Greetings from the Youth Theological Initiative! Your generous support of our 2016 YTI Summer crowdfunding campaign provided critical funding for this summer’s academy that kicked off yesterday, July 2. This summer’s class includes scholars from all over the United States and the world. This would not be possible without your financial support. We’re excited to share the outcome of your gifts, and let you know that we’ve officially kicked off our third YTI crowdfunding campaign through Momentum. We invite you to once again make a gift toward this effort, and help spread the word throughout your network. Together we can transform young lives and change the world. Let’s get started!
We are so grateful for the support we received during the past few weeks. We exceeded our $3,000 goal and raised $6,700! For those on the outside, it’s just a three week “camp.” But for these scholars and all of our alumni who know the YTI experience firsthand, the past three weeks have been the most challenging, invigorating, and transformative weeks of their lives. As scholars load the shuttles bound for the airport and parents pick up their children, it is a scene filled with tears, hugs, and gratitude for this amazing experience that will cultivate lifelong relationships. We are deeply grateful for all who give to YTI so scholars may have this profound experience!
Thank you!
It’s the final week of YTI! These past few weeks have been extraordinary for each of these scholars. Just take a look at the exploratory courses the scholars are taking: Church and Empire, Envisioning the End of the World: The Book of Revelation and Popular Culture, and Sexuality and Christian Society: A Historical Perspective. Thank you to our donors who help make this opportunity a reality! There's no limit on the amount we can raise — more gifts mean more scholars are being helped. Please continue to spread the word: https://momentum.emory.edu/YTIAcademy2016
A big thanks to all of our generous donors! You are supporting important work. While anchored in the Christian faith, YTI allows scholars to engage with and learn from our neighbors of different faiths. The scholars attended Shabbat services Friday, and they dined with Muslim students Sunday. These interfaith experiences challenge the scholars to better understand and articulate their own Christian beliefs while learning to build community in our multi-faith world. Your support helps make this possible.
Please continue to share this link with your friends and family: https://momentum.emory.edu/YTIAcademy2016
Thank you for supporting YTI Summer Academy 2016.
The scholars have made it past the initial nerves of entering a new community. Thoughtful conversations and special bonds are forming already as the scholars start exploring their faith, asking challenging questions, and examining social justice through a theological lens. Based on the laughter and lack of sleep, there is a little fun happening as well! We’re just days into the academy, and our crowdfunding campaign is going strong. Thanks again to all of our donors!
The YTI staff are all here, and we’re off to the races! The 2016 YTI scholars arrive Sunday. This year’s scholar class is the most diverse group of youth YTI has ever hosted, with more international students participating than ever before.
With both new and returning staff, the excitement and anticipation level is through the roof! According to staff member Jennifer Roberts, “As a youth minister in Atlanta, I work in a diverse community and my experience as a YTI staff member has taught me how to reach youth from a variety of backgrounds. Without YTI, I would not be the kind of youth minister who fully embraces all of the joy, fear, change, messiness, and beauty that youth bring to the table when they are exploring who they are as critical thinkers.”
Your support transforms lives. Let’s kick off YTI 2016 with a bang and keep our momentum. We’ve only got three weeks, so let’s get to it. Spread the word!
Your donation of $50 can help purchase the exploratory course textbooks for a YTI scholar.
Your gift can help to cover transportation for the YTI community to visit and worship with other faith communities in the Atlanta area.
Your $200 gift can help cover a week’s worth of meals for a YTI Scholar.
Your donation can help provide lunch for the entire YTI community.
Your $1,000 gift can help with meals and housing for one scholar for the three-week summer academy.