Timothy Seibel
Jubilee Mennonite Church, Meridian, Miss.

As a young adult representing Jubilee Mennonite in the Delegate Assembly at Columbus 2009, I learned so much about how our denomination operates. It was exhilarating to talk with excited young adults and youth who are realizing that in several years, we will be leading the church. We imagined where the church will be by then and how much more the church can do to flood the world with God’s hope and peace. It was exciting to sit in the Delegate Assembly with 800 representatives and Executive Board members and hear reviews from church committees and collectively discuss and pass statements on issues such as human trafficking, national health care and sexuality.

And the adult and youth worship sessions were phenomenal. At one of them, the children’s activity leaders brought a 180-member children’s choir on stage to lead us in the song “Feel the Rhythm.” Afterward the leaders blessed the children and told them, “You are our future, and you have much to teach us.” The whole arena erupted in deafening applause and cheering. That’s how it was at every worship session. The energy was contagious, and the sermons were life-changing.

Convention provides a place to share ideas. There were more than 170 seminars on all kinds of topics. Some of them were hands-on, such as one in which Leo Hartshorn led participants in learning peacemaking and teamwork skills through coordinated drumming on plastic buckets.

The highlight of my trip was joining the awesome Jubilee youth for dinner each day. I enjoyed hearing about the seminars they attended, the youth worship sessions, the friends they made. Sometimes there were some profound and spirited conversations. For example, we discussed tough questions such as, “To whom should we pledge allegiance, God or country?,” “Is war always inherently evil?” and “How can we be thankful for our freedoms without becoming nationalistic and idolizing our country?”
In regards to the issue of homosexuality, our youth also discussed how we can love all people while holding true to our interpretation of Scripture. They heard one another out and disagreed well. I sensed that they were united with a common vision for service and mission and a love for the church.

As I think about the church of the future, I know that we are in good hands. As these young people become involved in the church in various ways, they will ensure that we continue to become a people of grace, joy and peace to impact the world with God’s healing and hope.

I returned to the South with God’s Spirit in my lungs and a renewed commitment to be a witness for the Prince of Peace amid a nationalistic evangelical culture. Thank you, Jubilee, for entrusting me with the honor of representing our congregation at the convention.