AFFIRM 2010
“I felt God at Affirm.” “Affirm changed my life.” “I love Affirm.” “I can be myself at Affirm.” “I heard God’s call to be a pastor at Affirm.” Affirm is Great!” These are just a few comments from our youth who have attended Affirm over the years. Affirm is an over 40 year old summer youth event of the ELCA Southeastern Synod, to be held June 20-25, 2009, at Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia. Affirm nurtures faith and equips youth leaders for today and tomorrow for grades 6th – 12th grades.
AFFIRM 2010 is a five-day youth event of faith, fellowship, and friends sponsored by the ELCA Southeastern Synod. Grounded in Scripture, the event offers youth the opportunity to develop the ministry/life skills that allow each individual to know and live out God’s affirming touch in Jesus Christ. Affirm nurtures faith and equips youth leaders for today and tomorrow. Over 75 adults serve on the Affirm Staff. We are so fortunate to have these awesome volunteers give their time to our youth. AFFIRM 2010 will be held at the Berry College in Mount Berry, Georgia. AFFIRM 2010 will begin on Sunday, June 20 and conclude on Friday, June 25.
This year's theme will be announced soon so please check back frequently for more information.
The cost includes lodging, all meals from Sunday supper through Friday lunch, an event T-shirt, and all program costs. This year the cost is $350.00. Check with your church youth advisor for congregational scholarships and/or transportation planning for this event. Scholarship assistance is available from AFFIRM. Please fill out the Scholarship Form included in this registration packet and return before March 1.
We are so excited to offer online Registration and payment through Paypal this year at www.sesyouth.org. (This is our 2nd year working with online registration; please bare with us as we work out the details.) Online registration will make registering for Affirm easier for you and will help us communicate quickly with the participants and parents. At the website, you will have access to Affirm and other events, you’ll be able to leave messages for friends, share prayer requests with the community, you’ll know about the latest youth news around the synod and ELCA and much more! So go to www.sesyouth.org and set up your profile now!
Online registration is now available. You can pay now using paypal or choose pay later and mail a check.
Three years ago we started a new unit for Young Adults interested in intense Youth Ministry Training called the Youth Ministry Institute. YAYMI was designed for the college freshman and sophomore who would like to serve in the church as youth workers. Last year we felt a need to begin another new unit called Cruciformity. This unit is designed to enable individuals to gain insight and understanding that ministry embodies and bears witness to the cross of Christ. It is through this cruciform existence that we will explore our call to mission and our Lutheran identity in Disaster Preparedness and Response.
The Units
GENESIS - for youth who have completed 6th - 7th grade Genesis (a new creation) is a high energy, fun, "feel good" unit, designed to help seventh graders see that they are special and unique children of God who can have fun being Christians. They will be able to see how fellow Christians can work together to share the Good News. They will see themselves as God's work of art, creates to live the Good Life through Jesus Christ and the Church. LIMIT-60 youth
MISSIONARIES - for youth who have completed 8th or 9th grade Missionaries will provide youth the opportunity to explore issues of Christian living as they relate to service and witness. Youth will be invited to see themselves as an integral part of God's family and to see every person as someone whom God loves. We hope youth will grow in their understanding of God's call to be missionaries in their daily lives. Youth will be participating in off-campus service projects in the local Florence community. LIMIT-60 youth
JOURNEYS - for youth who have completed 8th - 10th grade Journeys will provide youth with the opportunity to be led to the intersections where their lives will meet Christ's in a radical new way. The Gospel story will come alive as youth engage in creative communication and small group activities. Youth will leave with a better knowledge of Jesus' journey and what meaning it has for their lives. LIMIT - 48 youth
SHEPHERDS – for youth who have completed 8th – 10th grades Shepherds is an introduction to Christian Leadership. The Shepherd is the one who tends to and cares for the group. This unit will help individuals identify leadership styles and skills, enabling them to develop a greater understanding and confidence in their role as leaders. LIMIT – 48 youth
BRIDGES - for youth who have completed 10th - 12th grades Bridges will provide an opportunity for high school youth to learn and experience the history and culture of all Americans - their music, spirituality, and struggle - as a gift. Bridges explores how barriers separate cultural groups from one another. Drawing on multi-media--MTV, popular movies, and cutting-edge music--participants will also learn creative ways to "build bridges," seeking to discover that which unites, rather than divides. LIMIT - 24 youth
EXODUS - for youth who have completed 10th - 12th grade Exodus is "A Journey from Sin and Death to Resurrection and Everlasting Life." Through this journey, participants will see and experience the abundance of God's love and grace given to us through the life, death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The Exodus journey will help the participants grow spiritually and be equipped to daily live the journey of living the faith and the grace God gives to us. LIMIT-51 youth
WORSHIPTIVITY- for youth who have completed 10th - 12th grade Worshiptivity =Worship and Creativity. This unit is designed to help individuals faithfully combine their gifts of music, drama, and art to create the worship experience for the AFFIRM community. Through planning and leading worship during the week, individuals will grow in their own spirituality and gifts. LIMIT - 54 youth
REVELATIONS - for youth who have completed 11th - 12th grade Revelations is an experiential lab in daily living. We seek to discover revelations and creative insights to help Senior High youth identify the many forces -- both good and bad-- which influence their lives. The primary objective of this unit is to help the participants experience spiritual and emotional growth in a positive and affirming community of grace. LIMIT- 36 youth
CRUCIFORMITY – for youth who have completed 10th – 11th grade Cruciformity is designed to enable individuals to gain insight and understanding that ministry embodies and bears witness to the cross of Christ. It is through this cruciform existence that we will explore our call to mission and our Lutheran identity in Disaster Preparedness and Response. LIMIT – 12 youth
YAYMI –for youth who have completed their freshman or sophomore year of college YAYMI is a small group experience for young adults who are called to be youth leaders. This unit uses an internship model whereby young adults will work with mentors and units at AFFIRM to develop their skills in small group leadership, peer ministry, leading games, Lutheran perspectives, creative bible study and discussion, and much more!
