June 11, 2010 This week = AMAZING! The crews have worked really hard (despite a few rain-showers) and today all the crews were finished and back to base by lunchtime today. We are looking forward to seeing the final video tonight along with the homeowners who will be joining us for dinner. Robin & Jamie & Jon have blessed us tremendously in worship each night. Each night we have focused on how God has restored us and how His restoration still transforms lives today.
We are all tired and weary for sure. It's been a long, hard week restoring 8 houses and over 17,000(!)square feet of graffiti around the City of Wichita. We are grateful to have had the opportunity to be the hands and feet of Christ in Wichita this week!

June 8, 2010

Everyone has arrived safely. Had a great supper last night and all the teams met for the first time to get a look at their house and figure out what lies ahead this week.
Robin Vick kicked us off in a powerful way last night as he talked about the crucial need for restoration in life.
Workers are out and about this morning. And God is working through them....

June 7, 2010

As this is being typed, we've got 130+ workers heading towards Wichita Workcamp. Homes have been selected, paint has been purchased, and we are simply ready to watch God work through 260+ hands and 260+ feet in our community this week! Prayers for safe travels, safety while working and of course calm weather (hey, we live in Kansas!) would sure be appreciated!

May 9, 2010

Wow! What a tremendous response! At the time of this blog post, there are 121 registered workers joining us for WWC 2010! So, we'll be doing 10-12 painting projects around the city this year! Pack your bags & paintbrushes and get ready to change some lives... We can't wait to meet all of you on June 7-11!

March 23, 2010

Well, this past month, we sent out another large batch of registration packets to churches in Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska. We are thrilled to already be seeing responses in the forms of phone calls and emails about WWC! It doesn't seem possible that the registration deadline is only 6 weeks away (May 7). If you haven't received one or would like more information to share with your congregation, send us an email to info@wichitaworkcamp.org and we'll get one to you ASAP. Also, we'll be out and about at the Tulsa Workshop this year. If you are going to be at Tulsa, be sure to check out the Bible Bowl activity on Saturday morning. We'll have information out there and we'd love to meet you face-to-face (so we can figure out who the creepy stalkers are of this blog :))

February 26, 2010

A quick update... We have just booked Robin Vick to speak for us at this year's WWC. Robin & his wife Chrissy are missionaries to Scotland (Robin has dual-citizenship to both the US and Scotland) and will be leaving right after Workcamp. They are both tremendously friendly, outgoing people. Chrissy is a fantastic photographer and will be taking pictures during the week. Robin is a great speaker and will be challenging us to lives RESTORED lives! You'll be blessed to meet the both of them.

January 31, 2010

Happy (belated) New Year! We continue to continue getting the word about this years WWC. The latest development is that we are now out on facebook. So, check us out, become a fan and share our page with your friends! Pretty sweet stuff!

Wichita Workcamp

December 22, 2009

Is it possible that Wichita Workcamp 2010 is just over 6 months away? Seems like only yesterday we were finishing up 6 houses in spite of last day torrential rainstorm. It is possible (or I wouldn't be writing this blog entry).

So, for you followers of the Wichita Workcamp 2010 Blog (I'm sure it's a MASSIVE group), here's what we know so far...

• The website is updated for 2010 (yay!)
• The mailout is being assembled as I speak..er...type. Every church of Christ in Kansas, Nebraska and Oklahoma will be getting one around the first week of January. And you might even get a phone call or an email!
• The mailout includes a sweeeeet new promo video courtesy of Kucharo Sound (check them out on our partners' page)
• Our theme this year is RESTORED.

We are super EXCITED for 2010. We hope to see you on June 7-11!!

June 11, 2009

Had a little rain on Day #3, but we pressed forward anyway.

Most houses are done or getting close to done with scraping (which the workers love!)

And the stories are pouring in of the many friends, relatives and curious neighbors who are figuring out just what Christianity looks like on Monday through Saturday!

June 10, 2009

Day #2 went just as smoothly. The teens are scraping hard and some homes have even begun breaking out the paint & brushes.

Our workers don't mess around, huh?

A couple local news stations have been reporting on these strange teenagers.
Here's one of the stories that went out on the evening news.

Very Cool!!

June 9, 2009

WoW!

What a GREAT 1st night.

Things couldn't have gone more smoothly. Everyone arrived safely. We all were fed a great meal. And all the teams met together for the first time. Fletch did an AWESOME job directing our worship and Willie captivated the teens and adults with his challenge to be RENEWED.

See you tomorrow at 8am!

June 8, 2009

We are at zero hour now. Our total of registered workers came to 67. And we have a host of non-registered volunteers who are are truly servants worthy of double-honor!

This entry won't be as long because there are tables, chairs, staging and signs to setup. Most everything is ready for your arrival and we pray you have safe travels!

See you at 5pm!

May 2009

Registrations are coming in from many places. It looks like we'll have over 60 teen workers coming to Workcamp this year. We hope that you were able to register in time!

We are thrilled to have so many coming (and paying for the priviledge) to serve strangers in the name of Christ.

One of our homes we'll be working on is the Main street house. The house is HUGE. So, we are enlisting the help of several local college students for a pre-camp workday. "Lord willing and the creek don't rise..." we're hoping to get the top 10-15' feet of the home done, so that we can complete it during workcamp. This house will be a challenge for sure. We are collecting 25-35' extension ladders like they are going out of style! Pray for safety and that everything will go smoothly.

Also, in case you haven't, please check out our Partner's page. There are MANY, MANY very generous partners with Wichita Workcamp. They donate funds and supplies for the worksites. Without them this great work would not be feasible. If you live in Wichita, please remember to say thanks to our sponsors!

We will see you in less than a month!

April 2009

All the churches in Kansas have received an informational call about Workcamp 09. Banners and worksite signs are ordered. The big news is that we have all our worksites confirmed--this year we are starting with six homes and may pursue a few more if are registration numbers call for it. Hard to believe we have the exact spots where we'll be watching God work (using our hands and feet) in Wichita.

WWC will also have an informational booth at the sold out Women Walking With God conference. So all you teens and minister's, elder's & deacon's wives be sure to say "Hi." Be sure to check out our cool new t-shirts for this year. If you register, you could win one!

Can Workcamp registration deadline be just a month away?!?

It is. Don't forget!

March 2009

Spring is close!

It is exciting to know that we are getting closer and closer to breaking out the paint & scrapers for WWC 09. But, everytime I get my hopes up, we seem to get a blinding snowstorm....Ah, patience!

We were at the Tulsa Workshop last year in a vendor booth. For a number of reasons, we are going to have to miss a personal appearance at T-town. We will miss the fellowship, lessons and seeing so many familar faces. However, if you are there, be sure to notice our cool Workcamp flyer which I hear is making an appearance.

The May 6 deadline is little less than 2 months away. So, start promoting Workcamp and get those registrations in!

February 2009

Plans are still in the works. As the ice & snow covers the ground, it's hard to imagine planning for an event where shorts & t-shirts will be standard apparel. Frostbite & heavy coats can make us forget that summer is only 4 months away....hurry up summer!!

We are eagerly planning your arrival. Packets are being prepared. Meals are being planning. Worksites and leads are being confirmed. Churches are being called. And emails are flying fast & furious.

Another bonus is that we have confirmed our worship leader for the week: Fletcher Hammond from Kansas City, Missouri. "Fletch" is a man who is passionate in praise to his Maker. You'll be blessed in our evening devotional times during camp. Two very talented men of God will be directing our minds and hearts.

January 2009

We are excited once again to announce that Wichita Workcamp will be happening on June 8-12 of this year. We have mailed registration packets and informational postcards to churches in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska and Oklahoma.

We have confirmed that Willie Sanchez, the popular youth speaker who is the director of York College admissions. Willie is a man after God's heart and has many compelling stories that cut to the heart of today's generation. We are thrilled to have him on board.

Registration is now open and we are hoping to see YOU in June! 2008

June 6, 2008

And what a week it was!!

WOW! What a group of workers!

We got all 5 homes scraped, painted and revitalized by today. A few even got done a little early.

We're all a little tired, a little weary and now have 3-4 "not-fit-for-wearing-in-public" shirts due to being covered in paint. We even survived the pretty wicked weather on Thursday--thankfully God sent it AFTER we were done painting.

We made a couple of the evening news shows, and even won the Community Impact Award from 90.7 WAY-FM. And the stories just keep coming in of the impact we've made on our homeowners and their friends & neighbors. It's not why we do it all of course, but it's cool to watch God be lifted up through the actions of His servants.

Tonight, we have the banquet for the homeowners and get to see some of the fruits of our labors in the final video. It will be the great end to an amazing week. Overall, it was very impactful and a great success.

June 2, 2008

At long last, the big week is here! We've praying & planning for this week for some time. And here we are!!

I've never lived in a beehive. But, if I did, I imagine it's pretty close to what's going on around here. As I am typing this, ladders and supplies are being moved, staging is being set up, signs are being posted, lanyards are being made, and food is being prepared...all in preparation for our guests both from inside Wichita and outside Wichita. To those of you traveling from Oklahoma & Nebraska, we hope you drive safely and have a very "uneventful" trip here. We have about 50 teen workers this week and more adults sponsors and volunteers than I can count...many working behind the scenes.

WWC 2008 kicks off tonight at 5pm! Hope to see YOU there!