“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.” I John 4:9. (NIV)

It is amazing how fast the summer has gone. Most of you have no doubt already switched over from Summer mode into Fall mode. And with that change comes planning not only for the Fall, but for the Winter and Spring months as well!
There are many facets to the LCMS National Youth Gathering, and one of the most important ones is pre-planning. Taking students to the Youth Gathering is something that you need to plan for many months in advance. In order to start, I recommend that you begin by going on the Gathering website, and especially familiarizing yourself with the resources page. There you will find countless resources– (fundraising tips, registration information and community life resources just to name a few!) In this blog, I will also give you other tips and resources that will help you as you begin to prepare for this very important and impact-full experience.
If you haven’t discussed the Gathering with your students yet, now is the time. I always like to begin with an informational meeting. In this initial get-together, I spend a lot of time focusing on the sheer amount of work it takes to put this together. Leaders and volunteers from the LCMS have already been preparing for this for more than two years. The LCMS has given so much time and other resources to this very important and uplifting event. It also will take many months of hard work planning for your group to get to the Gathering from here on out! Consider making a timeline of events leading up to the Gathering. Here is a sample one for you to look at so that you can get an idea of the order of events heading toward the Gathering.
Also, there is more information about San Antonio on the Gathering website.
May the Lord bless you as you begin to prepare for what promises to be an amazing journey in the faith!
Blessings to you as you travel the road to the Gathering!
Published August 2012