ruth901
The preparations for the youth church conference of the Evangelical Church in Hesse and Nassau (EKHN) are in the final phase. From Thursday, June 4th to Sunday, June 7th, around 4,500 visitors are expected to attend the festival in Alsfeld.
Alsfeld – The EKHN Youth Church Day takes place every two years in a different EKHN deanery. The main target group is young people between the ages of 13 and 17, but the offer is aimed at all age groups. The organization focuses on around 550 volunteers. They develop participation offers, workshops as well as youth services and concerts. Most come from the EKHN area, and support comes from the neighboring regional church of the Evangelical Church of Kurhessen-Waldeck (EKKW). The helpers are deployed in different areas, such as construction, logistics or visitor guidance.
The majority of the program is organized on a voluntary basis and is based on the interests and concerns of young people. More than 150 events are planned, including concerts, church services, workshops, sports and leisure activities and parties. The “Confirmation Rally”, in which groups of confirmation candidates compete against each other in experiential educational games, is particularly popular.
Youth church conference in Alsfeld: 4,500 visitors expected
“The space to contribute your own ideas, have a say and take responsibility together is what makes volunteering so important to me,” says Chiara Hohmann, chairwoman of the Evangelical Youth in the Vogelsberg Deanery. “To see how this turns into a festival for thousands of young people is something special.” The first volunteers arrived yesterday and moved to their central contact point in the city mission. From there, the operations for the development and operation of the Youth Church Congress are coordinated.
In the coming days, 104 stands will be set up in the city hall parking lot alone and the area in front of the city hall will be transformed into a beach area. “The closer the Youth Church Day gets, the greater the anticipation in the city and in the organizational team,” says Cornelia Habermehl, head of the Youth Church Day. “We are particularly pleased that the number of volunteers has increased compared to the previous youth church conference.” The city of Alsfeld and the Vogelsberg district are closely involved in the preparation. Several schools serve as accommodation during the event.
The first participants are expected on Thursday from 1 p.m., especially confirmation groups from the EKHN region. Those who decide at short notice can purchase tickets on site at the ServicePoint on Jahnstrasse. The open-air offers on Thursday and Sunday are free of charge. The program is available on the Youth Church Conference website at jugendkirchentag.de/programm. (rsb)
