History

                             Synod Youth Workshop

From Ginger Brogan Broussard (1958, 1975-1981, 2006)

I attended Youth Synod in 1958 and 1959.  It was a wonderful experience for me as a Youth.  Rev. Prentice Barnett was such a loving, strong, Christian Leader for many many youth in our Synod for many, many years.  Youth Synod was different than Synod Youth Workshop as it was a training for youth to take back to their churches.  We elected officers at the synod, presbytery and local church level and this is where we learned what we were to do.   The Youth program was called, Westminster Fellowship.  We met at Trinity Presbyterian University in July. 

Then I attended Synod Youth Workshop in San Antonio at Trinity Presbyterian University with my three teenagers and the youth of our church from 1975 - 1981.  It was a totally different program which brought the youth and adults together in small groups to talk and work together on personal and faith issues.  Each year they had a Keynote speaker which set the thought process and then everyone went to their small groups.  Our Youth loved going and looked forward and worked hard to plan and pay for the trip each year. 

Last year (2006) I attended Synod Youth Workshop in Tulsa, OK with my son and three grandchildren, plus other youth from our church.  It was such a thrill to see granddaughter Tracey Broussard on the planning team,  my son Ronnie Broussard, as a small group leader, Matt and Mike Broussard experiencing there first time experience at SYW.  It was such a mountain top thrill. We had 3 generations there who had gone as a youth.  And my son was bringing me back and his children.  WOW!

 I do want to thank all of the people who have worked so very hard to keep SYW going for all of our youth in our Presbyterian's Churches.  It is such a wonderful experience that the youth will keep in their hearts and minds as long as they live.  I sure have.  And it is all because of a wonderful man, Prentice Barnett and his dream.  Thank you     Prentice, God Bless You!

 God Bless you all and thank you,

 Ginger Brogan Broussard

From Randee Teykl (1959, more, including 1980s )

My memories of Synod are as a youth participant and as an adult leader. I first attended “Youth of Synod,” as it was called in 1959, at Trinity University, as a high school student in Plainview, Texas. There were other good things, but mostly I remember my first crush on a boy was there, and of course, I never saw him again! Kids could come here and be themselves and talk about things they may not talk about at home.

 Then, later on as an adult small group leader, I experienced a trust level with the youth, as they wanted to talk and someone just to listen to them. They would talk until midnight! The most amazing thing was how the first day most were kind of quiet and reticent, then in 24 hours we were all “family,” and everyone shared everything. 

I felt fortunate to attend Synod Youth Workshop in the late 1980’s when Rodger Nishioka was the keynote speaker. He was an inspirational speaker who shared his faith and life stories with a special gift to relate to young people. He made the Bible come alive with participants re-enacting various stories. The one I remember was Jesus walking on water toward the disciples—several of us were disciples in the boat, and I played the part of Peter! Rodger always showed the kids how to get out of their box by illustrations of his fish named “snergalis gerp.” At the time, he was General Assembly coordinator for youth and young adult ministry, and now he is a professor at Columbia Seminary in Georgia.

At the end of the week, I didn’t want to leave the youth in my group, I felt like they were my children. On our way back to Plainview and later Rosenberg, the youth from our church talked enthusiastically all the way home about their great experience. 

Randee Teykl, Plainview, TX, 1956-1994, now retired in Rosenberg, TX.

4-8-07

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