Plans for Youth Create are well under way once again as we look ahead to this summer's programs.  What is Youth Create, you ask?  It's a new summer program in which high schoolers join their peers and artists-in-residence to hone their skills as worship leaders and as artists.*  
 
Youth Create got off to a great start in July of 2001 when artists such as Lost And Found, Agape, Crosseyed, Rachel Kurtz, Kjel Alkire, Scott Stivers and Peder Eide and young people from all over the country convened in Minneapolis for a week of workshops. Topics included songwriting, liturgy, and worship leading as well as roundtable discussions on issues such as "The Role of Youth in the Church" and "Sacred and Secular Music." Of course, since no Youth Encounter event would be complete without one of our beloved teams, Captive Free Coast to Coast '00-01 (Shane Flynn, Beth Gearhart, Jo Barrett, Jeromy Dorsing, Kirsten Lyshoj, Phil Greve) also joined in the fun, and conducted workshops on puppetry, creating and performing skits, sharing testimonies and leading sing-alongs. 
 
Youth Create 2002 was more of the same, this time with a new Coast to Coast team (Gail Bichlmeir, Maria Morales, Adam Reents, Paul Haddix, Thomas Stoneking, Cammy Anderson) and Brian Spahr, Scott Stivers, Rachel Kurtz, Tracy Howe, Aaron Strumpel, and Brenda Gabriel as the artists-in-residence.   Phil Greve returned as my second in command, and Spoke Folk alum Erin Frericks also joined the leadership team. Highlights of 2002 included the production of an original CD by the participants under Brian's wise and capable guidance, numerous amazing skits and puppet shows created by the students, the closing celebration worship service put together and led by the participants (under Scott's wise and capable guidance), and an appearance by Cher at the Variety show (okay, so it wasn't the actual Cher, but close!). 
 
Youth Create 2003 will take place during the week of June 21-28 in Minneapolis.  I am excited to report that our slate of artists-in-residence already includes Richard Colligan, who will be heading up the recording and songwriting workshops, Stacy Goralski, who will add a dance workshop to the list of offerings, Dan Oie, who will lead the worship workshops, and Rainbow of Promise to act as our house band.  Once again Phil and I will head up the show behind the scenes, with the addition of Beth Gearhart as our third in command and resident songwriter/worship leader/Jill of all trades.   
 
If you or someone you know is interested in more information on Youth Create, please check out our web site, www.youthencounter.org, or contact me by calling Youth Encounter (1-800-65YOUTH) or e-mailing me at youthcreate@youthencounter.org.
 
 
*  There is also a seminary component of Youth Create for adults interested in receiving credit through Luther Seminary in St. Paul.  The course runs concurrently with Youth Create and combines discussion and class work with the worship leading workshops in which the young people participate.  If you're a student at Luther and are interested in more info about the seminary course, call Diane Doncets at 651-641-3472 or e-mail her at ddoncets@luthersem.edu.  If you are not presently a student at Luther, call Ron Olson at 651-641-3521 or e-mail him at rdolsonolson@luthersem.edu for admission information for this course.