This past August, Sofie, Teruni, and Julene applied to represent the Saint Paul Area Synod at the ELCA Youth Leadership Summit happening this Fall in Chicago. Their video submission included Sofie and Teruni’s leadership strengths, their hopes for Prince of Peace’s youth ministry and congregation at large, and what they planned to get out of attending the summit. After much anticipation, they were selected by Bishop Patricia Lull and made arrangements to attend. Early Thursday morning, November 2, they set off for the ELCA Churchwide Office. An Uber, a short flight, a delicious pizza lunch, a bus ride, and hours spent waiting in anticipation, they made it to the first night of the conference filled with introductions, dinner, and worship. The summit brought together youth from more than 30 synods around the theme, “Called on the way”, focusing on the unique journeys individuals take in response to their calling and how those journeys shape their leadership abilities. Centering on the theme verse John 14:6, Jesus declares, ” I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Shuttling between the churchwide office and the hotel, they met their pre-assigned roommates from across the country and settled in for a weekend of fun. On Friday, they were back at churchwide for a full day of advocacy workshops, games, leadership breakout sessions, and many conversations about the celebrations and woes of youth ministry. Saturday was another full day at churchwide with different breakouts, a group picture, a scavenger hunt, and more learning about themselves, their communities, God, and one another. Sunday ended with closing worship before flying home to prepare for another week of school and work.
If you get the Saint Paul Synod emails, you may have already read their reflections from the weekend. They had a wonderful time and have already started brainstorming different ways to implement what they learned.
Youth | Teruni Sandanayake (photo right):
During the youth leadership summit, I learned more about advocacy and how to better advocate for others, specifically how to advocate for others through the church. Hearing other people’s stories and struggles in the church showed me that Prince of Peace isn’t the only church struggling with progress. The summit taught me ways to advocate for the youth to move the church forward.
Youth | Sofie Sethi (photo left):
The summit was a unique experience where we gathered with other teens from across the country to learn about how our similarities and differences can bring us together. We learned about racial justice issues and how to better advocate for our neighbors, especially the neighbors we don’t always think about who live right next door to us. We also had worship and played many games which helped us get to know one another better. I hope to take what I learned from this weekend and bring the advocacy lessons into my home congregation so that more youth voices are heard.
Youth Director | Julene Hannesh (photo center):
Thank you, Saint Paul Area Synod, for the opportunity to spend the weekend traveling with two awesome youth leaders from Prince of Peace Lutheran. In my first two years of youth ministry, I have not had many opportunities to gather with other youth leaders and this weekend allowed me to be around such awesome people helping to make the church a better place for everyone, especially youth. I got to celebrate the many things going right in my youth ministry as we emerge from the pandemic and I also got to find support for those things that still have room for improvement.
We also learned how God is calling each one of us into action, in a time where the world desperately needs action. To love our neighbors, especially those right here in our communities that it would be easy to overlook. Sofie and Teruni have such deep hearts and compassion for justice and for them to be surrounded by other youth that are exploring their callings was so cool. From traveling together, to worship, to games, to advocacy break-outs, it was a fantastic weekend that reminded us of our calling to love God and take care of one another, our neighbors, and the planet. Again, thank you so much for the opportunity. I am so excited to see what the church becomes in the hands of these energetic young people.
