Christian music event Christian Music

Christian music event

April 25, 2009 – 1:01 pm

I have been contacted by representatives of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, who inform me that they are sponsoring four events this summer in cities along the Mississippi River, called Rock the River Tour.

Archbishop John C. Nienstedt
The last event is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 16, on Harriet Island from 2:30 to 9 p.m. Franklin Graham, son of the famous preacher, will be present and speak at three different points in the program. Several popular Christian bands will play. The organizers tell me that “the music is the message.” The program is aimed at junior and senior high school students

Volunteers needed

I have been assured that there will be no attempt to proselytize young people into an evangelical church. Each person will be encouraged to make contact with his or her church affiliation, whether current or lapsed.

Volunteers are needed to counsel the youth who will be present toward a deeper conversion of faith.

Volunteer training will take place on April 30 through May 2 at five locations around the archdiocese (Arden Hills, New Hope, Minneapolis, Maplewood, Apple Valley).

For more information, please contact Mr. Bill Dill of our archdiocesan Office of Marriage, Family and Life at (651) 291-4553 or e-mail him at dillb@archspm.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it . Youth leaders are also invited to a luncheon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in St. Paul on Friday, April 24, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

What motivates the organizers is their desire to reach out to the least-churched generation in our nation’s history. They state they are not coming to take from our religious communities, but to invest in our youth. They want our young people to be excited for the Gospel of Christ!

The ecumenical nature of this gathering could be beneficial for our youth. I hope parish groups that attend will provide sufficient chaperones to not only watch out for our youth, but to also share the convictions of their faith with them. I suspect this experience could have a benefit on youth and adults alike. God bless you!

Christian Music Online