From the desk of Jordy Barksdale, Director of Campus Life & Ministry:

Our kids are awesome! The group of Middle School students this year are full of energy, have obedient hearts and are eager to learn and grow. Mom and dad, I know you may be reading this thinking “If Mr. Barksdale only knew…” I completely agree that our parents and teachers interact with our students way more than I do, but I am continually encouraged by the perspective I do have of them and last night was a great example.

On Tuesday night we had the Middle School Fall Field night where we invited all of the students to come out, enjoy free hot chocolate and s’mores and play some games on the football field. About 20 of our leaders from the senior class came out and led the games and found themselves participating equally as intensively as the MS students.  We started the evening with a rousing game of Extreme Charades where they divided in to four teams, with self-titled team names like: Team Lit, Americans, Team #3 and The Goats. The students had to figure out how to act out phrases like milking a cow, making a snow angel and hammocking. Team Lit won the best out of 4 rounds!

The students then competed in Ultimate Football, where the Seniors divided the girls and guys up amongst each other to compete. The kids had a blast! Thankfully, their competitive nature didn’t get the best of them and allowed the games to be really intense while still enjoying themselves.

The final game of the evening was the classic, Ships and Sailors. Two rounds and thirty minutes of this game did not seem like enough because the students did not want it to ever end. Senior Chipper Adams was the caller for the game as the students tried to obey the voice commands, while not jumping the gun and doing the wrong thing. One by one the students would miss the que and have to sit out. Watching everyone wail and flop on the field when “beached whale” was called was definitely a highlight of the night.  By the end of the night, to the envy of everyone else, there were only two Ships and Sailors champions.

Our students bought in to the event and thoroughly enjoyed themselves. They completely finished the s’mores supplies, stayed the whole evening and are already asking to do it again. Sometimes, you just have to give them an opportunity and let them play!