Lantern and Compass Project

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Unleashed Road Trip

PLANKS AND SLEDS AND BEARS, OH MY!

No, we were not heading to the Emerald City where we might have met the Great Wizard of Oz, instead we were heading to Crucible Performance gym where we met the man behind the business, Ryan Morse. 

Come on team! 15 more seconds. Last set, best set!

For five weeks Coach Ryan has been training and coaching a group of kids physically, socially and spiritually through the use of fitness and his love for Christ. 

Just like Tin Man, Lion and Scarecrow were transformed through their journey to Oz with Dorothy these kids are being transformed in mind and body as they journey through Underdogs Unleashed with Ryan. Through the use of his gifts and talents, Ryan is sharing his knowledge and personal relationship with Jesus to help these kids discover how God created them and how they can have that same relationship with Jesus.

Ryan’s path to their hearts and minds might not be by following a yellow brick road although we did see a lot of yellow when we arrived at Crucible Performance. Ryan took the kids through high knees, planks, sleds, bear crawls and endless ropes with the hopes that they would be worn out for the trip home. Sadly for me they weren’t worn out and instead were famished on the return trip. Good thing we had a picnic basket that would have rivaled Dorothy’s. And no, we did not have a dog inside but we did have some healthy snacks.

There are many journeys that lead to a personal relationship with Jesus and each person’s journey is going to be different. Each will have its own set of trials, challenges, successes and questions. The important thing about every journey is that you keep putting one foot in front of the other and know that the journey brings growth that will help you be ready for anything.

Whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

James 1:2-4

AWAKEN Kids Camp

Oh no, I’m late for camp!!

This will be Camp Wannahockalugie’s 10th year of bringing the message of Jesus’s love and forgiveness to the more than 900 elementary age kids since it’s beginning in 2011. After a disheartening year of COVID restrictions, Camp Wannahockalugie is opening its doors to campers again this summer the week of June 21-25. It’s a year of new and fresh beginnings, a year that has AWAKENED us to God’s possibilities in our lives and we are excited to be bringing a message of hope and love to a fresh group of campers. This year’s theme is AWAKEN and is set in the heart of farm country so campers can expect a farmer, a talking chicken, farms animals and all types of farm equipment, that will contribute to the farm atmosphere. Through song, instruction, prayer time, recreation and crafts, campers will be taught about God’s plan and purpose for their lives as they step into God’s possibilities. If you live in or around the Clear Spring MD area and would like to join us for a week full of fun, excitement and biblical teaching you can register online by clicking the REGISTER button below. We would love to have you.

REGISTER FOR CAMP

Rooster Ready

Summers are typically filled with several camps spanning from Pennsylvania to Arizona but this year we are limited to the borders of Maryland. COVID19 has changed the landscape of our summer activities and we have adapted to a new and interesting way of engaging campers and giving them a quality camp experience, even in the midst of change.

We are going Virtual

As unprecedented as virtual camp sounds there are some exciting things being developed to allow campers to feel connected and loved as they have fun, build relationships and most importantly draw closer to Jesus.

Our camp team, for the fifth year will be leading organized recreation and special activities for the campers. You’re kidding, right! How can you have organized recreation and special activities virtually? That was my exact question when this opportunity was presented to me. Three weeks and three zoom conferences later, with an amazing team spanning from New York to Arkansas, I’m beginning to see how this is going to work and we are only limited by the creativity that God has given to us as a team. I’m not a fan of videotaping so this has stretched my ability to communicate beyond face to face interaction but thankfully God brought along Jake and EmmaLeigh to lead the charge and come up with our team’s introduction video to the campers. Here is the raw clip before any editing. We will keep you posted as things develop.

First virtual camp video for the season. Unedited

Best Summer

This past summer, I had the privilege of working with Lantern and Compass Project.  Although only getting the opportunity to do 2 camps, my life was definitely changed for the better.  The first, Camp Wannahockalugie, was an absolutely awesome experience.  Working with Terry and our team to help teach the kids about Christ while having fun doing it was so cool to be a part of.  Getting to do skits and lead lesson-themed recreation activities amounted in so much laughter and excitement the campers were thrilled, as anyone with ears could tell.

And as much fun and impacting as this camp was, the second camp I helped with, the ability tree camp, was life changing.  Going into this one, I really had no experience with people with special needs.  I would loosely throw around the r-word as if it wasn’t a big deal, and truly didn’t understand what interacting with these people was like.  I was timid at first among the campers, sort of treating them as one would treat a kid, oversimplifying everything and talking to them differently. However, as the week went on, I started to personally connect with some of the campers, through music, sports, and Christ especially.  As I was building new relationships, I was beginning to realize that there is no us and there is no them.  We are all human regardless of our differences.  This epiphany changed my life for good.  I haven’t said the r-word since and now have a newfound desire to hang out with people with special needs, especially because of them being so commonly made fun of and left out.  A camp like that is one I will never forget, and was definitely God’s purpose for me this summer.  Working with Lantern and Compass was one of the best parts of my summer, and I’m looking forward to doing so next year!

By Keller Knode – Summer Student Team Member

Transformed

We can’t underestimate the power of sharing the gospel with our children. Our transformational  relationship with Jesus Christ has changed us forever, and we as believers need to allow our children to experience that same transformational relationship with Jesus, and that’s what Lantern and Compass does. Pastor Terry Williams is a dynamic leader when it comes to Children’s Ministry. Pastor Terry’s heart is to intentionally reach the heart of our children as she shares the love of Jesus Christ. I’ve had the privilege of working beside Pastor Terry and her team for the past two years as they conducted our VBS and how she and her team engage our children is phenomenal. To see children come to Christ is so amazing. If your church is looking for someone to come and do a VBS, this is the team you want. Love you guys, I’m looking forward to another incredible VBS this coming year!

By Pastor Rick Snyder – Faith Assembly of God, Brunswick MD