AMIGOS increases fundraising goal

AMIGOS, Mennonite World Conference’s global youth committee, has increased its fundraising goal from $100,000 to $150,000 to sponsor young people around the world to come to the Global Youth Summit (GYS), held in conjunction with MWC’s Paraguay 2009 assembly.

Sarah Thompson, AMIGOS secretary and North America representative, says the group hopes to raise the majority of funds in Canada and the U.S., acknowledging that the church in North America controls 95 percent of Mennonite–Anabaptist monetary resources worldwide.

AMIGOS committee (l–r) Elina Ciptadi (Asia), Sarah Thompson (North America), Amandus Reimer (Latin America), Barbara Kaercher (Europe), and Khohlwani Moyo (Africa).

Along with the sponsorships, the funds will be used to cover AMIGOS and the Paraguay-based planning committee’s expenses from 2007 to 2009.

“We’re grateful for the support we’ve been getting from various institutions and individuals,” said Elina Ciptadi, AMIGOS chairperson and Asia representative. “We have a good mix of people participating – young people and adult supporters, as well as individual and institutional donors.”

AMIGOS was established in 2004 to maintain and build on the momentum arising from GYS 2003. The committee consists of one representative from each of the five continental regions.

Mennonite Central Committee has already donated $50,000 under the Challenge Fund. To raise the additional funds, AMIGOS will work to contact youth and young adult groups, inviting them to match the Challenge Fund and raise $100,000.

Globally, AMIGOS is encouraging individuals or institutions to sponsor a delegate to the upcoming GYS.

“We also want to promote the GYS to potential delegates and participants early, encouraging them to look forward to what God has in store for them in Paraguay and to plan financially to partially fund their own trip,” said Ciptadi.

About 200 young people funded their own trips to the first GYS held in Zimbabwe in 2003.

“Service: Live the Difference” is the main theme for the upcoming GYS. Ciptadi says she receives positive feedback when she tells people about AMIGOS, and many church leaders have expressed that they “now understand some youth issues they were unaware of.”

She says these issues include communication gaps between youth and church leaders, and youth leaving the church because they don’t think the church understands or addresses real life issues, such as unemployment, access to education, and the influence of individualism.

Now the challenge lies in addressing these issues at church and global levels, Ciptadi says. “This is a big goal, but through our network of contact people and future GYS participants we hope to plant seeds of sustainable intergenerational dialogue.”

—Anna Groff for Meetinghouse

Carmyn Hildebrand, of McIvor MB Church in Winnipeg, is the Canadian MB representative to Global Youth Summit 2009 in Paraguay. This is your first GYS experience. What are you excited about? The summit holds the opportunity to meet Christians from around the world, the chance to dialogue and hear from Mennonite youth and the issues they are passionate about, the ability to travel, and simply attending a world event like GYS . . . it’s all very exciting! What do you expect to accomplish on the trip? The goals are not only for the trip to Paraguay, but also the years leading up to it. We want to raise awareness among Canadian youth about the global church and the issues that it is facing. Once in Paraguay, I hope to build relationships, to learn more about churches and Mennonites around the world. Most importantly, we want to challenge youth to be intentional and passionate about their faith and living out God’s kingdom here on earth! Why do you think it’s important that Canadian youth get involved? North American Christians represent 25 percent of the world’s Christian population, yet we possess 95 percent of the wealth. In addition to this, we are privileged to live in a country where we may practice our faith freely and without persecution. We now have a responsibility to be good stewards with God’s blessings! I think it is important for Canadian youth to get a chance to be a part of the global church. They will relish the opportunity to see the world and be challenged to dream big and make a difference in the name of Jesus Christ. GYS is an incredible opportunity and I pray all our churches will encourage and support their youth to get involved.