06037
Jan. 30, 2006

2,200 young people
see ‘Faith in 3D’

3 days with Disney,
3 denominations,
3 perspectives on belief

by Barbara A. Roche
and Jerry L. Van Marter

ORLANDO — More than 2,200 young people, including more than 1,000 Presbyterians, gathered at Disney World for a Jan. 13-16 event called “Faith in 3D,” an opportunity to experience Christian faith through a variety of cultures.

        Co-sponsors with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) were the Episcopal Church U.S.A. and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship.

        “Disney wanted us to come,” said Gina Yeager-Buckley, the PC(USA)’s associate for youth ministry. “My counterparts in the Episcopal Church and Cooperative Baptist Fellowship accepted the offer, and with the help of Passport, Inc., an ecumenical ministry organization, we planned the three-day event for middle school and senior high youth.”

        The underlying scriptural text for “Faith in 3D” was: “This faith is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.” (Hebrews 11:1b, The Message)

        Using the international resources of Disney’s Epcot Center, participants experienced other cultures by visiting national exhibits of countries including China, Norway, Germany, Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa. They dined on ethnic cuisine, while missionaries from these countries talked about the history of the churches in various places and the current issues facing them.

        “I feel that I am stronger in my faith, and I believe God gave me this experience for a reason,” said Jackie Haynes, a senior at Atherton High School in Louisville, KY.  Leslie Cobb, a junior at Louisville’s DuPont Manual High School, described it as “an amazing experience — really cool.”

        Disney’s Youth Education Series (YES) provided opportunities for learning about science, technology and culture. One group explored the history of communication from the most primitive of symbols to the technological world of today, illustrating how the people of the Earth are increasingly interdependent.

        Senior high school students traveled behind the scenes at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Middle schoolers took in a program on appreciating animal behavior.

        Worship was equally diverse, from the free-style expressions of the Baptists, to the formal Eucharistic liturgy of the Episcopalians, to a Presbyterian-led service emphasizing the centrality of the Word. Each service included band music, song, drama and dance.

        Worship leaders included the Rev. J. Herbert Nelson III, of Memphis, a Presbyterian whose ministry is among the urban poor; the Rev. Altagracia Perez, an Episcopal priest known for her justice-related activism in the Los Angeles area; and Baptist Kyle Matthews, one of Christian music’s most prolific songwriters.

        Worship offerings of $11,700 were earmarked for drought victims in Malawi and hurricane survivors on the U.S. Gulf Coast.