Last week, about 2,000 WELS teens and their youth group leaders journeyed to Knoxville, Tenn., for the WELS International Youth Rally, held June 27-30.

The event kicked off with an opening worship service Wednesday night conducted by Rev. John Boggs, Winnebago Lutheran Academy, Fond du Lac, Wis., and the debut of the specially written rally song “Fill Me Up” by Branches Band, from Milwaukee, Wis.

Thursday and Friday comprised workshops with themes chosen for teenagers, special entertainment in the evening, excursions, and time to simply hang out and meet new people.

Rachel Samelson, a 15-year-old from Christ, Clarksville, Md., attended the workshop “Females—Live with God.” She says, “I liked how they addressed us as teenagers. The leader focused on issues that teenage girls would have; that made it relatable.”

Alex Hager, a 15-year-old from Good Shepherd, Burnsville, Minn., went to the workshop “Males—Follow the Leader,” after which he said: “I learned being a man isn’t all that cool tough stuff exactly. It’s about being respectable and mature, just being a good guy and responsible.”

The first of two keynote presentations was presented by Rev. Jonathan Enter, Hope Lutheran Church, West Palm Beach, Fla., with the theme "Why does God give us a full life?"

Enter says that when he attended a youth rally as a teen, phrases of God's grace were repeated over and over again. "I remember feeling like weight kept getting lifted off me, and I wanted to have that same feeling with my presentation, which is why I closed with the same repetitive phrase over and over again . . . 'the only thing that counts in the past is that Christ died on the cross and took away your sins.'"

The second keynote was presented by Boggs, who talked about “How do we achieve a full life through Christ?” Boggs says: “I disagree with those who say that teenagers are the future of our synod. I fully believe that they are the now of our synod . . . They have to be motivated to be involved in every aspect of our WELS ministry now. Doing that now with then affect the future as they grow to be the leaders in moving us forward.”

More coverage and photos can be found online, or check out the rally Facebook page at www.facebook.com/welsyouthrally and vote for your favorite picture.