CHIC2K3 Registration Materials to be Mailed

CHICAGO, IL (June 1, 2002) - Registration materials for CHIC2K3, the triennial youth event of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC), will be mailed to Covenant churches this month, according to event organizers.

CHIC Coordinator Kirsten Dahlstrom said churches will receive a CHIC information packet containing brochures, posters, a promotional DVD and other materials. The CHIC website, which is part of the ECC website at www.covchurch.org, will go live in July with downloadable versions of registration materials, summaries of focus topics (seminars) and updates on the number of registered attendees.

Board members and CHIC2K3 administrators met last month in Knoxville, Tennessee, the site of next year's conference, and discussed details for the event to be held on the University of Tennessee campus. More than 6,000 high school students are expected to participate in the 2003 event July 31-August 6, making it the largest CHIC gathering ever.

Dahlstrom predicts that spaces for CHIC2K3 will fill up quickly and advises churches to consider "early bird" registration to assure both quality accommodations and desired excursion options. "Early bird" registration is $455 and begins November 1. Payment in full for "early bird" registration must be postmarked no later than January 6, 2003. From January 7 through May 5, 2003, registration is $495. After May 5, 2003, registration increases to $535.

Off-campus excursions will include whitewater rafting, water parks, go carting, biking and hiking. Once groups register for CHIC, they will receive materials to pre-register for a maximum of two excursions. There is, however, limited space for the excursions, so register early to secure your first choices, Dahlstrom stresses.

CHIC (Covenant High in Christ) is the triennial discipleship and evangelism conference for high school students sponsored by the ECC's Department of Christian Formation. The event, started nearly 50 years ago, provides an opportunity for students from all over North America and around the world to get together for a week of worship, excursions, concerts and educational seminars designed to help students grow in their faith.

The CHIC2K3 theme is Reaction and the theme's logo (see accompanying illustration) represents the chemistry theorem that for every action there is a corresponding reaction. The CHIC2K3 committee used this concept to communicate that the actions of Jesus in his life, death and resurrection demand an active response. The theme was introduced to youth workers at Connection 2002, a January event for youth workers and Christian education leaders that was held at the O'Hare Hyatt Regency Hotel.

"The purpose of CHIC is to encourage and equip students to invite Christ into their lives, to allow Christ to remake their world and to take Christ to the rest of the world," Dahlstrom said. "Along the way, we want them to have a great time, to encounter people from different ethnic, social and economic backgrounds, and to start building the kind of relationships that will strengthen the church in the years to come."

Conference/region liaisons were appointed earlier this year and also visited the University of Tennessee campus last month for a sneak preview of CHIC2K3. Liaisons will answer questions and coordinate conference efforts in areas such as transportation, counselor and crew training and in answering frequently asked questions about the event.

The conference/region liaisons are:

Canada - Evan Dewald

Central - Stacey Greely and Kirsten Nelson

East Coast - Ben Pease

Great Lakes - Steve Raisch

Midsouth -Denise McKinney

Midwest - Sharon Johnson

Northwest - John DuBall

North Pacific - Bernd Strom

Pacific Southwest - Megan McNichols White

Southeast - Cathy Neal

ECCAK (AK) - Kristi Ivanoff