Extreme Winter 2023 in Gatlinburg, TN

Have you ever heard anyone say, “You can’t make this stuff up?” This is why I always take pictures. People just don’t always believe the trials and tribulations of a youth trip.

Not what you expect to see when you drive up at 5:45 a.m. to leave for a trip. When the bus doesn’t start and you need to jump it off, the first thing you have to do is FIND the batteries.

The Journey is always HALF the fun.

Games, music, hot chocolate, and detours.

The Cookout

Forty Five minutes after taking THIS detour, we arrived in Knoxville, TN at 1:45 to have lunch at the Cookout. I had called ahead to let them know we were headed their way. Fantastic shout out to all the workers who helped get us in and out so quickly.

Detour #2

This detour or chosen route, depending on who you ask, will NEVER be chosen again. Pretty narrow roads and I’m not sure all the tires were on the road the whole time. Bonus is that we didn’t scrape the side of the bus on any rock walls or run anyone else off the road. We may have stopped once or twice to let someone coming from the other direction go by us though.

We Arrived… and Off Again

Getting into Gatlinburg is always crazy. Getting into downtown Gatlinburg on a bus at on Christmas break is a nightmare. We were at a standstill or going slow for so long that no one even noticed when Brad jumped out his door to go register us and I jumped over into the driver seat to take them to the hotel. I stopped in front of the hotel and let half the kids out. I went a little further and let the other half out in the parking lot that we eventually got parked in. We were all unloaded, checked in and headed back out to go to the convention center 30 minutes later.

The walk to the convention center was an adventure. First we (the girls) were scared of a clown. Then it was the Mysterious Mansion. I had 3 boys. Girls for me are a whole new learning curve. We even recognized one of the traffic guard WANNA BE’s.

Hurry Up and WAIT

There is no assigned seating in the Convention Center for Winter Xtreme. So those who are in line first get better seats. Let me rephrase that. Those who are at the front get better seats. We found that not everyone that went in the front bothered to stand in the line. They just joined their group at the front as it got closer to time for the doors to open.

Night 1 was Great.

Tom Richter was the first speaker of Xtreme Winter 2023. He is the pastor of a church located in North Alabama called Cullman First Baptist Church.

David Crowder was phenomenal. I have heard him live several times and it is always a moving, uplifting, hand raising, Jesus worshiping time.

10:00 p.m. Late Night Dinner at Luigi’s.

Brad had ordered ahead and they were expecting us. It is a tradition for him to take youth groups to Luigi’s. The pizza was great and we had leftovers that some of the kids ate the next day.

Day 2 Morning Session

Day 2 started out with the hurry up and wait agenda again. Breakfast was provided at the hotel. The group left the hotel at 8:30 headed back to the Convention Center. We stood in line from 8:30 a.m. ’til the 9:00 a.m door opening. Travis was the best at getting the best seats possible. Yes, I have him running on video if anyone wants to see it.

“Chapels” were the worship leaders each day.

Chapels describe themselves as a group of creatives united by the belief that stories connect us, songs inspire us, and that there is something bigger than ourselves worth pursuing. Picture wasn’t great, but her singing was FABULOUS.

Zane Black

Zane is passionate about the new life and purpose that he has found with Jesus and sharing it with teenagers across the nation. He is a Jr. and Sr. associate at Grace Church in Minnesota.

Newsong

All the old guys in our group knew the words to the songs. This band has been around forever!!

A Life Changing Story

This young man grew up in another county. He was sponsored by an organization that helps children in poverty areas. Listening to his story and how God has used his life to impact others should motivate anyone not sponsoring a child to sign up. I sponsor a child from India through Child Fund, a nonprofit organization. I get to write her letters for holidays and special events as well as support her monthly.

Identical Voices of Youth Pastors

I kept hearing this guy behind me talking to his group. At first I thought it was Brad. It was not, but they could fool ANYONE if you weren’t looking at them. So I introduced them and luckily they don’t laugh the same.

Lunch at Cumberland Jacks and then Sight Seeing

Morning session finished up about 12:25 and everyone broke off into groups to go eat, wander around downtown, or go to hotel and rest. The group Travis and I ended up with went to Cumberland Jacks. If you check the prices, this nice restaurant was cheaper than Five Guys down the road as well as some of the other fast food places. The streets were super busy and congested. We had to wait about 25 minutes for a table.

The Smoked Brisket Queso was a mistake of the waitresses but turned out to be a favorite of the group.

Food Sight Seeing

Buying fudge is a given for Travis if he sees a Kilwins.

Let The Waiting Begin

It was sooooo cold. I think it was around 39 degrees outside. The kids entertained themselves as we stood in line for almost an hour before the doors opened. We were not at the front, but nowhere near the back either. Travis did his famous run to get seats as soon as he got in.

Andy who?????? I admit to being old.

Andy Mineo is an American Christian hip hop artist, producer, music executive and video director based in New York. Yep, I googled him.

There were several of us who did not know this artist. Even when I heard him sing I couldn’t really understand all of the words. However, there were also a lot of kids singing every word, so it takes all kinds to reach all kinds. I know the flashing lights and deep thumping bass were kicking.

Jerrod Gunter

Jerrod Gunter, a youth pastor in Memphis, Tennessee, is working diligently to train up an army of teenage disciple-makers in his city through a movement he initiated called “Riot Starters.” The ministry equips students to own their faith and take prayer and evangelism to their schools and communities.

Anne Wilson

(Copied) With a transcendent vocal, down-to-Earth storytelling and a Heaven-sent desire to glorify Jesus, Anne Wilson is one of Nashville’s most inspiring young trailblazers – a Lexington, Ky. native mixing the heart of Contemporary Christian Music, and the sound of Country. She got everyone excited for Jesus. Her parents got to come watch her share her music as well.

Debrief and Share Back at the Hotel

It was a great time where several students shared what they had taken away from the speakers and artists as well as how the trip impacted them as they move forward in their relationship with Jesus.

The Worship Leaders were Great Everyday!

The kids were engaged every time the Worship Leaders took the stage.

Colton Dixon

Michael Colton Dixon is an American singer-songwriter and musician from Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He placed seventh on the eleventh season of American Idol. I know his song “Build a Boat” better than any of his others.

Back to the Bus We Go

We had packed up the bus before going to the last session at the Conference Center. It allowed us to just load up when it was over and head back to Corinth. Brad even took us through a back way/short cut. It was still very cold.

Steak and Shake

Brad loves some Steak and Shake. We called ahead and told them we were on our way. The staff was super friendly and prepared when we arrived. The group able to quickly order, eat an head back out on the road.

Last Food and Fuel Fill Up

Energy, caffeine, sugar. etc………..Did not keep any of them awake on the last leg of the journey. Another great trip in the books for Oakland Baptist Students.