Registration for the third Exploring Church Careers Event (ECCE), a retreat designed to identify, inform and encourage high school youth with respect to a church career has reached 60 of the 80 registrants possible. The ECCE will take place Aug. 4-7 on the campus of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis. It will emphasize not only the pastoral ministry, but virtually all church careers.

"We are grateful that the response has been so overwhelming and we look forward to a very beneficial event for the 80 high school youth who will attend" commented Rev. Glen Thomas, vice president for seminary relations at Concordia Seminary. "The registrants live in all areas of the United States and include four who will be traveling from Alaska to attend. The fact that we have reached 75% of capacity in just a little more than six weeks indicates that this annual event is meeting a real need in our church."

The four-day ECCE includes Bible study, presentations by recognized leaders in youth ministry and on-site visitation opportunities featuring a wide variety of church career professionals. "We want youth who attend the ECCE to see the many ways God can use the gifts He has given them to serve Him in a church vocation," said Thomas. "We also want youth to hear of the inherent joys and challenges they will face as they serve in a church vocation."

A $40 registration fee is the only charge youth pay, in addition to travel costs, to attend the ECCE. All activities, meals during the event and on-campus lodging are provided at no cost to participants. Travel scholarships also exist to ensure that travel costs do not prevent youth from attending.

The ECCE is made possible by a grant Concordia Seminary received to assist in the process of identifying, informing and encouraging high school youth toward service in church work careers. The grant is from Lilly Endowment Inc., headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind.

For more information, contact the Admissions Office, Concordia Seminary, 801 DeMun Ave., St. Louis, MO 63105; 314-505-7722; ECCEvent@aol.com.