Here We Go Blogland. Everything you’ve been dreaming about (and more): A New Blog post from the boys in Atlantic!
… I think I just saw a tumbleweed roll across this blog, but don’t let that fool you, this blog is not abandoned.
Ok… holy smokes. It’s been too long. Straight to the point form list so that we can catch you all up to speed once again. Here are the shenanigans that have been keeping us busy these past several weeks.
- We picked up Josiah Swim (New Band Member. See below for the bio) and headed to Oak Hill Christian Camp. We ate delicious food, played ball hockey almost every single day, took turns each sharing a devotional with the students during the afternoon rallies, and Atlantic took 1st place in the synchronized swimming competition near the end of the week. Cory was the camp speaker and got to challenge the teens and share part of what God’s been laying on Atlantic’s heart over the years. Great week of summer camp.
- Next stop: Green Hill Lake Camp. We spent our final week of summer camps at this beautiful lakeside camp in New Brunswick. Archery, canoeing, more ball hockey, rock climbing… we even hiked a mountain and worshipped God together amidst the beauty of His creation. Sweet memories. Also I unexpectedly met up with a friend from my days doing an outdoor leadership College program called ‘Kaleo’. I was just standing around chatting with some of the staff when I suddenly realized, mid-conversation, that I knew the guy who was telling me a story. We spent a week surfing together out on Vancouver Island this past year, and here we are on the opposite end of the country, reuniting as we suddenly remembered who each other was (he had an excuse, since my new beard disguises me so well). The week ended with an epic talent show that featured so many musical gifts that it left me really appreciative for the gift of music. What a sweet joy it is to music. Sound is incredible. God makes rad stuff.
+ Another NEW ADDITION to the BAND +
We picked up a Guptill. Joel Guptill. Yes, THEE Joel Guptill, is now touring with Atlantic as our Audio Engineer/sound Technician. He’s been with us for awhile now (my bad on not introducing you to him far sooner. Perhaps a bio/survey coming to a blog near you ASAP). Question for ya… Are you friends with Joel on facebook yet? Get on that…
- ———————————— Border ——————- Crossing ————————-
- First thing: New Jersey. Back in wonderful Egg Harbor for ‘August Rush’ (no not the musical movie that makes girls go ‘awww’, but a really awesome youth rally that we were glad to be apart of). Huge party. We even popped over to Atlantic city for some parkour and site seeing. The guys told me that they founded the city on their first tour before I joined them… I won’t act like I’m not impressed. New Jersey = good times.
- Calvary Church in Souderton Pennsylvania. We were blessed to reunite with a church that we met this summer at Harvey Cedars (in New Jersey) and we got to be a part of their Youth Kickoff for the year. And this kicked off a ton of rapid parties for us similar to this one over the next couple weeks.
- Aldersgrove Church in Indianapolis Indiana invited us to lead worship with them for a Sunday morning service. I had my first Steak & Shake experience, and Josh got lots of attention because of his ever increasingly awesome Mustache (seriously. Great icebreaker).
- Over to Plymouth Indiana where we got to Celebrate and help our youthpastor friend Nate Kickoff things with his church’s youthgroup. We also invented a new game involving a basketball, hoops, and Muay Thai warrior Elbows (basic rules: play basketball with Elbows only). Great game. (COPYRIGHT - Atlantic Community. You think we’re joking but every time you play our new game, you owe us a dollar)
- We led a morning chapel at Heritage Christian School in Indianapolis. These kids had so much energy! It was incredible. They were jumping around and just dancing like no one was watching. They totally pumped me up. Even though this was a Morning chapel * groan * and nobody likes loud music in the morning (not even drummers who make loud music), I think we all took more energy from worshipping with those students that morning. It was a sweet and refreshing party to sing with those students. Much Love Heritage.
- Berkley Hills Michigan
Met up with some more summer friends from NTS at a church there. We had a Great night of Singing, sweet conversations, and it ended at Applebees, so you know it was Goooood! (P.s. We Love Applebees. So Mr. Guy who created Applebees…You’re our favorite person. Love - Atlantic)
- Impact Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan
We got to help another group of students get excited and kickoff their Youth Calendar with a time of worship. Sweet night. Heard an awesome sermon about Ezra that night. (I want to unpack that statement…but we gotta keep going)
-Sunday Morning we led worship with some NTS friends from the Blue team at Central Wesleyan and then that same evening we led worship at a Church in Muskegon Michigan with an icon from NTS, Coach Pits himself.
- We traveled through Hudsonville, and Kentwood, leading worship through music (and quite frankly, this update is getting ridiculously long… and these events are starting to blur together).
Last Epic event in the United States of America was an incredibly hyped reunion with our friends from Orchard Grove. We walked away from Michigan with a trailer covered with decorations reminding us of our Orchard Grove date (Sept 18 written all over our trailer… lovely), and yet another new game obsession for us: College ball. You supply the pool table, and Atlantic will supply the hours of competitive entertainment.
————-Back ————-Over ———— The ————Border—-
CANADA. Lovely to see you again, homeland!
We returned to Brockville Ontario (the place I originally started out with Atlantic) and we got to lead worship at a local Christian School for ‘See You at the Pole’. Cory got to speak and share some practical ways that students could be participating in doing simple, yet profound Kingdom work in their local community. It’s been cool to see and hear how students have been responding to these challenges already…
Epic drive through Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, and over to Prince Edward Island…
Two things I’ll remember from PEI: An awesome youth rally in Cornwall… and wicked awesome Fish n’ Chips. Oh and hopefully I’ll also remember leading worship at Calvary Church on Sunday morning. We got to be apart of a really incredible service where the youth pastor stood up and addressed the unhealthy tendency for churches to divide based on age. So sweet to see the church members who were over 40 years old, all surrounding the members who were under 40: praying over them as we began singing Give us clean hands. “Oh God, let us be a generation that seeks your face, Oh God of Jacob’. It was a moment I’ll cherish.
That catches you up.
I’m exhausted after all that remembering, and I doubt people will read that much writing, but at least I can rest knowing I’ve done what I can to keep people in the loop as much as possible.
Blessings dear (persistent) blog-readers.
-Brady
