Hi, this is Amanda from the Media Team!
We recently had the incredible opportunity to learn from guest speaker Mr. Timotheus Pope—or as we like to call him, T. Pope—who spent the week teaching us all about community development.
He emphasized how important it is to fully define key terms before diving into deeper ideas, so we spent time exploring what words truly mean and why that matters. We learned how our belief systems shape everything we do, and we unpacked the four types of connections we can have with others. T. Pope also walked us through the five tiers of relationships and explained two types of conflict that often show up in communities: Task/Intellectual Friction and Social/Relational Friction.
Throughout the week, we completed personality and leadership assessments that helped us understand more about who we are and how we lead. Personally, I found out I’m a “Phlegmatic Green” with an “Encouraging Leadership Style”—and it was so cool to see how those traits show up in my day-to-day interactions.
T. Pope was intentional about connecting with each of us, sharing wisdom, encouragement, and laughter. He even joined us at open gym one night, which made for some fun memories (he was lifting 50 pounds while I was lifting 10—but who’s counting?).
It was such a meaningful week, full of laughter, learning, and deep conversations about who we are and how we can build stronger, healthier communities that reflect God’s design.
A Word from Our Site Director
Community Development Week with Timotheus Pope
What a week we had together! Filled with laughter, storytelling, and mind-blowing “aha moments,” Timotheus delivered exactly what we were hoping for—Community Development. It was such a gift to watch our community unfold with honesty, encouragement, and conviction.
This experience allowed us to see more clearly the ways God has uniquely wired each of us and how every member of our community is both vital and needed. We learned how to better communicate, set healthy expectations, and use our strengths and weaknesses to thrive together as the people of God. It truly was a rich and engaging week of learning and growth.
Manheim Farm Show Parade
Our students also had the joy of partnering with Pleasant View to participate in the Manheim Farm Show Parade. The theme was “Happy Birthday,” celebrating Pleasant View’s 70th anniversary! Students walked in the parade wearing party hats and noisemakers, handing out candy, singing, dancing, and spreading joy throughout the Manheim community.
We were thrilled to win first place for Best Float in the Adult Non-Profit category! It was a wonderful night and a beautiful reminder of the strong partnership we share with Pleasant View.