Impact Intern Spotlight: Hayden Row

Hayden is a 15 year old from Indiana. She is energetic and loves
to goof around with others. Hayden is terrified of frogs, loves chicken
 nuggets, and enjoys meeting new people.

 

A New Experience

 

I had one week with a team of people who I knew would change my life greatly. The Impact team has come to 8mile camp a total of two times, but this past year I was able to connect and understand how this internship changes so many parts of your person.

I anticipated this internship this entire last year. I couldn’t wait to travel and serve children all over the country. I really wanted to experience ministry in new environments and I think I have accomplished this goal fully. The internship has been amazing! We spent many hours in the van, but it was a great time to bond with people from all over the country. The Grand Canyon would have to be one of my favorite stops on our trip. It was so peaceful and calming. You would truly stand in awe at the glory of God. Overall, I have been amazed at the things I have seen on this internship and the places we have traveled. The world is definitely bigger than Indiana and I feel privileged to see a part of it.

Throughout this internship, God has taught me a lot. I now recognize my flaws and have found successful ways to get better. I have also learned how to deal with conflict. We are 14 people who live together for 50 days… Let’s just say, we have our ups and downs. Throughout the summer, I have learned how to confront people if a disagreement starts and catch a conflict before it gets out of hand.

The people on this internship have impacted my life greatly in many ways. It is incredible to think that 14 strangers from all over the country can pour into teens and kids and show them the love of Christ as a united front.

My favorite part of this internship has been the altar time. The little kids will timidly come up to you and ask for prayer. When they ask for prayer they ask for the big and the small. Child-like faith is definitely a real thing and I wish more people had it. I have loved serving little kids. I have realized my passion for kids. While I am still not sure what my calling is, I believe kids will be involved. Whether I am a teacher or minister, children will always be a sweet spot in my life.

Impact Intern Spotlight: Tyler Price

Tyler is a third year intern with Impact Ministries. He is a senior at Messenger
College with a major in worship ministry. Tyler loves to play guitar and collecting
guitar pedals. His favorite activity is to impersonate the Grinch.

 

Career Intern

When it comes to this internship, you could say I’ve been around the block a time or two. I have been interning with Impact Student Ministries for three years now. I have people who automatically assume that I will be at their camp the following year, because of how many times I’ve done this internship and the passion that I have for it. This internship has become a part of who I am. It has shaped me and grown me in ways that I never thought I’d experience. Throughout the course of my “career” as an intern, I have witnessed and seen things that, I can’t even begin to put into words. Hearts have been mended, bodies have been healed, minds have been restored, all from God working through my fellow interns and myself. Now, please don’t take this as me saying that it was all us and we have that power, that’s not it at all. The fact is, is that before we leave every summer, we take time that is devoted to growing in Christ, together. We are always a very close and tight knit team. We take the time to devote ourselves to Christ and to put ourselves into a monster and an atmosphere of constant living and worshiping Christ. Because of this, God has used us, as a team, to further grow and develop his kingdom. 

Now, before I did this internship 3 years ago, I had never done anything like it. I had no idea what to expect. I knew that there was a worship team and they needed a guitar player. But, I had no idea that I was going to have to dance and do kids ministry. A small tidbit about myself, I can keep time musically with the best of them, but you ask me to move my feet and shake my hips, all that rhythm goes right out the door. I couldn’t dance to save my life. I still can’t! But, I can’t tell you the intimacy I felt with God when I did those dances. Were they tiring, yes. Were they hard, yes. But, it helped me to realized that there’s not just one way we can worship God. As a guitar player, worship is something I am very passionate about. It’s my calling in ministry and it’s how I express my love for Christ. 

This year I actually have the opportunity to sing and lead worship at the camps. This is the day I’ve been waiting for since God called me into the ministry in 2012. Leading worship is my passion and it’s everything that I’ve ever wanted to do. And it was made possible, because of this internship. God has opened up so many doors and opportunities in my life. I’ve had the chance to see, hear and do things that I would have never been able to do, had I just stayed in the sweet state of Texas. (How bout them Boys?!) but seriously, God has called each and everyone of us to a higher calling, to go out to ALL the nations. Not just the four walls of our local church, or even the city limits. Gods words needs to be shared with everyone, everyday, everywhere. This internship has allowed me to fulfill my calling that God has placed on my life, which is to show his love, grace and mercy. God has already done so much over the past three years, I can’t wait to see what he has in store next!

Impact Intern Spotlight: Michaela Dove

Michaela is a sophomore at Emmanuel College and originally from Virginia.
She loves playing the bass guitar and running the sound booth.
She is very persistent! One year at camp, she tore her ACL and went weeks
without telling anyone...  

 

Patiently Waiting

 

“But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” Proverbs 16:32

I prayed and waited on the Lord. Five years ago, I started my journey of prayer over this internship but it was never the right time… until this summer. I worked with Fiona at various camps when she served as the DYD of Mid-Atlantic Coast District. I was sad to see her leave her position to serve Impact Ministries and Messenger College, but I knew the Lord’s calling was strong. I have been blessed to serve with her once again this summer.

My love for children stemmed from my mother. She worked as a daycare teacher and I always admired her heart. Even from a young age, I could feel the Lord growing my heart for ministry and I quickly began to get involved in everything in church from worship ministry to youth ministry to children’s ministry. As I continued to volunteer in ministry, I began to sense a deeper calling than I ever imagined. This calling led me to study at Emmanuel College in Georgia. The decision to move away from Virginia was hard, but I knew it was exactly what the Lord wanted. I fought all summer after my senior year to find other options but in the end, Emmanuel College was the place I needed to be. Since being there, I have been stretched much more than I could imagine and have had an overwhelming peace that I know this is where the Lord wants to be right now.

Growing up, going to camp was my favorite part of the summer. When I was given the opportunity to serve with the Impact team this summer, I couldn’t think of a better way to spend my time than by going from camp to camp bringing the same experience I have had the privilege to experience for so many years to kids who may have never even heard the Gospel before.

Overall, I have been more influenced by being a part of this team than I could ever imagine. Although I expected to be pushed in ministry in new ways, there have been many experiences that have stretched my character in ways I didn’t know I could be stretched! Most of all, I appreciate the people who have surrounded me and supported me throughout this journey. I have enjoyed every second of this trip and love every new friend I have made along the way. By far, the time I waited to be a part of this team was well worth it.



Impact Intern Spotlight: Olivia Carter

Olivia Carter is a recent graduate of Messenger College, an
employee for Impact Ministries, and an incoming grad student.
Olivia has loved her experience at Messenger and cannot wait
to serve as an RD this fall. Olivia loves to dab, was a star in a
rap video, and is a fantastic singer.

 

Impacted to Impact

 

 

I am what you call an intern veteran. I’ve been on this internship three years in a row, and now I am a part of the Impact Student Ministries Staff! For the past three years, I’ve been able to see first-hand, the amazing work that God does in the lives of the Impact interns through this program as well as the work which takes place in students across the nation through the interns as well. The experiences I’ve been able to store up throughout these internships have changed my life. 

I wasn’t really expecting to be a part of the Impact internship the first time around. Randy had asked me to help with worship as the team traveled to various camps across the country. It’s not that I didn’t want to go, it just wasn’t a part of my original plan for the summer. However, I’ve come to find that God tends to meet us often in the unexpected. Looking back on that summer, I can say it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. By no means was it particularly easy or comfortable, but challenging. I had minimal worship leading experience at this point, but what better way to break someone in than to have them lead a team of strangers while being responsible for some of the most important worship experiences of kids and teens lives across the country? Well, at the time, I could think of a lot of better ways, but looking back I wouldn’t change it! The discomfort of it all produced growth; growth that I don’t think could have happened any other way. I now look at the things that used to make me feel like I could throw up in the offering plate as simple tasks. We can’t expect to grow if we aren’t willing to be uncomfortable. Growth lives in discomfort. 

The second year was another growing experience. This year I was being placed as a leading member of the team. Well, I was still an intern…but a bit more of a leader-y intern, ok? Just let me have this. Anyway, the team this year mainly consisted of people I had already known from school. My biggest take away from this summer was a huge lesson in leadership. It’s really easy to be biased, and extremely difficult to lead your friends. This particular internship not only gave me first-hand ministry experience, but equipped me with leadership skills that would carry with me throughout my next year at Messenger College. 

Then there is this summer. I’m a part of the Impact internship not as an intern (for real this time), but as a staff member. I was hired on this past May as “Executive Administrative Assistant” for Impact Student Ministries, and I absolutely love it. Not to be overly sappy, but sometimes I just cry because I am so thankful for the opportunity to do what I get to do. I don’t take it for granted, and count this blessing every single day. I am thankful for the countless amount of times I’ve been poured into by this ministry growing up, and thankful now to be the one pouring. From summer camps to Summerfest to Fall retreats and youth rallies, Impact Student Ministries played a major role in my spiritual development. I can’t say I’d be qualified to work for Impact if God hadn’t already worked in me through Impact. We don’t just call ourselves this, we actually do this, and I stand today as a product of what those before me have already done! 

Impact Intern Spotlight: Timothy Ford

Timmy is a 17 year old, high school senior from Oregon. This is Timmy's second year serving with Impact Student Ministries. Timmy loves Dutch Bros Coffee, texting, dancing, and making new friends.

 

 U-Turn

 

“I want to go, but I can’t go alone…” Those were the words spoken by my 14 year old friend who wanted to go on the Impact Internship. Her parents would not allow her to go to the internship alone and spur of the moment I said “yes”. Little did I know this yes would be one of my best decisions.

 

One week before I said yes, I had given a speech at school about my life. I wanted to be an accountant and attend Notre Dame. You see, my parents are in ministry meaning I was constantly in the spotlight. I never imagined going into ministry. I just wanted to sit in the third row of church, make a good living, and enjoy my life as I wanted it. However, God had other plans… 

 

As I began my journey as an intern, I was brought out of my comfort zone and stretched in many ways. Fiona Parker (our leader) is an incredible woman of God and one of the best children’s speakers I have ever heard. Throughout the summer, she rubbed off on me. I became more confident in my speaking abilities and I was able to meet many new people.

 

One of my favorite quotes is “a leader should be comfortable to be uncomfortable.” I was definitely uncomfortable during this internship, but the Lord worked wonders. The Lord convicted me and completely crushed the plan I had for my life and replaced it with His plan for my life. I now feel called to ministry whether it is in the forefront or background. I believe in whatever I do I need to glorify God and not hold back.

 

I chose to come back for a second year because this internship was a turning point in my life and I looked forward to it all year. I have had a great time so far ministering to kids and I cannot wait for the rest of the summer.

 

#micdrop

 

10 Creative Ways to Honor Your Pastor

#1 Pastor VS Food

Pastors love to eat.  Take one entire week and bless your Pastor and his family with dinner every night!

#2 Extreme Home Makeover
Some Pastors are skilled tradesman, others are not!  Plan to help your Pastor with that project he has been putting off, with that deck he has always dreamed of building, or that landscaping that has desperately been needed.

#3 Prosper My Ride

Everyone loves a clean, detailed vehicle!  Take Pastors ride to the next level and top off the gas tank while you're at it!

#4 Extreme OFFICE Makeover
Plan an extreme makeover of yours Pastors office! What is that new piece of furniture that your Pastor would absolutely love? How about some fresh paint? A new coffee maker?



#5 Get Out of Church Free
Give Pastor an extra weekend off!  Encourage him to go visit friends, family or just flat get out of town!

#6 Honey I Blessed the KIDS
Want a great way to make your Pastor feel incredible?  Bless his/her kids!  Go over the top to do something special for their children.  Take them out.  Purchase them a gift.  Slide them some extra cash, etc. etc.

#7 Mail Blitz

Absolutely FLOOD your Pastors mailbox with cards and letters of appreciation for a solid week!

#8 Send Your Pastor PACKING
on VACATION of course!! What is that unique trip your Pastor would absolutely love? Is it a fishing trip? Golf excursion?  Quiet bed & breakfast?  Find out what it is and send them a packing!





#9 Money Tree
Money doesn't grow on trees. BUT why not let that happen during the month of OCTOBER!  Bless your Pastor with a tree full of money!

#10 31 Days of Madness Gladness
A day in the life of a Pastor can be interesting to say the least. Make the entire month an unforgettable one for your Pastor by scheduling one thing a day to bless your Pastor!

So Long My Friend...

Have you ever had those moments in life that leave you absolutely speechless at the beauty and wonder of our maker? These experiences or encounters in life are ones that you can’t explain, decipher, or comprehend. They leave you in awe, standing in amazement at the genius of God. They give us a brief glimpse of what the Lord meant when he said to Isaiah, “my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

Sometimes these encounters come in the form of a person.

Matthew was that person for me and for countless others.

Mathew Thielman was born on July 31, 1972, in Bloomer, Wisconsin. Matthew was born with with down syndrome, and my Grandparents took him into their home at the age of 5, where he spent the rest of his life until he passed away on Friday night August 21, 2015.

To measure the impact of Matthews life would be virtually impossible.

I learned of Matthew’s passing at 4:50 AM on Saturday morning as I was catching an early morning flight back home to DFW. The entire flight I couldn’t help but think of Matthews life & the great impact it had on me. In his famous sermon on the mount, Jesus exhorted believers to, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16)

Allow me for a moment to glorify God as I honor the life that Matthew lived.

1. Matthew loved GOD FIRST.

When Jesus was asked what is the greatest commandment, he responded, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind’’ (Matthew 22:37). In essence your love for God must come before anything else in your life.

Matthew was the epitome of this verse.

You could not spend 5-minutes in the room with Matthew without knowing that he had a deep love for God. God was first in his life. I remember as a young child at my Grandparents house when he would get so upset at bedtime, because he so desperately wanted to stay up late with the grandkids…and all for a very specific reason. He would stand at the bottom of the steps with his oxygen tank in one hand, CD-Player loaded with worship songs in the other and contest with “Mom” as to why he needed to stay up & worship and read scriptures with his nieces & nephews.

Some of my fondest memories of Matthew include sitting around my Grandmothers massive dining room table as a young child and listening to him read the scriptures out loud to me.

He loved the Word of God.

Matthews life, reminds us all of the simplicity of the Gospel. Paul wrote to the Corinthians, fearing that their minds were being corrupted from the “simplicity that is in Christ” (2 Cor. 11:3). The Gospel is simple, life is simple. Jesus is the answer. When He’s first everything is right, not perfect but right…when He’s not first, we are broken.

Matthew understood this and God was first in his life. He got it right.

2. Matthew was UNASHAMED.

Matthew was a preacher.

He, like the Apostle Paul was unashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was always looking for an opportunity or a person to share the good news of the Gospel with.

I remember countless times listening to his impromptu sermons. At various family events, we would all be gathered around outside and he would absolutely insist that we needed to have a “service”. We needed to have a time of worship and then he would preach the sermon. He was relentless about this.

On one such occasion, a few of us agreed to his request and went inside the house to have a “service”.  We gathered around Grandmothers piano & worshiped and then turned it over to Matthew to preach. At the time I was in my late teenage years & felt the call of God to preach myself, and as I sat there listening to him, I began to weep. I wept because Matthews love for God was so pure. It was authentic and real.

The last time I heard Matthew preach was at Special Touch Camp (his favorite place on planet earth). Matthew was given an opportunity to speak in a morning chapel (you would have thought someone had offered him the world!). At that time in his life, due to his health he was very difficult to understand when he spoke. However, when he began to preach it was amazing to see & hear God’s anointing come on his life & speech. As he quoted his favorite verse, John 3:16, his speech was crystal clear. There was not a dry eye in the room that day.

It was a moment that I will never forget as long as I live.

Matthew was unashamed.

3. Matthew defied the ODDS.

Not only did Matthew live longer than anyone ever expected, he defied every odd that society placed on him.

Let’s be honest, with his “disability”, society placed absolutely no expectation on Matthew. ZERO. ZILCH. NADDA. However, only in eternity will we be able to truly measure the impact that his life had on this world. He defied the low expectations that society (and even the Church) placed on him.

Even though Matthew physically passed from this earth on Friday, his legacy and impact will live on for years and years to come. And much like his life on earth lasted much longer than anyone imagined, his impact will do the same.

Matt, thanks for the memories. You will be loved & missed. Save a place for us my dear friend…and get ready for one great “service” that will be way beyond everything we could ever imagine!