While the available spots at all three Amen conferences have been filling up faster than ever, we’ve also been deluged with emails and calls asking us for extensions on turning in registrations and deposits. It seems that Lent and Easter sneaking up on us so early this year has made getting youth groups organized about as difficult as nailing Jell-O to a tree.
We’ve decided to extend registration through the week following Easter – groups now have until March 30 to register! You will continue to be able to download registration forms and register online at www.amen2008.org for nearly another month. This also allows groups who were having trouble being decisive (you know who you are!) to decide to attend one of the three Amen conferences this summer.
So why should you take advantage of this extension and send your youth to one of the 2008 Amen Conferences?
WORSHIP – Conferences provide many opportunities for youth and chaperones to participate in our best possible expression of traditional, Christ-centered, Lutheran worship. Three times a day, services are conducted from the Lutheran Service Book by LCMS pastors. The preaching and singing at Higher Things conference is an amazing thing to behold. Smaller groups are also invited to pray the service of Compline together each night before lights-out. Youth really come to appreciate the liturgical traditions of our churches when they are taught why we do what we do, so materials and opportunities to learn about our historical worship practices will be provided for groups both before and during the conferences.
WORK –“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,” St. Paul tells Timothy (1 Tim. 4:12). How can young people “Dare to be Lutheran” if they don’t know what it means to be a Lutheran in this world? Catechesis (religious instruction) at Higher Things conferences is known for being fairly intense – come prepared to learn! Many people today don’t think youth are capable of learning about doctrinal issues, or that they’re even interested in doing so. We have found just the opposite to be true! At our conferences, youth have many, many opportunities to learn more about their faith and its uniqueness in the Christian world. Sectional workshops are offered on a variety of subjects of interest to young people to help them understand and express a faithful perspective when talking to their friends, teachers, and families. Catechetical speakers at Higher Things conferences are pastors or laity in the LCMS.
PLAY – One of the reasons youth come to conferences is to meet other Lutherans from around the world. Higher Things conferences incorporate many fun activities as an integral part of the week! Each site we visit offers new and very different ways for youth to enjoy themselves and get to know each other – baseball games, karaoke, laser tag, hiking, square dancing, bowling, and improv comedy have all been some of the ways we’ve had fun at past conferences. We also schedule some free time so that groups can have an opportunity to have fun together during the week as well.
For more information about the conference you can…
- Visit our official conference website at www.amen2008.org.
- Email us at conferences@higherthings.org.
- Call us toll-free at 1-888-HTCONF-08. If one of our operators is not standing by for your call, leave a message and your call will be returned within a day.
Higher Things dares to be Lutheran, meaning that we don’t hide our uncompromising emphasis on the Gospel and all that Christ has done for us. Youth tell us again and again that they love Higher Things conferences because they get to spend four days immersed in hearing the about their Savior and their Christian faith. Don’t miss this additional, extended opportunity to attend one of the conferences this summer!
In Christ,
Sandra Ostapowich
2008 Amen Conference Coordinator
Higher Things, Inc.
