GREAT PLAINS SUMMER REVIEW

What a week at camp! We had a great turnout from around the region this year. Michael Johnson, was our speaker and he shared with us each day of what it means to ABIDE in the Lord! The students responded to the Spirit’s leading with open hands and open hearts and it was amazing to witness lives changed! Garrett Kahrs brought his Encounter team from Hays, Kansas to serve all week long. This team did it all! They served as counselors, worship leaders and activities directors! I could not be more thankful for this group of college students! They aren’t the only awesome team we had serving us during our week of camp. We were also blessed to have Summer and Kevin Jones providing our meals and Elias and Hannah Martinez, Fred and Mindy Schmidt, Joel and Becca Potter, Justin and Erica Plucknett, Kirk Kimball and Danny Powell come along side of us in many different ways to help make it a great experience! The Timber Lakes staff went above and beyond to help us feel welcome and at home and we are very thankful for the work that they do in their ministry at camp. Thank you! We are looking forward to next summer!!

Children’s Camp 2023 was June 26 th through June 29 th . CRZAY FAITH was our theme, and Tim Springer from Milford, was our speaker. We had 42 campers and 30 staff attended this year. 70 crazy people who love Jesus and can share our faith with others!

Really, every story in the Bible is a Crazy one. Tim touched on 5 different stories that all have crazy elements. From God telling people to take over a city just by walking around it, or when He used a small amount of oil to take care of a widow and her family, it is just Crazy. God uses ordinary, simple people and objects to do his extraordinary work here on earth. But we also need to be telling others about our faith, once they see we are different or maybe even CRAZY! We made faith bracelets to share with others to help start those conversations about Jesus and how much he loves all of us. We tie-dyed our camp t-shirts as a craft. It was so cool to see how each shirt was unique and made in a special way. Just like Jesus created each one of us. As the kids wear these, hopefully more conversations will be started, and faith can be shared even more.

We were so blessed to have the staff from Milford, Colorado and Gretna lead the worship. They did a great job of getting the kids excited and involved with worship, ending Wednesday night with glow worship! It is crazy to see how the campers light up and get excited about worshiping Jesus. One of the highlights of the week for many of us!

Timber lakes provided the meals and cleaning. Lacey Broeker was our staff nurse for the week. It is awesome to have a designated nurse, on site and ready to help throughout the camp. She does a great job, and luckily this year we had very few issues come up.

After having to change the original date of camp, after registration had already started, God used this crazy time and still allowed for things to match His plan. God lined everything up and allowed a great group of staff and campers to be able to attend. Even keeping the extreme heat away while we were down there until the last day.

Crazy people, trusting Jesus! Who are willing to follow Him wherever He leads us! Whether we are called to build a boat in the desert or just share our faith with our friends and neighbors, God has crazy BIG plans for each of us. We were blessed, for 4 days at camp, to see how walking by faith, God can do CRAZY things. God is good, all the time and we can’t wait to see what this next generation is going to do with their Crazy Faith!

Josalyn and Kiby Taylor

Family camp this year was shifted a day earlier running Monday evening through Saturday morning service. We anticipate continuing with this schedule as it was well attended and allowed families to be worshiping in their home churches on both sides of camp.

Bert Jones spoke during the evening service on Resilience and provided many applicable lessons from the life of Paul. Pastor Andy Petro shared during morning Bible study from Matthew chapter 4. Amy Schmidt provided nursery while Christy Sayler taught elementary children about resilience in the life of Moses (birth thru 10 commandments). Donny Powell and David Foix coached the kids on developing better Bible study habits which will serve them well for years to come.

Campers enjoyed an ice cream social Monday night, a talent show Thursday afternoon, Bingo Wednesday afternoon and Bible Family Feud Friday afternoon. There was also time to do painting and enjoy the swimming pool. We were so thankful that the swimming pool was fixed for this camping season - the pool was a popular place to be with 95+ degree temps each day.

We are so thankful that Kelly and Ashley Wagner with Hope4Liberia could share at Family Camp this summer. The Wagner Family and their team on the ground in Liberia are in the process of building an orphanage center in Liberia. God has done amazing things with this work as Kelly shared over the week how he has provided time and time again. In December their buildings will be complete and a January missions trip is on the calendar to paint, set up school supplies and work on agricultural fencing as they will be raising their own animals at the center.

If you'd like to get involved there are a variety of ways to help. First, pray for this ministry, for Liberia, for the 17 children they currently serve, the team on the ground and the team working to administer everything and of course for the Wagner Family. Consider sponsoring one of the orphans or donating toward their monthly budget needs. In September they will be sending backpacks to the children as Christmas gifts. Maybe you even feel lead to join the team headed to Liberia in January.

If you'd like more information about this ministry you can read the newsletter attached below, find their website at www.hope4liberia.org, email info@hope4liberia.org or call/text 308-240-2406.

Please be in prayer as August 25-26 pastors and leaders from Wichita, Dodge City, Lincoln, Minneapolis and Milwaukee will gather in Lincoln for an extended Latino Ministries meeting. They will spend time getting to know one another, in prayer, worship, studying the Word and planning.

May this first meeting be a great start to what God has in store for reaching Latinos in the Region!

Andy Petro, Regional Director

Email: andypetro.gpr@gmail.com
Website: greatplainsregion.org
Location: 6920 Willow Avenue, Lincoln, NE, USA
Phone: 402-840-5056