WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Pop quiz: how many college-age students do you know who would sacrifice a week of summer vacation in order to serve on a work crew at Triennium, enduring 16-hour days in grueling 100-degree Midwestern heat without pay? (In fact, these work crew students have to register and pay for their own Triennium attendance.)
Meet Stephanie, a first-time work crew member, but a second-time Triennium participant. The daughter of a pastor, she grew up on Long Island attending church as “an obligation” with her family. She was encouraged to attend Triennium in high school as something of which she could take ownership. Although noting she feared, “there would be crazy Christian kids running around,” she admits it changed her life. Her faith was inspired, and she learned it was OK to “be who you are.”
A collaborative effort between the PC(USA) and the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Triennium is held every three years at Purdue University. Participants are high school age youth from around the country and a number of international partners. This year Triennium was held July 16-20.
At Triennium, all participants are divided into “small groups” of 20-30 youth. At Stephanie’s first Triennium in 2010, her group clicked on the first day. During the 20-minute walk back to the dorm where Stephanie’s presbytery delegation stayed, she learned that Ryan, a member of her small group, was staying in the same place. Although Ryan was two years younger than Stephanie, she found him to be one of the most devout believers she had met, and they walked to and from small group together, quickly becoming close friends.
After Triennium, they maintained their friendship, talking at least weekly. Fifteen months ago, Ryan was killed in a car accident. While she worked through her grief, Stephanie remembered Ryan would have come to Triennium again this summer as a high school senior, so she decided to come again this year to honor his memory. His mother and sister also came as volunteers, she said.
Stephanie remembers Ryan through her service to Triennium, but she also has a deep-seated love of the gathering. “I love coming here and seeing the community,” she said, remarking on the powerful presence of 5,000 Presbyterian youth living, learning and worshipping together. “I feel the Holy Spirit coming through here. I feel God’s presence and all the presbyteries and all the folks who weren’t able to come here.”
She loves how the use of media at Triennium shows that “we are in the 21st century,” and she believes that can make the church stronger. “People say the church is dying,” but the enthusiastic participation and the response of youth on social media networks tells a different story, she said.
Now, she is excited that the energy and enthusiasm will return home with all of the kids. “These energizers will go home and be taught at VBS and youth groups!” she said passionately.
There were about 60 work crew members in all, each working between 14 and 16 hours every day. Stephanie compared the work crew to Martha and the participants to Mary; flexibility and a willingness to work are key. She loves their evening devotions (which start after midnight every night) and seeing “everyone go crazy over” something they set up for them. On the day that all participants packed meals for Stop Hunger Now, she said, “I was in that hot armory for four hours … and I couldn’t stop smiling!”
Stephanie said that serving on work crew at Triennium was very different from coming as a participant, but she says she wouldn’t change it. To those considering serving on work crew, she recommends, “If you have the opportunity to see both sides, do it!” She believes Triennium is a great experience for students to see that church is not always what they expect it to be.
A junior at Moravian College in Bethlehem, Pa., Stephanie hopes to soon work for nonprofit organizations, helping others better understand cultural differences and see the world as a community. “We are not separate,” she said, “and I want to help expand that to everyone.” Stephanie hopes to return to Triennium as a small group leader or a leader on the production team.
