Peer Ministry Week 1

Peer Ministers from around the country joined in to add to the care and welcoming in the midst of 15 thousand at the ELCA National Youth Gathering. Each day we tallied the number of conversations around acts of welcoming and caring conversations around various issues. First week... our kids did what they were trained to do.


Issues and Concerns

• 6 - Abuse
• 13 - Alcohol / Drug Misuse
• 6 - Cutting and Self-Harm
• 26 - Dating Relationship Struggles
• 19 - Dealing with Authority
• 20 - Depression
• 7 - Eating Disorders
• 12 - Faith and Value Struggles
• 18 - Family Issues
• 9 - Grief
• 9 - Peer Pressure
• 20 - Physical Health
• 21 - Relationship Struggles with Peers
• 18 - Self-Worth or Image
• 5 - Sexually Risky Behaviors
• 15 - Stress
• 5 - Suicidal Thoughts
• 5 - Violent / Anger Management

Welcoming Acts of Kindness

• 14 - Gift named - expressing a person’s value
• 29 - Introduced one person to another
• 20 - Invited someone to be included (e.g. lunch table)
• 8 - Invited someone to come to an event or gathering
• 13 - Served a stranger with an act of kindness
• 18 - Welcomed & Greeted
• 48 - "W.H.E.A.T.ed”