Yearbook Pictures
School kicks off next week, and with a new school year comes new student pictures and ID cards.
Hopefully yours are as class as ours were!
Labor Day Eve
Going back through the archives of past student ministry videos, I came across this video that former high school pastors Joel & Mike created to stir up some excitement within the church body of RHCC about the festivities that come with Labor Day every year.
Thank You
For two months I had been trying to teach my daughter to say “thank you” in sign language. And for two months she just looked up at me with a stare that said, “what are you trying to say to me?” I wanted to give up, because I thought I was not getting through to her.
Sometimes, I find myself wanting to give up in other areas of my life too. But, just when I feel so discouraged that I want to give up, I am reminded that God is with me through it all. He is trying to teach me things. He is speaking to me, and many times I tend to give Him that same look of “what are you trying to say to me?” It amazes me that each day God meets me right where I am at. He walks with me through my failures, my victories, my hurts, and my brokenness. He will never leave me, but my role is to stay by His side and seek Him with every part of my life. I am humbled with how He never gives up on me.
I know deep within that God wants me to grow in my knowledge of Him, but also allow that understanding to transform the way I live. He wants to change the way I view people. He wants to use me to care for those who are overlooked. He wants to use every attitude, action and word spoken to bring Him glory.
So I think back to teaching my daughter, day after day and hour after hour, how to express her gratitude. And one day she got it. Her great-aunt put a Band-Aid on her hurt finger, and when I said, “say thank you.” Malena finally said “thank you” in sign language. I screamed with delight, which kind of alarmed her. But, after her look of alarm, she kept signing thank you. She got it she finally got it. I realized I need to not give up, she will get it.
Thank you God! Thank you for never giving up on me. Thank you for meeting me right where I am at, but also desiring me to take the next step in my walk with you. Thank you that you teach me over and over what it means to live as a Christ Follower, and never do you say, “I give up on her.” Thank you!
Urgent Need
Starting in September we are going to be reconfiguring our small group ministry into a brand new approach to discipling called Fusion. Fusion is all about fusing our faith with all parts of our lives. Fusion is about relationships and living life-on-life with each other. Fusion is only as effective as the leaders we have who invest time and their very lives into the kids. That is where you come in.
We are looking for 5 or 6 committed women who choose to the follow the voice of God and build into a group of 8-12 girls this year. Each woman will have a High School apprentice to work with and share the rewarding privilege of ushering our girls into a future of lifelong impact for Christ. Please don’t consider this if you feel guilty or see it as a way to keep track of your daughter’s behavior. We really want women who are called and genuinely care about girls. No experience is required, we will train you!
We have been blessed to have enough men step up to be discipleship leaders this year, but we could sure use more guys who would be willing to help in support areas like our Hospitality Team. That team functions as a mixture of setting up and tearing down the various sports activities, being a presence in the hallways, and helping manage the handing out of video games and board games each week. This role is a weekly responsibility with one week off per month whenever there is a meal night.
Please join with us and pray for God to provide for these very important ministries. If you can be part of either of these urgent needs, please email jen.gulbrandson@rollinghills.org or mark.began@rollinghills.org so we can chat with you directly about this exciting opportunity!
Family Mentoring
A couple of months ago we as a staff went away on a planning and strategy retreat, we spent a great deal of time trying to figure out how we could do a better job connecting with parents and families so we are just a ministry about Junior High students, but of their parents too. To that end we are trying to do a more concerted effort at blogging, providing prayer needs for you to know how to pray for us, and having monthly emails or parent letters available.
One other idea we had was something we have never tried before. We wondered if we provided family mentoring for a month at a time around a certain topic. This mentoring would be limited in size to a max of 8 couples and the topic would change each month we did it. Some ideas for topics included Dealing with Rebelling Kids, Talking About Sex With Your Kids, Finding Spiritual Things In The Media You Watch & Listen To, How To Encourage The Right Kinds of Friends, and Learning How To Serve Together As A Family.
We envision a typical mentoring time as having some sharing of content with a majority of time spent discussing ways to incorporate it into the lifestyle of the family. Although primarily a youthworker/parent mentoring to enhance the family, some sessions could incorporate having the JH students attend as well. It’s such a new idea, we just want to see if it has legs and scratches someone’s itch out there.
If this is a ministry you think is worth us pursuing, please comment or let me know by emailing Mark at mark.began@rollinghills.org.
Thanks for your input!
Pastor Mark
FUSION Teaser
Here’s a teaser we put out to announce our new small group ministry launching this fall on September 14, 2008.
THIS SUNDAY, AUGUST 24, 2008, we will be having a parent meeting during the 9am service in the Future Book Store (located next to the Atrium Cafe) to discuss the new ministry as well as field questions from parents about Fusion and anything else related to Jr. High. We hope to see you there…did I mention free doughnuts and coffee?
Extended Camp Rewind Video
Here it is! Here is the video we showed at our service last weekend. It was awesome putting this video together. Looking back at the footage over the past week and piecing together this project I was reminded again at how great and marvelous our God truly is as He moved in a mighty way at The Peak.
Many have asked about the songs used in the video. The first song is called “Counting on God” and it can be found on the “Everyone Overcome” album by The Desperation Band. The second song is “Healer” and that is off Hillsong’s new album “This Is Our God”. Both songs can be purchased on iTunes or wherever else you purchase your music.
Podcasts and Notes Are Up!
Hey everyone! The messages and notes have been uploaded and are available for listening and viewing right now over @ 678live.com under the podcast menu. The individual notes are available for download in PDF format. You will find the download link on the page of the particular podcast you are listening to. Feel free to contact me if you have ANY issues trying to access the notes.
We are currently trying to get ALL our podcasts from here on out linked to the iTunes podcast directory. So in the mean time, unless you own Quicktime Pro, you can only listen to the podcasts via 678live.com. If you have QT Pro, you can download the QT file from the website. Again, if you have any questsions, call me at the church or drop me a line at tyler.eaton@rollinghills.org
Continue The Impact
It’s now been just over a week since camp ended and I must say I am more rested, but I am honestly missing it a great deal. Camp has become more than an event that we do every year. It’s more like spiritual pilgrimage. We go to camp to meet God in ways that we can’t any other time, but God changes us in so many unexpected ways, it’s hard to describe. It just goes to show that when we try to put God in a box in terms of how we expect Him to act or how we see Him working in the lives of students. It’s like trying to put a wild stallion into a tissue paper corral. You just can’t make God predictable!
Many of you have already heard scores of stories and experiences about what God did at camp. You probably heard that 40 staff and students got baptized this year. You may have heard from your child that God is calling them to a mission field like Africa or maybe to start praying before a soccer game. Whatever it is, don’t dismiss it. Don’t ignore it. Don’t extinguish the spiritual flame that your child came back with. For them, that experience was the most real God has ever been in their life. He spoke to them! He cared enough to include them in what he started back in creation and continues to this day! He did it, not me or anyone else God may have used. It was God, the God of the universe who chose your son or daughter to step out by faith and go out on a limb for Him!
Do you recall times in your life when you felt a similar way? You probably do. Or maybe the pain of years of neglect has erased those times from your memory. In either case, you have a choice to make. Will you feed the fire that is burning? Will you be part of helping your child take their faith further than you ever thought faith could be taken? You, as a parent, have the power I’m talking about. It was given to you by God when you started your family. He wants you to continue the impact He started during camp this year in your child’s life. He wants you to have the joy of watching them inspire you. He wants you to know that impossible things happen when we believe by faith. Is it too much for you to imagine that your son might feed hungry people after school, because God called him to do it at camp? Can you just not see your self-absorbed daughter, truly make a decision to start a prayer group at her school? What if it costs you gas to drive your daughter to school early? Can you handle the personal conviction that may come if your son wonders why you don’t care about the poor like he has learned God cares?
Hard questions we all need to wrestle with. Will you?
Thursday Night Recap Video
Here’s our final recap video of the week! Enjoy!
Responding To God’s Call
Here is a powerful selection of clips from students sharing how they feel God has called them to be used in their day to day life. This was recorded during our worship time so the audio is kind of unbalanced at this point because the life music overpowers most of the voices. We are going to do our best to see if we can altar the audio at all to show at our Camp Rewind Service on July 17th @ 11 in the Back Room @ RHCC.
God is alive and moving in the hearts of your students!
Tonight Was The Best…
Tonight the Spirit was in this place! We talked about how pain has perspective when we combine it with faith in Jesus. With worship that ushered us into the throneroom of Heaven, no person, young or old, left without knowing with confidence that Jesus is our highest priority for life.
I love your kids. They have such tender hearts. Oh that everyone could see a replay of what happened tonight.
By the way, the video that we have been trying to post online has been having difficulties getting uploaded. When it does, make sure you come back and see it. Out of the mouths of babes, the most profound visions and callings were spoken by your kids. They were just a few of the many students who heard God speak to them this week.
One final time for this year, so long from the Peak,
Pastor Mark
Huge Praise!!!!
This morning we got to see 40 students and staff get baptized and go public with their faith. Here are the names of all those who got baptized: Jordan R, Erika S, Jill I, Adria S, Brice H, Alex S, Daniel E, Cassie A, Chelsea C, Emily H, Valerie W, Michael W, Hannah L, Sarah L, Abbie B, Rachel C, Katie B, Heather A, Randal S, Ian S, Rich F, Austin G, Spencer C, Stephanie S, Taylor H, Justine M, Alexa G, Maddy C, Shawn V, Spencer G, Tess R, Anna M, Sabrina S, Evan L, Zack M, Brandon B, Michael N, Nicholas B, Stan H, and Howard H.
Will you pray with us as we pray that these students and staff go home and live by the frequency of faith in Jesus every day? I know they will really appreciate it!
Pastor Mark
Wednesday Night Recap Video
Oh man! What a day! Cannot wait until we can get clips from Wednesday night’s talent show up on here for you all to see some of the “talent” that is brewing here at camp.
Until then…enjoy our wednesday in review!
The Ocho Showcho Live Thoughts
The Ocho Showcho is the Peak’s version of American Idol. Lots of willing participants and William Hungs galore. Here are some live comments on the proceedings…
Vickster enters with the Olympeak Torch, thus beginning the opening ceremonies
Jen, Kim, Laurie, Janna and Val are doing a ridiculous opening ceremony synchronized swimming/dance number. Very strange and very long lasting. I think they are doing the whole Olympeak theme song. Finally over…
Chris and Jon are MCing. Nice intro and boring explanation.
Judges introduced. Mocking remarks to Mark. Branden introduced to round of applause. Jen loved as usual when introduced.
Terra and the gang are first act. Looks like a cheesy dance number. Wrong, it was a cheer/song with actions based on the rules of camp. A few slip-ups, but I’ll never think of FUFA the same again.
Log Cabin 13 next. 8th grade boys and who knows what is coming. Looks like a skit about boxing. No props to speak of, but good Biblical content, albeit inaccurate since David loses to Goliath, but David wins in the end. Loses points for no head chopped off.
Standeven Cabin next. Girls. Probably a Hannah Montana number. Wrong, it’s a skit about breaking rules and chewing gum. The old gum chewing skit. An outdoor school fave. Pretty well executed. But who will eat the disgusting gum? A little violent on the stage, Laura eats the gum. Very nice and horribly executed.
Nathan next. One man show. Shirt off and freakish shoulder blades. Plays Rubik with shoulder blades. Must have pictures. Crushes cup with shoulders. Stupid human tricks. Holds shoe between shoulders. Amazing and vile, all at the same time. Chris thinks Jen’s child Malena should be held between his shoulders as a form of baby carrier. He might have something there…
Log Cabin 8 in the house. Gameshow that makes fun of counselors and Mark Began. Not sure what to make of this. Time for this lame act to be over. Judges railed about it.
Senior Leaders next, with good sarcasm from the hosts. Brightwood three next.
Brightwood 3 with some props. Looks like a skit. Jaws. Or maybe a skit about the wicked, biting fish that bit Brenda. Various students attack biting fish until dead. Concludes with a song and dance with finger snapping and more. I’ll bet they never make it to American Idol with that number…
Fletcher with some mid act entertainment. Bizarre conversation ensues.
Senior Leaders finally. Inappropriate exercise video workout with absolutely wrong leadership by Brandon. Lack of one-piece swimming and workout apparel knocks off lots of points. Extended and long number with wild audience participation. Lose the horrible clothing and come back later. Kyle accosts the judges with close range exercising. Crowd was really into it. Brandon loves it, Jen is crying and speechless, Mark is blown away again, but not in a good way!
Jon enters wearing a body suit or onesie. I must admit, it works for me! I gotta get me one of those!
Dance party intermission. Now Chris in onesie. Both look like they are ready for sleep, especially Jon’s hair.
Next act is Full Throttle. Lots of makeup. Big points for integration with video and dance. Big points for 8th/6th grade crossover. I think we are going to see a Thriller remake. Points lost for rated PG-13. Major points lost for Michael Jackson number. Well in sync without being an N’Sync number. Kyle disturbing again, but at least appropriate this time. Lumbering movements add to the reality of movements of the undead. More points off for acting like zombies. Mark hated it, Brandon loved it and Jen thought it was pitchy.
Will is up next. Jon and Chris are pitchy. Shoes are coming off. Music happens, he’s wrestling himself, he’s losing, are he and Gumby related? Hard to believe and even harder to comprehend that he can contort like a human ball of string!
Laura up next. She’s playing a song. I think I’ve heard this before. Yes, in kindergarten. It was lame then and lame now, but kinda cute when you do it through your nose…
Nice mid-act comments. Ryan next with his patented awkward looking front flip. Probably the most painful thing I’ve seen tonight, next to the man wrestler. Kind of hard to watch, probably due to go to the hospital, sprained his ankle and broke his back, but such a show stealer he keeps going and the crowd pities him all the way.
Hannah and the homies next. Finally a Hannah Montana number. Just what I was waiting for. Wardrobe malfunction, instrument malfunction, noise malfunction, act malfunction. I was wrong, it was a spoof, a spoof of a lame act malfunction, may they go away, very far away, like way, way, way far away.
Jon cuts deep with a sarcastic remark. Chris responds with Godliness.
Shianne plays next. A little guitar number. A littler song, but a crowd fave. One line of a famous song. Well executed and just dandy.
Evan comes next with his patented chair and keyboard number. It’s good to see some serious musicians in this competition. I feel like climbing a mountain and singing at the top of my lungs. He was made for this show. I do think he is playing the whole song. I’m still on the mountain. When will I come down from the mountain. How about when this song ends…still going…still going…maybe over…still going…still going…over and awesome!
Sam on the stage with Chris. Gunnar introduced. Break dance number, lots of flailing about, lots of spinning about, cool uniform and points off for Spurs jersey.
Banter between Sam and Chris. Clay joins and groans. Zombie act fails again.
John and Sarah doing who knows what. John wearing rabbit head. Sarah wearing who knows what????? Pokemon theme song. Lip sync number with lots of energy, but John just looks strange with a blank expression as he gravitates to the music. Sarah is definitely the talent in this pair. Running around the stage now during the bridge. Seem to be hitting each other. Conflict resolution would be good. How about if they battle it out in the stadium?
Timber 3&4& Log Cabin 10 are on with a crowd that is bigger than the audience. Taylor gets jiggy with it. Break dancer is kinda lost in the whole thing. Cool glasses and totally in rhythm. I think this thing is going to have close to 40 different verses. Sean back with Mary had a little lamb. Just a cool little rhyming walk down Mother Goose Lane.
Timber 11 and 12 next. Preston and Sam going ninja with TMNT theme song. Good outfits, lots of prancing, special effects, and good use of camp property. Judges comment on the environmental friendliness of the act. Turtles attack Chris and John.
Timber 11&12 are the ones. Jaelyn takes her lily sweet time setting up. Seems to be a skit about Frequency Fashions. Great outfits with totally duct tape from many colors. Relatively lame dialogue. Music late. Music finally arrives. Nice hat, rainbow colors, totally righteous. Courtney with summer wear. Calli with ???? Banter getting more witty. Leslie comes with attitude and runway style. Jessica comes with some crosses. Points for godliness!
Junior Girls with an Olympic number. Strange froglike actions. Kelly and Sam hopping around the stage. Now everyone else hops around. Jaelyn tries to hop around, unsuccessfully. Patrick back in gangbanger wear. He’s breaking out. Patrick goes MC Hammer, you gotta like it. I wonder how many more of these do we have left…
Tyler on with a prop. Shirt comes off. Singing a Grease number with Chris. Per last year, another cross dressing number. Lots of energy from both, but inappropriate swimwear so I have them already eliminated. In fact, I’m sending Chris home afterwards due to EXTREME wardrobe with disturbing qualities. This cannot go on anymore…Finally ends!
With that totally disturbing act, the Ocho Showcho is over and out for ’08!
Something Wonderful Is Happening
We are seeing an amazing breakthrough this week. Students are really getting it! I keep on hearing about 8th grade groups who have genuine, spending-time-together-every-day friendships with 6th grade cabins. The Spirit is working powerfully in this place. Your prayers are being answered in mighty ways. Tonight I heard a taste of the good things that are happening. Konnor C. shared that he is loving getting to know guys like Jonathan D, Clay D, Michael W, and Jake R among others. He said that they have changed his life as he has grown as a leader because of the challenge to adopt a cabin. Isn’t God absolutely awesome?
I love serving Jesus by loving your kids and watching them do far more than I could ever imagine before coming here. It can only be a God thing!
Mark
Wow, camp is awesome!
Hi family. Mom, dad, Isaac, and Amelia. How’s Camp Rockaway? Things here are really great, we are seeing the Lord work in amazing ways. The weather has been great and we are spending lots of time at the lake. I have climbed the iceberg 3 times! Tonight my cabin group is participating in the talent show. I was bit by a fish in the lake and we are doing a funny song about that. Moriah and Natalie and daddy are having a great week too. It is fun for us to be here together. I miss you and look forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Love, Mom
SIXTH GRADERS = AWESOME!!!!
Ok- so, I used to think that 6th graders were kind of immature dorks, and I will admit that I was one too, but I was wrong. Every year, Mark Began (pastor) challenges the 8th graders to do something hard, and this year it was to adopt a 6th grade cabin (group) and/or clean tables. My cabin did both. We decided to adopt cabin #6, who’s leader was like the only person we knew. Now, we have gotten to know them, prayed for them, taught them how to serve in tennis, and all sorts of other things. I have made 6th grade friends I would like to keep for a long time.
Better Every Year
This is my seventh year at the peak, and I’ve been here in almost every capacity- student, small group apprentice, small group leader, logistics and staff and I can honestly tell you that The Peak gets better each year. I continue to be amazed at the new ways that God moves through each group of junior highers.
I’ll admit that I was a little nervous about this year, since about two-thirds of our leaders are first time camp leaders, but this group has turned out to be one of the most loving and intentional groups of leaders I’ve served with. I’m constantly surprised at how much they know about their students, the amount of time they’re spending together and the lengths they’re willing to go to to make this camp an unforgettable experience for each student. (I’ll admit that I’m the one who’s responsible for all of the pies in the face you’re hearing about, but these leaders did it without complaining) The hearts of these leaders are ones of total service and it’s led to one of the best atmospheres I’ve experienced. Your students are in very capable, caring hands.
Speaking of which, I can’t explain in words how great it has been for me to get to know your students over the last few months, and especially the last week. I love spending time with them- whether it’s during games, on the waterfront, or simply watching movies on Sunday nights at the SWAMP. Thank you for sharing them with us this week, and trusting us enough to take them so far away from you. Camp has been such a large part of my heart for so many years, that to be able to put all of my energy into something I believe so much in this summer has been a true blessing. I can’t believe I get paid to hang out with such amazing, funny and creative students. I feel like I should be paying you for this opportunity.
The Peak has always been my favorite week of the year, and this time around has been no different. I pray that your students come home feeling the same way.
In His love and service,
Vickie Chambers, Jr. High Summer Intern
A Little Glimpse of Heaven
I have the privilage of serving at our jr high camp. Yesterday at dusk, as we were preparing for a night game I had a moment to look up at the moon. It was an orange finger nail hanging above the mountain, framed by two huge pines. Below was it’s bright reflection in the still lake. It made me think that it’s the sun that makes us be able to see the moon. It is just reflecting the sun’s light. Then that light was refracting off the moon to the lake. It was the perfect image of camp. As Jesus shines, we reflect HIS light to the students.
This week has been so increadable on many levels. The campers are wonderful, it is a delight to watch them unplug and connect with God in new and unique ways. With huge smiles they treck from one end of camp to the other squeezing every ounce of fun out of their free time. The adult leaders are servants extrodinare! Often, they are only functioning because of the large doses of caffeine they consume! Our staff meetings are more like a gathering of the tired but wired! I love watching the student leaders the most. I learn so much from these old souls in young bodies. They give me confidence in the next generation.
Like the brief moment I got to gaze at the moon and reflect on God’s glory is this time at camp. It is a little glimpse of what Heaven will be like. All ages, all races, both genders living communally, serving each other. Laughing, crying, dancing, singing, working, playing all together. It’s not perfect but the amazing, wonderful, awe inspiring moments totally out weigh the momentary minor problems. It makes me long of the day when we will never have to load the buses but will live like this in the presence of our Lord, Jesus Christ forever!
-Jenni Reiling 🙂
Following the Call
Hello everyone!
My name is Grant Vandehey. For those who don’t know me, I’ll be going into my junior year next year at Tualatin High School. This past year of my spiritual journey has just been so incredible since Mississippi. I was a leader all year at extreme and now I’ve become one here at the Peak. It’s amazing how much I’ve learned from my time leading small groups. I feel that I’ve learned just as much, if not more, from the kids as they’ve learned from me.
This past month or so, I’ve been spending a lot of time in prayer and in Scripture, just trying to find my calling in God’s Kingdom, and I believe I’ve found it. God has blessed me with an absolute PASSION for spiritual teaching and guidance over the past year leading these kids. I’ve been meeting with leaders and mentors of mine at our church a lot this past year as well, and I love doing that. Having conversations about my faith is what I love doing. There’s nothing I love more than sharing what I believe with others who haven’t heard about Christ, discussing it with mentors/leaders, or teaching the next generation about Him.
With all this in mind, I’ve come to a point where I really know what God wants to do with my life. I need to become a pastor. There’s just nothing I love more than teaching and sharing my faith. I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life that this really is what God wants me to do. This week at camp has made it so clear that this is what I need to be doing with my life.
From all of you reading this, I could really use some prayers in figuring out exactly how to go about this and how to stay true to this commitment I’ve made.
God bless all who took the time to read this post, and all those who have been praying for all of us to have a great year at camp.
And God bless the parents of the WONDERFUL 7th grade boys in my cabin that have been such a blessing to me and their other leader Patrick. To the parents of Andrew, Nathan, William, Caleb, Jacob, James, and Sean, all I can say is keep up the great work, because you’ve done an amazing job at raising these kids.
Once again, many thanks to everyone back home, and see you all soon!
-Grant
Cheri’s Blog
Hey family and friends! We are having a blast here at the Peak! It is amazing!!!! The OchoShowcho is tonight!!! That is a talent show to be done solo, double, or cabins!!! Awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We are making braceletts in our cabin. So far we are making a ton and giving them out as presents. We are going boating today as a cabin. It is going to be so much fun!!!!!!!!!!! We looked for hours for the hidden madalian and didn’t find either. Oh, well! We tried and came really close! I hope to come back as a counsler in 2 years, because camp rocks!!! Please send us all letters and mail! We love recieving notes and presents from you! The campers won the night games last night and as a reward each cabin was rewarded a shaving cream pie to put in any leaders face!! My cabin chose Mark Began!!!! Ha Ha!! Today when we were blogging(Our pic of me holding up Jessica) we had a bunch of fun making about 70 pictures, dementing our heads and twisting ourselves together!!! We love the Peak!!!!1
Miss you all,
CHERI LUIKART
Meleah’s Blog
We are having such a BLAST at camp! It’s definitely different from last year, but in a good way. It seems shorter and really life changing. My whole cabin can’t wait for the Ocho Showcho tonight. We are gonna do something sooooo cool! ~Meleah
Calli’s blog
OMGosh!!!! Camp is so much fun! We have gone swimming, played in train cars, ate the best food, and have the best cabins. Every night when Mark preaches the gospel, almost 30 people cry every night! The message is always so intense. Mark and all the rest of the leaders have really made an impact on my life this year.
I Love The Peak!
What a great camp! I just want you to know that you have amazing students! It has been a joy to play with them, laugh with them, worship with them, and watch God move in their lives.
I kinda feel old because the 6th grade class were just babies when I first arrived as the girls director at RHCC in the summer of 1997. To see my nephew here at camp has made me realize I have been a part of quite a few RHCC Jr High camps. And every year I think that year’s camp is the best week we have ever had, and this week seems to top them all! Our leaders truly love and care for each student. Mark is doing an outstanding job speaking. Tyler and the band have led us in awesome worship times, and our key staff take care of all the tiny daily details that make this camp run smoothly. What a priviledge to be here serving your students.
I would like to say thank you for entrusting your students to us this week. We are so blessed by each one of them. And the best part of it all, we still have a few days left.
I JUST LOVE CAMP See you all Friday!
Jen Gulbrandson
Timberidge 5+6
Best trick ever
Okay so @ lunch today we were like eating grapes and i (to the upper left) decided to put one in my mouth and put it on a napkin in the bowl and asked if anyone wanted some grapes. Cheri said yes and took the bowl grabbed the grape i had put in my mouth. are whole table yelled NO!!!!! As we told her what happened her face went from bewilderment to disgust. she wiped her tongue and drank like two gallons of water. It was FUNNY!!!!!!
Love,
Moriah, Jessica, Laura, Cheri, Madison, Jordon, Jenny, and catie
yo yo it’s camp yo
johnfinnerty
So, I’m here at camp havin’ a great time. Last night Chris and I rocked the Stupid Human Trick Show. Let me tell you these kids have some pretty stupid tricks up their sleeves. All sorts of things your eyes should never do were done, not to mention the mass contorting of all extremities — hands, arms, fingers (big and little). It was fantastic. Also, I got totally cream-pied in the face by the fletch-dawg. It was extremely messy and slightly painful. LATER! -Roy McCoy
Cabin 9 Perspective
I was totally against going to Wild Waves as a leader, but I was surprised by the bonding that happened! I’ve been on more than 20 camps as a leader and this was the first time I learned all my kid’s names on the FIRST DAY! One of my students is Shawn H. He was a reading buddy with Monte S. who is on staff at church. Shawn came and we had an amazing experience the first night as he prayed to receive Christ. Without prompting, Andrew K., a student in the cabin, just started mentoring Shawn in his new faith! Look for more through the video testimonies that are coming later in the week.
I wouldn’t consider this cabin spiritual giants, but it’s obvious that the respect and reverence for God is there. They don’t always have the answers to the questions we ask, but they have a strong curiosity about spiritual things and seem really teachable.
One thing we did for bonding as a cabin was to get these crazy pink clown hats and ties. When we busted them out, the guys loved them right away and wore them the whole first night! It may have been something silly, but it really bonded them on another level.
The kids are really tired of Grant and Patrick speaking in songs(the classics from the 60’s and 70’s), but they are loving it just the sa
The Peek!
Hey everyone!
I’m having such an awesome time here at camp! my cabin group is so fun and they are all so nice! Yesterday me and some of my cabin group went horseback riding it was really cool but everyone was really sore afterward. we also went boating and tubing that was a blast! so I’ll talk to you all later see ya!
THE PEAK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HI people
i am having a great time at the peak. Night games are great , plus so it the food.i miss you all and will talk to you later.
Meg M.
Timberidge 5+6
Hey parents and friends!
We are having an awesome time here at the Peak!!! We are meeting new friends, drinking lots of water (Tell me about it) and winning night games!!! WHoa! Awesome!!! We are also with the best leaders in the planet, Erica and Margot Standseven!!! We are also learning a ton and becoming closer to God like never before.! Tonight we made a commitment to go beyond our comfort zone!! It was hard to do but we did it!!! Yea!!
We have also made friends with 6th and 7th graders to complete the 8th grade challenge that Mark gave us. It was to make others feel comfortable when we may not be in our comfort zone!
We miss you all,
Cheri, Jenny, Jessica, Caitie, Madison, Jordon, Moriah, and Laura
CAMP IS FREAKING AWESOME
I love these kids so much! its so great to be a leader here! These kids are experiencing God in this place. You won’t see the same kids when they return.
Sarah Finnerty
campers view
hello this is maxx h. and jacob m.
this camp has been a very fun and inspiring week. we have got closer to God and had fun doing so. the counselors are great, they are very faithful with God and are extreamly fun. Mark’s quad time with us and God has once again made a huge impact on our lives. the peak has many things to offer. we had lots of fun going boating, blobbing, going on the ice berg,and wild waves!!!.
so once again we have had a great week at the PEAK!!!!!!!!!!!
Pray For Us Tonight!
I’ve been hearing some great things about what students are doing to step out by faith. I heard one cabin had 4 students respond to Christ on the first night alone! I keep hearing from different leaders all the time how much bonding happened at Wild Waves and how it has set the relational tone for the whole camp. This is hard for me to swallow. We only did Wild Waves because we couldn’t do boating last year and weren’t sure if we could do it this year either. So God is in control and he works through EVERY situation and circumstance.
Tonight we need your prayers in a major way. We are looking at Noah, Abraham and Moses and challenging the students to step out of their comfort zones and follow God by being a leader in some way when they come home. So many of them are taking on serving roles here at camp and we want them to start preparing to go home and continue right where camp left off. We also need prayer as the kids and staff are getting really tired so conflicts are on the rise and we are having more opportunities to see the Spirit influence relationships that are under stress.
Pray for our leaders tonight as they identify and pray for kids who they see God preparing to be leaders. Pray that they will have discernment and prophetic eyes to see the potential in each of their kids of whom they love very much.
You all would be proud of how much your kids are being loved by the volunteer leaders and HS students who are cabin leaders this week. They have gone the extra mile in so many ways. Make sure and thank them when we get back as many of them are your peers who sacrificed a week of work or vacation to invest in these young emerging adults.
Serving the King,
Mark
Monday Night Recap Video
One of the highlights of our evening group time is coming together and watching the a video recapping the events of the day. Here is the first in our daily recap videos.
just a side note…
there is a clip of a girl being blobbed in this video that we found on youtube that is insanely ridiculous. I’m pretty sure you’ll know which one it is. So no worries, we are not teaching your kids to fly!
Here are some pics…
I am including some pictures from our Quad Time on Monday night. We had a great time of worship and learned about faith. The students were challenged to walk by faith and just trust in their beliefs. It was a cool time with tons of excitement!
Prayer Requests #2
For all of you who are praying, thank you so much! We are seeing evidence of God moving. Easily I have heard of at least 6 students who prayed to receive Christ last night. It’s so cool that God is moving and we are seeing tangible evidence of that. I saw students living up to their commitment to serve others by cleaning two other tables at a meal. I also saw a 8th grade cabin adopt a 6th grade cabin, giving them T-shirts signed by everyone in their cabin and inviting them to do an lip sync in our no-talent, Ocho Showcho that happens on Wednesday night. What creativity our leaders have!
Prayer Needs
Pray for our students to take active steps in their faith. We will give them opportunities to practice actual faith steps by doing stations that include doing a mini-Quiet Time, going to the cross to confess sin, choosing to intercede for someone’s prayer need and more!
Pray for the Spirit to help us be unified as a family here at camp. We love seeing when students care and love first and when our staff do the same!
Pray for tonight’s message as I am feeling kind of strange about sharing tonight. I’m not sure what it is as the camp is going so well. Sometimes I think that if we aren’t in crisis mode, we aren’t dependent enough. I hope that’s not the case, but I would appreciate your prayers for peace tonight.
Continue praying for the 8th grade cabins who are striving to make connections with the younger cabins. I talked to an 8th grade girls cabin that adopted two 7th grade cabins so they wouldn’t feel left out. Isn’t that awesome?
Pray for continued safety as we have not had any hospital runs and all injuries have been very minor cuts and scrapes.
Pray that God gets ALL the glory in every way!
Mark
8th Grade Students Stepping Up…
Tonight we took the 8th grade students and challenged them to take the Frequency Commitment. The Frequency Commitment is a choice that each 8th grade cabin chooses to do to give of themselves this week at the camp. We surrounded a circle of tiki torches and shared that because Jesus gave of himself, if we give of ourselves to the younger students, God gets the credit and lives are transformed. I am pumped to report that each 8th grade cabin took up the challenge. In fact, every group decided to adopt a younger cabin and spend at least one hour each day hanging out and having fun building new friendships with them. You would be so, so proud of your kids. Pray that they carry through on their commitment and pray that the Spirit uses these commitments to transform our community here at the Peak.
Til tomorrow,
Mark
Awesome Night!
Well, everyone had a great day at Wild Waves! Many cabins had a great time bonding over roller coasters and waterslides! Everyone arrived at the camp at 4:30pm looking tired. Imagine my surprise. On a normal week we don’t see this kind of tiredness until Tuesday night!
Thanks for praying for us tonight! We did a pretty cool experience tonight. We took time to learn about what Jesus went through for each of us as he gave his life as a sacrifice for each one of our sins and failures. We took specific events from the last night Jesus spent with his disciples to when he died on the cross and used candles, black rocks, nails and hammers and audio recordings to bring things to life. It was awesome to see individual students come to grips with how much Jesus did for them. I loved watching groups of kids holding each other, consoling them on their sorrow, but encouraging each other that Jesus paid the price for their sin, in their place! What an amazing, special, love that he gave so much for us. I was really impacted in my soul tonight and I can’t wait to see what God continues to do!
Catch you on the flip side,
Pastor Mark
Feeling The Excitement…
Today as I collected tons of green pieces of paper, I was reminded about how special every year of camp is. A friend asked me today if I was tired of doing camps with this being my 14th summer of doing at least one camp. I can honestly say that I look forward to this week so much that it’s hard to find the right words to describe it. To see each person come up to check-in, some with smiles that reflect memories of past camps, while others have literal terror in their eyes.
However, when I look at them, I see beyond today to one week from now. I see kids with hands raised in worship of God, tears streaming down their faces because of what God means to them. I see the 8th grade guy who befriends 6th grade boy and goes against the normal social rules because Jesus so impacted his life during this week. I see leaders praying for their cabins of students, laying hands on them and trusting God to use those students to change the world!
You see, this is what makes the Peak different from a sports camp or a family vacation. Where else can you see a group of close to 300 students and adults go from a bunch of individuals to a bonded, close-knit group who loves each other? That kind of love is impossible. That kind of love is elusive. In fact, that kind of love can only come from one person. It’s the God of the impossible who sent his son Jesus to show us what love really looks like. That’s the love we will show to your child this week and that’s the love that we will live with each other.
Time to hit the hay early! Tomorrow is going to be an amazing day!
See you at 6am,
Pastor Mark
Prayer Requests #1
Thanks to all of you who will be praying for us this week while we are at the Peak! I wanted to include some requests for prayer so you can support us from afar…
Pray for safe travels for the buses and the advance team who is going to set up before the students arrive.
Pray for new friendships that will be formed as students find out who is in their cabins in addition to the friends they requested.
Pray for the boat drivers as they travel up.
Pray that Lake Lawrence has enough water to do water sports.
Pray that the 8th grade students will take the Frequency Challenge and reach out as leaders to the rest of the camp. More info on this will follow in a later post.
Pray for the first night’s Quad Time(our name for the large group chapels we have). Tyler and the band will be leading in worship and Mark will be speaking about how Jesus is the author and perfecter of our relationship with God. Pray also that the Holy Spirit will soften the hearts of each student, no matter where they are at.
Finally, I am going to pray for each of you as families because you chose to invest in your child’s spiritual life this summer. Jim Elliot, a famous missionary martyr, had a saying that I believe bears repeating. He said, “He is no fool, who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” He was referring to giving his life in relationship with Jesus because that has eternal implications. By making camp a priority for your child, you have invested in something that will pay eternal dividends. I will pray that you each see that no matter what your motives were, you will receive back a child who will never be the same, in all the best ways!
Thanks for your prayers!
Pastor Mark
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