RYMS (Redeemer Youth Ministries)

Reporting for the RYMS National Youth Gathering Team: Emmy

I joined Redeemer Lutheran Church about a year ago, and honestly, it was the best thing that could of happened to me. My faith back then wasn’t strong; actually it had decreased drastically from when I was younger. But, as soon as I got to Redeemer, I got involved in tons of really fun and God-related activities in the youth program at the church. I made lots of new friends and for the first time in my life I had a true connection with God.

Then Pastor Squires started talking about this gathering, this National youth gathering of some 30,000 Christians-my age! There was nothing anybody could say to change my mind; I needed to go! Time flew for the next few months, all together there would be 17 of us (3 adults and 14 youth) going down to ORLANDO, FLORIDA, where the gathering was to be held. And finally, we were ready, ready to renew friendships, ready to face the crowd of 35,000 people, and ready to praise God on a whole new level.

Well, after 2 ½ days of being somewhat uncomfortable in 2 vans, we were there. And it was HOT! But from what I remember, we were still excited to get going. It’s hard to imagine the population of Manitowoc in 1 huge room, but that’s what it was like! The “mass gatherings” were mind boggling: All 35,000 of us, in 1 huge room, singing, attempting to dance, and listening to speakers talk about the theme of the day (there were 5 themes: Love, Truth, Serve, Praise, and Live). We even saw this play that continued on each night, and truthfully I didn’t understand it!

The theme of the entire gathering was “Beyond Imagination,” and wow, this gathering was beyond imagination. There was always something to do, from the concerts, to the Outer Limits( a place that we could go to play sports, ride on Amusement Park rides and check out our district booths), to going and listening to a speaker of some sort (my favorite speaker was David Dean, a Christian comedian). Everyone found something to do!

In the morning, we would attend Bible Study, and that reminded us that we were all there for a bigger reason. And that was to put all of us into God’s hands. To love him, to trust him, to serve him, to praise and to live for him. That was the big picture. And I know I walked away from the gathering 100% solidified in Christ, and what He did for me, and I just felt...new. Like my eyes had truly been opened, and my heart truly filled with God’s love. I will never forget this experience, this experience that was truly beyond imagination.