July 16-21 ten young people and their old, decrepit pastor of 43, me, went to the National Youth Gathering of the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, held in New Orleans.  We all had a fun and spiritually uplifting time.  We went to seminars on a plethora of topics dealing with our faith in Christ as we live in the world; we attended Bible classes and music concerts; we played games and had good food. 

All of the events, the Bible studies and music were great, but it was the ten young people from Grace that made this gathering so special.  As the pastor for these wonderful youth we had many opportunities to bond.  They asked terrific questions and our discussion was often very lively and God focused. 

I’m always worried about these mass events where you get 25,000 youth gathered in one place, because often this gives participants a false impression of what Sunday worship should be like back home at the local congregation.  Sometimes we think that where twenty four or twenty five thousand are gathered there Jesus is in the midst of them and it must be more special and more Godly than where two or three are gathered.  By the way we do get a few more than two or three on Sundays at Grace! 

Sometimes the impression at these gatherings is that where more are gathered that somehow God is doing more!  This simply isn’t the case.  God in Christ Jesus does the same amazing things for a few as He does for the masses!  Yes the mass events are fun and charged with energy, but God is forgiving sins and bringing life and salvation to wounded hearts and souls just as powerfully where two or three are gathered as He does where twenty four or twenty five thousand are gathered.    

I’m thankful for this time with these wonderful young people from Grace.  We made lasting memories.  We will continue to make more memories week in and week out on Sundays and Fridays and whenever we gather, whether in large groups or small.  Memories of joys and sorrows, of failure and triumph, memories built on our relationship in Christ as we journey toward our heavenly home. 

“We Believe” was the theme of the gathering.  Because we believe in a God who loves us and called us to faith individually by baptism, we gather as the family of God at Grace throughout our lives in this world!  We are a family!  And it was great to get away with part of that family even if it was for only 5 days!  Thanks to those 10 young people for making this trip a memorable one!