Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!” (Ps. 133:1). When David wrote Psalm 133, I don’t think he meant that it is only pleasant when members of one family, or even one presbytery like St. Lawrence, dwell in unity. The unity of God’s family extends far beyond our own congregation and even our own presbytery.

This is why the Youth Ministry Commission of Synod is seeking to foster a denominational mentality of unity, rather than simply a congregational one. It is vital for youth to be involved in the life of the church and to get a vision for the wider RP Church. It can be easy to feel isolated in one’s own congregation, so cross-presbytery youth work can be a huge benefit. It is a blessing to find likeminded young people serving God’s kingdom throughout the denomination. There are many opportunities to be involved in the wider RP Church, including programs like Theological Foundations Backpacking trip (TFB), Theological Foundations for Youth (TFY), weekend retreats, and mission trips. I went to the Pacific Coast Presbytery’s youth conference in Los Angeles a few years ago and met some wonderful people I might never have had contact with otherwise.

Sometimes it takes a little effort to find these opportunities and figure out how to take advantage of them. For example, a group of youth from the St. Lawrence Presbytery heard about a weeklong youth retreat called Life Focus in Topeka, Kan. New York and Kansas are not particularly near each other, but, with the help of a borrowed 15-passenger van, a lot of snacks, and hospitality from RP churches halfway through the drive, we were able to take a road trip to Topeka and spend a week there. Experiences like this have helped my growth as a Christian and enabled me to make new friends and hear their perspectives and experiences.

What actually happens at such youth events? Most events include lots of food, icebreakers and games, talks from a pastor and discussions, psalm sings, and opportunities to interact with likeminded young people from other presbyteries. More important than games of Settlers of Catan or volleyball, however, is the eternal perspective that youth events provide. Nineteen-year-old Elle Reese from Springs RPC in Colorado Springs, Colo., said,

“They are like an extended Lord’s Day wherein we can take a break from the world and fellowship with other believers. These times are like a small taste of what heaven will be like with all of our brothers and sisters in the faith. The times also help us see that the relationships that we have in the world are fleeting, but that we will be with these believers for eternity. As a result of this kind of realization, it can help us focus on what is really important in our lives. In the RP Church specifically, these broader church meetings, with other youth our age, are important because sometimes it seems that we are the only Christians that believe the distinctive things that we do. It is encouraging to be with others that share our same convictions.”

The importance of youth ministries cannot be overstated. Seemingly insignificant weekends can have an eternal impact on the next generation of pastors, parents, missionaries, and laborers for Christ’s kingdom.

Not only are memories and friendships made at youth events, but young people can experience the blessing of spiritual growth and maturity in their relationship with Christ. Elena Robson, 15, from Christ RPC in Providence, R.I., stated,

“Having those relationships with such wonderful RP youth and that blessing of calling them my friends despite the physical distance continually shapes my life and walk with Christ. The RP youth ministries have been wonderful for me, letting me make new friends from all over. Their encouragement in my faith has been priceless, and I’m so thankful for the opportunities I have had to meet and fellowship with them!”

It is a great blessing for covenant children who have been raised in the church to make the faith of their parents their own. When young people see others across the denomination embracing the faith and seeking to serve in the RP Church, they are strengthened to do the same. Even a weekend retreat can encourage students to persevere in their Christian walk through the decisions of post-high school education, vocation, and finding a church to serve in.

Adam Dinkledine, 18, of Sycamore RPC in Kokomo, Ind., said,

“Denomination-wide youth events such as Theological Foundations for Youth furthered my desire to see the Lord work in the lives of young people in the RP Church. In 2014, I was privileged to attend youth retreats hosted by the Great Lakes-Gulf, Alleghenies, and Midwest Presbyteries. Each one was a great source of encouragement to me as I worshiped and fellowshiped with hundreds of young people. Each one offered many opportunities to meet co-laborers from across the denomination.”

It is exciting to see so many presbyteries reaching out to youth across the country and trying to make it easier for them to connect. These efforts are not in vain, as they can have enormous rewards long after the youth retreat ends. Dinkledine said,

“Largely due to the influence of denominational and presbytery youth events, I structured my college search around proximity to RP churches across the denomination. God opened doors which led me to attend Oklahoma State University and Stillwater RPC in the Midwest Presbytery. I strongly encourage young people to consider their place in the church as they make life decisions.”

At these youth events, students are able to make connections and make the Reformed faith their own. Youth ministries can be hugely influential in helping young people feel like part of the wider church. Since nationwide, many young adults who have been raised in Christian homes are walking away from the faith, it is crucial to help young people feel connected. Meeting godly friends and being challenged with them to consider a life of devotion to Christ is one way to do this. It’s harder to walk away from a whole denomination of people than a local congregation. With these youth ministries, students can be encouraged and discipled together. As Spencer York, 18, from College Hill RPC in Beaver Falls, Pa., put it,

“One of my favorite parts about these events is meeting new people who are the same age and have similar beliefs as I. Just last week I was at the CYPU Winter Conference in Indiana, and there were people from all over the place gathered together to worship God. To be able to glorify our Lord and Savior with about a hundred other young people from all over the country and different presbyteries was an incredible experience.”

Erika Giroux, 19, from the Ottawa RPC in Ontario, expressed her need for the refreshment and encouragement that youth events provide:

“Because liberalism is rampant in the church at large today it makes it difficult for youth to live godly lives in fellowship with other youth. Going on conferences I was able to find strong Christian friends and have good fun. In Canada there aren’t as many RP youth, so going to the States for conferences was amazing. Who you hang out with does affect you, so what are you supposed to do when you don’t have any Christian friends?”

Giroux hopes it will become easier to travel to other presbyteries to have these opportunities. “I wish that there was more funding to make it more accessible for youth within the RP church to connect. It would make life a whole lot easier.”

Young people should seek out opportunities to go to youth conferences or family camps in other presbyteries. Even though it can seem difficult to find the resources to travel to another state, the benefits are priceless. RP Missions (rpmissions.org) offers trips from coast to coast that often include opportunities to serve as a counselor or get involved with a church alongside other young people. Parents and other members of the church should encourage young people to try to visit other presbyteries and get to know more RP youth. Parents of covenant children should desire to find places for these children to get connected with the RP Church as they become young adults. Proverbs 22:6 teaches that this training will be influential for generations to come: “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

I hope that churches will be able to offer scholarships or just encouragement for their youth to attend retreats in other presbyteries. It will be a blessing not only to the individuals who are able to go to these events, but also to the denomination, as youth events can equip and energize students to serve in the church more fully.

Worshiping God with a diverse gathering of believers is a reminder that there are many members of one body. First Corinthians 12:12 says, “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” It is a joy to meet as many members of Christ’s body as I can, as we are all seeking to advance His kingdom together in the time that He has given us.

Bailee Arnold, 18, from Grace RPC in Gibsonia, Pa., said that she sees youth events as an opportunity to fellowship with her brothers and sisters in Christ:

“Being part of youth ministries in other presbyteries has been kind of like discovering that my family is a lot bigger, and even more wonderful, than I imagined. God’s blessings are never as apparent to me as when I am in fellowship with other believers. Each person with whom I have come in contact through youth ministries has been a gift which He has used to bring me closer to Him, and I pray that He would use me the same way.”

Youth ministries have helped me to see the importance of being involved with the wider RP Church. I don’t want to live my Christian life in isolation from other believers. I want the blessings of fellowship in Christ throughout my life. I hope the excitement of having a Skype psalm sing with Christian friends across the country or counting down the days until the next RP International Conference never goes away.

  Lydia Goerner grew up in Christ Church RPC of Whitesboro, New York, and currently attends Oswego, N.Y., RPC in New York as she studies journalism at SUNY Oswego.