In the summer of 2009, I created an independent study at Luther Seminary that centered on two areas of interest and experience: working with youth and video production. This project was aptly named: "Youth and Video Production." I interviewed organizations in Minneapolis/St.Paul whose purpose focused on the empowering of youth through the means of media arts and video production. I hope to analyze and share this information with my colleagues in youth ministry who desire to see their youth experience growth in their awareness of self, faith, and how they interact and relate with others. I believe that these organizations can serve as an inspiration for a similar framework of youth empowerment, leadership development and community building in the context of faith and ministry in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This is a video compilation of those interviews. Contributing Organizations: St. Paul Neighborhood Network, "Set-it-Up" Peter Kirschmann Perpich Center for Arts Education Golden Valley, MN Nancy Norwood

This rap was written and performed by David Backus (Abednego), Paul Buckingham (Meshach) and Logan Brown (Shadrach), 3 senior high youth from St. Luke Lutheran Church in Richmond, Virginia in 2006. The youth were excited to put their creative writing to the test by adapting the story of King Nebuccadnezzar from Daniel 3 into a rap, which they later performed live and via this video. They performed the rap for the congregation at our youth talent show as well as other Virginia Synod events. This was the original rap - but they went on to write and adapt other Bible stories as well. This is a fun and interactive way to get youth engaging in Scripture! Lyrics are attached in a word document.