Miss America 2008, Kirsten Haglund, encouraged students in her Focus Group titled “Love Your Body, Rock the World,” to cherish the body God has given them. Haglund attended CHIC in 2003 as a student and is back for the week presenting this workshop each morning during Basecamps. Body image is the perception you have of your body, she told students, and much of self worth is based on that. Haglund shared with students her battle with anorexia nervosa and how God was a major part in her recovery. She soon became a beauty pageant titleholder, starting at the local level and God used this position as an avenue for her to share her faith. Time and again the media exhibits lies, causing many to think negatively about themselves when they do not resemble those airbrushed images. Haglund referred to Genesis 1:27, affirming students that they are a reflection of our amazingly beautiful and strong God. He is the eternal God of the universe and His opinion is truly the only one that matters. She promised students that thinness does not lead to happiness as she has witnessed on a personal and Hollywood level. God has created our bodies as sacred temples of His Holy Spirit, looking for to find purpose in anything else will only leave you empty.
Stories
Live Update from Thailand
For the first time ever, CHIC has sent three students across the globe to experience firsthand the undone work in this world. Rachel Lindsay, MJ Pacheco and Kerrick Stevens, along with their leader, Pastor Cue, arrived in Thailand last Friday. Sunday night during Main Stage the students at CHIC were able to hear a live update via satellite from these four in Bangkok, Thailand.
Visiting Covenant missionaries currently serving in Thailand has given them an opportunity to witness an unfamiliar lifestyle. The students have been amazed by what they have seen so far as God has begun opening their eyes to the needs of those beyond the United States.
Lindsay shared some of the words God has been speaking to her throughout the trip. “Don’t be satisfied with the way the world is. Just love and love and love and love them. Love them until it hurts, until you can’t handle it anymore. Then, remember that I’m carrying you.”
Soaring Expectations as Welcome Party Begins
CHIC has officially begun as students and counselors are in constant flow to the Welcome Party, taking place at The Hub. While not all CHIC-goers have arrived yet, hundreds are here and having a blast!
The countdown to CHIC ended as students yelled “3, 2, 1…” outside the gates of the Welcome Party. Excitement is in the atmosphere as CHIC-goers spend the afternoon painting The Wall, jumping through inflatables, eating hotdogs and pizza, aiming to hit the dunk tank and much more!
Students at the Welcome Party expressed much enthusiasm and high expectations for the week. Cody Bowers, of Alaska, said, “I’m most excited about the bands, the hype and the excitement.” Bowers and his youth group flew to Knoxville from Anchorage, Ala., and said they expect CHIC to be well worth the 2,000-mile trip.
The memories of CHIC ‘09 have only begun!
View the Welcome Party photos.
The Result of a Longtime Vision: CHIC Creative
Back Row (l to r): Gary Chumley, John Pearson, Brian Johnson, Dave Lueck, Glen Posladek;
Front Row: Michael Gromer, Craig Lueck, Glen Penner
Craig Lueck, Master Artist at Hallmark Cards and member of Hillcrest Covenant Church in Prairie Village, Kan., began forming an idea to reach the creative thinkers at CHIC. Two years later that dream has become a reality. Lueck was envisioning a way for students to uniquely express themselves through art. CHIC Creative is the final result of multiple visions, hours of planning and lots of hard work.
“Craig’s premise was he was artistic and not into jock stuff. CHIC Creative is a great way to meet the needs of kids with that interest,” said Brian Johnson, fellow member who assisted with the construction of this project.
Lueck, along with seven other men from Hillcrest Covenant Church set out early Wednesday morning. Four of the men cruised from Kansas to Knoxville on their motorcycles, while the others pulled a trailer loaded with supplies.
When asked how they got involved with this project, crew members said, “Craig’s our good buddy. He’s done it for two years on a team led by Tim Ciccone. We had spare time and were asked to do it.”
The crew spent all day Friday constructing a 208-foot long wall made of Masonite paneling, putting on the finishing touches Saturday morning.
“It took a while to get our prototype built. Once we got rolling, we built all alike,” said another crewmember.
Throughout the week, CHIC Creative will be a public display of ideas, emotion, questions connections and creative muse. A variety of artistic styles are expected as expressions are composed through this collaborative art experience.
“To me it will be interesting to see what the kids will do with it. It’s all an experiment,” Johnson said.
Stay posted to see photos of CHIC Creative throughout the week!
Quotes and Pictures
We’re looking for photos, stories, and quotes about how you and you’re group are preparing for CHIC. Send in your thoughts about what you’re looking forward to the most, photos of any fundraising events, or anything else on your journey leading up to CHIC. Please send to mike.nyman@chic2009.org.
Not all entries will necessarily be posted, but we’ll do our best.
83 Days – Kirsten Haglund
Kirsten Haglund
Kirsten Haglund, former Miss America and future seminar leader at CHIC 2009, has recently returned home after a speaking tour about her life, her faith, and her struggles with anorexia. To read more, visit the HometownLife.com website. You may also read other articles about Kirsten’s journey from covchurch.org:
Miss Michigan Encourages Faith, Healthy Lifestyle
Former Miss America Continues Advocacy Work
97 Days – Camp Demonstrates International Unity
Marstrand, Sweden
Unity is essential in the body of Christ. We are together in this pursuit of our Lord, supporting one another, encouraging one another and working together to further His kingdom. Campers at Bluewater Covenant Bible Camp in Grand Rapids, Minn., have demonstrated an exceptional understanding of this. After hearing a story about one missionary’s hope to bring youth to CHIC, these campers contributed a total of $4,000 to turn this dream into reality.
Aaron Thompson, a missionary with Covenant World Mission, has been serving in Sweden as an international youth pastor for two years. This summer Thompson, along with 12 others from Fiskebäcks Missionskyrkan (the Swedish Covenant Church) and Fisher’s Creek International Church will embark upon the adventure of a lifetime as they travel from Sweden to Knoxville, Tenn., to attend CHIC.
“Bluewater is allowing students from Europe, who are persecuted daily in school for being Christians, to have a chance to see thousands of youth, just like themselves, worshipping God and diving deeper into the Word,” Thompson said.
Prior to his service in Sweden, Thompson worked at Bluewater for six years. Chadwick Persons, camp director, said this was a chance for them to reconnect with Thompson and his ministry. The efforts of the campers have helped make it possible for the youth in Thompson’s church to experience CHIC.
Last summer, 945 campers attended various sessions at Bluewater. The story of Thompson’s ministry in Sweden and his desire to bring those youth to CHIC was shared with each Bluewater camper. They were then given the chance to contribute towards this project. At the end of the summer, a grand total of $4,000 had been given to help send to Thompson and his youth group to CHIC.
“Though it is seemingly a minute camp, it has a large heart to give!” Thompson said.
Persons said as Bluewater sends this support, his prayer is that the Swedish youth would be encouraged to continue to gather as believers. He hopes that these Swedes will be able to see an excitement and authenticity in their faith grow out of being surrounded by 6,000 peers. As they are encompassed by the atmosphere at CHIC, they will be inspired to return to their Swedish culture and make an impact for Christ’s kingdom.
“It is great to see the interconnectedness of the Covenant Church and how we need to use one another as a great resource. This money was a reminder to me that we are truly members of one body, the body of Christ,” Thompson said.
–Reported by Rebecca Lund
Max, Aaron, and Julia
Stories Wanted
If you’ve been to CHIC, tell us how has your life has changed because of your experience. Send us a picture as well, and we’ll post it here.
Emma
Going to CHIC was amazing. It helped me to grow better relationships with people in youth group and with God. Even though I may not remember CHIC for anything huge in my life I will always remember the lessons and memories that I have from it. From just talking with people to the Humongous Main Stage event to having pizza and ice cream midnight snacks I will always remember the times. CHIC wasn’t just a one week event for me I learned things there that changed who I am. Before going to CHIC I was not close with any of the other girls going. By the end of the week we were all so close and had so much fun together. CHIC changed my idea about going to church since it helped me make friends, who I love. Thank you so much to everyone who made it possible for me to go to CHIC, it was so much fun.
–Emma
Help make more stories like Emma’s possible by donating to the CHIC Legacy Fund through The Covenant Bookstore.
Erik
When I reflect on the time I had at CHIC a few things immediately come to mind. Throughout the week I formed closer friendships with members of Trinity Covenant’s youth group, a different perspective on worship, and most importantly a personal relationship with Jesus.
Before CHIC I was familiar with everyone in the youth group. I have been on a few retreats now and participated in various activities in the church with them which have allowed me to become friends with most of the members. However, this week for many reasons brought me much closer to many people. The experiences we shared and the 6000 strangers all around on the large campus made the group come together. This resulted in me getting to know everyone a lot better.
CHIC ‘06 encouraged diversity and that caused us to experience different types of worship. I learned Punk Rock and Rap can both be forms of worship. Honestly I had heard things like this before, but seeing a live performance and the passion of the performers reinforced the idea in my head that just about any kind of singing and dancing can be done for the Lord. As I returned to Trinity Covenant Church I was reminded our church prefers to retain traditional methods, which is not a bad thing, however the experience at CHIC was a nice refreshing worship experience.
I have heard the term “a personal relationship with Jesus” thousands of times in my life. So many times that whenever I heard the phrase it was just blurred together. Arriving at CHIC this phrase was repeated many times within the first hour of arrival at worship. It took me a few days of hearing it until I finally stopped and thought about what they were really saying. It took me back to a much simpler time when I was first learning about Jesus. Separating the words of the phrase and remembering what my first experience with Jesus was like brought me to understand again what a personal relationship with Jesus is. This time however, I felt I was more mature and I understand that relationships involve a certain amount of “give and take” and communication is a very important component in any relationship. CHIC was exactly what I needed to take another step in my walk with Christ.
Reflecting on CHIC reminded me that it was an awesome experience and one that I will remember for the rest of my life.
–Erik
Help make more stories like Erik’s possible by donating to the CHIC Legacy Fund through The Covenant Bookstore.
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