Impact 2022 “The Con”
For the last 15 years or so on the day after Impact I have started writing a yearly summary. It is really my way of extending the event a little longer and it has become an annual tradition I look forward to as much as anything else involving Impact.
But this year is a little different.
I really cannot explain it, but I just don’t know how to start.
The week was incredible. Impact was back in every way. From the dorms to the dancing, from the counselors to the characters. It was truly 100% Impact.
And as I returned home on Saturday I had two primary thoughts.
That was too fast
We are not guaranteed anything.
None of us had a clue in 2019 that when we walked off that stage Impact would not return to normal until 2022.
That being said, on with the story of 2022….
I was on a zoom call with Rubio and Skid. It was March and we really still had no idea what the theme was going to be. That’s pretty late. We usually have this decided by January or February, sometimes sooner.
For most of 2021/2022 I had assumed we were going to do a different theme, one which I had already written an entire drama for. But as Impact drew closer I just got unsettled with that idea. I did not think it was grand enough. I wanted Impact to come back in a big way.
That is when Rubio suggested “the lies of the enemy”....and “boom” an alarm went off in my head. I thought of Super Villains, Comic Books, and eventually landed on Comic Con.
Then it all came together, the ‘Con” is a word that has dual meanings.
We have talked many times about doing a Superhero theme again (We did it way back in 99) but even with the technology and production staff at Impact, it’s just really hard to pull off “Superheroes” in a stage show. So we had to figure out a way to make Comics fit into our wheelhouse. That is where Venture Con was born. A story about Superheroes and Super Villians without having to deal with all the “superpowers”.
And that is how Impact 2022 started, and that’s when the hard work began.
We wanted to make this extra special and Rodney Keaton who took over the set responsibilities went above and beyond and Venture Con turned into it’s own “thing” complete with panels and meet n greets.
We created a Comic Con inside a youth camp at a University. Pretty cool stuff.
So you were all introduced to one of the most dastardly villains in Impact history, the deceitful Mr. Flint. I have not heard the campers boo a villain like that in a very long time.
But I am getting ahead of myself….
Impact Junior 2022 the Con, was “wooooo!"And Jonah winning the musical chairs game, it was an incredible ending to the skit and the students going crazy. Impact Junior was Russell, and He-Man, Zeke rocking the crowd. Jordan House leading worship, and Jeff Walling doing Jeff Walling stuff. Impact Junior 2022 bought up all the pink Two Wolves shirts, and most of the old merch from years past (all proceeds going to Best Buddies).
But most of all Impact Junior 2022 was an initiation.
It was over 600 new first time Impact campers joining the Impact Family, on the first day many of them had the same reaction everyone does at Impact “what is going on here?” Or, “This is not like any church camp I have been to”. And by the second day everyone is “in”.
Impact Junior was an initiation.
Impact Senior 2022 was a reunion.
Impact Senior 2022 was welcoming back old friends like Mr T, Bob Ross, Kid Flash, 3 Faced Baby, Bear on a Bicycle, Dr Kobra, Mr. Bill, He Man, Garry Potter (seriously that last Garry Potter bit….wow!), Dora the Destroyer, Russell, The Baron Von Scarin and Igor. I even broke out Thornton Melon again for Impact 2022.
Then on top of all those old friends…..Flannel Board Theater returned! For the first time in over 6 years.
What may have been lost in the shuffle of all the craziness is that Skid won some of the closest Ball Races I can ever remember.
Impact Sr featured some incredible worship led by Stephen Maxwell and company, great keynotes by Skid, Josh and Beverly Ross, and Orpheus Heyward. I would bet you campers see Orpheus Heyward on the Impact stage many, many more times.
Then there was Thursday night, Stephen Bargatzi. I really cannot even describe what happened. It was like who is this cranky old man? Then it was like wow he’s hurting. Then I was like oh that’s a powerful story. Then I was like wait, that whole first twenty minutes of crankiness was a set up? Then it was like, oh he is doing more magic and standing ovation and tears.
I have not even talked about the phenomenon that was Announcement Mike or the Belmount Dance Mob who personally made me laugh more than any bit in years. Oh and 30 minutes of Joy!!!!!!
Impact Senior 2022 was a reunion.
And that last night, well it was powerful.
-No one needs to know
-Your past will define you
-It's not that big of a deal
-You are not enough
-You are the only one
-Don't tell the truth
-Did He really say that
-He won't forgive that
ALL LIES
All a part of the Con.
I want to make sure and thank the Impact Board for a wonderful week, also the Impact Staff. I personally want to thank Justin Moore for the hard work he put into this week. Also I need to thank Charlie Sells, this guy has a fulltime job but he pours into Impact so much. So we had some legal issues involving what music we can and cannot play at Impact. Charlie helps us so much. He is responsible for how much you dance at Impact.
Morning Impact team…you guys killed it this year. Aubrey Wood you are doing great things with MI!
Impact Skit team….great job! Sam and Camberlin thanks for helping direct.
And I want to thank some of the younger next generation of youth ministers who are helping keep the tradition of this awesome week alive.
So you came to Impact 2022 Venture Con. How are you going to finish your comic book? Mr. Flint is waiting. He’s willing to make a deal.
You are enough.
BTW my middle son Battle was baptized on Friday night, so there's that. Awesome week!
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