We are excited about how the Lord has and will continue to work in the youth of the church. “Young People’s Societies” began in the Reformed Presbyterian Church as early as the late 19th Century. Before long, they caught Synod’s eye. Synod started organizing Sabbath schools and youth conferences.

The Great Lakes-Gulf Presbytery’s annual family conference originally began as a youth conference. However, after this fruitful beginning, the zeal began to dim. Through the middle of the last century, our fathers in the faith grew concerned over the significant number of young people who were leaving the RPCNA. The church was in decline.

Yet God has never failed in the history of our denomination to raise up youth who are faithful to Christ and His kingdom. Perhaps more than ever before, He has bestowed this past generation with opportunities for the youth to serve, grow in their knowledge of the church, and experience rich fellowship with like-minded young people. Some of the many opportunities include domestic and overseas mission trips, the development of individual presbytery youth events, and the specific focus of certain events to encourage leadership among the youth, such as the Theological Foundations for Youth (TFY) program and the Youth Leadership Conference. These opportunities, through God’s overwhelming providence, have strengthened the youth, renewing their zeal and love for the global church.

This past summer, we both attended the TFY program and felt our hearts stirred to serve the church actively in a tangible, concrete way. While touring the Crown & Covenant publishing house, Mr. Gordon, director and editor of the Witness, made it known that there was a desire to resurrect the youth section of the Witness, which had been lying dormant for six years. They were looking for youth interested in helping them revive the column and act as editors for it. This sparked our interest. We felt God had provided an outlet for what our hearts had been longing! Though this is but a small task, it has been an exciting one!

This column is to be one in which youth inform youth, telling of the mighty deeds of God in His global church. We have and will continue to hear from youth who have served on mission trips, grown through attending presbytery youth events, and have become leaders in the church though the specific training they have received. If you are one of those young people who would like to tell us what is going on in your part of the church, please contact us at rpyouthwitness@gmail.com.

As different parts of Christ’s body, God uses each of us in unique and special ways in His kingdom. “God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired” (1 Cor. 12:18). As one church, we should be greatly interested in what our brothers and sisters in the Lord are experiencing.

Have you not been told that you as the youth are the future of the church? Yet, as we have recently been reminded and hope the Youth Witness will remind you—we are the church!

—Abby Marcisz and Emory York are seniors in high school and members of the Sycamore RPC in Kokomo, Ind.