THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, August 31, 1995 TAG: 9508310229
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 10 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY TRUDY CUTHRELL, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 64 lines
WHEN THE PRESBYTERIAN Triennium met at Purdue University in late July, Rachel Hallmark of Suffolk's St. Andrew Presbyterian Church was among nearly 6,000 young people from across the United States and 90 foreign countries attending.
``I felt like I came to know myself better during that week,'' said Hallmark, 17. Most meaningful, she said, were the two-hour worship services, which ``had a great effect on us.''
Activities of the five-day conference focused on the theme, ``And the Walls Came Tumbling Down.'' One speaker, she said, ``told about how Christ is always there and, when we make a conscious decision to break down the walls in our lives, he's there to help us.''
Each day, the ``Simple Gifts'' performing arts group portrayed Scriptures through drama and dance, and upbeat music enhanced the services.
Block parties, a carnival and afternoon volleyball gave conferees opportunities for friendship and fellowship. A gigantic mud hole attracted hundreds of adventuresome teens each day for a mud bath - ``mud, sweat and tears,'' Hallmark said with a laugh.
Small groups met in the halls of Purdue dormitories to recap the day's activities. Mike Emry, youth program director at St. Andrew, and his wife, Theresa, were among adults sponsors who directed the ``Kiva'' groups.
Emry said, ``It was a neat experience to interact with people from Alaska, California, Canada, Zaire - people from all around the world.''
He said, ``On TV and in the media, it looks like the younger generation is going to pot; but seeing 6,000 good kids worshiping together, that gives you a great feeling.''
Another high point of the event for Emry was publication of one of his original Christian songs, ``Life of Jesus,'' in the Triennium newspaper, ``The Daily Rubble.''
Hallmark's highlights included being on ``Good Morning Indiana'' with the Triennium and qualifying for The Guinness Book of World Records by being among 1,602 teens, tied ankle-to-ankle, who walked 100 feet across a football field.
The closing session of the Triennium - ``The Tumbled Wall Becomes a Bridge,'' concluded with communion. ``The speaker was excellent, and it was a very emotional time for everyone,'' Hallmark said.
Karen Nseya, global partner from Zaire, returned to Virginia with Hallmark, Emry and the 40-member delegation from the Presbytery of Eastern Virginia for a week of sightseeing before returning to Zaire. Her father is head of the Presbyterian Church there.
Now back in Suffolk, Hallmark and Emry are gearing up for work within their presbytery. Hallmark, a top student at Western Branch High School in Chesapeake, is Youth Council president in her church.
She is the daughter of Glenn and Alison Goldberg of Manor View Court, Chesapeake. MEMO: St. Andrew Presbyterian Church is at 1885 Bridge Road. For information,
call the Rev. Roger Jackle at 238-3550.
ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Rachel Hallmark
by CNB