SOS - Service Over Self

Meet Michael! SOS Summer Camp adult leader three times over, Michael is no stranger to camp, roofing, homeowner relationships, and the challenges and merriment that come with our particular concoction of Service Over Self.

“God loves you. Now get on your feet and do something.”

We’re grateful a pastor spoke these words over a congregation that included Michael and Stephanie. It triggered their investment in the church youth program who needed two more adult chaperones ahead of a summer vision trip to…you guessed it! Service Over Self in Memphis, TN.

MEET THE SIMANTS FAM 💓

We praise God for calling the Simants family to Memphis and to SOS. You’ve met Michael, SOS’ new Executive Director, now meet the rest of the family--Stephanie (wife, worship leader, and brave mover of her beautiful brood across oceans), and four kids: Emily, Caleb, Elizabeth and Lydia.

Join us in covering these new Memphians in our love and prayers in this season of transition! And give them a warm welcome if you see them around the Bing🤗

SPRING BREAK and SUMMER 2025 DATES are here! The joy of our hearts is hosting you guys and learning together more about how we fit in to God's work of making all things new!

Come join us in 2025 for a week of perspectives challenged, worldviews shifted, and joy found in serving your neighbors in the 901! We'd love to talk more...DM or email [email protected] for all the details.

Do you know a church/campus minister/youth leader who you think would love what SOS is about?? HOOK US UP! Send them this post or send us their info and we'll reach out.

And remember, registration opens October 3rd on our website at 10 AM Central Time🥳🥳🥳 We'll see you there!

We would like to take a moment to introduce you to our new Executive Director, Michael Simants! With great joy and confidence in God's 38 years of faithfulness to Service Over Self, we welcome Michael and his family to the SOS full-time staff team! After serving at SOS an adult leader in 2010, the Simantses felt God calling them to shift their lives toward missions which led them to serve in Turkey for 6 years before moving to the England for Michael to pursue a doctorate. Between 2010 and now, Michael has been a champion of our work at SOS and carried many of our principles into his various roles!

Michael and his family are moving to Binghampton from Durham, UK (across the pond!) later this month and he will onboard in August under Philip's mentorship and guidance as he gets his feet under him. Michael's background in cross-cultural ministry and organizational leadership drew our Board to him initially, but his love of learning, passion for community, and heart for the next generation of Jesus-followers assured them that he would be strong fit for this new chapter of SOS's history!

Board of Directors and Search Committee, THANK YOU for working hard, listening well, and discerning with patience who would be most suited to step into this special role! We are so grateful for your sacrifice in this season 💗

SOS fam, show some love by sharing your favorite part about Memphis!

Welcome to the team, Mario Cole! Our new Construction Director is being trained up by Mark and Big Dog in the camp gauntlet and is excelling! We've already been so grateful for Mario's thoughtful questions, subtle humor, honesty and wisdom. When asked what he's most looking forward to about working at SOS, Mario said "I'm excited to bring indigenous leadership to the communities that raised me and merge my years of experience in youth development and construction into one career to glorify God." All glory to the Father who brought this gem into our midst!

UGH, we hate to see this one go! With our begrudging blessing🥲, Mark Newman is rolling off SOS Staff at the end of the summer and the Newmans are setting course back to Knoxville. Mark has been a fixture of the SOS staff for 8 years--unassuming, steady, hardworking, and hilarious. He's seen us through COVID camp shutdowns, helped shepherd Builders, humbly passed on his construction know-how to hundreds! If you're very lucky, you're standing close enough to Mark to hear is quiet quips that keep us LOLing. We will miss him SO SO MUCH. Absolutely cannot be overstated how much he will be missed!! And we're grateful he's stuck around this summer to train our new Construction Director (debuting tomorrow!!) and finish well here in MEM! Mark and Lauren, thank you for your family's devotion to the mission of SOS and Binghampton as a community and the FUN you've brought to our lives! May the Lord shine his face upon your dear fam in Knoxville and Go Vols. 🧡

A pause on all things summer camp to shout out our graduating Builders! We're filled with pride for these young men and are thankful for all the ways they've applied their God-given gifts in high school, SOS Builds, and their communities. Steve, Leonce, Joe, Tmack, and Elise, your SOS fam is cheering for you!!

Officially one week left to be a part of Big Dog’s 20 Year celebration! 🎊🎁

Don’t let this milestone slip by without taking a moment to honor this man, his years of service and our great God! Two ways to participate:

1️⃣ Share with Big Dog how he has affected your life by writing him a letter. Mail it to SOS (c/o Big Dog 20 Years, 2505 Poplar Ave. Memphis, TN 38112) or email to [email protected].

2️⃣ Give a monetary gift to an annuity fund that will benefit Big Dog for years to come! He’s spent his 20 years of sobriety and employment at SOS following Jesus, giving extravagantly to those the world values the least. Will YOU give a gift to bless BD and celebrate the Lord’s faithfulness to his people through his servant? Give online through the link below or mail a check to SOS!

https://sosmemphis.org/big-dog-20-years

😘😘😘 Mingo is a program supervisor this summer! Praise God for his leadership and deep SOS experience that will surely bless our team this summer!

A little plein air Toolbox Inventory Training. After all, Big Dog’s organizational skill is an art form 🧑‍🎨

So excited to welcome Nicholas Gustin to the ‘24 squad ‼️

Isn’t he something special? Remember to celebrate Big Dog’s 20th anniversary with us! You have til June 7th to give towards a special gift or send in a note. Donate online via link:

https://sosmemphis.org/big-dog-20-years

Email your note to [email protected]

Or mail a check and/or letter to
SOS c/o Big Dog 20 Years
2505 Poplar Ave.
Memphis, TN 38112

We need local volunteers this summer! Serve dinner, deliver popsicles, clean the building, treat our staff to a special breakfast—our volunteers keep camp running smoothly and our campers and staff cared for! Links for the first two weeks of camp below:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054DAFAB2CA5F85-49711895-sosalumni

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C054DAFAB2CA5F85-49712387-sosweek

We have SO much to celebrate this summer but one of the BIG things on our minds is our gratefulness for 20 years of Big Dog @ SOS!!!!

The goodness of God is so palpable in Big Dog's journey and his 20 years spent loving, serving, teaching, and honing SOS into the ministry it is today! Now it's time for YOU to show our love to the man who has poured out so much. Two way to celebrate this HUGE milestone:

1. Give a monetary gift to a fund that will continue to bless BD and his family for many years to come. If everyone who has been blessed by Big Dog gave $10, $20 or $50, we'd make a Big-Dog-sized impact on his future. Click here to donate: sosmemphis.org/big-dog-20-years

2. Write him a note of encouragement! Tell him of a memory you have together or a way his influence on your life has shaped the way you live. We want him to see how far the ripples of his love have reached! Mail a letter to SOS c/o "Big Dog 20 Years"
2505 Poplar Ave
Memphis, TN 38112

You have until June 7th to donate and/or write a letter! Send us a message with any questions!

Homewood fam STAND UP! We're so excited to have long time camper, first time staffer, Graham McClean to our summer squad 💘

🍀🍀🍀 We've struck gold with dear joining us as a Team Leader for 2024!

Next on the mic 🎤, Drew Vinson! Praising God for all he will do in and through you this summer, brother! We're thrilled to make it official after three years of camper, ⬆️ ⬆️ moving on up to staffer.

A familiar face we never tire of! Welcome back for some 2024 roof/portapotty time 🤠

We're three week away from our 2024 Summer Staff Leadership Team arriving! Seeing God's hand in how this family is shaped and bonded is one of our great joys of working at SOS. We're praying for the friendships formed, the conflicts managed in grace, the shared exhaustion, the LOLs. HERE FOR IT ALL

Mega THANK YOU for your love and support after Philip’s big announcement! Philip, our staff and board are so grateful and have been honored and humbled by the words of encouragement you’ve shared!! 🥲
The 🆘 Board of Directors’ hiring committee has already got the wheels in motion to find SOS’ next Executive Director while our staff team is gearing up for another SOS summer in which we’ll give our all for the glory and fame of King Jesus. Make sure to stay tuned for more info to come as we celebrate Philip’s years of leadership! Aaaaand then as we have a new ED to introduce to you!
*Link for application and job description for the Executive Director role can be found in our bio or at sosmemphis.org/executive-director Applications close May 3!

Friday cheesin'