For the Presbyterian Mission Agency, 2019 will go down as the year the Matthew 25 invitation was extended and embraced by dozens of mid councils and thousands of congregations.
When the Rev. Dr. David Gambrell was asked to speak at the Presbyterian Youth Triennium last year, he knew it would be both challenging and extremely personal.
“Total joy” is how Presbyterian Youth Triennium director Gina Yeager-Buckley remembers one of this year’s experiences. Thinking about it still gives her energy.
Exhausted, she was about to hop onto a golf cart for nighttime residence hall checks when she was stopped by a group of youth from the Soul Children of Chicago.
When the Rev. Dr. Jason Brian Santos became the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)’s coordinator for Christian Formation a few of years ago, he never dreamed he’d be hosting a conference on the theology of play and tabletop (board) games.
When she agreed to be the graphic designer for Presbyterian Youth Triennium 2019, Ashley Rash didn’t know that 90 percent of the work would be in June. “It’s been crazy,” she says. “But, quite honestly, it’s also been a lot of fun.”
As Kaaleah J. from the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia spoke, photos of her father appeared on a screen above the stage in Purdue University’s Eliza Fowler Hall and he could be heard rapping, “When I’m gone, will they remember me?”
Presbyterian Youth Triennium small group leader Andrea Paschal said she has been blown away this week by how wonderful, creative and loving the youth are.
