National LCMS Youth Gathering

Welcome to the 2010 National LCMS Youth Gathering Website!

We have a lot of information here to help you get started in planning, so take a look around, and be sure to come back often. We'll be adding new information regularly!

Here's a special welcome from LCMS Youth Ministry:

Greetings in the name of our Triune God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

God has blessed me with the opportunity to be a part of all the National LCMS Youth Gatherings since they began in 1980. This tradition has continued every three years, with the next Gathering taking place in 2010 in New Orleans.

One of the things I enjoy most at Gatherings is the opportunity to interact with the young people who represent LCMS congregations from all 50 states and from many international countries. In our conversations I always include the question "what impressed you most?" At the top of the list of answers is always, "I didn't know that there were so many teens like me."

And when you enter the assembly hall at the opening event at a Gathering, it's hard not to be amazed at this assembly of young believers God has brought into that place at that time. And they are there to celebrate Jesus, their Lord and Savior.

The 2010 Gathering theme, "We Believe" is an intentional emphasis and celebration of this coming together as the family of believers. Just as many of us already do in worship, I can imagine during our time in New Orleans speaking the Apostles Creed together, saying, "I believe in God the Father Almighty . . . and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord . . . and in the Holy Spirit." What an amazing confession of corporate faith – we believe this together as baptized people of God brought to faith by the power of the Holy Spirit, who has claimed each one of us in baptism and equips us to live as His people day after day.

Now it is time to get ready, make plans, gather funds, and prepare for the days of the Gathering. This Web site will keep you up-to-date on what’s happening, provide the latest Gathering news and share helpful tips for making the Gathering your once in a life time opportunity to "be with so many people like me."

May God bless you each day until we gather together to confess, "We Believe!"

Dr. Terry K. Dittmer, Director

LCMS District and Congregational Services – Youth Ministry