Got couches?

Know anyone

who is redecorating and has a couch, a love seat, perhaps a recliner they

won't be needing any more?

Give Dennis

Baas a call. He and other members of Christ Our ShepherdLutheran Church

in Peachtree City are trying to round up comfortable seating for about

50,000 Lutheran young people from around the world. They will be meeting

in July at the World Congress Center in July in an event called UBUNTU,

which means "Do life."

No, no, Baas

isn't trying to seat all 50,000 at once. Just as many as will be comfortable

on 200 couches at a time.

The event is

the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America's National Youth Gathering,

held every three years. In 2000, St. Louis hosted the event, but the 1997

gathering was here in Atlanta. Newspaper stories praised the youth for

projects they took upon themselves and for their courtesy and good behavior.

"Kids

from all over the world will come to Atlanta to worship together and bond

with each other through interactive events," Baas said. The furniture

needn't be in great shape; just "decent enough condition not to fall

apart."

It will be

used to create small groups who come together for study and meditation

within the vast WCC.

Pastor Miriam

Beecher and Baas serve on the Interaction Center Team responsible for

some of the activities that will fill the WCC. Chad Langdon, the local

congregation's intern, will chaperone the delegation from Christ Our Shepherd.

Volunteers

will pick up your couch or recliner from your home or office.

Donors must

understand that furniture will not be returned. Storage space has been

made available locally until the event, July 16 to 27, and arrangements

have been made for the Salvation Army to collect it after the gathering.

Questions about tax deductibility should be addressed to the donor's tax

adviser.

For more information,

call Baas at 770-487-7679 or e-mail him at [email protected] .

Back

to the Top of the Page