Posted December 1, 2022 in Featured News

In 2022, the Presbyterian Youth Triennium was canceled due to concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic. As a result, the Synod of the Trinity offered grants to presbyteries in the region to assist them in creating a triennium experience for the youth in their areas. What follows is a report from the Presbytery of West Virginia and how it used the Synod grant to meet this need.

The Presbytery of West Virginia’s Youth Retreat, partially funded by the Synod’s Presbyterian Youth Triennium Grant, was held at Bluestone Camp and Retreat in Hinton, WV, from Nov. 18-20. David LaMotte, songwriter, speaker and writer, was the keynote presenter on the theme “A More Loving World.”

Grounding his presentations on Micah 6:8 and Luke 10:25-37, David shared with youth and adult advisors the importance of stories and how stories may be told and/or heard in different ways; how the work of heroes in a time of crises differ from the work of a movement over time; and that we, like the lawyer in Jesus’ story of the Good Samaritan, are to “go and do likewise.” Keynotes were followed by times of small groups led by members of the presbytery’s Youth Council, the planning group for the retreat.

As part of the retreat, participants engaged in a mission project of making dog toys out of old T-shirts, which participants took back to their communities to share with their local humane societies or shelters. David also presented a concert of his music.

The presbytery is grateful for Synod’s support of this event through the Presbyterian Youth Triennium Grant they received.