Clergy

Dear Fellow Elder:

I don't know about you, but I can think of very few things that excite me more than hearing about something that has a real chance of transforming our denomination. One thing that might excite me more would be something that could transform the life of a young person in my congregation and, even more than that, something that could transform the life of one of my own children.

I want to tell you about something that can do all three. The Summer Youth Institute at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary is one of the most innovative and exciting programs I have ever seen. Students from all across the country who have completed their junior year in high school gather on the seminary campus for two of the most challenging, enjoyable and inspiring weeks they will ever experience.

How can this transform our denomination? It can do so in two ways. First of all, bringing intelligent, highly-motivated young men and women together helps them develop a further commitment in their faith and a commitment to the church that will last a lifetime. Secondly, many of these outstanding young Christians begin, for the first time, to consider the call to ministry that God has placed upon them.

How do I know it can transform the life of a young person? I've seen it happen. I've seen students return from the SYI experience with a level of enthusiasm, faith commitment and focus that I've never seen from any other program. Their experience of being exposed to seminary-level classes, outstanding worship, preaching and music lifts them to a new level of faith. Their experience of laughter and fun at Kennywood Amusement Park or a Pittsburgh Pirates baseball game helps them get to know one another and open their lives to each other.

I hope you sense my passion about SYI. It comes from what I believe it can do for our denomination and/or young people and primarily from what I have seen it do in my own family. Two of my three sons were SYI participants. One is now a student at PTS and the other is studying Music Therapy. Both of them would point to SYI as the experience that enabled them to hear God's call in their life more clearly than they had ever heard it before. As you might imagine, I can't with until their younger brother has completed his junior year in high school! I hope you'll encourage a high school junior in your congregation to consider SYI next summer. It may well be a week that will change them forever.

Blessings,