Song Writers Gather to Create Originals for Bible Camps 2025

The Genesis of a Great New Resource-Building Endeavor for LOM

Written by Don Johnson, LOM Executive Director

In October, Good Earth Village [an outdoor ministry site] in Minnesota hosted a pilot project for what will undoubtedly become an annual endeavor on behalf of LOM — the LOM Songwriters Conference. [LOM stands for Lutheran Outdoor Ministries].

Six incredibly talented musicians gathered for the LOM Songwriters Conference: Carl-Eric Gentes, Nick Fisher-Broin, Carol Meier, Jonathan Rundman, Lisa Janke and Dianna Parks, executive director of Good Earth Village and an exceptional singer-songwriter herself. Emily Carson and Richard Bruxvoort Colligan participated in the early part of the event but both had to return to their homes early because of obligations there.

All of these musicians love music, love God and love the church and LOM camps. This is manifested in their creativity and the songs they produced. The result of their time together will be at least two original camp songs for the overall theme of this year's LOM curriculum, "God's Word Comes Near." They will also produce at least two songs for each of the five daily themes.

The process of the group collaborating with each other to put the finishing touches on the songs they wrote was nothing short of impressive. It was moving to hear the group sing each of them. Even I joined in the singing which is evidence that these songs are very easy to learn and sing! On the final day, Chris Roberts set up a recording studio at Good Earth Village for the recording of the songs that will be distributed to all LOM camps using the 2025 curriculum.

We can all be grateful for Dianna Parks hosting the event, Carl-Eric Gentes and Richard Bruxvoort Colligan facilitating the process, and the talented songwriters whose new songs are going to be, I'm sure, longtime favorites at LOM camps and the church. Thank you, one and all!