LCMS Convention Workbook St. Louis, Missouri — 1981, Sheet 342

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Debbie Colberg, 18, Arnold, MO: St.
John (MO); student. S. Jubilee Rep. 1. D. Yth.
1. C. Yth. Bd. 3; Drama Club 3; SS Teacher 2.
O. Athletics 5; Nat]. Honor Soc. 2; H.S. honor
roll 3; Girl Scouts 10.

Jonathan J. Coyne, 18, San Francisco,
CA: Zion (CNH); student. S. Conv. Yth. Dele. 2.
D. Yth. Com. 2; Explo 1979, 1; Joy in Ministry
2; Forum 1. C. Rest Home Visitation 1; Yth.
Group Vice-Pres. 3; school choirs 7. O. CA
Scholarship Fed. 1, H.S. choir 1; Red Cross
Volunteer 2.

Dana Duensing, 20, Bremen, KS:
Immanuel (KS); college student. S. Dele. Side
by Side 1. D. Yth. Com. 3; Cir. Yth. 1. C. Yth.
Treas. 1, Yth. Vice-Pres. 1. O. Camp Csalr. 1.

Gary V. Gehlbach, 19, Lincoln, IL: Zion
(CI); college student. S. Yth. Conv. 1. D. Yth.
Conv. Dele. 2. C. Yth. Pres. 1; Yth. Treas. 1. O.
Jr. Achievement 3; Natl. Jr. Achievers Conf. 3.

Stephen Hartman, 17, Moore, OK: St.
John (OK); student. C. Yth. Pres. 1; Yth. Vice-
Pres. 1.

Jan Hoyer, 19, Kearney, NE: Holy Cross
(NEB); student. S. BYM 2. D. LSV 1; ‘‘Yes” 1;
“Celebrate” 1. C. Yth. Pres. 1; VBS Teacher 1;
Organist 6.

Mark A. Joachim, 17, Agar, SD: St. John
(SD); farmer.

Trudi Rateike, 18, Arlington Heights,
IL: St. Peter (NI): student. D. Bd. Parish
Services 2; Yth. Standing Com. 2. C. Yth. Com.
3; Discipleship Com. 1; Yth. Exec. 4.

S.T. Williams Jr., Gary, IN: Trinity (IN);
Student. D. Pres. of N.W. Region of Indiana
Yth. 1. C. Pres. Yth. Group 3; Pres. City Yth.
Group 2.

William D. Cochran

1. I have been active in all levels of youth
ministry since I began teaching 12 years
ago. I have been District chairperson for
the Southern Illinois District. I have been
involved in planning local and District
gatherings. I attended many workshops in
the area of youth ministry.

2. Iam very pleased with the progress Synod
has made in reunifying the church. I was
very impressed with the recent youth
gathering and Synod commitment to our
young people.

2. In addition to the great amount of overseas
mission work we are already doing, I would
like to see Synod involved in keeping the
members we now have and do more local
evangelism; also address ourselves to
society and its effects on our young people.

Dennis E. Wallinger

1. Having had the opportunity of serving two
different congregations in my ministry I
have had the privilege of working with
youth for 10 years. In that time, with the
Lord’s blessings, different programs for
various age groups were developed and
grew spiritually and physically.

2. Synod’s approval of the disbanding of
Walther League put our youth in second
place in our priorities. With Lutheran Youth
Fellowship youth again are able to be a
vital part of the church today and not
tomorrow. Lutheran Youth Fellowship will
experience growth with youth involvement
in the church.

3. Our church has serious need of full-time
church workers. This need must be shared
with all congregations. Special emphasis
should be directed towards junior high and
high school youth, sharing with them the
needs and satisfactions of serving our Lord
as full-time ministers. The world and Synod
continues to grow, so does the need for full-
time church workers. The Great Commis-
sion cannot be effectively carried out unless
this need is filled.

Lynn R. Gergens *

1. Having been a youth leader since the age of
15 and presently serving as a counselor to

NOMINATIONS

youth and as a young-adult leader, I feel
that I understand and know the needs of
our youth and young adults—the two
elements of our church towards which the
work of the BYM is directed.

2. I take great joy in the fact that God is
blessing our Synod as it expands its minis-
try inside and outside of our own church.
Our pastors and our laymen are taking an
active part in fulfilling Jesus’ Great Com-
mission to us with the support and
encouragement of our Synod.

3. Our Synod should and is moving toward
fulfilling the Great Commission of our Lord
by training and equipping our people to be
and to make disciples. Our base should be
found in the inspired Word of God and our
goals and our attitudes and programs
should reflect this.

William E. Schultz

1. Ihave been involved in numerous phases of
youth ministry since! was a teenager. Iam
aware of the problems, the joys, and the
frustrations. Perhaps my ability to share
and grow right with youth is the most
important qualification.

2. Iam excited to see that we as a body of
Christ are concerning ourselves with
spreading the Good News. It is great to see
evangelism and missions taking on a more
important role.

3. In Love—Under God’s direction—Prayer-
fully—As fast as possible.

Robert A. Dargatz

1. Iam a young, single pastor with the time
and interest in serving the young people of
our Synod in the establishing of programs
and policies to meet their needs through a
synodical youth organization. I’m privi-
leged to work with college-aged people on
the campus of Christ College.

2. I am joyful that the Synod is back on the
right track in regard to its commitment to
Scripture, and I’m pleased with our renewed
enthusiasm in the area of missions and
evangelism. I’m glad that we are trying to
revive our synodical youth organization.

3. The Synod needs to continue to equip the
saints. We need to make full use of the
nourishment to be found in the Word and
Sacraments and exhort one another to use
these gifts of God regularly. We need to take
discipleship seriously and motivate one
another to use our time, treasure, and
talents to God’s glory and the upbuilding of
Christ’s body. We need to reach out to all
more effectively, praying for divine
guidance.

William O. Karpenko *

1. The Lord has given me the opportunity to
minister to and with young people, both
here and in our mission fields. Because of
these experiences, I believe I bring three
needed perspectives to the BYM: an under-
standing of local congregations’ youth
ministry, a sensitivity to multicultural and
international youth ministry.

2. Greatest joy: Seeing the redevelopment of
an organizational structure (LYF) that
enables young people to grow in their faith
in Christ, exercise their leadership gifts,
and link up with other young Lutheran
Christians beyond their local congregation.
Greatest disappointment: Having to cut
back on needed publications, events, and
programs due to a lack of synodical
funding.

3. In its ministry to and with youth, I believe
that the Synod, in response to the Great
Commission, needs to pursue the following
five actions: (1) continue to sponsor and/or
support large group gatherings which
enthuse and empower young people; (2)
continue to recruit, train, and maintain
overseas volunteers for service in Japan
and other partner churches; (3) continue to

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develop and offer local parish-training
events such as the Gospel Communication
Clinic.

Sue Ashby
l—-
2 —
3. —

Debbie Colberg

1. The mostimportant reason is: I know Jesus
Christ as my loving Lord, and I realize it is
my mission (because of this love) to serve
Him by serving others. I yearn forall youth
to share in the “eternal high” of Jesus
Christ. My spiritual serving gift is
leadership.

2. Our themes, “That We May Grow” and
“God Opens Doors,” show we are building
ona firm foundation. “Jubilee, Christ set us
free,” was a wonderful building block for
our youth. My disappointment is a lack of
follow through and adult leadership on a
congregational level.

3. The devil is strong on the earth, so we must
stress the need for growing in the Word.
Being strong in the Word is the only way we
can accomplish our Great Commission.
Our youth must have dedicated and loving
Christian adults sharing their excitement
about Christ. Finding this kind of adult
willing to get invovled will find youth
willing and anxious to get involved. Christ
ts alive—stress joy—and let the Holy Spirit
work!

Jonathan J. Coyne

1. [ama resident of adensely populated, West
Coast city. I have enjoyed church work for
many years and especially enjoy youth
ministry. I am concerned with the future
and well-being of the church and youth of
the church.

2. My greatest joy in the direction in which the
Synod is moving is the reestablishment of a
movement toward youth ministry. By desig-
nating one year and one convention for
youth ministry, the Synod will be capable
of reaching more youth in need of Christian
guidance.

3. I feel that the Synod should encourage
active evangelism of all people who have
not heard God’s word. I feel that this should
be done by missions and supplies sent to
help poorer people. J feel an effort should be
made by all Lutherans to spread the Gospel.
I also feel that effective efforts should be
made to relate the Gospel to the youth of our
country who are being influenced contrary
to Christ.

Dana Duensing
1 —
2. —
3.

Gary V. Gehlbach

1. Ihave been active in youth work since my
confirmation. I have attended two District
and one syodical convention as a youth
delegate. Presently I am in the DCE pro-
gram and planning to enter the seminary
in St. Louis after graduation. I want to
work with youth ministry of our Synod.

2. I am glad the Synod started a new youth
organization, LYF. The Synod is providing
resources, ideas, and activities. Through
the LYF the Synod is bringing up its youth
in the ‘nurture and admonition of the
Lord,” as it is written in Eph. 6:4.

3. The Great Commission says to go to all
nations, but many LCMS pulpits need to be
filled. I would like to see Synod reach out
and spread the Good News to the many
unchurched Americans. Synod could
budget more money for higher education to
draw more people into church work with
fewer financial burdens, Then Synod can
recruit these students to be missionaries to