The Heart Behind Veritas Music Camp

July 2, 2015Derek Nicol

Rachel Herman, member at Veritas, originally wanted to do missions in India but circumstances threw her some curveballs. In the summer of 2014, Rachel was stuck in Ohio, asking herself “What do I do with my life?” She made the best of her clean-slate summer and served the kids who lived in the Milo Grogan neighborhood by the building where Veritas Short North gathers. In 2014, Rachel combined her passion for music and consideration for underprivileged children. She worked with Veritas leadership to came up with “Veritas Music Camp 2014.”

Lots of summer camps are super expensive. A lot of kids living around Veritas don’t have resources and connections that other kids do. The idea of doing a free camp that would talk about Jesus, and give them the words of life, sounded amazing. – Rachel Herman

Rachel reflected on Veritas Music Camp 2014 saying that some things went wrong and lots of things went better than expected. The kids loved it. But the thing that surprised Rachel the most was how much she’d grow to care for the kids.

In the process of meeting Milo kids, Rachel fostered a deeper partnership between Veritas and Reaching the Nations International (RTNI), which has a strong presence in Milo Grogan. RTNI holds bible studies, facilitates tutoring at Veritas, and shares the gospel with Milo while meeting the needs of the community. Inspired by Aaron and Emily Starr, two of the founding board members of RTNI who live in Milo Grogan, Herman plans to settle into Milo Grogan and live intentionally with others on mission in the neighborhood.

Veritas Music Camp 2015

Rachel has organized another music camp for the summer of 2015 and extends an invitation to attend the performance at the end of the week, July 17th at 7:30pm, at the Short North building. She hopes it will be an opportunity for the people of Veritas to meet the families of Milo Grogan and to cheer on their kids. Listen in as she talks about what to expect at Veritas Music Camp 2015, taiko and sambo drums, choral ensemble, and worship music.