Add Your Memory (Popup Window)

 

	Rob Dickerson
	It was my first Gathering. I was a new youth leader and just getting to know my kids. I walked the floor of the Superdome with my wife and to look up and see 35000 kids celebrating Jesus was a powerful sight. I will never forget that feeling.
	Kelly
	2001 was a great experience. As a family group leader I was blessed with a wonderful group that made the week go by too quickly. The atmosphere of the town and the gathering will always be with me. It also was a much needed spiritual time-because the Monday after that gathering I had cancer surgery. I remember them telling me to think of a happy place as I drifted off and I was remembering being in the mass events with everyone surrounding me and knowing that God would be with us there (even furing the sad times) and with me on that operating table.
	Sandy Tibus
	2001 was my first gathering and I will never forget it! The overwelming joy of hearing 35,000 people scream "AMEN" in song; the man who brought us water as we picked up garbage off the street during our servant event and the woman who brought out water and cookies; the endless stream of purple backpacks; the speeches-it was all phenomenal!
	Martina Wolf
	New Orleans was my first gathering. I was in high school at the time and it was such a rewarding experiences as a high schooler to be involved in such a way with the community. I remember being asked by soooo many people why we had purple backpacks on. One lady with a big funny hat in Burger King was the most memorable. She told me what a good thing we were doing and what a great influence we were having on the community. We even made the newspapers. I also served as a YAV in Orlando the past two years; but nothing can ever compare to everyone in the Super Dome, singing, celebrate, and dancing. It was such a great experience and I can't wait to go back to New Orleans this next time!
	Tom
	2001 was my second youth gathering. Each one touched me differently. I went to more of the speakers and I feel that I go so much more out of it than Called to Be. However the music seemed so much slower and caused my youth group to not get into the event as much. The only thing I am a little concerned about was that the restaurants were not ready for us. I remember having to wait in lines for 30 to 40 minutes at fast food restaurants, and some restaurants ran out of food. That however is out of the control of the LCMS and the city. Enough about the bad, I remember that the city really welcomed us in. There was one street clown that said that he comes out every day and talks to people about Jesus. I just remember thinking how cool is that! This man goes out into the city dresses up weird and serves. That really got to me. I do not remember what any of the speakers said, but I remember that clown. While I enjoyed Called to Be better, I feel that I learned and grew as a Christian so much more at Higher Ground. Now as a DCE I am excited about returning.
	James Jump
	As youth director and first time attending a National Youth Gathering, it was awesome to see the thousands of youth take over the city of New Orleans. The beginning of each event when you could see many of the youth groups carrying their banners in the dome was impressive. The quality of the speakers, music and events is very moving. Perhaps my favorite moment was helping to serve communion...that was the moment I knew I was going God's work and to experience that with my pastor and youth was life changing!
	Debi
	I will never forget the huge pile of purple backpacks. What a joy to see all those backpacks roaming through NOLA. What an experience to be in the superdome with thousands of Christian youth. It is an event our youth will never forget. Can't wait for 2010
	Kari
	I attended the 2001 NYG in NOLA and how could I possibly forget the experiance. It was my first national gathering experiance and it was AMAZING!!! The theme of Higher Ground was very appropriate and every activity was very well thought out! The city welcomed the thousands of Lutherans invading their city with open arms. I enjoyed how everything was with in walking distance. I can remember being in such awe walking into the super dome for the first time just thinking how AWESOME it was that that many people, TEENS for that matter, had gathered all for the same reason!! I can still feel that feeling and see all those flashes from cameras if i close my eyes!! NOLA is an amazing place for the gathering and I'm glad to here we're heading back there in 2010!!!
	Mary Halberg
	Memories from "Higher Ground", the 2001 LCMS Youth Gathering in New Orleans are forever etched in my heart and soul. We took 22 youth with us. I remember watching one of our own youth perform on the banks of the mighty Mississippi in a torrential rain storm. We were wet & muddy but we were wet & muddy together. I remember the day our young people cleaned up the backyard and painted the house of a 93 year old woman. When our four hour alloted servant time was coming to an end, I was deeply touched by the pleadings from our youth to just let them paint & serve a little while longer. We were touched by the warm welcome from the people of NOLA. I remember the cab driver who couldn't figure out why Christians would send their youth to "Sin City" but so grateful that we had come. Everywhere we went in New Orleans, the people were kind and encouraging. Finally, we will never forget celebrating Corey's arrival to "Victory Ground". We didn't know Corey or his family but we cried and prayed for them. Somehow, we were sure that Corey had landed safely in "Victory Ground". I have attended four Gatherings with wonderful youth from Immanuel/Albuquerque. Each one was awesome but "Higher Ground" remains the one that continues to stir my soul. Thank you LCMS Youth Ministry.
	Candice Bicondoa
	The 2001 New Orleans Youth Gathering was the first one I had attended. I went as a youth participant with almost twenty others from my church. Whenever I think back to this experience I am overwhelmed with memories. One that always sticks with me comes from one of our servant events. For one of them we were scraping off paint from a woman's house and helping clean up her backyard. When we were walking around her neighborhood cleaning up garbage many people came to us and thanked us for our generosity. They said they were hopeful for our country because of kind youth like ourselves. It impacted me because to us, it wasn't a big deal what we were doing. For the people of New Orleans, it was life changing. They saw how respectful and hardworking youth can be and that has always stuck with me. I praise God that I was able to attend the next two gatherings and I pray I am able to return to New Orleans in 2010!
	Beth
	I was apart of the 1992 Youth Gathering. It was the first one I had ever attended. I remember it vividly only because after practicing with the national Choir I fell in a pothole and broke my ankle. I can still remember today the feeling of the Holy Spirit moving you as you sang and worshiped with people your own age. I will never forget the crowds and how Great it was to see so many people there all for the same reason, to Glorify the name of the Lord Almighty. Now as the High School Youth Ministry Leader I am looking so forward to the chance to be apart of something so spectacular. I know that after Katrina things will apear different, but God is unchanging and is with us through the good and the bad.
	Annie
	What an amazing time the NYG was in New Orleans. I was apart of the 2001 Higher Ground gathering and it could not have been more properly named! When my church group left and went home from the week we were on a Jesus High! It touched my life in ways that I could not ever explain. I now possess a degree in Lutheran Classroom Teaching and Director of Christian Education. Every time there is another gathering I have been apart of it in some possible way. It broke my heart when Katrina hit New Orleans... Memories of NYG 01 came flooding back into my mind! Praise to God for such an amazing and diverse place in this great nation of ours!
	Tysen Bibb
	I just remember having so many good talks with my youth leaders and getting the feeling that "I'm not alone in this Jesus thing." At the time I had just graduated high school and was just starting to ask some big questions about faith and life. The "Higher Ground" theme and messages that week filled me immensely. New Orleans was over six years ago for me but I can still close my eyes and go back. I still have my purple backpack. PS...Concordia schools rock!
	Lesley Gommels
	I went to the Gathering in 1992 in New Orleans! Boy was that AWESOME!!!! there were so many people there!! GREAT to gather in one place like that!! I have been a counselor on 2 more of the Gatherings - 2004 and 2007, both in Orlando. I am hoping to be able to be a counselor again in 2010!
	Erin Janetzke
	Higher ground was my first NYG and it will always be one to remember. I made great friends and even met my husband there. It was in New Orleans that my life picture became clear. We now live in Houston, Texas. We were not in direct line of Katrina, but we sure felt her wake. We had students come to the Lutheran high schools here and heard their stories. It is awesome that our church body can bring so many hands to help in a place that means so much to so many people. We have returned just a couple of months ago from "Chosen" 2007, but I am already looking forward to NOLA 2010.
	Jeff Kullmann
	The 2001 LCMS NYG in New Orleans was such an awesome experience! The theme "Higher Ground" was very appropriate. As we were in New Orleans, below sea level, it reminded us that without God in our life, we are not on solid ground. But because of HIS love for us, he sent his son to live a perfect life, sacrifice HIS life for us on the cross, and raise again from the dead so that we would be washed clean and stand on "Higher Ground" because of HIM! I had waited my whole life to go to a NYG and finally I was going as a Chaperone. The experience, due to my close relationship with the youth, and of course the presence of our Savior and Lord touched me spiritually in a way I had never been touched. My first NYG in New Orleans will always be very, very special to me and will always be my favorite NYG!