One of the books from this summer was a beautifully illustrated story called Journey by Aaron Beckham. The story revolves around a young person who uses a magical marker to enter into and navigate a whole new world. They draw their way through with a door, a boat, a hot air balloon, and a magic carpet. Unlike all the other books in our library or our curriculum, Journey is wordless.

In fact, children at Project Transformation “read” the book together in art class. Children were invited to use their imaginations to make the pictures throughout the story come to life in their own words. As I sat and listened to the kids share the story they saw unfolding, I realized that no two kids read the story the same. Each brought their own experiences and hopes and desires into their interpretation of the book.

It felt a lot like the story of our summer. We had a beautiful vision for the summer of reading side by side on chapel pews, sharing meals and stories around tables, and discerning God’s call as we laughed, played, and cried together. What happened was even more amazing because all of these different people brought their stories and selves to make the vision we were casting more beautiful and diverse and impactful.

Fifty-three children, ten young adults, and over 110 volunteers from a dozen partnering churches came together this first summer. Churches began new chapters for their congregations by hosting programs during the week. Children read, wrote, and lived stories filled with adventure. College-aged young adults understood their calling as part of a greater story God is writing on their lives.

Project Transformation is excited to share these stories with you and to continue writing them in the years to come.

Sincerely,

Sam Meadors