A teen shares how she got involved in church work and what she learned along the way.

Tatum Gormley-Nettles, teen member of 2009 WELS International Youth Rally Planning Committee, wasn’t always involved in church work. In fact, she didn’t have much to do with church until several years ago when the loss of a loved one shook her world.

“Before my dad died, my family was not active in a specific church,” says Tatum, a member at Green Valley, Henderson, Nev. “We went to holiday services and had been baptized, but we did not go regularly. However, because my dad was sick for so long, we had grown very familiar with the fragility of life. We had faith that there was a God and a heaven . . . My first time in a WELS church was for my father’s memorial. After that I discovered that there was something bigger out there, that God was great.”

In the months following her father’s death, Tatum began attending Sunday school and then catechism classes. “I had never been part of a church, and it felt good to be a part of something so great and to be learning why I believe what I do,” she says.

Getting involved

Tatum began attending youth group meetings, and in summer 2007 she attended her first WELS youth rally in Dallas, Texas. That trip made a lasting impression.

“In the last few years, the involvement of youth in my congregation has been very minimal,” says Tatum. “After attending the rally in Dallas, I felt that I needed to step up and be a leader for my church.”

In addition to helping out in the nursery and teaching vacation Bible school, Tatum helped organize a new high school group called Escape. “We meet every two weeks so we can escape the stress of the week and grow in our faith,” she says. “Every few months we do a fun activity away. We also help out the community by volunteering at blood drives, and we will soon be helping disabled children learn how to ride bikes!”

Branching out

Before she knew it, Tatum’s involvement led to her appointment to the youth rally planning committee.

“[At the rally] I remember sitting in the audience amazed by the fact that three teens, not much older than me, helped organize such an amazing event!” says Tatum. “I wanted to jump out of my seat and start leading part of it. Honestly though, I felt small and still a bit overwhelmed by it all. I just took a leap of faith in signing up for the committee. When I got the news that I had been chosen, I was ecstatic.”

So far, Tatum has helped determine rally essentials such as the venue, rally theme, and logo. At the rally, she will also be helping with the welcome program, speakers, and entertainment.

What she gained