AMIGOS decides theme for Global Youth Summit 2009

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, are dedicated to global youth networking, encouraging intergenerational dialogue, and organizing GYS 2009. They met in Asuncion, Paraguay July 30–Aug. 4.

AMIGOS committee members (l–r) Sarah Thompson (USA), Barbara Kaercher (Germany), Elina Ciptadi (Singapore), Amandus Reimer (Paraguay), and Khohlwani Moyo (Zimbabwe).

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 [28 delegates from 23 countries along with 200 other young participants] spent a lot of time looking inward. Building on the momentum generated in Africa, we believe it’s 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 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 experiences 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.”

—MWC release