Checking in on the Gymnaires

The Gymnaires are back in action and preparing for this semester and all the adventures it will bring. They have a full schedule of tours and hope to bring the joy of gymnastics to different Christian organizations and Adventist high schools. They are well underway in getting back in the game of their nightly practices, brushing up on their flips and tumbles.

The first performance is taking place on February 12 at City Impact Christian Community Center right here in Lincoln. Near the end of February, the team will pack up and make their way to Colorado, touring Mile High Academy and Campion Adventist Academy. They will again head out the second week of March and spend the 9th-16th performing in the Pacific Northwest. They will stop at five different academies on this tour. Wrapping up the month of March with one last tour of the year, the Gymnaires will head up north to Maplewood Academy in Minnesota. The year will end with a Homeshow Performace held in our very own Reiner Wellness Center. You are invited to mark your calendars for April 12 at 9pm to support our Gymanires, celebrating all the hard work they have accomplished. 

The Gymnaires describe their team as a family. One such person that this atmosphere has made an impact on is the young man Markus Toppenberg. On January 24, Markus shared his testimony and displayed a newfound love and dedication for Jesus by being re-baptised. Markus is a sophomore IRR major. He hopes one day to enlist in the Marines, working his way up to the Marine Special Forces and becoming an officer. In Gymnaires, there is a special tradition that takes place called Pac Partners. The Gymnaires are split into small groups for prayer and spiritual growth. Markus explained how he had been baptized when he was young but never felt a connection with God. Through Pac Partners, Markus was encouraged by a teammate to try prayer in a more personal way, and he did. For the next few weeks, he prayed to God as if he were talking to a friend. “And then the love of God poured over me,” Markas said as he recalled his experience of the day He met Jesus. “I have been living my best life ever since.” 

The Gymnaires are a special group. The work of God can be clearly seen through all that they do. If you want to jump in on the action and maybe learn a new gymnastics move, you are welcome to join the Gymnaires February 16, March 23, and April 6 from 6pm-8pm for open practice. Hope to see you there!

By: Sami Hoffer