Mission Yearbook: Youth workers are inspired at gathering by the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow

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The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow (Photo by Shawn Kang)

More than 50 youth ministry leaders from across the country recently gathered for the first in-person National Gathering of the Presbyterian Youth Workers’ Association (PYWA) in nearly a decade. PYWA is part of the Christian Formation Collective with the Office of Christian Formation.

The event featured two keynote addresses by author, activist and the Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008) the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, who invited attendees into a deeply personal and prophetic exploration of what it means to be called by God in different seasons of life.

The PYWA gathering was co-sponsored by the Office of Presbyterian Youth and Triennium; the Presbytery of San Diego; and Christ Presbyterian Church in Carlsbad, California, which hosted the event. Each attendee received a copy of Reyes-Chow’s latest book, “Everything Good about God Is True: Choosing Faith,” thanks to the sponsorship of the Presbyterian Foundation.

Reyes-Chow shared stories that traced the evolution of his understanding of vocation — from youthful ambition to mature discernment and from personal disappointment to global solidarity.

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Participants were given a copy of Reyes-Chow latest book as gift from the Presbyterian Foundation. (Contributed photo)

In his keynotes, Reyes-Chow reflected on a pivotal moment from his youth: preparing to leave home for college at the University of California, Irvine. “I was excited for college and ready to begin the next stage of life,” recalled Reyes-Chow, reflecting on the significance for a teenager raised by a single mother. But just weeks before the move, his father called to say he could no longer pay for college. “I was devastated, and I could not see beyond my own anger and disappointment.”

That disruption, however, became a turning point. “Fast forward 35 years, and here I am … doing just fine, professionally, emotionally and personally,” he said as he expressed empathy for how hard it must have been for his father to break his promise to pay for college. “With all my heart, mind and soul, I believe that God’s Spirit has been present around, throughout and in it all.”

Rather than viewing God’s call as a rigid plan, Reyes-Chow encouraged youth workers to embrace a more dynamic theology. “I do not believe that there is one singular path for any of us,” he said. “But I do believe that God moves with us no matter where we go.”

In another speech, Reyes-Chow also shared a more recent and sobering story from his February 2024 trip to Palestine with Friends of Sabeel North America and Sabeel, a Palestinian Christian liberation theology organization. He described a harrowing visit to a government-sponsored event in Israel where he and fellow delegates were subjected to propaganda while listening to a grieving father speak about his missing son.

“I had zero compassion for this father,” Reyes-Chow admitted. “And not only no compassion, but I had no empathy. That was not me.”

The experience forced him to confront the emotional toll of occupation and the spiritual cost of dehumanization. “Evil won that room that day,” he said. “And we simply can’t let that happen.”

He emphasized that prophetic calling often involves risk — whether it’s joining a protest, speaking truth from the pulpit or simply choosing empathy in the face of division. “If there isn’t an element of risk involved, then there’s not a prophetic nature of following Jesus into something that God intends for you.”

Throughout the gathering, attendees were invited to reflect on their own callings through worship, liturgy and communal prayer.

In closing, Reyes-Chow reminded participants that being prophetic doesn’t always mean marching in the streets.

“It’s being prophetic in how we actually see another person and have empathy for them … seeing them and their humanity in a different way,” he said.

The event was a powerful reminder that youth workers are not only spiritual guides for young people but also co-collaborators in God’s unfolding hopes for the world.

Beth Waltemath, Communications Strategist, Presbyterian Life & Witness (Click here to read original PNS Story)

Let us join in prayer for:

Mark DeSantis, Vice President, IT Infrastructure & Security, Information Technology, Board of Pensions
Ann DeVilbiss,  Production Associate, Publishing & Editorial, Presbyterian Publishing Corporation 

Let us pray:

God of all seasons of life, thank you for the blessing of our church. Guide us and give us wisdom and willingness to let you lead us. Amen.

Mission Yearbook: Former General Assembly Moderator leads Lost & Found Church worship for Presbyterian Peace Fellowship

The Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow (contributed photo)

Presbyterian Peace Fellowship’s Lost & Found Church used an introspective approach on the eve of Donald Trump’s inauguration, with the Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow leading online attendees in a Lectio Divina encounter with Romans 12:9–21. “Bless Your Enemies: The Challenge to See Humanity in Inhumane Times” was the theme of the gathering.

Reyes-Chow, Moderator of the 218th General Assembly (2008), is a speaker, coach and the author of six books, most recently “Everything Good About God Is True: Choosing Faith.” Using the Common English Bible, Reyes-Chow read the Romans passage through three times, asking worshipers each time to select a word or phrase to ponder for two minutes. 

“I’m so glad you’re here considering the turmoil of the times,” Reyes-Chow said. “Everyone needs to find ways not only to resist, but — in  body, mind and spirit — find joy and meaning together.”

“For me, there is a natural inclination to repay evil acts with evil acts. There is often an urge to escalate,” Reyes-Chow said. “But today we are going to hear in Romans not to escalate conflict, but to bless our enemies. God’s still asking us to bless them, and I think that’s a prophetic word for all of us.”

Angela Steiner, music director and conductor at Asolo Repertory Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, provided piano and vocal music during worship, including Ingrid Michaelson’s “Keep Breathing” and the Beatles’ “Let It Be.” 

When Reyes-Chow asked for words or phrases from the Romans passage that stirred people in worship, attendees lifted up these:

• One noted “be happy with those who are happy.” “I spend a lot of time talking to very serious people who are very anxious right now," this worshiper said. “I find it hard to be happy with people who are happy right now — people who are aware of what’s going on in the world and are fine and even happy.”
• Another selected “defeat evil with good.” “Is that even possible?” this person wondered. “I can’t have vengeance, but is it OK to pray for God’s vengeance? I don’t know.”
• Yet another focused on “leave room for God’s wrath.” This pastor juxtaposed that phrase with leading worship that morning, focusing on the letter white clergy wrote to the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. that led King to write “Letter From a Birmingham Jail.” “It was extremely uncomfortable to think about what promoted that letter [from the white clergy]” this pastor said, a letter signed by the Moderator of the Synod of the Alabama Presbyterian Church in the United States, a forebear of the PC(USA). “‘Leave room for God’s wrath’ — what is it we are still holding and dealing with as a nation and as a church? There’s this discomfort about what we’re going to face for the sin of racism and all the violence that took place because of it.”
• A seminary student focused on “don’t think that you’re so smart” and “don’t hesitate to be enthusiastic.” “Sometimes we get caught up in our own brains,” this student said, calling King’s statement that “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that” a “paraphrase of Scripture.”

Reyes-Chow asked those in worship to voice their prayer concerns, which included praying for people who are tending to the spirits of other people.

“For the community that’s been built across the technology that can be frustrating but has brought us together in amazing and unimaginable ways, we give you thanks,” he prayed. “Move with us as we struggle with so much, and as we find moments of joy with others, in Creation and in the surprising moments of each day.”

“We’ve got each other, friends,” said the Rev. Dr. Laurie Lyter Bright, PPF’s executive director.

Mike Ferguson, Editor, Presbyterian News Service, Interim Unified Agency (Click here to read original PNS story)

Let us join in prayer for:

• Paul Grier,  Vice President, Project Regeneration, Presbyterian Foundation
• Laurie Griffith, Associate Director, Constitutional Interpretation, Interim Unified Agency

Let us pray:

Open our eyes, O God, to see your way. And if our eyes aren’t ready to see, open our hearts to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Keep pointing us in the right direction. We want to answer your call, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.