Twelve years ago I had the opportunity to attend the Southwestern Pennsylvania Lutheran Synod Assembly as part of the Youth Convo. It was an amazing experience. I learned about how the church worked, served at worship, paged during business sessions, met new friends, grew in faith and of course had lots of fun. The weekend had such an impact on my life for three years that I wrote about it for my college application essays.
Then it became a memory...
...until last year.
Eleven years after I attended my first Youth Convo, I returned as one of the leaders. It was a new experience but just as special as being a participant. On Wednesday I left for my second year as a Youth Convo leader. Last year was at Cal U and this year back at Thiel. Being back at Thiel, brought back so many memories of my time at Youth Convo.
It was during this time that I truly realized the importance of faith in my life and my role as a member of the Lutheran church and my home congregation, as well. I met other young people, who became dear friends and one my boyfriend. I prayed; sang; played a lot of truth or dare and four square; learned about the church; and came to the conclusion that I would never attend college at Thiel!
(Twelve years later and we were still laughing as hard at lunch as we were when we were teens.)
As one of the leaders, I could not have been more proud of the 20 young adults who represented their churches at Youth Convo this year. And for the first time, they were able to attend as voting members! It wonderful to see a new generation so interested in the internal workings of the Lutheran church. It was a privilege to watch them learn and grow in their faith. They were an inspiration.
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