#LP12InJoy Wrap-Up

Today was the final day for Leadership Project 2012. After saying goodbye to their new friends, disciples headed back home, anticipating the start of the school year.

MONDAY: Cam Colquitt, Randolph College student, gave the last theme talk on Joy in Community. After spending two months in community, Cam gave a biblical perspective for why this structure allows us to enjoy more of God.

TUESDAY: Tony Ronco, Southern Wesleyan University student, gave the final talk for evangelism training, allowing us to connect our summer experiences to the experiences we have ahead on the campus.

WEDNESDAY: Last day of ADP (Athlete Development Program) and work for students! After nostalgic goodbyes with co-workers, disciples returned to an enjoyable project meal and the final, official discipleship group.

THURSDAY: First day of Return Training -- taking what we learned back to campus. Today was mainly marked by reflection time and project evaluations. Disciples recieved a special talk from the associate pastor at Mitchell Road Presbyterian Church about God's faithfulness.

FRIDAY: Chip Cowsert, CO staff member at Virginia Tech, gave a talk about campus evangelism, littered with personal anecdotes of God's faithfulness. The afternoon was spent in campus time, enjoying good fellowship and formulating a vision for the fall semester.

SATURDAY: Cleaning day! Bags were packed, rooms were cleaned and bunk beds were... de-bunked. After the work was done, rooms got together for a celebratory discipleship group, capping off the summer in a joyful fashion.

SUNDAY: Katherine Clayton, CO staff member at Virginia Tech, gave a prayer talk on God's faithfulness -- a common theme at Return Training. Matt Bradner, CO Lynchburg Regional Director, gave the final talk to wrap-up the summer and the theme of "In Joy," inspiring students to continue their growth and seek God's presense to find joy as they return to campus.

While the summer experience in Myrtle Beach, SC is officially over, the information learned, relationships built and perspectives changed will remain. Students can enjoy some time off, reflect on their spiritual growth, and await the return to campus.

Weekend Wrap-Up

Last week was the last full week of LP regular events, including work, ADP and meetings. While some students are done with work and ready to enjoy the last week of LP, the last official day of work is  Wednesday to prepare for Return Training, which starts on Thursday.

Return Training is a time where LP disicples get to reflect on the summer and apply what they have learned in anticipation of returning to their campuses. This is also an opportunity for other Campus Outreach students who could not attend LP to come to Myrtle Beach to reconnect with their classmates and prepare to return to campus.

MONDAY: In anticipation for the Batman premiere, the theme for Theme Night was superheros and villians, accompanied by clever attire and humorous skits. Ellis Hammond, a senior at Presbyterian College, gave a talk on Multiplying our lives in joy. Ellis discussed what giving our lives fully to Christ, and to others, truly means in reference to 2 Timothy 2:2.

TUESDAY: Logan Martin, a senior at Clemson University, gave a talk on the reality of hell and separation from God at Evangelism Training. Logan explained that the reality of hell should radically change the way we evangelize, keeping in mind that we should trust in God to enjoy him and not simply escape hell.

WEDNESDAY: Disciples enjoyed project meal from Ultimate California Pizza, and took room photos by the pool courtesy of the week's service team. Then rooms got together for their second to last D-group, discussing the idea of multiplying our lives as we return to campus.

THURSDAY: LP partnered with CO Minneapolis to host the CO Olympics at Socastee High School. The two CO regions competed in tug of war, softball, dodgeball, kickball, soccer and ultimate frisbee, with CO Minneapolis taking home the gold after winning the tie-breaking track meet. After the Olympics, LP disciples went to see the premier of The Dark Knight Rises, a special treat to stay out past curfew.

FRIDAY: After an exhausting week of work and activities, with many students still groggy from the midnight premier of Batman, Friday was a free night -- a night of rest, ultimate frisbee and dancing by the pool.

As Return Training and the end of LP is around the corner, disicples look to enjoy the last week with their rooms and new friends, reflect on the amazing summer, and look expectantly to returning to campus.

Friday Feature: Brandon Miller

Going into his freshman year at Lynchburg College as a baseball pitcher, Brandon Miller would have told you he was a Christian -- however, it wasn't until attending CO National Conference that he discovered what having a personal relationship with God really meant.

"After hearing John Piper speak about joy in God, I sat in my chair and laid there overwhelmed with joy. It was like I had found the joy I had been looking for my whole life."

Before CO National Conference, Brandon was considering not playing baseball anymore, but after having his eyes opened to the joy in God, he began enjoying the game for God's glory.

Brandon worked his way up the ladder in the season, earning his first start against Methodist University, pitching a no hitter in 4 innings and getting the win. Throughout the season, Brandon gained more attention not only from his team, but from around the league, boasting a 5-0 record going into the Conference Tournament.

Brandon was named 2nd Team All-Conference and got runner-up as Rookie of the Year in the conference. "I didn't care I wasn't named Rookie of the Year. We got to go to the championship and I get to play the game I love for Christ."

After winning the championship, LC got an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament but fell in the first round to CNU. "It was an unbelievable season all thanks to God. He turned my life around."

As a member of the Athlete Development Program for the summer, Brandon originally wanted to play for a prestigious summer baseball team, but the opportunity never presented itself, and God made provisions for him to come to LP.

"Coming to LP was the greatest decision I could have made. God has rocked me. If I had stayed at home to play baseball, I might have fell back into sin."

Brandon has been able to grow in his understanding of gospel and how to find joy in Christ through the summer theme "In Joy." He has gotten a better understanding of how to find joy in baseball through the gospel, and how to bring God glory through baseball.

"ADP is fun and people look forward to working out. Having people at higher levels than me desiring to get better for God's glory has pushed me everyday."

Going back to LC, Brandon is excited to walk in the joy of Christ and share his faith boldly with his teammates, following his growth in presenting the gospel through evangelism training.

"I have gained confidence seeing other athletes sharing their faith with their teammates. I want to show my teammates that God has great joy than anything the world has to offer."

Leading the Way: Worship

Ashley Johnson, junior psychology major at Liberty University, is one of the key worship leaders at LP this summer. After helping with worship at her first LP last summer, she is back this year with more experience, and more responsibility.

"This year, honestly, I feel a little overwhelmed. Last summer, there was less that went wrong, which has taught me how to anticipate problems and react."

While Ashley has experienced some frustrations this summer, God has grown her passion for music and worhsip this summmer. She has found herself writing more music and enjoying worship like never before.

"When I sing, I feel the pleasure of God, and by leading worship I want to bring people into the joy that I feel."

Through being a worship leader and a room leader, God has taught Ashley a lot about leadership this summer.

"I have learned how to listen to the Holy Spirit and be in tune with the atmosphere around me. Most importantly, I know I have to be led before I can lead others."

While Ashley is currently a psychology major at Liberty, she originally entered college as a worship major, interested in pursuing a career in leading worship. After realizing that she wouldn't have to major in worship to get the necessary experience, she decided to switch to psychology, opening up the opportunity to pursue Christian counseling and women's ministry.

However, her newfound passion for worship, through leading, song writing and singing, has led her to continue to question God's path for her.

"Music is something that God always brings me back to in my life. I would love to teach the Bible and music because I am passionate about both. I am considering switching my major to music education and then going to seminary."

Regardless of what career path God has before her, music will be a part of Ashley's life, and her experience leading this summer has taught her a lot for her future at Liberty.

"I want to go back and be an example for people by being genuine. I want them to see the Holy Spirit in me so that is something that they would desire."

Weekend Wrap-Up

As the sixth week of LP comes to a close, students reflect on how quickly it has all flown by, and begin looking forward to -- and praying for -- going back to campus with a new mindset.

MONDAY: Chris Williams, CO staff member at Western Carolina, gave a talk on suffering in joy. Contrary to the way that many people view suffering, Chris gave a Biblical perspective for why God has his people suffer, and how it ultimately brings us more joy.

TUESDAY: Evangelism training was cut short by a torrential downpour, preventing students to share their faith on the beach. Logan Martins, Clemson student, gave a talk about relational evangelism and lightning actually struck the church at the conclusion of the meeting! It was an ominous day.

WEDNESDAY: Students enjoyed Project meal from Zaxby's then had Discipleship Group time with their rooms. Students reflected on the truths from Chris's talk on Monday, and how worldly suffering can bring about hope in God's blameless, unchanging character.

THURSDAY: Abbey Ellison, Wofford graduate, shared some Bible study tools including study Bibles, concordances and Bible Dictionaries. Students broke up into rooms and analyzed Philippians 2:5-8 regarding the humility of Christ using these tools. Then, students broke up into their respective workplaces to practice skits for Friday.

FRIDAY: LP students invited co-workers from their jobs to an employee social at Trinity Episcopal Church. Students served refreshments, bonded with co-workers, performed skits depicting humorous aspects of their jobs and Tony Ronco, Southern Wesleyan graduate, gave a gospel presentation.

With only two weeks left of LP, students are beginning to miss the relationships and the expereinces already, anticipating a sorrowful goodbye with yet a happy, eager return to their respective campuses.