YELM, WA (February 6, 2008) – Nearly 270 teenagers immersed themselves in the MUD (Making United Disciples) Conference at Cascades Camp and Conference Center held January 18-21.
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\nBecause the event was held over the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend, MUD organizers focused the event on issues of compassion, mercy and justice. Students came from Oregon and Washington to the camp, which is operated by the North Pacific Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC).<\/p>\n
![\"MUD\"](\"http:\/\/www.covchurch.org\/uploads\/6H\/Yx\/6HYxxBNCBYsKI2g7rudJbw\/MUD.jpg\")
Workshops included “Show me the Money,” focusing on economics and poverty; \u201cEyes Wide Open,\u201d addressing issues such as Darfur, HIV\/AIDS, and child labor; \u201cWho Cares?\u201d addressing apathy; “Racial Healing: You Are the problem,\u201d and “It Ain’t Easy Being Green,” focusing on creation care.<\/p>\n
\u201cA major reason for the success of this retreat was due in part to the fact that so many people came together and saw the vision of what it means to be the body of Christ, uniting and supporting what God’s doing in the lives of the students in our churches,\u201d said Carolyn Poterek, pastor to high school and college students at Trinity Covenant Church in Salem, Oregon, and one of the organizers. The ECC Department of Compassion, Mercy and Justice also helped organize the event.<\/p>\n
Joe Ottley of Crossroads Community Covenant Church in Yelm was the keynote speaker. One of North Park University\u2019s multiethnic worship teams led worship throughout the weekend, providing an image of unity, organizers said. University worship arts coordinator Steve Kelly accompanied them. All of the team spent time with the high school students discussing issues of compassion, mercy and justice.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe North Park students did a phenomenal job leading worship and connecting with the high school students,\u201d said Poterek.<\/p>\n