May 17, 2024
From untie to UNITE
Back in the day, a few decades ago, Covenant High in Congress—the Covenant’s meeting of high school students from across North America every four years—was the largest Christian youth event in North America. I was on the planning team in 1988 for its meeting at Colorado State University. At that time our meetings were so large there were only a few campuses that would be able to accommodate a group our size. I had never attended when I was in high school, so this was all new to me.
What I learned from that event is that among people in youth ministry, the Covenant was one of the most well-respected denominations for its work with youth. From our extensive and high-quality network of camps, our emphasis on well-educated and prepared youth ministers, and its integration of evangelism with social justice, we were a very attractive destination for those who “headlined” such events, whether they be speakers, entertainers, or musicians. It was a life-changing event for many of the people who attended. Youth, youth pastors, and presenters alike testified to what a significant event it was to them. However, it exhausted many of those who were in leadership, planning and executing this event. It also was an event that, with its one location, made the cost vary a great deal from church to church because of transportation costs.
The above factors together with the pandemic have led to changes. The original CHIC in 1956 was held in two Covenant camps: Mission Meadows in New York, and Covenant Heights in Colorado, and remained two separate meetings until 1972, when they tied the two events together. Recently, the Covenant decided untie the single location model and return to the two-site model. And they are calling the two simultaneous events UNITE. Covenant youth here on the West coast are heading to San Diego State University, July 15-19, including those attending from our church.
I know first-hand how much planning, work, and prayer go into these events, but also how well we can pull them off. I also know these events can create memories of great times, along with a committed faith that can last a lifetime. Currently those in our church who are attending UNITE are in the process of emailing us in our church asking for donations to offset the cost of this event. When you receive this invitation, please do consider well this opportunity to invest in the faith life of our young people. It just might last a lifetime, we pray; a knot of faith tying them to Christ that could last a lifetime.
~ Pastor Todd