What do tickle fights, pancakes, Sardines, shaving cream fights, and Mao have to do with RP church history, Augustine’s Confessions, and discissions of theology? We’re not sure, but these and many other elements ranging from the sublime to the ridiculous went together to create a three week program that helped to shape the lives of 14 youth from 10 congregations of the RP church.

The Theological Foundations for Youth Program (TFYP) took place from June 25th to July 13th. Supervised and led by David Whitla, June Oppelt, Andy McCracken, and Mart Filbert, the pro gram included lectures by professors at the Reformed Theological Seminary, a week of internship at three churches in Pennsylvania and Indiana, and plenty of singing along with the Veggie Tales CD’s in our fire-engine-red 15-passenger van.

The fourteen participants were: Mara Howe and Jesse O’Brien, Oswego, N.Y.; Sarah Schmitdberger, Rose Point, Pa.; Sarah Cowley, Minneola, Kan.; Ryan Cerbus, Southside Indianapolis, Ind.; Joel Finley, Sparta, Ill.; Matt Stewart, Beltsville, Ind.; Juliann Spencer, Elkhart, Ind.; Anna Adjemian and Ruth Bockoven, Cambridge, Mass.; Jill Klaassen, Sterling, Kan.; and Jonathan Boyle, Seth Wing, and Amelia Ward, Shawnee, Kan.

During our three weeks together, we worked hard, played hard, learned and grew a lot, and built up friendships that will last forever. For more information and pictures, visit our web) site at: <www.geocities.com/tfyp0102>.

—Youth Beat editors

Ryan Cerbus

I’ve done basically the same thing every June for the past three summers: gone on the Great Lakes/Gulf Presbytery Youth Trip to Florida. It’s a great two week trip serving God at a farm in N. Fort Myers, but this summer I felt that God wanted me to do something a little different. I asked my pastor to consider me for a recommendation for the Theo logical Foundations for Youth Program, and I was accepted! I was really looking forward to the program as a time both of learning and of great fellowship.

The first week of the trip was intense. We had two, two-hour lectures every day, followed by either an “educational opportunity” or just some fun. There was never a dull moment as we raced to follow our packed schedule. It was extremely refreshing to be so busy after a lethargic three weeks at home.

The second week all 14 of us were split into three teams and sent to three different churches: four to Kokomo, Ind.; four to Elkhart, Ind.; and six to Beaver Falls, Pa. [was placed on the Beaver Falls team along with Matt Stewart, Sarah Cowley, Juliann Spencer, Amelia Ward, and Mara Howe. We spent our mornings doing general work around the Geneva RP church building and among the Geneva RP congregation. We stained a wheel chair access ramp, painted a classroom and a member’s kitchen and bathroom, trimmed hushes, mowed grass, and pulled weeds at different members’ houses. We had some free time in the afternoon, and our evenings were spent serving the church in different ways.

One big project that we started was a door-to-door canvassing of the College Hill area. We also helped lead the Youth Clubs one night by preparing devotions and short testimonies for the youth of Beaver Falls.

I gained a lot of insight into what goes on in a church the other six clays of the week. I am heavily involved in my church, but it’s not the same as living at the church building for six days and being involved in everything that goes on. It was really encouraging for me to see how the church worked together and looked out for each other. I also learned a lot about the RP doctrine and history from the lectures.

The experience has sparked an interest in me to at least attend seminary at some point in my life. It would be extremely valuable no matter what God does with my life after college. I would sincerely recommend this program to any highschooler interested in learning more about God, His Church, and him/ herself. TFYP is an eye-opener of a trip that God can use mightily in anyone’s life.

Jonathan Boyle

During our stay at the seminary, we listened to many of the seminary professors talk about what they teach at the seminary. Some of the subjects included: Introduction to New Testament studies, systematic theology, medieval church history, Reformation history, and RP distinctives. The lectures were very in formative to me, and, I’m sure, to every one else.

We did some other fun things while in Pittsburgh. Just about every night, we played Sardines, a game in which some one hides in the seminary, and everyone else tries to find that person, in the pitch dark. We also went to a Pirates baseball game, went howling with the Pittsburgh RP youth, and visited the RP home.

During the second week, I was privileged to he able to go to the Elkhart, Ind. congregation, along with Jesse O’Brien, Rtith Bockoven, and Sarah Schrnidtberger. The pas tor there is Andy McCracken. During that week, we planned a neighborhood outdoor game night with banana splits. In addition to church members, there were nine people from the neighborhood who participated.

That was our main job during the week. We also went out to eat with many members of the congregation. They generously let us come and eat in their homes. Also, Jesse and I attended a men’s Bible study, and Sarah and Ruth attended the ladies’ Bible study. Both were very good.

All in all, I had a great time at TFYP. I got to make 13 new friends and to learn tons about my church and her history. I think that this is one of the main things that will help my walk with God, and faith in Him. I am very grateful to have had the opportunity for this.

Anna Adjemian

I think I can honestly say that the three weeks of the TFYP program were the three best weeks of my life to date. or at least close. I learned so much about God, about the RP church, and about myself and what God is doing in my life. I had enormous amounts of fun, and made thirteen wonderful new friends, along with our supervisors/teachers. During the first and third weeks of the program, I was built up, taught, and challenged through the lectures, devotions, and through many conversations with our super visors and the other kids in the program.

During the second week of the program, I was sent to Kokomo, Ind., along with Jill Klaassen. Joel Finley, and Seth Wing. Our time in Kokomo was exhausting. hut heaps of fun. Along with door-to-door evangelism and planning a church party, we demolished the ceiling of a storage room in the Kokomo church basement (wearing marvelous heavy-duty dust masks that made us look like creatures from Star Wars, tore the car pet off of the front steps of’ the church building (disturbing a large and militant colony of ants), cleaned the church roof, duplicated sermon tapes, and had time to play with the kids in the church.

It was wonderful to see the love of the people in the Kokomo church, and the way they looked out for one an other. God also blessed me through the ministry of my host family, the Blockis.

The whole program was wonderful, and I would like to thank David, June, Andy. Matt, and everyone else who made it possible. Thank you for an absolutely excellent time!