History of PYWA

There was a vision. PYWA was conceived in the hearts and minds of youth workers across the Presbyterian Church (USA) who desired an organization that would encourage and support their call to youth ministry.

There was a plan. In August of 2005 a small group of youth workers gathered together to plan an event that would help launch an organization that would do just that. This group planned and implemented the "Pentecost Summit: Together in One Place."

They were together in one place. In November of 2005, forty-two youth workers gathered at Lake Tahoe to discern what kind of a thing this new association would be. The Summit participants voted unanimously on a mission statement and on November 3, 2005 PYWA was officially born!

They sent out a group of twelve. At The Summit gathering, twelve people were selected to come together and decide how best to flesh out this fledgling association. In August of 2006, they gathered in Louisville to discover and develop what God was calling PYWA to be.

There is a team. The group of twelve created a nominating committee that put together the 10-member PYWA Core Team, which is the leadership arm of PYWA. The Core Team held its inaugural meeting in Dallas in January of 2007.

In about 18 months PYWA went form being a musing in the minds of Presbyterian youth workers everywhere to an official association to support those very youth workers. Thanks be to God!