A WILDYE time at Luther College
This summer Luther College once again hosted the Wholly Iowa Youth Leadership Discipling Event (WIYDLE). The event is a cooperative effort of three ELCA Synods in Iowa. Each year, approximately sixty high school leaders from their local congregations come together for a week for leadership development and spiritual formation in mid-July.
According to Pastor Mike Blair, a strong set of staff from various congregations form “a great mix of people bringing together different gifts and strengths”. Through WIYLDE’s history, Pr. Blair has served as a facilitator, resource person and advocate for the past few years. He has led workshops, helped with worship, and acted as a small group leader.
The Sense of Vocation Program at Luther provides resources for this event. WIYLDE brings the 
purpose of the Sense of Vocation Program to life by “equipping students to respond to their callings and to live lives centered in their faith and values”. WIYLDE intends to help students grow in the lifelong commitments of their baptism and direct them in developing their inner-compass of calling.
Luther College is honored to host such passionate students. Pastor Blair explains, “The maturity and depth of the students always strikes me”. This year, the students demonstrated an appreciation for silence and contemplation during the closing rite of foot washing. But, they were also able to laugh and have fun during the Olympics. WIYLDE offers these youth leaders a holistic approach to their faith.
By working with congregations, synods, and various ministries of the ELCA, WIYLDE has become an enriched web of partnerships. This event “deepens and strengthens Luther as a college of the Church”.
