Ahighlight for the junior youth convention at Phoenix 2013 was playing the “Anabaptist game.” Children in grades six through eight took part as a way to learn about the persecution Anabaptists faced in the 16th century..
Organized by Michele Hershberger, who teaches Bible at Hesston (Kan.) College, the game includes actors who play the parts of 16th-century Anabaptists and tell their stories to the youth in eight “safe houses.”
High school youth acted as guards arrested other students as well as some unsuspecting adults. They took their captives to a “state church” courthouse, where they were tried for their beliefs, including not baptizing infants. Guards took those condemned to a “dungeon.” Some were tied up, and guards pretended to flog them. Some ended up in stocks (see photo above).
The junior youth also worshiped together each day and heard from speakers Marissa King, who teaches education at Hesston College; Bonita Garber, a graduate of Hesston College; Dustin Galyon, men’s basketball coach at Hesston College; and Hal Shrader, lead pastor at Trinity Mennonite Church in Glendale, Ariz. Their talks were entitled “What Mirror Are You Using?,” “Who Is My Neighbor?” and “Healing and Hope: Dream It.”
The youth also enjoyed the antics of John Bromels, an actor, writer, teacher and fund-raiser from Cincinnati, Ohio, and Ken Rogers, a musician from Hesston College (see photo at left). They use songs, humor and improvisation and include the youth in their improv.
Kathryn Lehman Harsha, a sponsor, said she came with several youth from her congregation, North Baltimore Mennonite Church. The youth were divided into groups of 12 or so, and two sponsors stayed with each group through the week. One of these groups consisted of youth from Phoenix.
The junior youth also took up an offering to support the DREAMERs fund, which provides financial assistance for undocumented youth and young adults who want to initiate the process of becoming citizens. The offering brought in $2,410.43.
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