United Methodist Youth Attending Global Gathering Safe During Typhoon in Philippines

Youth and young adults from across the United Methodist connection, as of 7:45 a.m. local time, were safely sheltering in place in Tagaytay, Philippines, during Typhoon Rammasun, locally known as Glenda.  

Delegates and observers for the Global Young People’s Convocation, hosted by the General Board of Discipleship (GBOD), have been arriving at the Center for Community Transformation (CCT) for the opening event tonight, July 16th.

Participants were awoken in the middle of the night due to strong winds and rain. Everyone was gathered in the common meeting spaces of each building.  

Young people supported one another with songs and prayers to get through the early morning hours. They prayed for the nearby community and those with less secure shelter.  

The Young People’s Ministry Division of GBOD moved the entire convocation to a central secure building during the eye of the storm. Other buildings sustained damage to roofs, windows and minor flooding.

After confirming everyone was accounted for, Mike Ratliff, Associate General Secretary for Young People’s Ministries, said, “Everyone at the CCT center is safe. Our team is in the process of making plans for moving forward.”

Sheryl Farfan Tello a member of the  KY conference (Buechel UMC) is a part of this contingent. Please continue to be in prayer for her and the others as they weather this storm.

GBOD’s mission is to support annual conference and local church leaders for their task of equipping world-changing disciples. An agency of The United Methodist Church, GBOD is located at 1908 Grand Ave. in Nashville, Tenn. For more information, visit www.gbod.org, the Press Center at www.gbod.org/about/press-center or call the Communications Office at (877) 899-2780, Ext. 1726.