It sounds like the title of a song children would sing at Camp Minnihaha. Actually, it is sung (to the deafening, thumping beat of the old Peter Gunn theme song) by teenagers with hearts afire. It introduces every session of Youth World Awareness Weekend at the PCA’s wilderness cathedral at Ridge Haven.

“Yo-o-o-w-a-a-a-w. Yo-yo-yo-yo-w-a-a-a-a-w.” It even lights a fire in the heart of the old man at the sound board—me. Gifted men with a lifetime calling to youth ministry stoke the fire through the passionate preaching in plain English of God’s Word. This year it was Dr. Henry Krabbendam, Professor of Biblical Studies at Covenant College, and Rev. Ricky Jones, RUF Director at Mississippi State University, assisted by Steve Dale, composer/singer/recording artist/worship leader from Nashville. It’s all under the guiding light of Ridge Haven’s staff, Dean Conkel, CE&P Youth Coordinator, and the other members of the YoWAW Committee. The PCA can give thanks that Dean has the gift of thinking like a 16-year-old with 25 years of experience in youth ministry.

So what’s it all about?

The Ridge Haven website says, “See the world from a perspective that answers questions about God’s plan for you in his world…” (see www.ridgehaven.org). The annual Presidents’ Day weekend gathering has a reputation as a missions conference for high school students similar to Urbana, the hugely successful national missions convention for college students sponsored by Intervarsity.

YoWAW has an excellent track record in guiding and motivating youth who are called into fulltime missions work. Just as importantly, it prepares young men and women to be missionaries no matter their calling, interpreting the great commission (Matt. 28:18) not only as “Go therefore…,” but also “As you go….” Two small group seminars emphasized that point in our growing multicultural country: “Reaching Cross-culturally in Your Own Backyard,” led by Ernesto Fernandez (MNA), and “Issues Facing Immigrants,” by Phil and Tina Sanders (MNA).

Other seminars included “Knowing God’s Will for Your Life,” which Dr. Krabbendam’s most in-demand seminar topic and one he has powerfully honed for over thirty years. It was received by a room full of statues so intent on the message there was no squirming, no scratching, no glazed eyeballs—just totally receptive hearts and minds. Rev. Jones’ seminar entitled “The Gospel in Everyday Life” was moving and practical at a rubber-meets-the-road-of-life level. Rev. Jones delivered his message in a high-speed Tennessee accent with such intensity that some of us forgot to breathe.

Also included were “Missions Now: Your Life can be an Adventure” by Bobbi Jo Brooks (MTW), “Tsunami Relief Efforts in the PCA” by Hope Williams, “Oil and Water--Do the PCA and Evangelism Mix Well Together?” by Dean Conkel.

Student questionnaires drew the following responses at the end the YoWAW Weekend:  

• Check off the items that best describe your experience this weekend:

• While at YoWAW, I have recommitted my life to Jesus Christ: 11

• I believe the Lord is calling me into full-time ministry: 3

• I am available to the Lord’s call to ministry wherever He wants to use me: 38

• I would like more information about: (Please indicate all that apply)

  • Discipleship - 7

  • Opportunities for my spiritual growth – 23

  • Student leadership development opportunities- 18

  • Specific student ministry and service opportunities through short-   term missions at home and abroad - 25

  • Ridge Haven camps – 13

  • Ridge Haven service & missions projects - 13

  • Becoming a Ridge Haven camp counselor – 9

  • Covenant College - 16

  • Reformed University Ministries and the colleges /universities where Reformed University Fellowships are located - 8

Adult leader attendee comments were particularly gratifying:

“This conference is year-in and year-out the best because of the quality of the preaching. I was up till 2:30 a.m. talking with one of my students about how the preached Word had changed us and how we can be ‘silver bullets’ (a classic Dr. Krabbendam metaphor) when we get back. It seems that each year is better than the last.”

“I was greatly impacted as a youth leader and once again confirmed in my calling. This also made a great impact in inspiring my teens to evangelism/service.”

“The kids really desire to be here and I think they grew together because of it. It’s a great weekend that intensifies their thoughts about their own lives, while providing them the freedom to grow together at the same time.”

In all, 157 youth and their chaperones were so blessed this year. Ridge Haven can accommodate twice that many. We don’t want to be the PCA’s best secret asset. We want the world to know. Talk to one of the youth who has been here. Better yet, you bring your church youth to the mountaintop next Presidents’ Day Weekend…and you stay as a chaperone. You, too, will be blessed.

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