DREAM! ELCA Youth Ministry Extravaganza 2024

This year the “E” is gathering in New Orleans. People from around the country who care about children, youth, and family ministries are arriving as we speak, beginning first with a pre-event of Intensive Care Courses.

I will post photos and related information here.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 17, 2024 – Pre-event: Day 1 of Intensive Care Courses

How to Have a Great Gathering Intensive Care Course

Y’all were awesome! Here are some notes from my talk:

I have attended 16 gatherings. CLICK HERE for detail. This includes an ALC/LCA/LCMS Gathering I attended as a high school student (here in New Orleans at the Superdome), numerous LCMS gatherings where I played in the main stage band, and numerous gatherings I attended as a pastor and bishop.

Gatherings have been part of my faith journey. They have been part of faith formation for the congregations I have served. I have taken gatherings are now pastors, camp directors, and churchwide office staff.

New Orleans

Wednesday I’m presenting on the City of New Orleans, as a part of the “How to Have a Great Gathering” course.

New Orleans is a great place to have the gathering because the Superdome is walking distance from the convention center is walking distance from a high concentration of hotels. It is one of the few cities in the US that can host an event of this size.

New Orleans’ History

The Crescent City, the Creole City, the Big Easy is the 12th largest city in the US, with a population of 1.3 million. What do you know about New Orleans?

It is a truly unique city, a melting pot of people from everywhere, with a multicultural population, distinctive music, jazz history, creole cuisine, unique dialect, Mardi Gras, Bourbon Street jazz, nightlife, and so on. But how did it get that way?

The Chitimacha and other tribes, the first inhabitants of the Atchafalaya Basin.
1718 – The City of New Orleans is founded by the French: Jean Baptist Le Moyne. Named after Philippe II, Duke of Orlean.
1724 – Slaves required to be baptized in the Roman Catholic Church.
1755 – 11K Acadians (Cajuns) expelled by the British from Canada during the French and Indian War (1754-1763).
1763 – Spanish control of NO (Treaty of Paris) until the Louisiana Purchase.
1791 – Haitian Revolution begins (self-freed slaves successfully overthrow French rule). Thousands of Haitians, Cubans, and Dominicans flee to New Orleans.
1800 – The Third Treaty of Ildefonso returns New Orleans to the French.
1803 – Louisiana Purchase. Jefferson from Napoleon. Doubles the size of the USA. English speakers flood in.
1803 – Congress outlaws the international slave trade, boosting the domestic slave trade. Over the next 50 years 1-2M families are forcibly separated as slaves are transported to the Deep South.
1815 – US (under General Andrew Jackson) defeats the British in the Battle of New Orleans.
1840 – By 1840, NOLA is the 3^rd largest city is US, and the largest city in the South. New Orleans was the hub of the U.S. slave trade, with the largest slave market in the US. Also the largest population of freed slaves.
1861 – Louisiana is a state in the Confederacy.
1865 – After the Civil War, French-language instruction was abolished in the public schools. An English-only policy was put in place. The wealth created by the slave trade disappeared.
1866 – New Orleans Riot.
1868 – Louisiana readmitted into the Union, passing a constitution that integrated public education, and admitted all men to vote. The first African-Americans were elected to public office.
1889 – Jim Crow. Laws are passed making it difficult for African Americans and mixed race citizens to vote. The era of segregation begins.
1945 – Many elderly Creole women still speak no English.
1950 – Houston, Dallas, and Atlanta exceeded the population of New Orleans.

1980 – The population peaks at 1M, but then:
2005 – Hurricane Katrina. Levee breaches flood 80% of the city. 1800+ killed. Most of New Orleans is under sea level. A bowl.
2023 – New Orleans’ metro population 1.3M

Want to learn more? You can take your kids on a walking tour of slavery in New Orleans. There are also plantation tours. Finally, there are ghost tours, vampire tours, Voodoo tours. These are gimmicky, but a fun way to get your kids interested. They will learn about them many bodies buried under New Orleans and why they are there. Do your homework and choose wisely.

Looking for other stuff to do on a free day?

Take a ride on riverboat.
City Park is amazing.
Ride a street car. The Saint Charles Street car has been running since 1835 the oldest continuously running streetcar in the world.
You can take the street car to the Garden District where you’ll find Blaine Kern’s Mardi Gras World. You can view the floats from Mardi Gras and see how they’re made.
Not to be confused with the Mardi Gras museum, 319 N. Rampart, walking distance from here. Open Thurs-Monday, 12-4 with a show at 2:00.
There’s an aquarium, a zoo, and botanical gardens.
The World War II museum is second to none.
If you have time there are swamp rides.
Do a walking tour of the St. Louis Cemetery, City of the Dead.
Small group haunted history carriage tour.
Be sure to check out Cafe Du Monde in the French Market, Jackson Square, and the St. Louis Cathedral. Take a walk along the River.
While you’re here do your homework.

There are 10 ELCA congregations in greater New Orleans area.

How to Talk Like a Nawlins Local

Todd Buegler, Director of The ELCA Youth Ministry Network speaking to the troops.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 2024 – Day 2 of Intensive Care Courses and Day 1 of the main event

Terri Elton, Luther Seminary Professor, teaching on leadership

Sound and lights in the plenary hall setting up.

A little later the band warms up.

General Session 1

And we begin! Dr. Michael Chan, from Concordia College, gathering theologian

The view from main stage.

Blessing of the newbies and the chaplains.

Soulful singing

Backstage

Pastor Todd Buegler, executive Director of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network

So good to Giovana Oaxaca from AMMPARO again!

FRIDAY, JANUARY 19, 2024 – Main event day 2

Workshop 1 – 8:30 am

My goal here is to learn as much as I can from presenters and other attendees about things synods can do to support congregational youth ministry. So, my first workshop is SYMBOL (Synodical Youth Ministry Band of Leaders) – Dreaming Together New Possibilities in Synodical Youth Ministry.

Volunteers are saying they need from synods: 1. Funding 2. Staff rep 3. Help with communication 4. Good contact information for congregations and their youth ministry leaders 5. Advocacy for YM leaders 6. Guidelines for healthy youth ministry practices 7. Helping congregations collaborate in area youth ministries 8. Resources/curriculum.

Everything exploded with the pandemic. Some youth ministries grounded out. We are in a pregnant time. Congregations are forced to work together around transportation and adult sponsors for the gathering.

Models – Brad Dokken (WND Synod): Elected LYO Board of young people. Annual gathering always the third weekend in October (speakers, friendship bracelets, chapel, Agape, 4 square, gaga pit…). 150 kids. $100 reg. $150 hotel room. Quarterly meetups for youth leaders.

Models – Dave (Virginia Synod) 5th-6th overnight event. 7th-8th overnight event. Smaller but still vital.

General Session 2 – 10:00 am Friday

In youth ministry, it’s important to keep up with the current lingo. So, for fun, they asked AI, Chat GPT, to paraphrase the Magnificat in youthspeak.

Safe spaces, language, throw blankets, fidget gizmos, listening.

Rostered Leaders’ Lunch

General Session 3 – Friday 5:00 pm

I can’t tell you how much I admire and appreciate these Gulf Coast leaders: Beth Hartfiel, Rozella White, Peggy Hahn, Jessica Noonan, Kristen Krueger.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 2024 – Main Event Day 3

Workshop on Use of AI in music.

Don’t think of AI as a vending machine but instead like a really smart student intern. Use it go brainstorm and to get curious.

Chat.openai.com.

Me: Please write an invitation to my church youth group to come and help serve a meal at a homeless shelter.

Chat GPT:

Subject: Invitation to Serve: Making a Difference Together!

Dear [Youth Group Name],

I hope this message finds you well. We have a unique opportunity to make a positive impact and spread compassion within our community. Our church has organized a volunteering event at [Homeless Shelter Name], where we’ll be serving a meal to those in need.

Date: [Date]
Time: [Start Time] – [End Time]
Location: [Homeless Shelter Address]

We believe that lending a helping hand not only provides physical nourishment but also fosters a sense of community and solidarity. It’s a chance for us to embody the teachings of love and service that lie at the core of our faith.

Your participation will make a significant difference, and I encourage you to join us for this meaningful experience. Please let us know if you can make it, and feel free to invite friends who might be interested in contributing to this cause.

Looking forward to serving alongside you and making a positive impact together!

Blessings,
[Your Name]
[Your Contact Information]

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