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bradd “chleba” merrell

@braddmerrell

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I’ve been around 👍

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first batch of tattoos- a baker’s dozen, if you will

check my bio to book!! #getdinkd

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made some additions… this is my very own left hand if anyone was wondering🙏

amen right on woohoo @ronniemerrell

chat did i cook?

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Come get @braddink.co rn #getdinkd

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uke and pong 👍

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summer
1 of 3
noun
sum·mer ˈsə-mər

1
: the season between spring and autumn comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of June, July, and August or as reckoned astronomically extending from the June solstice to the September equinox
2
: the warmer half of the year
3
: YEAR
a girl of seventeen summers
4
: a period of maturing powers

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all the sweetness!!!!!!!!!

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CP Students Camp 2026

I cannot begin to describe the impact of attending camp this year. 3 years ago, I was on a team of 4 people setting up the late night games and making Walmart runs for snacks. Knowing that this team has grown to 20+ individuals is a God moment to me. Seeing this community coming together to serve students in so many unexpected ways was such a blessing.

Before and throughout camp, I felt numb, spiritually and emotionally exhausted, and like every day just passed by while I was stuck in the same spot. At the end of camp, I realized that I was different. My mind was on a different track, my habits were pointing toward a different goal, and I began purposefully living my life for Christ.

I hope and pray that one day you who are reading this can experience camp in any way possible. It is an experience that I would not change for the world. I am beyond excited to see how these young men and women go throughout their lives pursuing Christ in their passions and their work.
Program Team helped me meet so many new people whom I am happy to call my friends. Thank you to the leaders who poured into us just as much as they poured into the students themselves.

Until next year.

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Summer Camps will always hold a special place in my heart. I was baptized at Summer Camp. I have formed many of my deepest friendships at Summer Camp. I finally answered the call into ministry last year at Summer Camp.

This year marks my 21st week long summer camp that I attended as a student or have volunteered at. It would be so easy now to go through the motions and look back simply saying, “That was another cool camp.” Yet year after year, God meets me exactly where I’m at. He answers prayers that I forgot I had even prayed. He provides exactly what I needed even when I was too stubborn or oblivious to ask for it.

This year will hold a special place in my heart. This Program Team will hold a special place in my heart. Especially slides 3 & 20 in the post. So here’s a short story (at least short by Matt Baker storytelling standards):

Each night before the evening session, our program team (all the college students who made the fun happen allowing cabin leaders to focus on shepherding their cabin) would run through our beginning of session games and other fun elements. This picture was taken after our run through during a 30 minute “break” for us. This was the last break we would get each night. During this “break”, the worship team would run through all of their songs for the night.

This particular night, we were on Night 2 for the students and I was backstage trying to track down a couple items we would need for session. After finding them, I walk down the backstage hallway fully expecting our program team to be laying around and maybe on their phones. Instead I turn the corner to see this:

Every last member of the team fully engaged in worship.

Instead of seeking out physical rest, they were seeking rest in the Lord.

Just our 20 person team, the worship/production teams, and a few staff in the room. There was nothing showy about it. Just a handful of people wholeheartedly pursuing the Lord in a mostly empty room.

As you can probably imagine, when these are the hearts of the people on your team, there are dozens more stories to be shared!!

Shoutout to the best Program Team around‼️

Blessed to serve alongside each and every one of one :)

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I’m Different.

Throughout the Gospels, people didn’t simply become better after encountering Jesus.

They became different.

Different at a soul level. Different in ways they couldn’t always explain.

“All I know is that I was blind, and now I see.”

That was our team’s prayer for camp.
We didn’t want students to leave with a great story or just an emotional experience. We wanted them to leave different—anchored in Christ and rooted in who God created them to be.

Before we left for camp, we asked students to write down a prayer. As I stood on stage, I wrote mine:
“God, change Aaron’s heart. Revive his faith. Encounter him.”

The truth is, Aaron didn’t want to come to camp. He showed up angry and closed off. Throughout the week, it didn’t seem like much was changing.

Then I talked to him the following Sunday.
Not only had he enjoyed camp and connected with friends, but he had recommitted his life to Jesus.

When I told him about the prayer I had written for him, he stood up and gave me a huge hug.

That’s what God does.

He encounters people. He changes hearts. He makes us different.

This week left me overwhelmed with gratitude for the team God has built at CP.

Six years ago, I was a team of one. Slowly and steadily, God expanded the team.

Today, I can simply say: they’re the best there is.
They put Christ first. They’re humble, talented, and deeply committed to this next generation.

I’m grateful for the students God changed, the team He assembled, and the reminder that Jesus is still doing what He has always done:

He’s making people different.

We came home Different

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Love all these monkeys so much ❤️🥹

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wow what a week, thank you Jesus!

this week has truly been a blessing, seeing hundreds of kids being impacted by Jesus in so many ways. I was able to see prayers answered in ways i’ve never seen them answered before and even that 40 considering baptism and 18 first time decisions, praise the Lord!! This year i was able to connect more with students and the team and i am so grateful to be apart of such a fun and loving team and to be apart of students experience and helping them choose Jesus. I am so thankful for the people Jesus has brought me and the messages by @andre_crouchjr were INCREDIBLE! Thank you andre for coming and impacting these kids lives and changing them for the better, we can’t wait to have you again! and thank you @connectionpointe.students for everything you do for these kids, it is an honor to come and pour into these kids like you guys have done for me! and thank you program team, this has truly been the best year yet for this team and I can’t wait to grow closer, i love all of you so much!

and most importantly…

Thank you Jesus, you are a pretty cool dude! Love you so much ♥️

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