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I recently had the privilege of planning and executing a youth convention for my diocese on the theme of Living Generously. Teens had a chance to explore the Millennium Development Goals in depth. The Convention featured Moses Jonkiel II as the keynote speaker, detailing his journey from “lost boy” to living generously. Through his hard work with fund and awareness raising, the various projects have benefited his home village. Before the establishment of wells and a grinding mill, village women were penalized by the manual work and unable to attend school. The teens participated in an object lesson, carrying water around downtown Sioux Falls to simulate how far it was for the village girls to fetch water before a well was installed.
The teens had several service opportunities over the weekend as well. They served at the St. Francis House, which serves homeless individuals and families, cleaning the yard and patio to provide a space for residents to relax. One of the staff stated, “I like my yard to look nice, why would it be any different for their home?” Later that evening, they packed bags for the residents of Children’s Inn, which provides emergency shelter to children entering the foster care system in the Sioux Falls area.
On Saturday night, the teens participated in a tour of the MDG’s, rotating through eight stations representing the goals. At each station, the participants had an opportunity to learn more about that particular goal and participate in an activity related to it. We started talking about food and hunger, and ended with economic justice. While some of these topics may seem as dry as the bones in Ezekiel, we did our best to infuse them with flesh and sinew, and the ruach or sacred breath. Bringing them alive through games (like filling a pot with a cup that had a hole in it) to discussion circles, the teens had a chance to explore concepts about making the world a better place. The UN hopes to meet these goals and eradicate poverty within this generation. They heard the story of Rita Mosquito, performed an improv based on barring young women from attending school, brainstormed ways to end hunger, played a water resources game and made a caterpillar to represent environmental renewal. One of the most meaningful moments was when the group counted off to show how many children in the developing world don’t live to see their 5th birthday. In between, the teens had a chance to bond with one another and have theological and political discussions, deepening the bond they developed over the weekend.
The spiritual center of Saturday night was a U2Charist, which is a Rite II service, using the music of U2 interwoven with the liturgy. U2 is an unabashedly Christian band, and have never disguised their faith being part of their music. Bono has put his money where his mouth is, and has been a passionate advocate over the last 25 years for just distributions of resources. From the opening notes of Beautiful Day, to Gloria, 40 and God Part II, I could see the transformation in front of me. Many of those present said it was the highlight of the convention, and caused them to think of secular music in a different light. A top 40 hit like Mysterious Ways or One could be a worship song. On Sunday, the teens were an integral part of worship, acting as acolytes and lectors as well as sharing the prayers of the people they wrote based on their experiences. The closing speaker was WNBA superstar Olympia Scott, who is just amazing to hear speak.The fun highlight was a late night game of glow stick tag! Most participants wished that the convention ran longer, and were sad to see it end. I know I was.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUbZoQvKJ9U&feature=youtube_gdata_player