Amp It Up camp

Summit Youth Academy Helps Teens Hear God’s Calling

Sept. 4, 2021 — Most talented high school students know how to make the most of their abilities. Athletes work with top coaches; musicians, actors, or artists find outstanding teachers; all practice countless hours. Many spend part of their summer vacations polishing skills at camps or conferences recommended by adult mentors.    At one Kansas college, though, a unique camp is teaching juniors and seniors an even more crucial skill.   “We look for youth who want to hear God’s calling,” says Wendy Mohler-Seib, “because we believe when people hear God’s call we come alive.”  Mohler-Seib, who is…continue reading →

Institute helps organize first confirmation camp for Wichita districts

After the success of the Summit Youth Academy last summer, Rev. Wendy Mohler-Seib was tapped to organize a confirmation camp for Wichita districts by district superintendent Mitch Reece. Mohler-Seib, who is the director of faith formation for youth and young adults at the Institute and leads the Summit Youth Academy, knew the camp would be a good fit with the Institute's mission of providing Christian resources and education that build disciples and would continue the Institute's history of expanding access to Christian education. “If we would not have offered this week-long intensive, they would not…continue reading →

Article from Great Plains Conference: Amp It Up! camp experience transforms young musicians

Kaitlin Kendel from Abilene Emanuel UMC leads a group practicing to lead worship at the Great Plains Annual Conference session June 15 during the recent Amp It Up! music camp at Southwestern College. Photo by David Burke by David Burke, communications coordinator for the Great Plains Conference of the UMC  Kaitlin Kendel remembers a past participant at the Amp It Up! worship band camp. “She didn’t even want to play guitar. She came here because her friends were coming,” recalled Kendel, now worship director at Abilene Emanuel United Methodist Church, where that same girl…continue reading →

High schoolers learn ministry alongside music skills at Amp It Up camp

All photos by Leslie Wofford The first week of June, 23 high school students came together for the Amp It Up worship band camp on the campus of Southwestern College in Winfield, Kansas. Campus minister Rev. Ben Hanne summed up the camp well. “Amp It Up is a weeklong camp that focuses on building up high schoolers in both their capacity as disciples of Jesus Christ and also as musicians and technical operators of worship bands,” Hanne said.  “It brings students who have never played in a band before into a place where…continue reading →