For many youth in the Virginia Synod, this isn’t just another summer. In May and June they put on their iconic caps and gowns, walked across a stage and accepted a piece of paper that signified that their time in high school had come to an end. These recent grads are in the middle of two major life phases, a time in life that comes with a jumble of emotions from excitement to anxiety.
As someone who is passionate about youth ministry, Pastor Dave Delaney, the Synod’s Director for youth and young adult ministry, saw an opportunity to serve the youth that he had gotten to know through middle school and high school youth events. Several years ago he started new event called LAUNCH for recent high school graduates.
“I think Launch is designed to provide a healthy transition from high school life into college life and beyond and to really equip us for serving the church out in the world when we have finished with all the staple Synod youth events that everyone already knows like Kairos and Winter Celebration,” said Bradley Fielding, one of the participants of Launch this year who will be attending Northwestern University in Chicago in the Fall.
Launch typically draws a smaller crowd than the other Synod Events.
This year Pastor Dave Delaney (far left) and the summer intern Lauren Harris (far right) were joined by six participants (pictured from left to right) : Bradley Fielding from Trinity Lutheran in Newport News, Korin Freeman from Luther Memorial in Blacksburg, Celeste Wilson from Christ Lutheran in Fredericksburg, Merrill Harmison from Muhlenberg in Harrisonburg, Maren Corliss from St. Timothy in Norfolk, and Adam Hall from Christ Lutheran in Roanoke.
“Even though it’s a smaller community, you get to know everyone a lot better than you would at Kairos,” said Maren, who will soon be a student at James Madison University. “It has been really amazing how we have gotten so close in the past three days.”
During Launch the participants are able to talk with each other but Pastor Delaney also brings in several speakers from across the Synod including some current college students who grew up through the Synod Youth events.
“It has been really nice to hear about the experiences of the college student panelist who all come from a similar background as me and have come up through the youth events,” said Maren.
One night during the event Pastor Dave invites all the participants and several young adults over to his home for some famous Delaney Pizza and conversation. College students shared roommate stories, tips about how to meet new friends.
“The biggest piece of advice that people have been repeating, which I felt like I already knew but had forgotten, is to really get involved, especially in the church community.” said Adam Hall. “I am fortunate enough to be going to Virginia Tech and Tech has a fantastic Lutheran campus ministry program.”
Along with young adults, pastors and individuals involved in campus ministry were also invited to come speak with the group.
“I think what has really been helpful for me has been having several older, more experienced speakers who work in Youth Ministry, campus ministry, teaching,” said Bradley. “The theological base for me has been very important and I have been able to spend my free time here delving deeper into some Lutheran theological concepts about vocation and what exactly makes Lutherans different from other denominations.”
Korin and Celeste will be going to the University of Mary Washington together in the fall and both of them listed Rev. Paul Henrickson as the speaker who left the biggest impression.
“Paul asked us who we aspired to be and why. He then picked out words that we were using describe that person that revealed what our passions might be,” said Korin.
“All of us said that the people who we found to be inspirational had very strong faith and we all wanted to maintain that faith, said Celeste “He told us to hold onto that inspiration.”
Bishop Mauney also came to Launch to share with the students how important they are to the body of Christ and how important that a community of believers will be for them.
“I like what Bishop Mauney was saying about approaching a pastor and asking how to contribute; asking what the church needs and how I can help fill that need as well as finding a church congregation so that you can have varied age ranges,” said Merrill who will be attending the College of William and Mary. “I can see how that would be something that is really important in college.”
As the participants had all of these conversations, they were able to challenge each other and themselves. They have been given the opportunity to intentional thing through what they want their college experience to look like and hopefully left the event feeling more prepared.
Adam Hall said that he came to Launch with expectation of coming back with advice and that he was leaving with bits of wisdom.
“I think I will always be a little nervous regardless, so that hasn’t really changed, but getting this one last experience is really reassuring and comforting.”
