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!!

 

SUMMER EXCITEMENT 2015

Summer Excitement 2015 is scheduled for June 21-26, on the campus of Lubbock Christian University.  Registration opened on April 1 and goes through the end of early registration, May 15.  Early registration tuition is $270.  Late fees may apply after this date.

‘BOY DO I FEEL GREAT’ SCHOLARSHIP

In 1985 Richard Seymour played an integral role in developing a new summer leadership school for youth on the campus of Dallas Christian.  The vision that he and others held was to host a non-conventional discipleship experience, once every June, that would empower young men and women to enjoy the Christian life, while also becoming influential forces for Christ to those around them.  That experience became known as Summer Excitement, and began operating with about 90 students in 1985.  As the vision became reality, Richard not only became the face of Summer Excitement, but he also became the heart of Summer Excitement as well.  An infectious laugh, tireless optimism, a “Boy do I feel great” cheer, and an encouraging spirit, endeared Richard to most young men and women who were impacted by the ministry between 1985 and 2002, while it was hosted by The Branch Church in Farmers Branch, Texas.  Summer Excitement has seen enormous blessing from the efforts of past and current leaders, but none are more synonymous to the work of developing leaders and promoting joyous Christian living than Richard Seymour is!

As such, we are excited to announce the development of the new “Richard Seymour ‘Boy Do I Feel Great’ Scholarship.”  This scholarship will be rewarded as a sort of “buy-one-get-one-free” deal for current students who wish to share Christ with friends back home who they are convinced would benefit from engaging faith in a non-traditional, spiritual environment.  In providing this opportunity we hope to empower current Summer Excitement students to lead their friends into closer union with Jesus.  In doing so, not only will we be honoring Christ and promoting grace, but we will also be upholding the legacy of SE leaders such as Brother Richard! 

 For more information about the “Richard Seymour ‘Boy Do I Feel Great’ Scholarship,” or to learn how to apply for it, please follow the “GREAT SCHOLARSHIP” link above.  Applications for the scholarship will be available on this site on April 1, Summer Excitement Registration Day!

RICHARD SEYMOUR

There is a place in J.R.R. Tolkien’s fictional Middle Earth called Rivendell, an Elven outpost in which Frodo Baggins and friends find safety and comfort in the midst of their journeys to set the world right again. No matter the awful creatures and imminent dangers waiting along the road, Rivendell is a place in which to recover from old wounds, and to find courage for imminent dangers that lay ahead. Without Rivendell, Frodo would certainly have been overwhelmed by evil, the ring would have fallen to Lord Sauron, and Middle Earth would have been overcome by darkness. Rivendell is a good place. It is a place of healing. It is a place of safety. It is where life goes to thrive.

For nearly 30 years, Summer Excitement has been a sort of Rivendell for thousands of young, teenage, pilgrims in search of a deeper connection with the Almighty. There they have found rest and safety and nourishment. There they have had their young and formative spirits set towards Christ.

During Summer Excitement, 2013, one of our founding leaders, and many would say the “face of Rivendell,” Richard Seymour, went on to the Undying Lands to the west. For him, there are no more clouds, no more pain, no more illness. Only pure joyous Christian living with the Father.

On behalf of the Summer Excitement family, I want to say thank you to Richard Seymour for his unquenchable zeal, his great big heart for every student ever to set foot on campus, and for his “BOY DO I FEEL GREAT,” that will certainly echo-on in every heart fortunate enough to walk the halls of his Rivendell!

SE 2013 Wednesday Recap

In quick start we began the day with a little interpretive dancing from Tyler Young and a few students from each school. In the teaching sessions Deans talked about the importance of being in the family of Christ and how God is what molds our family together. Each family made scenes using play dough to create a family picture. They talked about how community exists to shape us and how shaping play dough is similar to shaping a Godly family and sometimes you have to use pressure. Advanced went to Spirit Ranch where they did a variety of group exercises on the ropes course.

There were no Wild N Crazy games on Wednesday since we had to leave campus early for Jailbreak, so we just did sports in the afternoon. After dinner we headed on over to Quaker Avenue Church of Christ for a special service. Some of the congregation joined us for a time of worship and then Jerry Reeves spoke about forgiveness. He talked about how our story changes because of the Lord’s forgiveness and how our story becomes a story of forgiveness. At the end of the service Kat Jernigan and Duncan Welborn got baptized!

After Rainbow Celebration we had Jailbreak, which is essentially a giant party. Trent Langford and his band, along with Clay Johnson were our live entertainment for the first half, with guest appearances made by Abbey and Devon Langford. There was a lot of good food, good friends, and good fun. 

SE 2013 Tuesday Recap

 We started Tuesday off with a little bit of storytelling. Laci, Ricky, Clay and John all told some form of a story about losing their luggage and the students had to guess which one was telling the truth. Apparently you can’t trust Laci’s cute little face, Ricky is a terrible liar, and John likes to take off his shirt when he’s on a plane. It would appear Clay is the only honest one of the bunch.

In the teaching sessions they talked about forgiveness and focused on Colossians 3:13. Advanced school went off campus once again where they held a baby shower for a young expecting mother named Amanda. They gave her words of encouragement and played games with the family.

After the usual sports, Wild N Crazy games got even more nasty than usual. Each family had to hold up one member like they were a tank and their weapon was ketchup for Red, mustard for Gold, blue paint for Blue, and green paint for Green. Whichever family had the least amount of ketchup, mustard, or paint on them at the end of the game won. Then we went to the tarp and played an old game brought back by popular demand-Sumo wrestling! One student from each school would put inner tubes on their arms and waist and then cross the slippery tarp to the other side while hitting at least one person from another school along the way. It was entertaining to say the least.

Later that night in Rainbow Celebration we had another great time of worship, and Jonny Reeves sang a song for us on his guitar. Jerry Reeves spoke about living a life of unity by clothing ourselves in love.  He talked about what destroys unity and the essentials that build unity. A favorite quote from the night was “through unity we become impenetrable.”  Entertainment was a ventriloquist named Taylor Mason who enjoyed calling people out of the audience and using them in his jokes. Looking forward to another great day at the best place on Earth!

SE 2013 Monday Recap

Howdy!

Well SE 2013 is officially in full swing! This year’s theme is “We are Family.” Gold School is led by Devon Langford and Jesse Walton and their theme is Divine Dynasty like the show Duck Dynasty. Red School is led by Jordan Reeves and Chelsea Campbell and their theme is House Red where they have a medieval thing going on. Blue School is led by Jonny Reeves and Hayden Skoog and their theme is Avengers. Green School is led by Kaitlin Riojas and Brittany Cruse and their theme is Castaway.

In the morning students went to their first teaching session of the week with the deans. 8^th grade is with Mike Gibson, 9^th grade is with Ricky Lewis, 10^th grade is with Clay Johnson, 11^th grade is with Devon Watkins, and Advanced is with Kalum Tuggle and Laci Richardson. Jerry Reeves and John Ketchersid are also acting as deans, leading Rainbow Celebrations every night. This year we have the most deans we have ever had! In the teaching sessions students talked about the differences between Christians and the world and how it is good to be different. I was able to watch some of the students put together skits showing good ways that Christians are different than other people, and I have to say we have some pretty creative students! Advanced is changing it up this year and every day they will be going off campus with Laci and Kalum. Today they went to High Point Village where they worked with special needs adults. From what I have heard they had a great experience there.

After lunch we headed over to the sports field where students played basketball, ultimate frisbee, sand volleyball, and kickball. Next we started Wild N Crazy games which were just as crazy as ever. For the first game students had to put a spaghetti filled helmet on their head and run down the field to get a handful of slime to bring back. Whichever color got the most slime in their buckets won that round. In the second game we went to the tarp to play what Clinton Smith has deemed “Duck Dy-NASTY.” For this game each student had to put on a “beard” that was made from a mop and stick a rubber ducky between their knees. They then had to cross the slippery tarp, while keeping the rubber duck between their legs and not dropping it. Whichever team made it back with the most ducks won.  

Once everyone got all cleaned up we had dinner and then went over to Rainbow Celebration, which is one of my favorite parts of SE. After an amazing time of worship John Ketchersid spoke and gave a great message on how God calls us to be a family of hope, based on 1 Peter 3:8-18. At the end of the night the entertainment was a comedian named Darren Streblow.  

Thanks for keeping up with us, and please continue to pray for us as we go throughout the week! I will be posting a few pictures on Facebook every day and some posts on the blog so keep an eye out for them! At the end of the week I will add all of the pictures I have taken. Jake Walton is making videos for each day and we will be putting those on Facebook as well.

ALSO, be sure to go ‘like’ our Summer Excitement page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/summerexcitementtexas! We are trying to post more things on that page than the group.