The Bison Make-over

One of the most common traditions/pranks on the Lipscomb campus during IMPACT week is the painting of the mascot bison statue!  Having come armed with several cans of paint, the MVYM woke up extra early Wednesday morning to make our mark!

Its hard to know how many coats of paint have been slopped on this beast, but we knew the chances of our beautiful paint job surviving a full 24 hours were slim.  Nevertheless, we hit it with the Missoula colors of maroon, silver, and white.

Unbelievably, no one re-painted the statue the entire day... but this morning (Friday) revealed a new coat of paint from some jealous rival youth group who posted their own area code on the bison - obviously a response to our 406!  Here are the pics!

- J.D.

Friday Night

When IMPACT finished on Friday Night, it was as though all the youth suddenly found themselves at the finish line of a marathon - exhausted, out of breath, somber, excited and victorious.  The week finished with a grand finale of worship, drama, a hard-hitting lesson from Chris Seidman, and confession.

It is difficult to assess the value of IMPACT.  Obviously something has happened within each of our students... but the strength of conviction, the movement of the Spirit within, the resolve to better themselves and the world they live in - these are results that time alone will reveal.

As we prepare for the return trip home, we reflect on the experience given to us.  Mr. Seidman stated a truth that continues to bounce around in our heads:

"God is doing something IN you...
to reveal Himself THROUGH you...
to affect the world AROUND you."

May God use our students to His glory!

-J.D. Partain

Wow...

Well this week has been crazy. 

It started with an extremely long drive to my grandparents farm. We left Missoula Valley at about 3 in the morning and finally got to my grandparent's at about 12:30 at night.

The next day was another long drive, but all together we spent about 42 hours in our van. We even saw the arch(which was on my bucket list).

   The first day of IMPACT was crazy but as the week progressed it got crazier. The theme for this week is "hooked" and every morning we watch part of a play that IMPACT created about Peter Pan and Captain Hook. The speaker this week has been extremely deep and isn't afraid to tell you what he thinks. We also got to see some comedians and an illusionist.

   The singing here is out of this world. Imagine 2000 teenagers singing at the top of there lungs. We've made lots of new friends. They are different to say the least but they are so much fun to hang out with. It is definitely going to be an interesting trip back since we're bringing back J.R. Today is our last day and I can't even imagine how crazy it's going to be.

   To be honest I don't want to leave yet. Sorry mom but I don't miss home yet. I could stay here for another few weeks. I'm really going to miss the people here and all the good times we've had.

Darby

Wednesday

   

   The weather was incredible yesterday, about 70 with rain periodically and nice cool breezes. I spent a lot of my free time playing outside either throwing the Frisbee or playing 9 Square. It's been great getting to know new people by either standing in line or playing random games. They're always amazed when I tell them where we're from. I'll get questions like, "do y'all have speed limits in Montana?" or "It took me fifteen minutes to drive here. How long did it take you?".

   The spiritual aspect of everything has been great as well. Just being able to hear 2000 teenagers lift up their hearts in song to God every night at evening IMPACT is incredible. Our time worshiping with Burnt Hickory every night has really made an impression on me as well. It's not the talent that makes it so incredible, it's the heart in how we worship together and just constantly pouring our hearts out into song. God cares more about our heart in worship then whether we hit the right parts or not. Making sure our heart is in the right place is key.

   I can't believe it's already Thursday, I've been having an amazing time and I just don't want the week to end!

-Audrey-

This Thing Called IMPACT

It's so difficult to accurately describe what IMPACT is.  If I were to sum it up, I would call it a Celebration of Faith.  There are the typical (though mostly extraordinary) songs, skits and devotionals... But there is a spirit of worship that is difficult to understand outside of experiencing it firsthand.

The theme this year is "Hooked," a play on the classic Peter Pan tales.  Classes, keynotes, worship and even the entertainment touch on this theme.  The spiritual impact of the theme is not leveled until the last day.

Worship is extraordinary - and why wouldn't it be?  How often do Christian teens get the opportunity to sing with 2800 other students?  The mood is dark, though cheerful... meditative, but not dreary.  And even when the youth are split up into their smaller focus groups, there exists an unhindered, fearless atmosphere of worship.  The result is a loud, racous, energetic, messy mixture of tone, pitch and melody... and it is astounding!  Already many tears have been spilled and hearts have opened.

Of course, there is also plenty of time for play!  9-square-volleyball (see if you can figure it out from the photos) is hugely popular, along with all the silliness of youth group games, Ultimate Frissbee, hackey sack, football, coffeehouse bands, etc.

Our youth have quickly and easily found new relationships, built friendships from other Christians in God's Kingdom.  Whether they are playing some weird slapping-game on the floor, or gathered around a table in the dining room, their willingness to have fellowship with others is evident.

Pray for us!  Pray for our youth:  for clarity, for spiritual development, for authentic worship, for closer relationships with each other.

- J.D. Partain

Monday in Opryland

Monday was another exciting day. It all started out with a birthday party for little McKenna who turned 4 years old.  And like all little girls she got had a princess party. There was also A LOT of pink!! We had a great breakfast at Lana's parents house, Rick and Peggy Zorn.

After breakfast we headed to Nashville. That was when a few of us got all sorts of excited!!

We went to the Gaylord Opryland Hotel. HOLY AFRICAN CATS!!! its so amazing. Its huge.

There's like 4 huge gardens inside of it. Each one filled with a few water falls and a lot of flowers and trees. It was so beautiful.

We did a lot of looking and a lot of Oohing and Awing as we walked through the hotel. There is defiantly nothing like it in or near Zoo Town. So it was great to see it. It was also an item on mine and Darby's bucket-list of things to do.

-Casey McMillon

Goat Cheese, Floodwater, and a Giant Arch

Shortly after finishing our last entry on Saturday, we happened upon a group of hippies sitting at a gas station, their VW Vanagon parked with tailgate open and lounge chairs placed about.  One of them with banjo in hand, strummed a tune as his friend entertained with juggling beanbags.  On the ground was an open bag, ready for the donations of sympathetic passers-by.

In exchange for a fill-up on their vehicle, they supplied our group with music, juggling tricks, and happy converstaion.  We talked about each others roadtrips, which, at one point one of them suddenly cries out, "Hey man...You guys like goat cheese?!"  Naturally, we said yes, and were enthusiastically blessed with a block of home-made goat cheese.  "This stuff is legit! We made it ourselves, and its sealed with charcoal instead of wax, which is totally edible!"

Wow.  They also gave us soap.  After handshakes and goodbyes, we packed ourselves back into the van and passed around the goat cheese, each person taking a healthy bite - actually thats not true.  We chucked it before we hit the interstate.  God bless those hippies... but we were not about to explore the joys of hippie dairy product.


Day 2 of our roadtrip was filled with the unexpected!  After sleeping a short-but-sweet night on Dybdal Family Farm in Nebraska, we woofed down homemade cinnamon rolls and hit the road.

The problem:  Due to extensive flooding, we were unable to cross the Missouri River at I-90, I-29, I-80 and several other roads.  We attempted to work our way down the state, trying various rumored routes that would allow us to cross into Missouri.

Eventually, after 5 attempts, we found an open bridge and made it through... eventually finding ourselves on I-70, heading to St. Louis!


At the edge of the Mississippi River, in St. Louis, we made a quick detour to the Gateway to the West (though we were heading East!) and stood under the grandeur of the St. Louis Arch!

Due to the flooding of all parking lots, J.D. simply drove by the Arch, stopped the van momentarilly while everyone scrambled to bail out, then proceeded to drive around St. Louis while everyone enjoyed the park.

Eventually we made it into Bowling Green, KY... 4 hours late!  Bless our host homes!  They all stayed up, waiting for us to arrive, though by then it was 2am!  We all enjoyed a very restful slumber, sleeping in until 9am.  The next day would provide a quick trip into Nashville, and the beginning of the event known as IMPACT!

-J.D. Partain

Day 1 - A Long Long Long Day

So here we are, sitting in a McDonald's in Mitchell, South Dakota.... messy, tired, travel-weary, and totally pumped for IMPACT!!  Here are a few insights from our motley group of travelers:

Lana:  
I have been impressed with our travel pace and peace! We are crammed in a spectacularly decorated van and are bonding already -- you can't help it when you have to crawl over travel mates and luggage to try to find a swath of a seat and a seat belt. We have played the Alphabet game, the Eye Spy game, Phase 10, and Cole and Miles have worked on multiplication tables. We have shared iPod tunes, movies, dozed over bumpy roads and marveled at the green of spring.

Casey:
This has been a VERY VERY long day. Been on the road since about 3:00 this morning. We've had a lot of interesting things happen so far. Played Phase 10 in the back row on the bed pad. That went over well, had to do a lot of improve to keep the cards from falling all over the floor. There is so much stuff in the van and I lost my wallet in the huge mess of things. But after a few hours of worrying if it was lost in the Rapid City Hardees, I finally found it at the bottom of the pile.

Survival

We have survived our first night as junior high counselors, and we all even managed to get more than 6 hours of sleep. All of our girls have been a joy to be with, and we look forward to learning more about them.

The Impact staff has done a wonderful job entertaining junior students by having them rock out
to Justin Beiber songs, have beach ball races, play "Where's Waldo?", participate in the worlds largest rock-paper-scissors competition, watch an eating(or as I might say, a throwing-up) competition, and watch the youth ministers play musical chairs. But most of all, they've tapped into the hearts of junior high students, by having them participate in quiet time, interactive classes, small group discussions, a powerful time of worship, and dynamic sermons. I wish that I could tell you more about what I've taken away from the lessons I've heard but I need to keep that part a secret from our high school students until next week when they have the chance to experience the lessons in person at senior Impact.

As a counselor at Impact I've learned that it's not about me! My job as an Impact counselor is to spend time with my campers, not my friends. And, every moment is an opportunity for me to share the love of Christ with them. I thank God for giving me this chance to be a part of these girls lives.

-Jessalynn

And so it begins!

The jr. High kids are here!

We spent the last day and a half training to be the best stinkin councelors we can be. We sang, we prayed, we laughed... I don't think we cried. This was all with the hundred and twenty or so other councelors also eager to get the ball rolling. We bonded, we made friends, and we found other wonderful children of God on the other side of the country.

The last night of training was a truly amazing experience. Divided into twelve groups we all hit the town of nashville! Each team was given $50. Their goal: come back with more. What for? We donated the money to recent tornado victims. We raised a grand total of $2,530 something dollars. But not only did we come back with money for the vicims, we all came back with stories. My story (katie here) brings tears to my eyes and a smile to my face. It's about a beautiful homeless man of Nashville tennesee named bobby. If you ask, I can tell you that story. But not now! The dorms are opening soon and I have to go meet the rest of my jr. High girls!

A Blond, a Brunette, and a Redhead...

Atlanta Georgia! Our drive to Bozeman was spectacular! Including far off rainstorms and recurring rainbows. The only hitch in our travels was when a certain driver, who for her sake will go unnamed, missed our exit!
We got off this morning without any problems. And so went an easy day of traveling! There was some turbulence on the way into Denver causing Katie to feel a little queasy and light headed. She got through it without blowing chunks! :)

Leslie and Karen picked us up at the airport. Our first order of business: Chick-fil-a! And boy was it good! :) After that we went to Kory's for a nice evening swim and introduction to the South and everything that comes with it! A trip to Wal-mart and safe arrival at Leslie's for some relaxation and comfort brings us to our current situation!

Tomorrow we head to Nashville for IMPACT training around lunch time. And so it begins! The great adventure!

- Katie, Jessalynn, and Ashley

And Away We Go!

Today is the day that three of our young adults journey off to the unknown adventures of Lipscomb University's annual IMPACT!


What is IMPACT?  Every year Lipscomb, a Christian university located in south Nashville, TN, hosts an event that attracts 2600 students (grades 6-12) designed to provide an atmosphere for teens that enables the development of a personal faith, which will impact their world for Christ.

Impact’s mixture of spiritual enrichment with the downright ridiculous (a high-spirited combination of fun games and silly pranks) has been a successful formula for Lipscomb and Impact coordinators for the past 20 years. A collection of 14 youth ministers from throughout Middle Tennessee and the Southeast plan this camp each year, based on a theme that is not revealed until campers arrive on campus.

IMPACT includes special interactive Bible classes taught by youth ministers, keynote speakers and dynamic praise and worship. Teens will hear challenging messages and enjoy special times of worship, concerts and activities, such as a Dance Dance Revolution tournament and “Morning Impact,” a sort of pep rally featuring contests involving huge beach balls and disgusting food combinations, outlandish videos and camp-style songs and cheers.

Keynote speakers include nationally known preachers and authors Jeff Walling, Don McLaughlin, and Randy Harris. Coffee house concert performers have included Third Day, Family Force Five, Stellar Kart, Joy Electric and The Afters. Other entertainment includes Christian comedians, illusionists, sword swallowers, acrobats, stuntmen, and ventriloquists.


Katie Partain, Ashley Walker and Jessalyn Kasun journey today to Bozeman, MT and board their flight to the Deep South. They have been hired by IMPACT as counselors, and will begin their training on Wednesday, June 15. Pray for their safety, their effectiveness as mentors, their courage as leaders.

The rest of our group will leave early Saturday morning, taking the trip by van. The IMPACT week will run June 20-25.

This blog will be used as a communication tool! You can read what's happening, view pictures, and leave feedback! Let us hear from you!