Top Ten Reasons Students Should Go to Summer Camp

10. Outrageous Competitions
     The games we play at Summer Camp are just ridiculous. Epic on a scale that is impossible at home...therefore, you should go to camp!


9. Hone Your Paddling Skills...
     C'mon, who doesn't like canoeing! 


8. "Luxury" Dormitories
     We do summer camp in style in scenic Forsyth, GA. Seated in a former cow pasture, Camp Timberlake is resplendent with wildlife and nature and all the comforts of home. (If 40 people sleep in your bedroom that is.)


7. Sanctioned Stupidity
     Let's be honest, some of the things we do at camp are stupid. Mud Fights, Grits Wrestling, Bobbing For Apples in Baked Beans, Fishing Baby Ruth's out of Mountain Dew, etc. The great part about summer camp is that it's supervised by competent leaders at all times who know just when to call it off. (BONUS FOR PARENTS, your students don't have to do crazy messy things on your property!)


6. "Gourmet Food"
     The discerning palate will be treated to a culinary master class that features a light dough topped with a tomato based sauce and a sausage-like meat topping (pizza) as well as French classics such as chien de maïs. (Copy and Paste that into freetranslation.com to get the answer)


5. Disconnection from the Outside World
     The world of kids and students is packed with distractions: media and entertainment that are constantly begging for our attention. One of the greatest parts of Summer Camp is pulling the plug on those things for a week and resetting your brain.


4. (Non-Romantic) Relationships that Last a Lifetime
     I know that some of my most meaningful friendships were forged at Summer Camp. And the advent of social media like Twitter and Facebook only makes it easier to stay connected and keep up with your new buddies!


3. Awesome Worship!
     The worship is excellent at camp every year and this year will be no different. The great thing about worship at camp is that there is no schedule or agenda. If service gets over at 11, 12, or 1 doesn't matter as long as we've had as much time as we need to seek the face of God.


2. Intense Encounters With God
     I can't quantify it, but there is something special about that patch of red dirt we go to every year for camp. Maybe it's the disconnection from concerns and distractions at home, maybe it's the camaraderie, maybe it's the atmosphere of worship over the whole campus, but God shows up at summer camp. I can tell you the names of numerous ministers and missionaries (myself included) who were called into ministry at the altar in summer camp. The numbers of those who have received salvation and have been filled with the Holy Spirit are off the charts. It will change your life.


1. What Happens at Camp DOESN'T Stay at Camp
     The change that the Holy Spirit stirs in your life at summer camp doesn't (or at least shouldn't) evaporate when you catch the bus ride home. It lingers. It stays with you. It empowers you to continue to reach lost people in your local community and around the world.




Like I said, you should go to camp!


     If you're part of UpRising at Evangel Community Church we're going to camp the week of June 11th-15th. You can get an application at the information center or on Wednesday nights. The cost is $145 and is due on May 28th. If you're reading this and you aren't part of our ministry in Georgia, check here for info on GA Summer Camps! Can't wait to see you there!

Word to Your Drummer...

     I've been leading worship since I was 14. I started with just me and my acoustic guitar. I knew three songs: Light the Fire, Jesus, Lover of My Soul, Take My Life. (I might have known, Every Move I Make too...remember "waves of mercy, waves of grace" and you had to do the motions!) By the time I learned some new songs the entire youth group never wanted to hear those three again. Eventually we were able to step up to guitar and bass and then drums. The drums were an amazing blessing and a tremendous burden on me as a worship leader. They added so much to the sound. It really felt like live music. But, the drummers who volunteer to play drums at the local student ministry aren't always the greatest. Long story short: We sang fast songs too slow and slow songs too fast...it was rough.

     If you're a worship drummer or a worship leader for your youth ministry you need to understand that you are both vital parts of the worship team. Drummers could stand to learn that dynamics are important and that you shouldn't use the double-bass pedal on How Great Thou Art. Worship leaders need to learn that (I can say this as a worship leader) you are just not as great as you think you are and making pops and clicks with your mouth might not suffice to explain the beat to your drummer.

     SO, in love. I hope both worship leaders and worship band drummers will watch this video. It's a great resource that our National Fine Arts director Rod Whitlock and an awesome drummer named Josh Little put out to help drummers understand some of the skills it takes to play and flow in a worship service. If you're a drummer check it out so you can get better. If you're a worship leader check it out so that you will better understand how to form beats yourself and so that you can help your drummer not just stare at them or tell them to play quieter.

Check out the video here: http://finearts.ag.org/resources.cfm


Remember these Classics?:

     -Note the period correct powerpoint slides including Magical Flying Letters, Purple Gradient, and (my personal favorite) Random Nature Scene