The Gardiner Reformed Church has a wonderful youth group. When I first moved here four years ago, I started attending and became so active I didn’t mind giving up my time for it. Other members agree. Most students in either New Paltz Schools or even Wallkill Schools, normally wouldn’t be coming every week to church, but Pastor Gary Sissel and the other youth leaders managed to change all of our minds. We even have 18-year-olds still coming once they graduate from high school. Each service we have changes the way most of the teenagers, or even children, look at what they do everyday.
Pastor Gary Sissel believes the youth group is important because “it will put a change in a person’s life on earth, and prepare you for the life after.” This youth group contains a few youth leaders such as Beth Freer, Jim Freer, Carol Lohrman, Bill Lohrman, Fran Kwak, David Kwak, Rose Guerrie, Robin Decker, Ken Decker and Gary Sissel’s wife, Lynn Sissel.
There are different activities such as Snow Camp, where the teens can go to Word Of Life Bible Institute in the Adirondacks and attend services, play football, volleyball, basketball and paintball, and spend a weekend in the love of God’s word. More teens are always welcome at the youth group, It is held on Thursdays from 6:30-8pm.