Dear Friends,

I am currently in Louisville, KY, at the National Presbyterian Center. We are planning the Presbyterian Youth Triennium (PYT), a joint event between the Presbyterian Church (USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church. I’ve worked with this event over the years in different roles. This year, I am working alongside a friend and artist to create the visual installations for the PYT.

This is a ton of work. Many late nights, flights to Louisville, time away from home, planning followed by rethinking and replanning, starting and stopping, starting again, and so on. There are vendors, decorators, riggers, volunteers, and so many other pieces of the puzzle. It can be overwhelming at times, but the inspiring moments far outweigh the challenging ones.

Through it all, the sentiment that arises over and over again is hope. Each time I witness the thousands of young people coming together to learn and worship, to dream and share, I have hope.

I have hope, first, for the church. I know that as long as we encourage this type of programming, encourage young people, and invest in their well-being, the church will survive and thrive. I also find hope for humanity. These youth are not only the future; they are the now. Through their volunteerism, activism, curiosity, compassion, and faithfulness, they model what it means to be engaged citizens. They are not simply watching the world; they are living fully.

It is not difficult to hope when a part of the PYT.

Today, I pray that this will inspire you. Hope is unfolding, and new generations are grasping the possibilities this hope offers. If you are young, live fully. If you are old, do the same. And in the midst of it all, let us encourage one another to hope. God is faithful to us and, I believe, giving life to this hopefulness so that we may be closer to becoming that which God is calling us to be.

Mark