The Chesapeake Team

We praise God for an absolutely wonderful summer of ministry on Operation Barnabas. We started out with 90 teens and 16 adult leaders on three teams and I am thankful to report that we returned with that exact same number!

Being a part of ob is one of the most challenging summers a student is ever going to face, also, it is typically the best summer of that young person’s life. The opportunity to learn from God’s Word, apply it every day–with Christ followers and those who are not yet Christ followers-- is an exciting way to live!

I’ve heard some cynics say, “Yeah, that’s fine for a while—but ob is an artificial world and you can’t really live your life that way all the time except on a tour like this.” Really? Who says you can’t? Personally, I think those who say these kinds of comments don’t live with the power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. And they usually have no desire to verbalize their faith and that’s a lousy way to live the Christian life.

I know that it isn’t reasonable that you live with 35 other people and keep up the same pace during the rest of the year that ob goes during the summer, but the rest of it? I beg their pardon, but I think one can. And should. And that is the only reason that the adult leadership and vision casting team at CE National spends so much time preparing and investing in teens through ob.

To live to share Christ and encourage others and to serve anyone who needs it? That’s not a goal of CE National or Operation Barnabas for just a summer—but rather for a lifetime.

Thank you for your interest in an ob 2007 team. It was an incredible experience and we trust these 90 teens are never the same. If you know of any high school student who loves Jesus, has leadership potential, and is active in their youth ministry/church, encourage them to consider Operation Barnabas in 2008 or in the future by checking out www.cenational.org and clicking on the ob logo.

Serving Together,

TK
Timothy Kurtaneck
Director of Operation Barnabas
CE National

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What a day! We began in a hour with God to give the students time to process all that they were considering doing about this life changing experience once they go home. Then we packed up and drove to downtown Nawlins (New Orleans). We parked in the French Quarters and the students wandered the street for a while seeing the market, Bourbon St, and many unique characters. What impressed me was the heart the students had for the darkness of the area. Many places caused the seperate groups to pause and pray for how dark and sinful the area is. Many took the oppertunity to feed some that were homeless and hungry, and converse about spiritual things. The large catholic church in Jackson Square were the Pope once visited was surrounded by mysticism and palm readers, tarot cards and voodoo shops. What I tried to show the students is that the evil manifested in each persons heart is sin. Unfortunately, here, it is very much visible and open. The sins surrounding Nawlins are not unlikely any other place or worse than any other place, just more acceptable in the publics eye. We had a very positive and challenging time debreifing over this. Their heart for the lost was made very evidant today.

We did also have a fun time in the French Quarters also. Each student got their allowance and had lunch at their choosing. Many sampled the cajun, creole, gumbo, poboy, jumbalaya, gator, crawfish, and on goes the goodies down here. We hopped on the bus for the next ministry oppertunity.

This is were the leaders got a little creative and the students fully embraced our idea. The church here is new to the location and most people don't know of many good churches since most left post katrina and will not return. The road in front of the church is very busy from 3-6 pm. We wanted to hand out fliers about the church and their amazing food ministry called Angel Food. So we did a program, but not a normal one. We called it a Drive Thru Program. We began a set including all our puppets, clowns, and Dora and Diegos. The stoplight stayed red for a minute plus, so we entertained and the students not doing a part at that moment greeted the drivers and handed them a flier. We ran through two and a half programs, taking about three hours to do so. The response was amazing, getting 540 fliers out to people in this unique program. Many smiled and waved, honked their horns and were just confused why we were doing this. A local sheriff stopped and demanded he get a picture with Mr Quimper, our human puppet. We pray this really gets people interested in the church and ministries avaiable here. Although this would not have worked really anywhere else, it was perfect and the students had so much fun sweating and dancing in the streets!

To conclude the evening, we drove around some areas where levees broke and homes were still disaster areas. We came back to the church to talk through the day and lead in our final team time lesson. Lights out and pass out.

Check our website for fun random pictures of the Drive Thru: www.winkflash.com/photo/public.aspx?u=chesapeake07

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A Message from the Director of Operation Barnabas…

Thank you so much for looking at the ob 2007 reports and photos. I so appreciate the Operation Barnabas leaders taking the time and energy to keep us all informed and sharing prayer requests for the teams. Of course, the major focus of these adults has been upon the ministry training of the 30 teens entrusted in their care and ministry in the churches and communities where they visited. I publicly commend them for doing an outstanding job this summer. When a report or photos were not able to be posted, it was not because of the leaders lack of effort, but rather the inability to connect the computer with the internet due to circumstances beyond their control.

All of the teams are now in “the South”. They have had incredible ministry starting in Lancaster County, PA, throughout their travels on the east coast, and have finished up by doing ministry in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. All three teams will be converging on the University of Southern Mississippi campus on Friday afternoon, July 20, to begin their final debriefing meetings and to prepare for Momentum 2007. We thank the Lord for providing safety, incredible ministry opportunities, and the spiritual growth of each student. We are thankful that God will continue to complete the work that He has begun in each of these young people (Philippians 1:6).

We thank you for your interest and your prayers for these special teens and appreciate your support of them as they return home.

Serving Together,

TK

Timothy Kurtaneck

Operation Barnabas

CE National

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Entering into our final day as a team down in Louisiana. We spent time preparing for how we will grow and be challenged once we arrive home. This is the hardest transition for the students as they cannot just go home and everything be as it was when they left. They will see the changes that have taken place in their hearts. So pray they integrate well once they are "released back into the wild."

We finished our painting here at the church and some went to take care of laundry. Then onto showers and the mall for final tour interviews. Back to our base for some red beans and rice them Matt G shared on different ideas about going home and getting ready to begin putting what we have learned into practice. One final day... hard to believe, parents, I think you'll like what you're getting back in a week. The leaders have poured themselves into them this summer, and the Lord has moved much.

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Bunches of good things going on here in the south. Storms blowing in and soaking the land, clearing up the next minute, and then there is humidity. Thankfully, we are inside mostly. We have been working on the church with painting, moving and breaking down stuff for the dumpster, and getting the church ready for its AUG 26th, re-opening. It has been a full day and exciting for the staff here to see the transformation 30 students can make. They thanked us with some southern tradition at dinner with jambalaya. We finished the day with some team time and beginning the debriefing part of tour. Hard to believe its almost over, but we still have two full days!
Check out all we did at:www.winkflash.com/photo/public.aspx?u=chesapeake07
Cheers

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Morning all,

The sun is rising and humidity hanging heavy this early morning on the Gulf Coast. The Lord has blessed us with the oppertunity to partner with Community Church in Jefferson, LA just outside New Orleans. We will be helping in labor around this church building, which is in need of this greatly. Our students have been given a wake up call as to how pampered they have been all summer. They have been reduced to sleeping on the floor of the sancutary as a team, sharing one toilet and sink, no mirror, and we are working on were showers will happen. No worries parents, we can always go to hose showers if needed. Please pray as we wrap ob up this week and start into our final church and area of ministry. Pray that our focus is not about us and our wants, but about this area and its needs. We look for God to continue moving in us and refreshing us each day.

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Ministry opportunities have been happening at such an amazing rate. We have been very excited in the way the Lord has been moving in the churches and communities we have been serving.

We finished Lanham, MD with the big event and seeing over 350 people come. The gospel was clearly presented with decisions being made for a life as a believer in Christ.

We headed for a late night tour of Washington DC before rushing off to bed. Next was the day off activity of floating the Potomac River in tubes at the area of Harper's Ferry WV. We packed it up and moved onto Buena Vista, VA for the night. Onward to Virgina Tech for the students to observe and pray at the campus and by Norris Hall.

Once we arrived at Camp Tukaway, we helped around the area and headed then on a four mile hike to Cascade Falls. Then came some team time and an amusing campfire lead by Matt G and finishing with some s'mores.

Next morning we moved onto Tullahoma, TN, to work with Jim Zidane. We worked hard on manual labor around the church and then off to some more falls, both Rutlege and Machine Falls. At Machine falls, we had the opportunity to see Brady G and Abby S be baptized!

This brings us to today where we lead the worship services and saw God move strongly in the Pastor and church as they are all new to Operation Barnabas.

See bunches of pics at our alternate site: www.winkflash.com/photo/public.aspx?u=chesapeake07

Pray as we conclude our finally week in New Orleans and travel all day Monday. Look forward to seeing you at conference.

The Chesapeake Team

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Every day manual labor has really sharpened these students. We went to the local fire station to move brush and weed/clean huge areas. The community center was the site of rock excavating, mulch spreading, and trash pickup. More stayed around the church to spread mulch and remove weeds. 98 degrees and humidity wasn't stopping this crew.

The afternoon was a full park program where we saw three children come to the Lord. Zach and Lindsey both had this privilege today. Numerous fliers were handed out for Tuesday's big evening event.

Then we went back to the church for much needed showers, team time, and dinner. Dinner however, was very special. The Central African family here at church provided an amazing amount of food. All the dishes were from CAR and each was better than the last. There must have been over ten different huge pans of food.

Back to the community for more flier distribution, and then quite a surprise waiting for us at the church. The fire company had an engine and crew there to thank us for the job we started and will finish tomorrow. They expressed deep gratitude and how it touched them. Most will be at the evening's program.

Finally, Courtney shared on forgiveness, and the group searched their hearts to see what they have been keeping inside and allowing to remain bitter. Many came to tears and began the process of letting go and dealing with the hurt they have ignored for so long. This was a very powerful and moving time. Pray as we continue to push forward and see such positive growth from the team we have been blessed to lead.

Big Ten powerhouses collide, there can be only one!

Karen and Brittany pull weeds with the youth group

Two on Two with Jordan and Cody

Look how strong I am mom!

Dan makes a friend

Zach with friends he got to lead to the Lord!

Jesus you're my Superhero!!

Kayloni shares her children's story

African dinner night

Dan and Matt talk with Emanuel, the Ambassador of Central Africa

MMmmmmm....Thank you!!

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The change in attitude was so very apparent today as the group glowed during their program at Waldorf. This carried over to the conversations and mixing that went on at each church.

We began leading the Waldorf youth group with Brittany displaying her ever popular Napoleon Dynamite dance. Jordan and Brady joined with youth students Luke and Katie to lead worship. Chris shared his mini sermon and did quite well. It is always a blessing to be with so many other believers in worship, and the passion flowed into the Sunday service.

We did the complete hour and fifteen minute program that, from an audiences standpoint, was moving and challenging. As a leader, I believe they have got it--the heart for opportunities and ability to be flexible and perform in any instance. Ashlea shared her children's story, Brady gave his mini sermon, and Mr Quimper got Pastor Dennis Fay to dance! After a good lunch from the church, we packed and headed to the next stop.

Lanham was ready to receive us in preparation for the evenings service. Pastor Paul Mutchler (the first ob Senior leader 35 years ago) shared much wisdom and vision for the group as to what their impact may have the potential for. The program again was done well, with clowns greeting at the door, Wesley sharing his mini sermon, puppets entertaining, and skits to bring the messages in a humorous light. Speech choir and choir have become such a worshipful time, and the church joined in corporate singing, which really brings out the smiles on the student's faces. We talked with the youth group and congregation afterward. We did have to hustle out to give fliers to local neighborhoods. The youth here joined in to help and finally, we got back in time for dinner and Italian Ice. I am very excited to have seen how warm the church here is and that the youth here want to be so involved.

Sidenote: The ambassador of Central African Republic attends here and he and his wife are preparing dinner here Monday night! I'm personally excited, since I have his signature on my visa from years ago when I traveled to CAR. So we had a time attempting to revive my Sango speaking. All that to say the diversity here is a great opportunity for students to see and participate in the whole body of Christ coming together to worship under one roof.

God has something special here!

Chris shares his sermon

Cassie shares what God has been teaching her

Brady, Jordan, Luke, and Katie (ob Alum) lead worship

Worshiping through song

Killian and Jordan share their testimonies with the Waldorf church family

Brady teaches us about love

Ashlea shares how X marks the spot

Pastor Paul Mutchler from Lanham GBC shares with us the vision of the church

Quimper (Jordan G.) gets the audience to do the Boogie with him

Haley and Jake share their testimonies with the Lanham GBC

Wesley encouraged the congregation through his sermon

Miriam builds relationships

Pizza and ice cream with the youth group

Hey look what we can do

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