National Youth Gathering 2016: In Christ Alone

1. Welcome National Youth Gathering 2016 In Christ Alone

2. Why NYG? • Reaches out to youth and helps equip them for ministry • Gives them an opportunity to take ownership of their faith in a safe environment • Meet other LCMS youth from around the United States • Grow in a deeper knowledge and understanding of Christ

3. Theme www.lcmsgathering.com

4. Theme • Focuses on the book of Philippians • Bible Studies can be found online under “lead” tab • Subthemes • Identity • Humility • Community

5. ELIGIBILITY • The Gathering is intended for High School Youth 14-19 • To register for the 2016 National LCMS Youth Gathering, youth participants must meet ONE of these two requirements. • (1) Those who are 14 years of age at the time of the Gathering • (2) Those entering his or her ninth grade year at the time of the Gathering • Youth participants must also not have turned 21 by the time of the Gathering

6. Youth to Adult Ratios Adult leaders are those participants 21or older at the time of the Gathering. The NYG promotes a ratio of youth to adults in order to provide sufficient space for youth to attend the event. The youth to adult ratio is flexible to adjust for your church’s needs/policies. ALL GROUPS MUST HAVE AT LEAST 2 ADULTS. (Even if you only have 2 kids, what if you got sick and were the only adult? Talk about a Nightmare!)

7. Background Checks • Churches are in charge of securing their own background checks as needed by church policies • The Gathering recommends getting background checks on all adult leaders • If your congregation cannot afford background checks contact Amy Mews at the Indiana District Office amy.mews@in.lcms.org District offers Limited Criminal Background Checks for free National Checks will have a cost of approximately $15 per person Contact Amy Mews to obtain a form to request background checks, it can take over a week once the completed form is given to Amy

8. Primary Adult Leader • Each congregation designates one PAL • This is the one person from the congregation that will communicate between the Gathering office and the congregation

9. Registering • Registration will take place online at www.lcmsgathering.com • Begin entering registration information on September 9th, 2015 • You must register using your Congregational ID given to you on the Gathering material you received in the mail • If your congregational ID is lost you must contact Krista Miller Krista.Miller@lcms.org • You may submit the online information on October 21st, 2015 • After registering online you must mail the following to the Gathering office • Pastoral Affirmation Form for each youth signed by the pastor • $100 non refundable deposit per person all on one check • Full registration amount can be paid at the Gathering • For quick check in at NYG, send payment to the Gathering office by May 4th

10. Registration • Follow post mark rules • THEY WILL MAIL PAPERWORK BACK IF IT IS SENT IN EARLY • January 2016 is when you’ll get your official acceptance

11. Forms Youth Participant Worksheet Adult Participant Worksheet Special Needs Form Pastoral Affirmation Form Registration Account Form All forms will be available at the Gathering website

12. Special Needs • Things to ask yourself • Does this youth or adult already have special needs? • Hearing Impaired • Vision Impaired • Mobility Impaired • High Functioning Autism • Will something become an issue? • Surgeries close to the date • Crutching around New Orleans in July is no fun

13. Other Forms to Bring • Your Church Medical Forms • If your Church doesn’t have one, contact Amy Mews and she’ll send District’s amy.mews@in.lcms.org • Your Church’s Group Covenant • Sample Covenants will be made available at the Gathering Website • Emergency Contact Information

14. Payment OptionsPay by using: • LCEF Account- Lutheran Church Extension Fund • Check or Money Order • Checks must be drawn on the congregation or youth group bank account • One check per congregation • A cashier’s check or money order may be sent in lieu of a congregation or youth group check • Make checks, money orders, or cashier's checks payable to the LCMS Youth Gathering • Congregational ID number must be included on check memo line • Personal checks and cash are not accepted and will be returned • A $50 fee will be assessed for any check returned with insufficient funds

15. Cancellations • A $100 charge per person will be retained for cancellations made on or before May 4th, 2016 • No refunds will be issued after May 5th, 2016 • Substitutions may be made until June 1st, 2016 and will not be accepted after June 1st nor on-site.

16. Important Dateswww.lcmsgathering.com/attend/ • September 9th , 2015-October 20th, 2015 • You may input information into the Gathering Registration page • October 21st, 2015 • You may submit your registration online and mail your pastoral affirmation forms and deposit • Address and information will be in the packet mailed to you by the LCMS Youth Ministry Office • January, 2016 • Receive your official acceptance to the National Youth Gathering • March, 2016 • PAL receives hotel assignment • April, 2016 • Hotel deposit is due (1 full night stay for each room of hotel), deposit sent to the LCMS Youth Ministry Office • May 4th, 2016 • Try to pay Gathering Registrations in full by this date for quick registration check in at the NYG • May 5th, 2016 • No cancellations/refunds after this point; substitutions still allowed • June 1st, 2016 • No substitutions allowed after this point • Saturday, July 16th • 8:30pm Mass Event Mercedes Benz Superdome • Wednesday, July 20th • 12:00pm End of Gathering

17. Sample BudgetOne Youth(Based on 5 days, 4 nights) • Gathering Registration $325 • Gathering Housing $260 • Based on $150/night (most expensive), 3 youth, and 30% in hotel taxes • Travel to NOLA $300 • Depends on mode/location (District is putting a bus together- $200 per person in 2013) • Travel in NOLA $50 • Depends on mode/location/if it’s needed • Food (min $30/day) $150 • Gathering Offering $10 • District Event, T Shirt, and mission donation (TBD) $50 • Special Group Outing $50 • Determined by your group • Estimated Total $1,195

18. Tax Exempt Information New Orleans does not accept tax exemptions Keep this in mind if you’re planning to purchase hotels, food, paper ware, or other things in New Orleans

19. Hotel Information • Level One • $149 per night: Hilton New Orleans Riverside AND Hyatt Regency New Orleans • Located next to either Superdome or Convention Center • Will have morning Bible Studies and exclusive night life • All groups with special needs participants WILL be housed in one of these two hotels • Level Two • $130-$139 per night: Like Sheraton and Marriot • Walkable distance to Dome and Convention Center • Level Three • $119-$129 per night: Like Holiday Inn • Located up to 1 mile from Gathering venues

20. Transportation • Flying • Driving • Keep in mind, some hotels will charge for parking and may or may not offer in/out privileges • Trains • Greyhound Buses • District Bus • Contact Larry Hencye ASAP if you’re interested in this lhencye@hotmail.com • Price for District Bus won’t be determined until January 2016

21. Fundraising • Part of almost every youth ministry • LCMS Youth Gathering Planners, Adult Leaders, and theESource are great resources! www.youthesource.com • A great time to get to know others • A way for your group to bond • Allows youth to use leadership, creativity, and organizational skills • Lets the youth be visible in the congregation • Gives the congregation a chance to support the youth

22. Basic Schedule • Mass Events/Worship • Held at the Mercedes Benz Superdome • 5K walk/run • Sunday, July 17th MUST REGISTER BEFORE GATHERING • Bible Study Sessions • In the morning at hotels or the convention center • Academy Sessions, Simulations, Off-Site Servant Opportunities, and Workshops • Must register for prior to attending the Gathering • Experiential Learning (District Booths, Exhibitors, On-Site Servant Events, Learning Floors, Simulations) • Convention Center • Interest Session • In-Depth Learning sessions located throughout the Convention Center and hotels • Mass Events Plus and Night Life • Available soon after the Mass Events at the Dome or specific hotels

23. District Opportunities • T-shirt design is in the works, cost will be $7-12 per person • District event is being planned for Tuesday, July 19th after the Mass Event (no Mass Event Plus that night) • Churches will have an opportunity to help for 2 hours blocks at the District booth • We’re asking for popcorn donations to hand out at the district booth (about 1 box per person) • Boxes of 20 bags can be found for $5 at Walmart • In 2013, 6,500 bags of popcorn were passed out • Our booth will participate in the School Supplies Scavenger hunt so we need monetary donations to participate

24. Updates • NYG Adult Leader page on facebook • www.lcmsgathering.com • Signing up for Gathering emails • Gathering webinars hosted by the Gathering office • Gathering’s Youtube: LCMS Gathering • Past webinars are stored on here • Snail Mail

25. District Coordinators 2016 Larry Hencye lhencye@hotmail.com (260)-422-7931 and Sarah Rice Concordia.Rice@gmail.com (314)-330-3782

26. Have questions? Need help?Contact one of the following: