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Home | News > Youth Learn to B1 in Mission

Youth Learn to B1 in Mission

03/29/2011
B1 event sign

Thirty-five youth from Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Churches gathered at Glenview UMC on Saturday, March 26 to B1: One Being, Being One. From 6 PM Friday to 6 PM SB1 worshipaturday, they fasted, their only sustenance coming from water and the Spirit. Some of their time together was spent in worship – singing praises to God. Their primary focus during this B1 event was to learn about the needs of the people in the Congo.

They came from Grace UMC in Lake Bluff, Edison Park UMC, St. John UMC of Oak Park, First Vietnamese UMC of Chicago, First UMC of Chicago (Temple), Journey UMC, Glenview UMC, and a Baptist Church. Together they heard from missionaries like Claude Bambi, who has served in the Congo, and Katherine Parker, currently serving in Cambodia. Katherine spoke with the group via the internet. Their group leaders, Kathlyn  Talapian, Nancy Nguyen, Ann Mitra, Danelle Boraja, Tou Yang, Steve Granadosin, Joash Mencias, and Dan Verdegan followed each presentation with discussion. They planned for ways that they could alleviate suffering in the world – how they could make a difference.

B1 GamesThey joined in games between learning times, interacting in teams. They often had to work together with people they had just met. Most of the games required working together to strategize.

One of the games they played involved each person collecting as many of the several hundred pieces of paper spread about – without touching anyone. You lost everything if you touched someone. The paper represented money. So after everyone had all of the ‘money’ they were divided into poor, middle class and rich, depending on how many slips of paper they had. First they were asked to assess if they thought the distribution of wealth was fair, and they were invited to give away some of what they had. A few shared, but not enough to change anyone’s group. Then each group was asked to devise a plan for distributing the wealth fairly. Each group described their plan. Then they got to vote for the best plan, but the catch was that the while the poor votes counted for 1 per person, the middle class got 2 votes per person and the rich got 3 votes per person. Needless to say the rich group’s plan won. Then the executed the plan. This led to discussion of whether this was fair or not, and each group talking about how it felt to be ‘them’.

Assembling Birthing KitsLater in the afternoon they participated in a scavenger hunt to find items needed to put together Health Kits, Birthing Kits, and School Kits. When they had found everything they put the kits together. The kits would be sent to UMCOR for distribution.

These young people came from many different areas – city and suburb – small churches and large. But they all shared a love for people in need – people they know are loved by God, just as they are loved. They are ready, willing, and eager to Be One who cares for others.