Welcome to the Loft: Meet Adam

Name: Adam

School Attending: Slippery Rock University
Major: Integrated Marketing Communications with a minor in Social Work

Where are you from? Mount Lebanon, PA

One fun fact about you:
 He likes to write poetry.   

What is your favorite color?

 Green.

What are you passionate about?
 He is passionate about working with the homeless, human trafficking, and sex trafficking people. 

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 He applied freshman year, sophomore year, and junior year. This year he finally got in and God put it on his heart to go. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Casey.

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Worship after class this past week. 

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 The boardwalk. 

What job do you have down here?
 Air Circus on the Boardwalk.

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 His job interview itself because his boss asked strange questions. 

Anything else?

 Nope. 

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Lydia

Name: Lydia

School Attending: Eastern Mennonite University
Major: Biblical Studies

Where are you from? Norristown, PA

One fun fact about you:
 She is extremely empathetic and kind to everyone she knows.    

What is your favorite color?

 Purple.  

What are you passionate about?
 She is passionate about world peace. 

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 She wanted to explore campus ministry as a possible calling. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Seirra. 

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Her group was leading worship. Seeing God in that moment.  

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 The South Beach. 

What job do you have down here?
 Second Chance Boutique. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 When she had a conversation with someone looking to give a donation.  

Anything else?

 Nope. 

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Mikayla

Name: Mikayla

School Attending: Clarion University of Pennsylvania
Major: Criminal Justice and Paralegal Studies with a double minor in Women and Gender Studies and Spanish

Where are you from? Alpha, NJ

One fun fact about you:
 She can put both her feet behind her head. She can also bend her finger all the way back (only one finger though). She knows a song to every US President. 

What is your favorite color?

 Purple. 

What are you passionate about?
 She is passionate about gender equality. Other things she is passionate about include: showing people the glory of God, cute puppies and classical literature. 

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 Her friend Mia did it last year. Her CCO leader also encouraged her. She hoped that she would also create lasting friendships.

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Lilly. They talked about Grey's Anatomy and country music. 

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 It's more of a feeling when she felt seen. A physical favorite moment was when Stephen knew when she was upset about something and pulled her aside. He sat with her while she cried.  

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 The rose garden by the house. 

What job do you have down here?
 Air Circus on the Boardwalk. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 Any time a kid comes into the store because she loves kids. 

Anything else?

 She is really excited to see what God does in this house. 

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Katie

Name: Katie

School Attending: Waynesburg University
Major: Biblical and Ministry Studies with a concentration in Children and Youth Ministry and a minor in Child Development

Where are you from? Lewistown, PA

One fun fact about you:
 She has been to four of the seven continents so far and she hopes to go to all of them one day.   

What is your favorite color?

 Either Lavender or Plum. 

What are you passionate about?
 She is passionate about music, specifically worship music and giving children the love that they deserve (especially those that are hurting).

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 She felt like for a while the Lord was putting it on her heart to apply. She did not want to, but she finally decided she would and she got in (and I am thankful). She accepted because the Lord put it on her heart that there was a lot she needed to work on and change. She couldn't rebuild herself without being torn down in a safe and comfortable environment. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Trinity. 

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Tonight. We had an incredible worship tonight at the church. 

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 The boardwalk. 

What job do you have down here?
 Dockside Kitchen. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 Getting to sample every last item they sell on the menu. She also gets to start on the same playing field as the rest of her coworkers, as the restaurant is just about to open. 

Anything else?

 Katie is another redhead. I'm super excited because there are four redheads in the house. I'm not alone. 

Amazing Reads: God has a Name

God had a Name

By John Mark Comer

Now, I read Garden City first. God has a name is a separate book that addresses different topics, but at the same time, it feels like a continuation of Garden City. God has a Name is shaped around a portion in Exodus. The book goes sentence by sentence through the text and goes into details that sometimes get skimmed over. 

Favorite Quotes:

“But the Bible claims something radically out of step with its time. It claims there is one true Creator God who made everything. And the world was born, not out of conflict or war or jealous infighting, but out of the overflow of his creativity and love.” -John Mark Comer

“In the modern world, we start with the assumption that we know what God is like, and then we judge every religion or church or sermon or book based on our view of God.” -John Mark Comer

“Here’s how you know if you’ve created God in your own image: he agrees with you on everything.” -John Mark Comer

“When we say that God is faithful, we don’t mean you’ll never experience suffering. A lot of people—in particular, Americans—misinterpret God’s faithfulness to mean some kind of promise to give us life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. So when tragedy strikes or the economy goes south or the child tests positive or we don’t find a spouse by thirty, we think God is unfaithful.” -John Mark Comer

“If your heart is stubborn, cold, or in open rebellion against Yahweh, then the worst thing God can do is give you what you want and let all your desires come true.” -John Mark Comer

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Emily

Name: Emily

School Attending: Robert Morris University
Major: Statistics and Predictive Analytics

Where are you from? New Wilmington, PA

One fun fact about you:
 She has a cat named Sophia.  

What is your favorite color?

 She loves so many, but she chose Maroon.  

What are you passionate about?
 She is passionate about music (both playing and listening), particularly worship music, as she connects with it more than sermons. 

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 There isn't a distinct answer. She thought it would be cool and something different than what she normally does. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Harrison.  

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 She really liked worship on Monday. It felt like the music connected to what she was going through in her life. 

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 Bungalow Bowls. She loves getting foods in general and looking at the new "hip" places. 

What job do you have down here?
 Ocean Cafe (on the Boardwalk).

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 On Tuesday when her boss had more than a surface level conversation with her. One of her other favorite moments is when her boss told her that she hired her brother. She was really confused because she didn't have a brother. Her boss told her that he was also a Christian. In her mind, every Christian must know every other Christian. 

Anything else?

 She really likes ice cream, especially with sprinkles. She even has a page about it on her blog. 

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Noelle

Name: Noelle

School Attending: Waynesburg University
Major: History and Second Education as well as Political Science (She is a double major)

Where are you from? Beaver Falls, PA

One fun fact about you:
 She plays Violin. She has a Chinchilla. Her favorite president is Lincoln and she knows random facts about presidents.   

What is your favorite color?

 Grey. 

What are you passionate about?
 She is passionate about music. She loves playing her violin and she was talking to someone else that plays violin at the church and how she stopped for 25 years. Now, she has arthritis, which is really sad. She is also passionate about stories and people. She loved reading as a kid and some of her favorite stories are Joseph. She loves hearing other people's stories. She gets upset when others don't fully hear her story. 

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 She wanted to be part of a community and see what community looked like. She also wanted to learn more about God and herself. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Jamie. 

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Worship last night (we sang some incredible songs that Geraud and Natalie led).

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 The North Beach. It's at the end of the island, about an hour and a half from here. 

What job do you have down here?
 New York Cafe and Grill. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 Getting to see her boss' daughter is her favorite part because she is adorable. 

Anything else?

 Her (former) campus minister has the most adorable baby. She also collects seashells to put in every thank you letter she writes. 

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Molli

Name: Molli

School Attending: Slippery Rock University
Major: Social Work

Where are you from? Scranton, PA

One fun fact about you:
 She loves Crocs (you will constantly be wearing them)

What is your favorite color?

 Blue.

What are you passionate about?
 She is passionate about injustices. She also wants to work with kids, so she is passionate about kids and the family unit. She really values family dinners.

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 God told her to. She was also really looking for an intentional community where she could learn and grow together, while learning how to solve problems. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Katie.

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Casey's birthday when we were all waiting for him to come in.

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 The beach. 

What job do you have down here?
 Sunrise Cafe. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 The egg chef guy said that he will miss her in September.  

Anything else?

 She is really happy to be here. She is also really excited to see us after we leave (one day because we plan on being an intentional community after we leave). 

Amazing Reads: Sacred Echo

Sacred Echo

by Margaret Feinberg

Have you ever felt lost? Struggled to find your calling? Struggled to hear God's voice? Just all around struggled? This is the book for you. God sometimes speaks through a Sunday sermon, a chance conversation with a friend the next day, even a random email. The same theme, idea, impression, or lesson will repeat itself in surprising and unexpected ways until you realize that maybe, just maybe, God is at work. 

Favorite Quotes: 

“And like an echo, God often uses the repetitive events and themes in daily life to get my attention and draw me closer to himself."- Margaret Feinberg

"May our every inhale be infused with God's presence, our every inhale an extension of his love." -Margaret Feinberg

"God knows your prayer before the words even leave your lips." -Margaret Feinberg

"Remember: God is steadfast. He hasn't given up on you." -Margaret Feinberg

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Tessa

Name: Tessa

School Attending: Nothing Right Now...She's done school

Where are you from? Zealienople, PA

One fun fact about you:
 Her favorite material is linen.  

What is your favorite color?

 Mustard. 

What are you passionate about?
 She wants to see people set free. With that, she also wants to heal brokenness from the church and making sure people know Christ for who he is outside the context of church. 

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 She was looking for a discipleship program and it was the one that accepted her. She also wants to learn how to be a better leader, disciple, and evangelist wherever God calls her. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Emma (that's me) or Lydia. 

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Leading worship. 

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 Either the beach itself or the crossroads at 11th and Asbury (there is a Starbucks and Bungalow Bowls at that corner).

What job do you have down here?
 The Henna Shop. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 The first time she did a henna and it turned out well.  

Anything else?

 She is an incredible artist. I will probably post some of her drawings at the end of summer (with her permission of course). 

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Sarah

Name: Sarah

School Attending: Geneva College
Major: Sociology with a minor in Writing

Where are you from? Waldorf, MD

One fun fact about you:
 Sarah used to wear glasses.

What is your favorite color?

 Grey. 

What are you passionate about?
 She is passionate about social justice and social injustice.   

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 Her campus minister would not let her leave his office until she signed up. Then she was given three leadership positions for the fall. She thought her relationship with God was stagnant and this would potentially help her along the way. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Natalie.

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Family meeting. 

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 She hasn't found it yet.

What job do you have down here?
 Bob's Lemonade on the Boardwalk. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 Her boss asked her how to spell marshmallow. 

Anything else?

 Nope.

Bed. I need bed.

Captains Log: Week 3
This week was a bit tough. Sleep exhaustion has kicked in for many. There is not enough coffee in the house to get some of us through it. I don't drink coffee, so I am stuck running on a steady of dose of ice cream and chocolate. The couch and the hammocks have become more comfortable than the beds (or in my case, cot). People can be seen napping from time to time in the hammocks or on the couch. 

My days have blended together. Nothing runs on time. Clocks have been covered up, so no one stresses about whether or not classes run late. We have begun learning to tell time by sun dial. 

Work is in full swing (and not just housework and cooking). I started work at the Henna Shop and have managed to keep track of when I work. One day I was scheduled to work for one hour (and yes, I am serious). It's a great place and I have a fun time every time I work. 

Favorite Moment:
We had a couple birthday celebrations so far. Casey's was last week. John's was this week. What I have learned about our house is that we go all out for birthdays. The house was fully decorated. We bought a cake and a ton of gifts. We even bought a confetti cannon because John loves confetti and glitter. What can I say, he is an equal opportunity impossible-to-clean-up mess maker. 

Strange House Concern:
We have yet to set official names for the Hermit Crabs. John has started calling them Poop and Soup. I refuse to let them be called that. Names definitely need to be picked. Even though John and Natalie are in the lead, some people are afraid they may have an identity crisis. I think the bigger concern should be that they keep destroying their cage. 

Featured Places of the Week:
Bennie's Bakery- I found this place on accident. A woman and I were talking at church about thrift shopping, since a bunch of the ladies in the house would like to go somewhat soon. This woman told me about a great thrift store on Fifth and Asbury. I biked there later that day to discover that there is no thrift store there, so I biked around a couple of blocks hoping to discover what I went on my adventure for. Instead, I found an Italian Bakery at Fourth and Ocean. I was still content with my adventure because I got a cannoli out of it (and I am a sucker for sweets).

"The Nest" and "Hammock Forest"- We joined couches together and made a little nesting area where people relax together in, complete classwork in, and nap in. There's the family nest and the little baby nest next to it. I have taken many naps in the family nest. The hammock forest is this area we cut through to get to the Loft. All of us have our hammocks hanging up from the rafters. It's great. Mine sits the lowest because for some reason I think that I will fall out and somehow manage to injure myself (knowing my track record when it comes to weird injuries).

Favorite Quotes of the Week:
"It's as elegant as ballet." -A woman at church (in response to watching me sign)
"Bed. I need bed." -Me (When I was super tired and fell asleep in "the nest" with some of the people in the house. Of course, I was convinced by someone that there was no need to go to bed when I already managed to fall asleep on the couch. Seemed logical.)

Who I have met with for a one-on-one so far:
-Seirra
-Christin
-Stephen
-Abby Grace
-Lilly
-Casey
-Jamie
-Harrison
-Sarah
-Tessa

Amazing Reads: Restoring Broken Things

Restoring Broken Things

by Steven Curtis Chapman and Scotty Smith

We are all broken in one way or another. This is a book about restoration. Forgiveness and restoration is not something that happens at once. It is something that needs to be continually worked on until not only your head believes it, but your heart does too. 

Favorite Quote (Sorry, this is the only one, mainly because it is my absolute favorite in the entire book. It is a daily reminder.):

"We are commanded to forgive, but we can never demand forgiveness from anyone. Forgiving is not forgetting or ignoring an offense. Forgiving is not excusing, justifying, or pardoning an offense. Forgiving is not smothering a conflict. Forgiving is not tolerating what should not be tolerated. Forgiving does not always result in reconciliation. Forgiving does not mean you stop hurting. Forgiving is refusing to punish. Forgiving is a commitment not to repeat or discuss the matter with others. Forgiving is a radical commitment to uproot any residual bitterness. Forgiving is a choice to merciful as God you Father has been merciful with you." -Steven Curtis Chapman and Scotty Smith

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Lilly

Name: Lilly

School Attending: Slippery Rock University
Major: Social Work

Where are you from? Wexford, PA

One fun fact about you:
 She figure skated for 9 years, but now she is a drummer.

What is your favorite color?

 Purple. 

What are you passionate about?
 Loving on kids and breaking the stigma of mental health.

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 She wasn't sure she would do it for the summer, but got told to apply by people she trusted. After prayer, she applied because she thought it would be fun and she wanted to grow in her faith. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 McKayla (over Grey's Anatomy).

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Serious great moment: Midnight worship in the staff apartment, not knowing when it would end.
 Fun moment: When we all threw the football around on the beach because she always wanted friends to do that with. 

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 The beach.

What job do you have down here?
 The Surf Mall (on the boardwalk).

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 Being told that she was good at her job on day one.

Anything else?

 She can't wait to grow in the community, visit Hobby Horse, and she never knows what to expect in the morning. She loves all of us!

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Casey

Name: Casey

School Attending: Youngstown State University
Major: Civil and Construction Engineering Technology

Where are you from? Austintown, OH

One fun fact about you:
 He plans on proposing in the fall. 

What is your favorite color?

 Red and Orange. 

What are you passionate about?
 He is passionate about Rugby and hanging out with his girlfriend.  

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 For the leadership building aspect of it. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 AbbyGrace or Stephen (It's a tie).

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 His birthday. (We did a huge celebration in the house. We decorated, made a cake, bought gifts and everything.)

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 He doesn't want to give it away because no one knows about it. 

What job do you have down here?
 He works for Joan. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 The day that he didn't have to work. 

Anything else?

 All the people here are really awesome. 

Amazing Reads: Liturgy of the Ordinary

Liturgy of the Ordinary

by Tish Harrison Warren

How do you find God in the mundane aspects of your everyday life? Tish Harrison Warren addresses this by looking at the mundane things she does everyday, from making the bed, checking her emails, brushing her teeth, and more. 

Favorite Quotes:

"Everyone wants a revolution. No one wants to do the dishes." -Tish Harrison Warren

“In the creation story, God entered chaos and made order and beauty. In making my bed I reflected that creative act in the tiniest, most ordinary way. In my small chaos, I made small order.” -Tish Harrison Warren

“My minty breath—a little foretaste of glory.” -Tish Harrison Warren

“Without realizing it, I had slowly built a habit: a steady resistance to and dread of boredom.” -Tish Harrison Warren

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Jamie

Name: Jamie

School Attending: Robert Morris University
Major: Media Arts; Digital Cinema TV Production (as a concentration)

Where are you from? Grew up in Indiana, PA. Now lives in Ford City, PA.

One fun fact about you:
 She has really tiny ears. 

What is your favorite color?

 Purple. 

What are you passionate about?
 Film, music, and animals.

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 She wanted to do something different with her summer and wanted to learn leadership skills to take back with her to campus. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Emily. 

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 Any of the worship times, because she loves worship.

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 It seems to be a tough question. She loves the Tabernacle though (which is where we stay) because it is where we bond the most. 

What job do you have down here?
 New York Cafe and Grill. 

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 Meeting her coworkers. 

Anything else?

 Nope.

Welcome to the Loft: Meet Harrison

Name: Harrison

School Attending: Geneva College
Major: Accounting

Where are you from? Fredericksburg, VA

One fun fact about you:
 He plays college football. (And he is actually pretty good at it. I sometimes watch him practice and he is doing great so far.)

What is your favorite color?

 Red.

What are you passionate about?
 He is passionate about serving others and showing them the Christ that saved him. He also passionate about helping those with special needs. 

Why did you choose to do OCBP?
 He did not choose to do it. He was forced to. Now, he wants to become more secure in his identity in Christ and become a more Godly man. 

Who was the first person you bonded with here at OCBP?
 Stephen.

What is your favorite moment at OCBP so far?
 The first class when we sang Reckless Love.

Where is your favorite place in Ocean City?
 Shades. 

What job do you have down here?
 Harrison works for Shades, which is located on the boardwalk.

What is your favorite job moment so far?
 When he sold his first pair without knowing anything. Update: His new favorite job moment is being able to share a little bit of his testimony with one of his coworkers. 

Anything else?

 Nope.

Amazing Reads: Garden City

Garden City

by John Mark Comer

Everyone in the house was given a copy of this book the day they came. I wanted to start reading it right away, but I was in the middle of another book and waiting patiently (well, not so patiently). Looking back, part of me wishes I started reading Garden City right away because I found it to be incredible. First off, the author talked the way you or I would. His book was easy to read and if I found something truly inspiring, I was able to mark it to go easily find the quote I wanted to look back on. John Mark Comer discusses work, rest, and the idea of a garden city. It is one of my favorite books now and I hope to read more of his books in the weeks to come. 

Favorite Quotes:

"It's not failure if you fail at doing something you're not supposed to do. It's success. Because with each success, and with each so-called failure, you're getting a clearer sense of your calling." -John Mark Comer

"Sometimes a calling is staring us in the face, we just need to make eye contact." -John Mark Comer

"That’s why Sabbath is an expression of faith. Faith that there is a Creator and he’s good. We are his creation. This is his world. We live under his roof, drink his water, eat his food, breathe his oxygen. So on the Sabbath, we don’t just take a day off from work; we take a day off from toil. We give him all our fear and anxiety and stress and worry. We let go. We stop ruling and subduing, and we just be. We “remember” our place in the universe. So that we never forget . . . There is a God, and I’m not him." -John Mark Comer

"If we fight the image of God in us — even if we succeed in the short run — it will come back to eat us alive." -John Mark Comer

"Jesus is calling us out. He’s saying that greatness is when we love and serve others." -John Mark Comer