Let Us Worship the Father

Summer Excitement has officially started! We cannot believe that students are finally here! We are so ready to pour into them, so that we can experience the vulnerable and real community of our Savior, Christ Jesus. 

After Staff announcements and introductions, students were able to meet with their schools to get to know each other, and then they returned for Rainbow Celebration.  Worshipping with our brothers and sisters in Christ is an incredible gift.  Melanie Wise spoke tonight about worshipping an almighty, powerful God who has unsurpassable love for each of us.  Worship is an act of pursuing God and deepening our relationship with Him.  When we worship together, no matter what form, we glorify God. 

Our students experience many different battles in their lives.  There is often a misconception that worship only occurs when you are happy or content with God.  However, we were reminded tonight that there are many different ways of worshipping our Lord and Savior.  We can praise Him in the storm.  He wants us always to be present and to let Him into our lives and hearts.  When we follow Him and serve Him, we can show Him everything.  We can be real with Him.  We can show Him our mourning, our rage, our sorrow, our happiness, and every other emotion, because there is freedom in worship.  He is our comforter, healer, and a mighty warrior who fights for us.  If we worship and submit ourselves to Him, He will battle for us, heal us, and be with us in accordance to His will and purpose.  What’s even more incredible is that the same God who holds the universe in His hands is also a Good Father who pursues us and knows us by name.

And that, dear friends, is pretty Epic.

Preparing to LEAD!

Are you ready, Summer Excitement? An EPIC adventure awaits us.  The Team Leaders, Deans, and Staff have been hard at work preparing for the incredible work that God will do this week and year.  We are anxiously waiting for students to arrive, so that we can serve and love them.

On Friday, Curt Langford talked to the TLs and Staff about leadership in the church and different styles of leadership.  Ultimately, as leaders in Christ, we are encouraged to remember that it is not about us.  Being self-centered and unsure of ourselves takes the glory away from God, and it shows our lack of faith and trust in our Lord and Savior.  As Christians, we can be confident in Christ, knowing that He will use us as long as we serve with humility and have passion for the mission instead of our current position. 

“You must have passion for the mission, not the position.” 

On Saturday, the TLs taught each other the components of LEAD:  Love, Engage, Authenticity, and Discipleship.  Spurring one another forward in Christ, we have this incredible community of brothers and sisters.  We get to form strong relationships to serve one another in love.  Sometimes there are great personal sacrifices.  Sometimes we become uncomfortable, but we are reminded in Philippians 2:5-8 that Jesus humbled himself to the nature of a servant to save each and every one of us.  Oh, how powerful God’s love is for us through His wonderful mercy and grace!  And His love overruns to all.  We share His love with others, which is sometimes very difficult.  However, we pray that God changes our paradigm so that instead of thinking “what can you do so I love you,” we are able to focus on “what can I do because I love you?”  Through this next week, we pray that our students are immensely blessed as they build authentic relationships with this community, so that they may go out and make disciples of all nations.  God has epic plans, and we are excited to see what He will do this week.  All we have to do is listen to Him and participate.   

In the words of Samuel Corder, “When in doubt, just dance.”

Summer Excitement 2018

Summer Excitement heads into its 34th year this June, and we look forward to continuing to disciple junior high and high school students, promoting joyous Christian living, and helping this generation of young men and women become disciples among their friends and family in their own communities!  We look forward to having each student, staff member, and friend of SE on campus this summer, and know from experience that God will do a great work among us!

 

Make plans now by setting a reminder on your calendar to sign up on April 1…ON THIS SITE!!!  Early registration runs through May 15.  And as usual, Summer Excitement is the 3rd full week of June, the week of June 17-22.

 

Don’t miss out, because YOU KNOW, it’s going to be EPIC!!!

HURRICANE HARVEY

In light of recent events pertaining to Hurricane Harvey’s landfall in Houston and the surrounding areas, the Summer Excitement community would like to hear from our students, alumni, staff, and friends affected by the hurricane and the excessive rain that has followed in its wake.  We have all seen events of equal magnitude across the globe over the years, even as recent as 2005 in southern Louisiana, as Hurricane Katrina displaced thousands of people, leaving many dead, and changing most residents’ lives forever in the process.   But as difficult as it is to watch our fellow man struggle in other areas of the world, it is especially poignant, personal, when similar diversity strikes in one’s own backyard, imminently affecting friends and family.

The Summer Excitement community is especially thoughtful of our students, alumni, staff, and friends in and around the Houston area having to deal with this.  We are certainly actively praying on your behalf as you face months, even years, of putting the pieces back together.  But we would really like to assist those folks in our community in other ways, other than prayer, if possible.

So let’s start by asking any of you affected to share with us.  If you feel led, please share your story in the comment section below, or on our Facebook page, to bring us current with your well-being, immediate status, and perhaps even your current/future needs.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/457982810692/?multi_permalinks=10159262250985693&notif_t=like&notif_id=1504112282275352

TUMBLERS FOR SCHOLARSHIPS!!!

We are currently selling Summer Excitement tumblers benefiting student scholarships for $23 per unit.  For each 100 tumblers sold, SE can provide 3 full scholarships to students for whom finances are a hardship.  If you would like one, please send a check to:

Summer Excitement, 1701 Quaker Avenue, Lubbock TX  79416 (note “SE Tumbler” in the memo line of your check)

Upon receiving your money we will hold your tumbler for pickup at the SE office during SE, June 18-23.

For SE friends who will NOT be visiting the LCU campus this June, we can ship units to your home, but with a shipping fee: add $5 shipping for 1, and $7 shipping for two.   For 3 or more units, simply send  $23 times the number you’d like, and upon receiving your check we will send the tumblers, along with an invoice for the shipping fee.

Tumblers hold 14 oz of liquid, have sealable tops, come in their own black cloth bags, and are made of steel.

Thank you for helping us ensure that all students, regardless of financial means, has an opportunity to benefit from what God does yearly at Summer Excitement!

REGISTER SOON FOR SE 2017

Guess what time it is?!  It’s the beginning of the SE season, believe it or not!!!  Summer Excitement 2017 is scheduled for the 3rd full week in June (June 18-23), and student registration opens on April 1 at summerexcitement.com.  The theme this June is “Harmony,” and we will set our sights on just one of the incredible ways God nurtures us, the “Good and Beautiful Community,” the church!  Christ seasons societies around the globe with grace and love and hope through men and women who proudly bear the image of Christ and serve in his name!  We look forward to gathering back together this summer to sharpen one another in faith.  

Early registration, between April 1 to May 15 is $285, while submissions after May 15 will be $300.

2017 Team Leaders should also be looking forward to joining us for SE2017, with TL  registration opening on March 26 and running through April 8.  Don’t miss out!  Register ASAP!!

Leader Share

Wouldn’t it be amazing if the world was Summer Excitement STRONG?  

The many men and women who have passed through the ranks are out there, right now, acting in some capacity of leadership!  It’s good to know Summer Excitement has “boots on the ground” every day!

That’s why we are sharing this special new opportunity with every current SE staff and student, and with every SE alum out there engaging in the trenches with intention to make the world a better place while enjoying joyous Christian living!

Leader Share is a place to hear leadership stories and principles from someone in the SE community and have the chance to ask them questions that will help you grow in your pursuit in becoming a more effective leader.

Once a month (occasionally twice a month) you can call the conference number, type in the access code, and be on the call!  You will spend the first 20-30 minutes listening to a leadership message, after which you will have a chance to get into the queue and ask a question pertaining to the topic.

Calls will last one hour in length and we hope you will take advantage of this opportunity.  It will help strengthen our resolve and energize us throughout the year, hopefully creating contributing to the already strong legacy of Summer Excitement.

The first call is Tuesday evening, October 20th at 8:00 CST.  Just dial (641) 715-3580
and type in the access code: 528-611 # 

This will put you into the call!

We encourage you to get this on your calendar and make it a priority.  Please pass the word to others who are invested in the work and ministry of Summer Excitement.

On our first call, we will hear from our director Jason Moore and our senior dean Mike Gibson! They will be discussing the topic of determining and overcoming lids that limit our leadership.

Mark your calendar.  Get on the call.  OOOHHHHH GLORY!!