Talking Wintertainment 2015 with Jamie Thompson
We sat down with Jamie Thompson to talk Wintertainment 2015, which will be held December 27-31 at Forest Springs.
Let me tell you – Jamie’s a great guy with diverse interests. He likes studying Theology with his dog Calvin, raising chickens, singing about the periodic table, playing vintage electronic football, and all things Star Wars.
Simply put – he’s A LOT of FUN!
Here are the highlights from our time together:
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
Boy, what do you want to know? Here’s 4 things:
- I grew up in Green Bay, went to East High School, and I’m not quite ready to talk about the Packers yet. (As I’m writing this, we’ve lost 4 of the last 5 . . . but I’m trusting that when we see each other the Pack will have locked up the division. Am I crazy?)
- I really like school and learning. I started kindergarten in 1980, and since then there have only been 4 years I haven’t been in school – I’m still in it! I love math and science, theology and history. Whatever nerdy things you want to talk with me about, I’m in! And if you want me to sing you all the elements in the Periodic Table, I will!
- My epic road trip would be finding an RV and driving around the country for a whole summer going to all the National Parks.
- I have a wife and three kiddos who will be with me during Wintertainment – they are super excited. We have a dog named Calvin (he lies by my feet while I study reformed Theology in the morning) and we just got 6 chickens this past year. How do chickens survive in the winter? I have no idea, but we’re about to find out!
Tell us your favorite:
Song – that’s hard . . . too specific for me. Anything Andrew Peterson, Johnny Cash, or the Beatles.
Television Show – hmmm . . . Blacklist and Brooklyn 99
Electronic Gadget – Classic Football – an old school handheld game that I grew up with. Mattel Classic Football Handheld Game
Let's play word association. When I say a word, you tell me the first thing that pops in your mind.
Razzleblast – a Lord of the Rings character
Tubemania – bloody noses
Wintertainment – is what makes the sauce so awesome!
What gets you excited about working with young people?
Man . . . where to begin. I have been working full-time with students for 16 years – I’ve been on more than 30 short term mission trips and more than 70 weekend retreats!! I believe that Jesus is right smack dab in the middle of high school life, and he calls students to a deep and beautiful life of trusting him! I am always amazed at the profound questions that students ask and the significant ways that they live out their faith.
What can parents and teens expect in sessions during Wintertainment?
We’re going to walk with Jesus as he walks with his disciples from Caesarea Philippi to Jerusalem (Mark 8ish to 11ish). During that hike Jesus spends a lot of time talking about what his purpose is and what it means to follow him. And Jesus interacts with lots of different people – a disciple who seems to get it and a couple who don’t, a father who believes and at the same time has unbelief, a rich guy who goes away sad and a blind guy who goes away happy. At the beginning of the hike Jesus asks, “Who do you say that I am?” and at the end of the hike Jesus asks, “What do you want me to do for you?” Those two questions are important enough for us to linger on all week!
It's a nice snowy evening. Session is over. Where can you be found at camp?
Polar Bear plunging in James Lake. (We’ll just see about that)
You are stuck on a deserted island. What three things would you bring?
A big boat, lots of gas, and a fully charged GPS system . . . what a stupid question! Star Wars Episode 7 is coming out, and there’s no way I’m going to miss that!
Make the case. Why should high schoolers come to Wintertainment?
We are going to have tons of fun and talk about some life-changing stuff. No matter where you are in your life, no matter what questions you have or what issues you’re working through, if you give God the best of your attention this week there’s a great chance that He will meet you in profound ways. Who knows, this last week of 2015 might make all the difference for the 52 weeks in 2016!
Wintertainment 2015 will be held December 27-31 at Forest Springs, and scholarships are available. You can register online by clicking here!
