The LWF young council members and young adviser during the LWF Council meeting in the town of Reformation in Wittenberg, Germany.
The Council theme was "Grounded in God's love - discerning God's future".
Photo: LWF/M.Renaux
"Freed by God's love- to change the world."
The theme of the LWF Global Young Reformers Network translates our faith into proclamation, advocacy and diakonia in the Lutheran churches worldwide.
In 2016, Lutheran youth have been engaging, advocating and praying around the world.
They are bringing their voice and contributing actively to the LWF Twelfth Assembly and the 500 years of Reformation.
See them in action and enjoy the photo-gallery!
The LWF young council members and young adviser during the LWF Council meeting in the town of Reformation in Wittenberg, Germany.
The Council theme was "Grounded in God's love - discerning God's future".
Photo: LWF/M.Renaux
May 2016: The international "Peace Academy" in Dresden, Germany.
Five young reformers from Tanzania, Guatemala and Germany joined the international gathering and presented two creative workshops: „Creating Arts: The Search of our Historical Memory and Human Rights Through Arts“ and “Luther trees & Geocaching”.
Blog: Jeder kann Reformer sein! (German)
Photo: Instagram
May 2016: Preaching competition for young Lutherans
The Lutheran World Federation is offering a young pastor the chance to preach at the Twelfth Assembly which will be held in Windhoek, Namibia next year.The preaching competition is inspired by the life and teachings of Reformer Martin Luther. He was a gifted preacher and was 33 when he nailed the 95 theses to the door of Castle Church in Wittenberg, Germany on 31 October 1517, protesting some of the practices of the church. His action is considered the beginning of what became a global movement to reform the church.
June 2016: "Liberated by God's Grace" was the theme of the Wittenberg Pilgrimage in June 2016.
The German LWF youth delegates supported as stewards and got an insight into the LWF Council
Photo: LWB/Marko Schoeneberg
June 2016: The young LWF Council members have served the Council from 2010-2017.
They present all LWF regions and come from (front row, left to right) Norway, South Korea, Indonesia, USA, Honduras and (back row, left top right) Netherlands, Sweden, Papua New Guina, Hongkong, Madagascar, Bangladesh, USA and Germany. Suriname and Ukraine are not in the picture.
Photo: LWF/M.Renaux
July 2016: "Human Luther rose" formed by young Lutherans from Brazil and 22 other countries during the youth gathering "Congrenaje" in Timbo, Brazil.
The young reformer and host Rodolfo Fuchs shared:
“In times of racial, cultural and ethnic violence, including the crisis behind the forced migration all over the world, we can always proclaim our faith in words and gestures. We believe in God who released his people from slavery, in God who sent his son to give witness to justice and therefore died on the cross to save humanity. As Lutheran Christians we proclaim that we are liberated by God's grace and that creation, human beings and salvation are not for sale,” he added, referring to the LWF Twelfth Assembly theme.
Photo: IECLB
July 2016: International young reformers met in Brazil.
“We live in different places, speak different languages and have different cultures. But those differences indeed enrich us. It was an unforgettable encounter,” says Asian Young Reformer Daniel Sinaga of the Protestant Christian Batak Church in Indonesia, seen here animating a traditional Indonesian dance to the Brazilians.
Videos of young reformers in action
Photo: IECLB/Fernanda Scherer
July 2016: Latvian Young Reformer and evangelist Gints Graudiņš receives blessings and prayers for his safe return.
The IECLB Congress was the first time every LWF member church from Latin America and the Caribbean was represented in a regional youth gathering that also included representatives from each of the seven LWF regions. They were growing in confidence as agents of change.
Photo: LWF/C. Bader
2016: "Ecclesia semper reformanda est".
The "Living Reformation projects" by the young reformers around the world are signs of hope, encouragement and compassion. Young people are agents of changes in theri churches today.
They will be presented during the LWF Twelfth Assembly and the World Exhibition on Reformation in 2017.
Want to know more about projects?
Photo: #youngreformers
2016: "Ecclesia semper reformanda est".
The "Living Reformation projects" by the young reformers around the world are signs of hope, encouragement and compassion. Young people are agents of changes in theri churches today.
They will be presented during the LWF Twelfth Assembly and the World Exhibition on Reformation in 2017.
Want to know more about projects?
Photo: #youngreformers
August 2016: The youth delegates to the LWF Asia Pre Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand composed and performed a reformation song.
Photo: Romans Wong
August 2016: LWF organised a public forum on the United Nations Sustainabel Development Goals (SDGs).
The forum was held in Paramaribo, Suriname at the LWF Pre-Assemblies for Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) and North America. Ms Mikka McCracken, director for planning at the World Hunger program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) talked about the church’s support to communities that face chronic hunger in the country and around the world.
“Hunger is not caused by scarcity, it is caused by inequality. One in seven people in the US are food insecure,” she said, adding, many families face uncertainty about affording their next meal and adequate nutrition. “Today’s problems are becoming more complex, and the rich and poor have to work together to realize SDG 2 on ‘Zero Hunger’, McCracken said.
McCracken challenged churches to offer hope that an end to hunger “is not only possible but doable because God has provided. … As people of faith we can say yes to zero hunger and gender equity and better serve our neighbor.”
Photo: LWF/Hubert Hermelijn
October 2016: Namibia local planning team for the LWF Youth Pre Assembly
In the first planning meeting in Ondangwa, Namibia the youth leaders from the three hosting Namibian churches planned the local program.
Photo: LWF/ C.Bader
31 October 2016: An absolute highlight for LWFyouth was the testimony of Ms Pranita Biswasi, LWF youth delegate to the UN Climate Chaneg Conferences, at the Ecumenical Commemoration in Lund, Sweden.
"The Pope encouraged environmental activist and Lutheran youth leader Sunemia Pranita Biswasi to persevere in her advocacy for millions in India displaced and rendered destitute by increased flooding and drought. In her testimony she said: “We cannot change the climate but we can change the system, so let us all work together to make a one better world for all.” Pope Francis shared her concerns about the “abuses harming our planet, our common home” and for Christians in particular to emulate a lifestyle and actions that “must always be consistent with our faith.” The pontiff emphasized the greatest impact is on the vulnerable and needy who are “forced to emigrate in order to escape the effects of climate change.”
Bishop Munib Younan thanked Biswasi and many young activists “who have converted us older leaders to the cause of confronting climate change.” He said churches have a strong role in shaping climate policy and encouraged Christians to “never keep silent” and keep working for change."
Photo: IKON/Mikael Ringlander
31 October 2016: During the Ecumenical Commemoration in Sweden, the LWF was also represented through six young reformers.
They came from Russia, Finland, Ghana, Brazil, Philipinnes and Madagascar and witnessed the Ecumenical worship service in the Lund Cathedral.
Photo: LWF/M.Renaux
November 2016: The LWF delegation to the 22nd UN Conference on Climate Change in Marrakech, Morocco.
The LWF, which in 2015 made a policy decision to not invest in fossil fuels, was represented at the UN climate conferences by its all-youth and interfaith delegation, with members from the African region. At the climate negotiations, LWF was advocating for intergenerational justice and solidarity with those who are most vulnerable to the impact of extreme weather events.
The African were speaking on panels, campaigning and blogging throughout the conference. They will start working on climate projects in their local church or country program.
Photo: LWF/Ryan Roderick Beiler
November 2016: For a first time, the LWF delegation was composed of young Christians and Muslims, and also bringing together church delegates and humanitarian workers from LWF country programs in Africa.
The learning from each other was an exciting journey for all. Ms Mari Sall from LWF Maurentania shared about the growing cooperation between the growing cooperation between her program and the Lutheran church in Senegal. She was also inspired by the LWFyouth networks and said:
“The first thing I want to do when I get back home in Mauritania is to unite and bring together the young Muslims in my country to fight against climate change,”
Read the whole story and see video testimonies
Photo: LWF/Ryan Roderick Beiler
November 2016: Climate March in Marrakech -Act for climate justice now.
The World Council of Churches reports: "African young leaders of their churches in the ACT group were participating in creative, competent, yet youthful ways, causing people to smile everywhere they walked. “At first they chanted in English, then in French – it was moderate. But then they were taught to chant “climate justice now” in Arabic and they turned that into singing – people all around in the streets were smiling, laughing and applauding – there was instant resonance”, said Kennedy. “It was like a move of the spirit – it was just incredible. And it gives me hope that the young generations get it and they will make it happen. “
Photo: WCC/Ivars Kupcis