Summer in Retrospect
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Summer in Retrospect Normally, we would be sending you an update in June, to let you know about all of our events this summer, and all the ways that God is using the Barn for his glory. As we look at our schedule, however, we notice that, with everything coming up in the next few weeks, we will not be able to get these updates to you in time. So, instead we have decided to update you in retrospect. For this reason, you will find a short summary of what we have been involved in this summer, and how things went, below. May we take this moment to praise God for all he has done and all he continues to do through our ministry here at The Barn: Scarlet Steps This year we took a risk on something completely new for the Barn. We decided to host an interactive art experience themed around Easter. It was risky because the Poconos isn’t often known as a super artsy place, but all in all, the event was a huge success! We had about two dozen artists contribute and over 100 people come out to be a part of the experience (including many families). It was a really amazing thing to be a part of and to watch, and the positive feedback from the event was overwhelming! Through it we were able build deeper relationships with the local community. Missions Training Another new thing that we began doing this summer was hosting missions trainings at The Barn for Touch the World’s missions teams. This summer we were able to help facilitate two trainings (one in July and one in August) for 4 different missions teams. We were able to interact, teach, laugh, worship, and play games with individuals who were willing to spend part of their summers in Haiti; Uganda; Lynn, Massachusetts; and Cuba. Personally I was able to lead each of these teams in worship and teach about storytelling, and Antonia was able to help with food prep when she was home. Bowman Park Youth Camp Yet again this year we were blessed to be able to have been a part of Bowman Park Youth Camp! Not only do we get to help promote the camp every year, but we get to be a crucial part of everything going on during the 10 days of camp. This year both Antonia and I were counselors there, and I was also able to help plan activities, lead the worship team, film the camp video, teach a class, and discuss the scriptures with students every night. Altogether we had about 43 campers and it seemed like an impacting experience that still sticks with the campers I’ve recently talked to about it. It definitely was a highlight of the summer for the both of us. Over the course of this past year we have also been able to see our young adults ministry - ‘The Table’ - ebb and flow. It has been such a neat experience to be able to meet twice a month with those who come out. It is tough at times, however, because we have seen so many, over the past year, come and go because of marriages, jobs, colleges, and life. But regardless, God has provided a unique opportunity for us to reach out to those in search for community and it has been a beautiful experience. *You may have noticed while reading through all of this that there wasn’t a section to talk about our ministry with local teens, and that is because, after much prayer and conversation, due to the culture of our area, we have decided to cancel our Thursday night meetings for the time being. It was a very tough thing to do because it has always been such a huge part of what we do here at The Barn, but we have noticed God leading us in so many new directions currently and we felt it was wise to focus our energies where they are needed at the present. We still do, however, meet with teens individually, mentor at Faith Christian, and host events for local teens, it is just the Thursday night meetings that we are taking a break from.* Anyone who gives $25 in the month of October or November will receive a complimentary 2015 Wall Calendar! Please contact me at 570-807-7832 or [email protected] If you’d like to receive a 2015 Calendar before the holiday season. 2 .