Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Manchester College group sets new Four Square world record.

A persistent, and bone-weary team of Manchester College students appears to have set a new world record in the schoolyard game of Four Square. Fifteen students bounced the ball for 30 hours, unofficially besting the Guinness World Record TM by a full hour in the Feb. 25-26 effort. They topped the record shortly after 6 p.m. Eastern time on Feb. 26, in the College Union.

At times, the challenge was almost overwhelming, said first-year student Todd Eastis, who chaired the challenge. "It was toughest trying to get through the night and make it to sunrise Saturday. But I never heard anybody say they wanted to quit." The sociology major was back at class Monday morning, admitting it took 12 hours of sleep to rejuvenate.

The challenge, led by the campus faith group Simply Brethren, also raised $1,000 for Camp Alexander Mack in Milford, Ind. Each fall since 1925, Manchester College students, faculty, and staff members have spent a day at the camp doing service, playing softball, canoeing...and playing Four Square. Camp Mack lost its main building, Becker Lodge, to fire last summer.

"Thank you, we look at you as inspiration as we look at the task ahead of us," said Camp Mack executive director Rex Miller, of reconstruction at the camp. Construction on the new John Kline Welcome Center, which will partially replace Becker Lodge, is under way. It is expected to be ready by the end of May.

Official observers and timers from the community (they could not be associated with the college) provided continuous, around-the-clock support, as did many college employees and students.

The record the students claim is unofficial. Now the students will gather and send in witness statements and log books, photographs, media coverage and other proofs of their feat. Validation typically takes six to eight weeks, they've been told. They hope to unseat holders of the 29-hour record, Buenos Aires International Christian Academy in Argentina.

The 15 players included Katelyn Carothers from Glendale, Ariz.; Todd Eastis from Warsaw, Ind.; Kay Guyer from Woodbury, Pa.; Lucas Kauffman from Goshen, Ind.; Laban Wenger from Petersburg, Pa.; Sarah Leininger from Timberville, Va.; Julia Largent from Muncie, Ind.; Miranda DeHart from Clayton, Ohio; Andrew Miller from Elgin, Ill.; Matt Hammond from Dayton, Ohio; Jesse Steffen from Goshen, Ind.; Hunter Snapp from Flora, Ind.; Turner Ritchie from Richmond, Ind.; Laura Lichauer from Wakarusa, Ind.; and Marie Stump from Garrett, Ind.

-- Jeri Kornegay and Walt Wiltschek of the Manchester College staff provided this release.

Young Adult Conference

"Re:Thinking Church" (Acts 2:1-4) is the theme for the Young Adult Conference on May 28-30 at Camp Inspiration Hills near Burbank, Ohio. The event is for young adults ages 18-35. Cost is $95 prior to April 22, $120 thereafter. Register online at www.brethren.org/yac.

Peace Retreats

On Earth Peace has announced four new peace retreats for youth programming: "Agape Community Peace Retreat" invites youth to consider Jesus' call to agape love of enemy and neighbor alike. "Meeting Place Peace Retreat" teaches strategies for healthy communication and alternatives to violence. "Enemy Love Peace Retreat" encourages youth to follow Jesus' call to "love our enemies" and will consider what scripture and tradition have to say about violence and war; alternatives to military service through conscientious objection are introduced. "Who Is My Neighbor Peace Retreat" for middle school youth engages the parable of the Good Samaritan. Contact Chelsea Goss, peace retreat coordinator, at peaceretreats@onearthpeace.org.

McPherson Regional Youth Conference

Cliff Kindy, an organic farmer and member of Christian Peacemaker Teams, is the speaker for Regional Youth Conference at McPherson (Kan.) College on March 11-13 on the theme "New Order Breaking In" (Mark 1). Brian Kruschwitz will lead songs, stories, and activities. Youth in middle school and high school may attend. The registration form is at www.mcpherson.edu/ryc or contact Tom Hurst, director of Campus Ministries, 620-242-0503 or hurstt@mcpherson.edu.

Southeastern Youth Roundtable

"I Believe I Can Fly" (1 Timothy 4:12) is the theme of the Southeastern Youth Roundtable on March 18-20 at Bridgewater (Va.) College. David Radcliff of New Community Project will be guest speaker. The event is planned and sponsored by the Interdistrict Youth Cabinet. Cost: $50.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Disaster Relief Trips For Youth

When: June 19th – 25th

Where: Somewhere in Tennessee

Who Can Go: Youth 15 & up or 14 if a parent goes

Typical Housing: Bunk beds, Shared Bathrooms

Food: Breakfast and Dinner at the House, Lunch on the job site

What would we do: Painting, Cleaning, Minor Carpentry work, Depends on Job Skills

Why this Trip and not the planned Denominational Work Camps planned for July:
1. Cost 2. More time with District Youth

When do we need to know: April 1st

Contact: Rick Koch @ 815-499-3012 or e-mail revrick-dutchtown@jcwifi.com
Exploring Your Call Returns to Bethany

It was during Exploring Your Call that I first seriously considered ministry as a vocation. I also felt a deep connection to the denomination through the friends I made.
—Dylan Haro, San Diego, Calif, First-year Bethany student

With the encouragement of Dylan and five other current Bethany students, Bethany is reviving Exploring Your Call. Held June 17-27, 2011, at Bethany, EYC will provide the opportunity for young people who are entering their junior or senior year of high school to explore faith and vocation through courses, congregational involvement, community service, personal and spiritual enrichment, and recreation. First offered from 2001-2005, EYC sparked participants interest in doing advanced biblical and theological work and gave them a lively introduction to the work of pastoral ministry.

All expenses for EYC are covered through a generous grant from Barnabas Ltd., excluding transportation to and from Richmond, Indiana. More information and a registration application can be found at www.bethanyseminary.edu/eyc For additional information, e-mail eyc@bethanyseminary.edu or call 800-287-8822.

Let your youth know about this great opportunity!