some 650 people, including members of various ministry boards of the Evangelical Covenant Church that also were meeting at the conference center.
"The word on the street is that the event succeeded in providing an opportunity for rest, renewal and an opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones," said Marti Burger, director of youth ministries for the ECC's Department of Christian Education and Discipleship. The experience also provided quality time for workers to participate in workshops designed to sharpen skills and keep pace with the latest developments in areas of youth ministry.
"The communion service definitely was one of the highlights of the weekend," Burger said. "The entire experience provided a refocus on ministry. It provided a good reminder that we're to go with God's agenda, not our own."
Saturday evening's worship provided an opportunity to experience the use of drama as a worship enhancement. Stephen Waldschmidt, a Covenant dramatist from Strathmore in Canada, used the familiar appointment book to illustrate an important concept relating to God's leading in life. He shared his sense of frustration when his personal appointment book ran out of pages. He was searching for a replacement when God spoke to him and suggested he acquire a sketch book instead, leaving wide open space for God to write His agenda instead of the preplanned life with which so many are familiar.
Art Greco, director of prayer and evangelism for the Department of Church Growth and Evangelism, spoke at all four worship services, challenging his listeners to carefully consider the four key traits of Godly leadership that God looks for in leaders:
- Courage
- Humility
- Yieldedness
- Faith
"He knocked it out of the park," said Burger in assessing the impact of Greco's presentations.
At the closing service, Jim Sundholm (accompanying photo) shared his recently concluded six-month experience in Sudan, sharing the impact that funds from the CHIC2K donation last summer have had in improving the lives of people there. CHIC2K donated $123,579 to support the South Sudan ministry of the Northwest Conference, where Sundholm serves as associate superintendent.
It is impossible to imagine the desperate needs people in that region face on a daily basis, Sundholm related. He referenced the popular television "Survivor" series and the millions of people reported to have watched the opening episode of that second series. "Just realize that there are more people suffering in Sudan as we speak than watched that opening episode," Sundholm said.
He related on experience, talking with a number of villagers who would like to farm as a means of supporting themselves, but who lack farming tools to do the work. "I had some of the CHIC money right here in my pocket," Sundholm beamed as he patted his right trouser leg. "I handed them one hundred dollars, which was enough to buy the tools they needed." He showed a large photograph of a garden plot, full of plants, that is evidence of the impact that gift has made. "Thank you, CHIC, thank you," Sundholm repeated to the delight of the audience.
Sundholm noted that of the 27,000 inhabitants in one area he visited, some 6,000 attend a Covenant church. "That's some service," Sundholm exclaimed, noting the worship service typically runs in excess of four hours.
On a more somber note, he spoke of the tragic attack by soldiers on a Sudanese village that left a total of 40 dead, six of whom were members of the Covenant church. When he asked some of the villagers how they can cope with such tragedy, one replied, "That's why we're Christians - where else would we go?"
"Between CHIC2K and YWC, there is real camaraderie among the youth pastors," Burger said in assessing the impact of the conference. "They realize that they are not in this alone. We are partners together with prayer and encouragement. God is good! All the time!"
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