Impact 2018 "Olly Olly Oxen Free"

Impact 2018 “Olly Olly Oxen Free”

TODD N. LOYD·SATURDAY, JUNE 23, 2018

We play hide and seek all our lives, the game never changes just the players.

Too bad many of us don’t understand Olly Olly Oxen Free. Grace is a thing. So step out, step out wherever you are, everyone is free.

Today we are facing an epidemic of fear in our culture. This year Impact chose to confront the culture of fear and stare down worry, anxiety, guilt, and shame. We challenged our campers and everyone there to step out into the light. To step out and talk to someone, to set yourself free from the dark.

I loaded up my old truck and headed off campus today around 10:45. It just did not feel right to listen to some sports talk jockey, or classic rock jam. So I grabbed my phone and downloaded “Reckless Love”. I’ve never been a Contemporary Christian music guy, but that song, that one song just felt like the right thing to hear. “Perfect love casts out fear”.

It was the end of my 27th Impact. This one will always be special. On Monday night Brock told me he was ready to be baptized, and on Thursday in front of a host of his friends, family, and mentors, we watched my oldest son commit his life to Christ. It’s something I have always dreamed about but the reality was so much more special than any of those dreams. I am so proud of him. Tonight 24 hours after Impact has ended he is sleeping in Brewers bed exhausted.

But really.....did that just happen?

Was that not the fastest Impact ever? I mean I seriously blinked and it was over. I mean just a few days ago I was stressing over this thing, and if it was going to work and today I am mowing my lawn kind of depressed it’s all over.

Is it fair to say that this was one of the coolest theme’s of all time? I mean the creative team just took it to another level, especially my friends Shelby Kohring and Jessi Ray Kohring. It is such a blessing to get the chance to dream with this couple and imagine what the Impact sets will look like. I mean we created a theme park, lol.

And four teens took the lead of out Impact drama for the first time ever. Miranda Hunter, Haley Caffey, Chamberlain Little, and Easton Curtis nailed it. They took a difficult subject, sketchy writing and turned it into one of the best stories I can ever remember in Impact history. Those teens were an absolute joy to work with.

But I need to give some folks some credit here. MacKenzie Lewis, Jonathan Tucker, and Brian D'Herde chip in. They help guide me through the writing process and they are all valuable members of our cast. Of course there are plenty of other actors and contributors that have helped make the Impact drama what it is today. Charlie Sells, Corey Callis and his ETS crew all on their A game this year, I hope they know how grateful I am to have friends who can do the things I stink at lol. Seriously Charlie and Corey you guys are so valuable and I tip my hat to you, no wait, I tip my visor to you both.

I will never forget the reaction of the campers as the teens boarded the Haunted Manor ride heading to their doom. That gave me chills, or the cheers and applause as every twist and turns that happened on the final night. The story connected because many of us could identify with the struggles of Ashley, Wade, Sloan, Greg, or even Stacey, Snarkles, Miriam, Xavier, or Major.

This year also was tough. I mean for the last 26 years Jon Shoulders has been my right hand. He was the man who trusted this 21 year old kid way back then. If Jon had not trusted in me I am not sure where I would be. I mean he truly guided me towards youth ministry. This was the first year since 1995 that Jon was not on stage with me. He was the man who took a risk and told the Impact board that I was special. He believed in me. He was my advocate. He was our main man for comedy for decades. Before Skidmore or Rubio there was Jon. Jon helped make Impact the camp it is. In fact Jon is probably the reason Morning Impact exists. This year was the first year since 1993 that Jon was not on the Impact board. He was so missed. But it was awesome to honor him.

Yep the 27th year of Impact was the best of times and the worst of times.

But seriously....Impact League, Oogie Boogie with a leaf blower, He-Man Yoga, BB Purvis, Mr T, Bob Ross, Dr Kobra, etc....we had fun. But above all the amazing things that happened this year three words might stand above them all.

1. Buttons
2. Intern
3. Kim

In 20 years Lord willing I will be writing a synopsis of Impact 2038 and in that synopsis I will mention 2018 and how Buttons and Intern Kim dominated the fun side of Impact. In hindsight we could have ordered 1,000 more buttons.

The best news about this is on top of the $8,000 you donated via the collection. Your purchases of the buttons and t-shirts will enable us to write checks to Best Buddies and the James 1:27 foundation (youth ministers wanting to adopt) for around $6,000 a piece. So we will certainly give 12,000 to charity!

And for that I say “Two Wolves”

You guys are making an Impact.

You worshiped, you played. you traded buttons and you faced your fears.

Let me be honest, I was scared, I did not think we had it all together for Impact 2018. Irony anyone? In hindsight Impact 2018 will almost certainly rank among the greatest weeks ever.

Perfect love cast out fear.....

But before I finish, can I just say. David Rubio, and David Skidmore amaze me. They connect to you, love you and I am so thankful God has allowed me to be the third dude in this trio for so long. The best thing about those two dudes is....what you see is what you get. They are amazing guys who have a heart for God. They truly do.

And thanks to Aubrey Wood for taking so much off my plate!

To the Impact Board, well done.

To Impact Security, thanks for doing the job no one wants

To our counselors, great job! I hope you were filled.

To our roadies: You guys were a special, awesome group.

So Impact 2018... Intern Kim, Buttons, some questionable moments lol, a couple of great magicians, Impact League, He-Man Yoga, Buttons, Brewer on stage constantly, that triangle battle, Bob Ross killing it, Buttons, Best Buddies, DJ Randall Turner, Cosmic The Crater Creature, The Haunted Manor, Buttons, Lo-Rida Lynn, Saving seats controversy (lol), Garry Potter year four, Buttons.......

I mean really button fever took over.

But here’s the deal....This is why that’s okay.

Impact is a family that is 27 years old. We honor the past we love the current. Impact is a special place. It’s a place where people will trade a USA whale for a Impact-O-Matic button.

It all goes to charity and we all know this, but seriously don’t we all want a two wolves button lol.

I didn’t think 2018 was going to be that special after the incredible 2017....Can’t believe I am saying this but 2018 is going to rank among the elites.

Thank you Impact family!

Step into the light

Olly Olly Oxen Free.