When we thought about sponsoring a Sports Camp in Clarksburg, MD we weren’t sure what would happen. Would anyone come? Would it be fun for the kids that would come? How would we pull it off? Well, we stepped out and began all of the planning and preparation - including getting some experienced coaches to run soccer, basketball and cheerleading. Then we hit the streets and the neighborhood and gave out a lot of flyers and just invited people to come. We had 47 kids show up! It was really something! The theme for the week was Jeremiah 29:11 - “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” It was a great time! We stumbled into so we’re doing it again with a Family Night Out in August at the same school.

Here are some pictures from the camp.
SPORTS CAMP BASKETBALL

SPORTS CAMP CHEERLEADING

SPORTS CAMP SOCCER

SPORTS CAMP PARENTS AND KIDS

It’s been great to provide an outlet for kids in our community by sponsoring the Sports Camp in Clarksburg. We’re excited and have a lot of kids coming. Our main thing is to help people make three connections: connect with God, connect with others and care for people. The Sports Camp is just a simple way of caring for people and our community.

Lots of excitement building as we get ready to move closer to starting weekly services. It seems like the dreams for the The Church Upcounty are beginning to happen.

For instance, when it comes to Sundays, we want to create an environment where kids experience a fun, interactive learning environment. We want to create an environment on Sundays at the Regal theater where creativity, the arts and music connect together to help people experience a God who loves them. We want to create an environment on Sundays where people from any background would feel welcome - no matter what and begin to connect with others. We want to create an environment where the Bible is creatively presented, and practically and positively presented so the learning of spiritual things and the spiritual life that God has for all us is a positive experience too. There’s more, but these are just a few things that we are beginning to experience on Sunday mornings. But, church is more than Sunday too. And, we are building a whole spiritual life process for the rest of the week that focuses on small groups and community groups meeting in all kinds of places and at just about any day and time of the week.

Our passion is not to start another church but to create places where people can express themselves creatively, openly explore Christianity and life with God at whatever pace they want to and connect others who want to experience the same kind of thing. As I get to know people in the community here, there seems to be a hunger for something that’s spiritually more real that what they’re experiencing. I love what Jesus said in John 10:10 from the Message … I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of.

I love to read that verse to people that I meet wherever, they usually say something like … Jesus said that!? Let me see that … I thought “church” was about God in a box, rules, lists of don’ts, guilt and shame, talking heads and plastic music … It’s actually fun to surprise people with what Jesus really said about life. What’s even better about Christianity is that I’m surprised just about every day with something new and fresh about life with God.

It’s great to get positive comments at the Regal. Here are just a few.

“Friendly …” “Fun place for kids.” ‘Engaging” ‘Practical messages.” “Positive, upbeat experience …” “A unique kind of church.” “Encouraging message.” “Spiritual atmosphere.” “Great to have free lattes!”