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AMIGOS Decides Theme for Global Youth Summit 2009

ASUNCION, Paraguay — AMIGOS, the Mennonite World Conference youth committee, decided that “SERVICE: Live the Difference” will be the main theme for the Global Youth Summit (GYS) in Paraguay in 2009.

The five committee members, each representing a different continental region, is dedicated to global youth networking, encouraging intergenerational dialogue and organizing GYS 2009. They met here from July 30 to August 4, 2007.

Elina Ciptadi, former GYS delegate and now president of AMIGOS, stated, “GYS 2003 in Zimbabwe focused on trying to understand the issues and challenges faced by youth in their local communities and national society. We spent a lot of time looking inward. Building on the momentum generated in Africa, we believe it is now time for us to look outward: to start the action, showing the fruits of our faith through a lasting commitment to service.”

The theme at the GYS will provide momentum towards a more comprehensive vision of service. It follows up a service consultation between Mennonite Central Committee and Mennonite World Conference in 2006 about service within the Anabaptist family of faith.

“We want young Mennonites and Anabaptists to understand that service is a lifestyle, a lifetime calling as followers of Christ, and something to pursue beyond our comfort zone. We want to invite young people to a world of service that is so much more exciting than just donating spare change, isolated projects, service trips, or evangelism without addressing social issues. We hope biblical analysis, cross-cultural interaction and sharing of each other’s experience in ministry will deepen our understanding of service,” Ciptadi continued.

Amandus Reimer, AMIGOS vice-president and national planning coordinator for GYS 2009, stated, “We hope 850 young people from Paraguay, Latin America and throughout the world will gather here in 2009 as delegates, participants and volunteers. This event will be at least triple the size of GYS 2003 in Zimbabwe, and will be a great way to introduce Paraguay to the world as well as equipping Paraguayan youth with international exposure.”

In addition to Ciptadi (Asia) and Reimer (Central and South America), the committee includes Sarah Thompson (North America), Barbara Kaercher (Europe) and Khohlwani Moyo (Africa).

About the Global Youth Summit

The first Global Youth Summit was conducted in Zimbabwe in 2003, where 28 delegates from 23 countries discussed challenges faced by Christian youth, and how they can play a role in addressing these issues. Along with 200 other young participants who funded their own trips to Zimbabwe, the delegates discussed issues faced by youth in the church and their roles and dreams. Their discussions include better intergenerational dialogue and strategies for developing a network to connect young Mennonites and Brethren in Christ from different countries.

Many GYS alumni are strong church and social leaders with a special interest in raising awareness of issues faced by youth. They communicate these ideas so that the church can effectively address them and welcome more youth back to Christ and to the church. The initial attendees, along with an extended network of young Anabaptists who heard about GYS and the initiatives after the event, stay connected through e-mail, meetings and participation in global exchange programs.

For more information about AMIGOS and the Global Youth Summit, please contact: amigos@mwc-cmm.org

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Photo available on request: AMIGOS (left to right): Sarah Thompson (USA), Barbara Kaercher (Germany), Elina Ciptadi (Singapore), Amandus Reimer (Paraguay), Khohlwani Moyo (Zimbabwe).