Young Adult Representatives for Synod 2013 (pictured, l-r): Chadd Huizenga, Nicole Scholten, Cedric Parsels, Kyle Schaap, Nicholas Chuba, Nicole Veenkamp, and Laura de Jong.
For Laura de Jong, 22, attending Synod 2013 was a huge encouragement about the direction the denomination is headed.
“I wish all young people in the [Christian Reformed Church] had the opportunity to come to synod,” she said. “Witnessing the process of synod is the most encouraging thing in the face of frustration and doubt.”
In a report to synod, the young adult representatives said being a part of Synod 2013 encouraged them, and they look to the church’s future with hope.
“All of the young adults were welcomed with open arms first into each of our [advisory] committees and then onto the floor, giving us the best gift possible: respect and attention while we spoke,” said Nicholas Chuba, 19.
He said that the young adult representatives entered the week with fear that their opinions would be dismissed, but he “was proved wrong almost immediately.”
Nicole Veenkamp, 23, said she was filled with love for delegates at synod and for the church.
“You are people who love God and love the church and are eager to serve it and discern the best way to do ministry in a changing context,” she said.
Synod 2013 is meeting at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Mich. from June 7-14. For continuous Banner coverage of Synod 2013, please follow The Banner on Facebook or @crcbanner on Twitter. You can find more tweeting by following hashtag #crcsynod. News stories will be posted at www.thebanner.org several times daily. For CRC Communications releases, webcast, and live blogging, please visit www.crcna.org/synod. Unless noted otherwise, all photographs are by Karen Huttenga.
About the Author
Ryan Struyk was a former Banner news correspondent for classes Grand Rapids South and Thornapple Valley.
