@ Youth Encounter

Location: Kainantu—Aiyura High School

“Today we went to the official beginning of the 24^th Annual ELC-PNG Synod. We marched with a large processional from the gate of the town. There were local villagers doing a huge singsing. The men all had shields and wooden clubs and were dressed in the traditional warrior dress of their village. They danced and sang. We were second in the processional behind the assistant Bishop. Then it was us and all other invited guests (they called us dignitaries). The other guests included the President of the Lutheran Church in Singapore, the President of the ELC in New Zealand and Australia, and the President and Secretary of the ELC in Bavaria, Germany. We marched about a kilometer with these and about a thousand more delegates and their families. Finally, we all arrived at a large podium/stage built specially for the Synod. We were joined by another 2,000 or so people who had come to listen in and cook for the delegates and participate in Lotu (worship) and hear preachers at morning devotions. Meanwhile the national radio and TV stations taped the entire six-hour ceremony and aired it nationally to the five million citizens and ex-patriots. I was called to represent the ELCA and LCMS during the ceremony.
[CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]

Fellowship Dinner 2004
You Are Invited
by Brett Koopman

Youth Encounter's 5th Annual Fellowship Dinner will take place on May 16, 2004 in St Louis Park, Minnesota. This year's event will focus on the leadership impact of Youth Encounter Team Alumni. Confirmed speakers include Reverend Jana Swenson, Director of Small Group Ministries at Hosanna! Lutheran Church in Lakeville, Minnesota, Carl Stecker, Senior Technical Advisor for HIV/AIDS, Catholic Relief Services, Baltimore, Maryland, and Carmen Gronewold, Candidate Coordinator at World Missions Prayer League. Youth Encounter’s International Team Kindred will provide music and share about their ministry in Peru and Bolivia. Please join us for an evening of food, fun, and fellowship as we experience the impact of Youth Encounter's ministry around the world. For more information, please contact Brett Koopman at 1-800-65YOUTH, or by e-mail: brett@youthencounter.org .

Watermark to Germany, Romania, and The Czech Republic
Watermark Reaches Out
by Watermark

“On to our programs in the Czech Republic.. The program was actually quite fun to do for many reasons. The first is that we decided to introduce ourselves in the Czech language. Now, that may seem fine, unless you're learning how to speak Czech right before you have to do it! For those of you who do not know what Czech sounds like, it is a Slavic language so it sounds a lot like Russian. So we all introduced ourselves the best we could. It was hilarious when our interpreter Ingrid translated Steve's Czech into Czech. Yup, that's how bad it was…or good it was? Did you know Alaska in Czech is Alyeshka? Well, now you know.

I am very privileged to be here sharing the love of Jesus Christ with the people right now in the Czech Republic. They have been under such oppression from the Communist party for such a long time (I got to hear an account first hand of what it was like, but that's another story), that to be sharing the Gospel in a country that is approximately 70% atheist is quite an opportunity.
[CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]

New Life and New Teams!
Youth Encounter Recruitment
by Jeff Rowdon

It’s April--a time when we often celebrate new life and the Easter holiday. I have been so encouraged by the coming of spring this year… the chance to be outside and enjoy the weather without a jacket… the lengthening of the days… there’s just something refreshing about it. I hope the month of April has been a time for you to be renewed in your mind, body and spirit.

So why is a guy from the Recruitment Department at Youth Encounter writing about new life and the refreshing time that is spring? Probably because I’ve got our new year of team ministry on my mind!
[CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]

Gearin Up! Spoke Folk 2004
There's Still Time for YOU to Join a Tour This Summer!
by Eric Arundel

“You don’t have to be a biker stud to go on tour.” This is the phrase that is shared the most by people who have gone on a Spoke Folk tour before and, trust me, they’re right! Spoke Folk is an amazing biking and musical ministry tour. Spoke Folk bikes from place to place to share a Christ-centered music program that includes contemporary Christian music, puppets, skits, and personal sharings. Anyone can do just great on tour. You don’t have to be in great shape or be a biker stud or studette. As of right now our Wisconsin tour has filled with participants, but all our other tours still have space for participants: Michigan, June 30-July 11; Indiana, July 14-25; Minnesota, July 28-August 8; and Oregon, August 11-22. And every tour has space for adult counselors (age 21 and up)! Adults are a very necessary part of our ministry. Without the adults we can’t make this ministry work! So please consider joining us this summer for an amazing 12 days of fun, music and ministry…Oh, and we bike some too…
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

Eric Arundel
National Spoke Folk Director
spokefolk@youthencounter.org
1.800.659.6884 ex. 217
www.spokefolk.org

Youth Create 2004
What Are You Doing This Summer?
by Cathy Pino

Come one and all for a great week of worship leading and creativity workshops from June 20-26, 2004! Youth Create is a seminar on worship and creativity for high school students. Individuals and groups come together for a week of workshops led by artists in residence. Youth Create provides the opportunity for young people to learn about using their talents to serve the Church and the world in worship and the arts. A typical day at Youth Create starts and ends with worship and includes sessions on topics like worship leading, songwriting, puppetry, improv comedy, song leading, and skits. And of course there's time for jamming, Bible study, and lots of other fun stuff! Who should come to Youth Create? Individuals, youth groups, members of youth bands, YOU! Check out the brochure and registration forms on our website . (And don't forget that you can save some cash if you register by April 30th and/or if you bring a group of 5 or more! Such a deal!)

The 9th Annual Renaissance Team Training Conference
New from Our Friends at Faith Inkubators

Whether you’re a FINK veteran or just getting started, join change agents from all over the world for four days of learning, doing, networking & team-building. It all happens July 12-15, 2004 at the Faith Inkubators’ 9^th Annual Renaissance Team Training Conference in beautiful Stillwater, Minnesota.

Why Come To Renaissance?
Come let Faith Inkubators’ national training staff and raving FINKs from our Partner Training Network help you mold the gifts and talents of your best trainers, guides, youth workers, pastors, musicians, volunteers and senior high youth into a proactive, cohesive family ministry team.
[CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STORY]

Peder Eide Makes Waves!
Peder's Music on the Radio
by Youth Encounter

Youth Encounter is pleased to applaud our friend Peder Eide as his latest CD release, What a Ride, continues to glorify God through the radio waves! “It’s You, O God,” the first release from the CD, gained ground on the Christian Billboard charts. Interested in hearing Peder on the radio? Just click here to view a list on Peder’s website of Christian radio stations that have his latest release, and, while you’re at it, feel free to call and request to hear more of Peder’s music! Youth Encounter looks forward to ministering alongside Peder at several more Youth Events around the country beginning this fall. Stay tuned for more info…

Video Spectacular!
Resource Ministries
by Ryan Veil

Just in time for summer!

and

are pleased to announce:
The HappyFunTime Video Sale Spectacular!
While supplies last Youth Encounter will be selling both of HFT’s Sketch Comedy Parable Videos for the rock bottom price of $20 (plus $5 shipping and handling).
What could be more foolish than that?
For those who don’t know, a "Sketch Comedy Parable" is a funny, wacky story with a message. If you want to get an idea of what these sketches are like you can check some of our videos out online at http://www.happyfuntime.com/.
That’s right BOTH HappyFunTime videos, “Thingamabob” and “The New Fresh” are on sale for a total of only $20!
With this offer you’ll receive:
8 Different Sketch Comedy Parables on 2 VHS Tapes.
Plus…8 explanations from wacky youth leader, Carl Zweefle.
Plus…1 Improv Work Shop.
Plus…2 CD-ROM’s with Bible Study Curriculum, which includes Improv Games to play in your group, a Leader’s Guide and lesson plans that correlate with each of the 8 sketches.
Plus…The Shrink Wrapping!
That’s enough stuff to plan your next two months of youth group meetings, Bible studies, or tea parties.
If you would like to take advantage of this foolishly low price, just respond to this email...
or…
Send $25 to:
Youth Encounter
3490 Lexington Ave. N., Suite 300
St. Paul, MN 55126
(Please make checks out to Youth Encounter)
Remember this offer is only good while supplies last!

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