Youth Commission President’s Address
Diocesan Convention 2004

My name is Ellie Evans and I’m this year’s Youth Commission President. I’ve been on the Youth Commission for over three years; three years that have shown changes. I think it’s safe to say that we’ve officially broken Father Terrence in.

The youth program is moving right along. Next weekend will we holding this Diocese’s 19^th Happening weekend, with another planned for the Spring. We are also planning the Senior High 30-Hour Famine, an overnight event with the intent to raise money to combat poverty. We’ve also included a Junior High Retreat on our calendar. The earlier we get youth involved, the more likely we can get them to stay.

Aside from our Annual Acolyte Festival to be held at Grace Church, we are hoping to plan more events with your help. This upcoming summer of 2005, we youth have the unique opportunity to demonstrate the nature and diversity of this Diocese on a National level at the Episcopal Youth Event in Berea, Kentucky. I hope that you encourage your youth to apply.

All of these Events could not be possible without your continuing support. I’d like to thank all the parishes who have hosted us, plan on hosting us, or have just sent a van full of youth to our events. We on the Youth Commission appreciate your hospitality and generosity.

We also ask for everyone’s ongoing support to help the Youth Commission achieve its goal of encouraging more youth to participate on the parish and diocesan level so that we may include more youth and get more youth involved. I spoke to a fellow high school senior at our convention in August who told me if she only knew about these kinds of events and the Youth Commission, she would have gotten involved much sooner.

I implore you to help us bridge the communication gap that has plagued our youth program at least for as long as I’ve been involved as the Youth Commission explores new ways of increasing this communication. That way, we may be able to further develop a youth program that will provide many generations of youth with an environment that will help them grow with Christ. Thank you.

--Ellie Evans
St. Ambrose, Ft. Lauderdale

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