Thursday, June 12th through Tuesday, July 8th, 2008

For the middle third of summer, I hung out in some key areas – like D.C., all over Florida, Atlanta area, Louisiana… It was fun to watch as it unfolded – and a little warm!

Totals

  • Collegiate Ministry visits: 13
  • Church weekend services: 19
  • Interviews / other ministry discussions: 22
  • Conferences, etc.: 2
  • Total explorations: 56
  • Total campuses: 12

States: West Virginia, Pennsylvania (on the way to the D.C. area); Maryland, Virginia, D.C. (not a state), North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas (#41), Louisiana

Campuses Visited

  • #133: West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
  • #134: George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
  • #135: Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
  • #136: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
  • #137: Jacksonville University, Jacksonville, FL
  • #138: University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
  • #139: University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL
  • #140: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
  • #141: Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), Atlanta, GA
  • #142: Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA
  • #143: Clemson University, Clemson, SC
  • Millsaps College, Jackson, MS (I first explored this school back in Chapter 4.)
  • The University of Louisiana at Monroe, Monroe, LA (Also first seen in Chapter 4.)
  • #144: Grambling State University, Grambling, LA

Collegiate Ministry Visits

  • New Student Orientation Organization Fair, West Virginia Univesity, connecting briefly with a few college ministries, 6-12
  • Dinner with members and leaders of the Gathering college ministry, McLean Bible Church, Sun. 6-15
  • DC Intern Bible Study, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Tues. 6-17, leader Philip Van Steenburgh teaching
  • Leaders Meeting, No Limits Young Adults (surfer crowd) ministry, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL, Wed. 6-18
  • College Life (18-25) gathering of Celebration Church, Jacksonville, FL
  • Atlantic Beach Bible study, Christian Surfers International / No Limits ministry of First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL (held at Atlantic Beach, FL)
  • “Eskatos” College Ministry of Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Fri. 6-20, College & Career Minister Marco Bruno teaching
  • Young Adult Sunday school, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Sun. 6-22 (brief visit)
  • “Reset” worship gathering of First Baptist Church, Orlando, FL, Sun. 6-22, College Director Justin Stowell speaking
  • Worship gathering of “STATUS” 20-somethings community of Discovery Church, Orlando, FL, 8:30pm Sun. 6-22, STATUS Pastor Josh Loveless speaking
  • College and Young Adults Sunday school classes, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA (just observing the classes in session, their setup, etc.)
  • Summer Gathering, College Ministry of North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, GA (held at Buckhead Church campus), Gabe Lyons, Founder, Fermi Project and author of unChristian, speaking. Included production pre-meeting and leaders’ dinner, as well as “Cereal Slosh” event following the Gathering.
  • July 4th volleyball tournament and cookout, College and G.A.P. (Graduates and Professionals) ministry of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA

Church Visits

  • McLean Bible Church, Vienna, VA, Sat. 6-14, Senior Pastor Lon Solomon preaching
  • National Community Church, Union Station campus, Washington, D.C., 9am Sun. 6-15, OnePrayer multi-church video sermon by Craig Groeschel, Senior Pastor, Lifechurch.tv, Edmond, OK
  • Capitol Hill Baptist Church, 10:45 Sun. 6-15, Pastoral Assistant Adam Grusy preaching
  • Frontline service of McLean Bible Church, Sun. 6-15, MBC Senior Pastor Lon Solomon preaching
  • Christ Fellowship Church, Palm Beach Gardens, Sat. 6-21, Senior Pastor Tom Mullins preaching
  • Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 8am Sun. 6-22, Assistant Pastor (Family) Doug Saturn preaching
  • Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL, observing both the Traditional sanctuary venue and (mostly) the Contemporary venue, 10:15am Sun. 6-22, Minister of Pastoral Care Paul Hurst preaching (in the Contemporary venue)
  • Flamingo Road Church, Cooper City, FL, 12:30pm Sun. 6-22, Internet Campus Pastor Brian Vasil preaching
  • Northland, A Church Distributed, Longwood, FL, 7pm Mon. 6-23, Pastor (of distributed ministry and worship, primarily) Vernon Rainwater preaching
  • Perimeter Church, Duluth, GA, Sat. 6-28, Teaching Team member and Pastor of The Gathering (Young Adults) Matt Ballard preaching
  • New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, Lithonia, GA, 7am Sun. 6-29, Bishop Eddie Long preaching
  • First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA, 11am (contemporary service) Sun. 6-29, Director of Pastoral Counseling James Eubanks preaching
  • North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, GA, 12:45pm Sun. 6-29, Senior Pastor Andy Stanley preaching
  • Buckhead Church (campus of North Point Community Church), Atlanta, GA, 6pm Sun. 6-29, Clay Scroggins preaching (via recorded video)
  • Lutheran Church of the Messiah, Decatur, GA, “Saturday Celebration” service 7-5, Worship Leader Paul Carpenter preaching
  • Grace Church, Greenville, SC, 9am Sun. 7-6, Joe Benanti preaching
  • Seacoast Church (Greenville, SC, campus), main campus in Mt. Pleasant, SC, 10:30am Sun. 7-6, Small Group Minister Ryan May preaching
  • Redemption World Outreach Center, Greenville, SC, 12pm Sun. 7-6, Senior Pastor Ron Carpenter preaching
  • NewSpring Church, Anderson, SC, 5pm Sun. 7-6, Pastor Perry Noble preaching

Interviews & Other “Exploring” Activities

  • Much ministry discussion, Michelle Parazzo, leader, The Gathering college ministry of McLean Bible Church, Vienna, VA
  • Ministry discussion, David Verhey, deacon with oversight of College and DC Interns ministry, Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington, D.C.
  • Interview, Director John McGowan, Intern Josh Cahan, and leader Michelle Parazzo, The Gathering college ministry of McLean Bible Church
  • Interview, Dave Hickox, College Pastor, National Community Church, Washington, D.C.
  • Ministry discussion, Philip Van Steenburgh, leader, College and Interns ministry, Capitol Hill Baptist Church
  • Ministry discussion, Trey Brunson, leader, No Limits young adults (surfer crowd) ministry, and Director of Projects and Development, First Baptist Church, Jacksonville, FL
  • Interview, John Wyatt, Student Ministries Pastor, Celebration Church, Jacksonville, FL
  • Interview, Chris Price, Pastor of Missions and Minister to College Students, Chets Creek Church, Jacksonville, FL
  • Interview, David Lorenz, College & Singles Pastor, and Justin Stowell, College Director, First Baptist Church, Orlando, FL
  • Interview, Mauricio Tinico, Media Producer and college ministry director, Flamingo Road Church, Cooper City, FL
  • Interview, Marco Bruno, College and Career Minister, Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale
  • Ministry discussion, Duane Mellor, Director, College and Career Ministries, and Assistant Director, Youth Ministries, Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Interview, Josh Loveless, Pastor, STATUS 20s Community, Discovery Church, Orlando, FL
  • Interview, Adam Stone, College and High School Intern, Northland, A Church Distributed, Orlando, FL
  • Interview, Mat Carter, College Ministry Director, Midtown Community Church, Atlanta, GA
  • Interview, Brad Horton, College Director, North Point Community Church, Alpharetta, GA
  • Brainstorming session / “consultation” and various ministry discussions with staff of Café 1040 (Executive Director Chuck, Applicant Mentor Mike, College Mobilizer and Partnership Development Jennifer, College Mobilizer Karen, and Administrator Laura), Alpharetta, GA
  • Interview, Katie Bohrer, Partnerships Coordinator, Growing Leaders, Duluth, GA
  • Interview, Rod Mays, National Coordinator, Reformed University Ministries of the Presbyterian Church in America
  • Ministry discussion and campus visit, Sky Pratt, College Pastor, Prince Avenue Baptist Church, Bogart, GA
  • Interview, Aaron Jeffrey, Campus Pastor, Reformed University Fellowship, Georgia Tech
  • Ministry discussion, Steve Gillis, College & Singles Pastor, First Baptist Church, Woodstock, GA

Special Events: Conferences

  • 2008 National Leadership Forum: “Sceenagers,” sponsored by Growing Leaders and Chick-fil-A, held at Chick-fil-A Headquarters, Atlanta, GA. This was a phenomenal two days of info-packed seminars focused on connecting with members of the Millennial Generation. Speakers included Tim Elmore, President of Growing Leaders; Leonard Sweet, professor at Drew Theological School and George Fox University; Andy Lorenzen, Chick-fil-A’s Manager of Human Resources; Paul Litten, Founding Partner of leadershipForward; and Tim Tassopoulos, Chick-fil-A Senior VP of Operations; with an on-phone brief message by author Tamara Erickson. Attendees included 150 individuals who, in one way or another, work with “Gen Y” people: college staff and faculty (at Christian and secular schools), pastors, lots of college ministers, and many others. Within the 2-day forum, I also had the awesome chance to connect with quite a few college ministers from various parts of the country, as well as other great people!
  • Collegiate Workers’ Fellowship, a gathering of Southern Baptist college ministers, hosted by Baptist Collegiate Ministry, University of Louisiana at Monroe, July 7-8. This annual yearly gathering is a great time of informal idea-sharing among some of our longtime college ministers (the “lifers”) as well as plenty of us who are new(er). Obviously, this time afforded opportunities to connect with several campus-based and church-based college ministers and hear more about their ministries.

Next…

Chapter Ten: Summer III and the Westward Finale