July 24, 2009

NEW ORLEANS – Bursts of dancing spotlights and bass notes that drove deep through the crowd resembled more a rock concert than a church meeting at the Louisiana Superdome. The audience of 37,000 Lutherans, mostly teenagers, heard gospel messages and music July 23 they may not have experienced back home across the United States and Caribbean.

Lutheran youth, adult leaders and other volunteers are here July 22- 26 for the 2009 Youth Gathering of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA). "Jesus Justice Jazz" is the theme of activities at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and the Louisiana Superdome. Participants are also fanning out across the area to nearly 200 community service sites.

Jay Bakker dedicated his part of the program to his mother, Tammy Faye Bakker Messner, who died two years earlier. Bakker grew up with his parents' high-profile ministry, and he witnessed that ministry's demise in the shadow of scandal and public scrutiny. Now he pastors "Revolution," which his Web site calls "a church for those who feel rejected by traditional approaches to Christianity."

Tattoos cover Bakker's arms and piercings punctuate his face. His message was about God accepting people where they are in spite of the mistakes they've made.

Bakker recalled that was the message that distinguished Martin Luther nearly 500 years ago. "Thank God for grace," he said.

"Don't take it for granted that you know (God's love) is a free gift," Bakker said. "There are millions of Christians out there suffering because they don't feel God loves them. They're dying to know they're loved."

A video of girls in Senegal introduced Viola Vaughn to the Superdome. Vaughn was a 2008 CNN Hero of the Year. She founded the Women's Health Education and Prevention Strategies Alliance and "10,000 Girls," helping schoolgirls in Senegal succeed in school and learn business skills.

Vaughn was born in the United States and raised as the daughter of a Baptist minister. She is retired, caring for her grandchildren in Africa.

Vaughn talked to the Lutheran youth about "the power of one." One nine-year-old girl convinced Vaughn to home school her. That girl brought more girls, and after six years she works with 2,567 girls in college, high school, middle school and primary school programs, and in three entrepreneurial projects selling biscuits and dolls around the world. "And you know, I'm still the only adult," she said.

A litany of advice concluded Vaughn's remarks. "Love yourself," she said. "Read, read, read, learn, read, read, read."

"The power you have is yours. Learn how to dance, and, when you know how to dance, marry, have children and teach them how to dance," Vaughn said.

Becca Stevens, an Episcopal priest and chaplain for St. Augustine's Chapel, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn., founded "Magdalene," an organization helping women with a history of prostitution and drug addiction.

Stevens told the Superdome audience of young Lutherans some of the hard lessons she learned doing that work. It takes "communities" of people to put young people on the street, selling themselves for drugs, she said, "and it's going to take those same communities to welcome people back off the street and to love without judgment."

Information about the Youth Gathering is at http://www.ELCA.org/gathering/, on the ELCA Web site.

Jay Bakker's home page is at http://www.jaybakker.com/, on the Web.

Information about Becca Stevens is at http://www.vanderbilt.edu/staugustines/staff.htm, on the Vanderbilt Web site.

Information about Viola Vaughn is at http://www.10000girls.org/violav.html, on the Web.

ELCA News Service