Forward thinking.

February 28, 2014 by Chris Parker 1 Comment

Does your family calendar look like this? If it doesn’t there are 10 students in your ministry that it does represent. We are way too busy, and if you can’t slow people down you need to get ahead of their schedule.

Many times, those young bucks in charge of the kiddos are known as the last-minute man. Simply, don’t be that person. I had a parent approach me earlier this week telling me how impressed they were, being that they got a calendar for the entire school year last fall. This allowed them to plan family vacations around special dates, like camps and mission trips. It simply took me a few days to look at the school calendars and block out the times I needed from families to run special activities for our students and make a calendar.

I guarantee that forward thinking and planning will only increase your participation rate. It’s worth the investment.

When using forward thinking and calendaring out 6 plus months in advance respects the family and partners with parents to provide an experience for their child. With a game plan in hand, they will walk away aware of two things when you schedule a camp, mission trips, or a special event.

Save the date. Most parents would say, “I want my kid at this church activity.” They are more responsible than the student and will mark it on the calendar making sure nothing gets scheduled on top of it.
Save the money. They know this will cost money. (Even if they don’t, now you don’t have to feel bad announcing the price tag that is attached… they knew the $150 retreat was coming 6 months ago)

Now that I have done this for the past year, my job is simply to be consistent. Get the calendar in the hands of the parents late in the summer and do my best to stick to the same dates of camp/trips of the previous year. Consistency is your best momentum builder, this investment over time yields big rewards for your ministry as the years go on.

Do you have a plan for the next 6 months? 12 months? How will you communicate that plan to parents?

My first funeral. Things you should and shouldn’t say…

February 27, 2014 by Chris Parker 3 Comments

A few weeks ago I officiated my first funeral. Though an honor to be asked to officiate such a ceremony, this was a tragedy for family, friends and the church. I struggled my way through it in the best way I knew how, grabbing sermons from others and crafting something of my own, which you can find attached at the end of this post. Fighting back tears and doing my best to deliver a message, this was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in ministry yet.

The funeral wasn’t for one person, but two. One of my students lost both of her parents to a drunk driver. Just like that…gone. Unfair. Unjust. Unable to comprehend and explain. I had many family and their friends approach me with “why’s?”

I became comfortable in responding this way, the only way I knew how…

We weren’t created to understand death, we weren’t made to fathom separation from others. We were created for life, life with God and life with each other. When we see life taken from us whether young or old, it never feels right nor should it. We can’t seem to accept death, but we should accept that God has a reassuring hope for us. Through the person of Jesus, He gives us access to life with God and a future-Eden to look forward to in this most desperate time.

Things I recommend you should NOT say to someone that just lost a loved one:

“I know what you are going through right now.” You probably don’t. Everyone has their own experience, their own relationships, and their own emotions.
“Are you okay?” No they aren’t! That may sound reassuring but it’s tough right now, and “okay” is a long way away.
“This is the best thing that could have happened to them.” Perhaps, if the person was suffering. But let the loved one state that, it’s not your place.

Simply state you are sorry for what they are having to endure and ask if they have any needs that you can help meet during this time. Delivering meals, house cleaning, yard work, etc. These small things can really help out a family during the loss of a loved one.

Attached here is my manuscript (names have been altered to respect the family), feel free to use it as a resource as you serve others. Funeral_Manuscript_Parker

Raising the goblet of rock & creating musical fusion.

February 26, 2014 by Chris Parker Leave a Comment

Raise your goblet of rock! I love how the student asks, “Are we going to be goofing off like this every day?” Yes, he is Jack Black and has every right to “goof off” but he was getting the point across and had a personal critique for each student… all the while cutting loose and having fun.

At my church, we have been through the ups and downs of a student band, different leaders approaching leadership of the band from a different angle. Through fun times and not so fun times, we are heading in a great direction now but wonder if this is a struggle among most youth groups that desire to have music as part of their program?

What does your band practice look like? What elements are a must? Do you play any secular music at youth group? Why or why not?

Hillsong United makes history with “Oceans”

February 25, 2014 by Chris Parker 1 Comment

Where do you find an amazing worship song? Among other well known artists…consisting of Beyonce, Jason Derulo, Imagine Dragons, etc. “Oceans” simple yet profound lyrics have drawn a HUGE following of both churches but perhaps even the unchurched in helping it snag a spot in the Billboard Hot 100. What a great achievement to celebrate in making God’s name known among our highly competitive music industry.

“The earth will be filled with knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the ocean.” Habakkuk 2:14

God has used this song, at this time, to unite His people worldwide, while also delivering a message of hope for those without.

My favorite verse of the song is, “Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders, let me walk upon the water, wherever you would call me.” I believe we all have a border of trust… deep down we have some sort of boundary of what we will give over to God. No one has a perfect trust. How often do we stop to ask the Holy Spirit for help?

Ask the Spirit to expand your trust, that you would continually transform into the willing vessel of a servant found displayed in the person of Jesus.

Click here to read more about Hillsong United’s achievement.

Kryptonite.

February 24, 2014 by Chris Parker Leave a Comment

It was after sitting down with some veteran youth pastors and their teams, that I discovered how much an infant in ministry I really am. I am going on 2 years of overseeing my own student ministry at Gateway Church here in Austin. While I do feel accomplished and my ministry blessed in the amount of time I have been on staff, I know many endeavors are yet to come. Like all youth pastors, I continually ask the question, “How do I take this to the next level?”

How can I get rid of the kryptonite that is disabling my ministry from reaching the potential I know it has? The answers lie deep within your vision, goals, prayer, volunteers, and *drumroll* ….other churches. Yup! I said it, other churches.

Whether you are a lone ranger trying to do this on your own, have another partner in crime or perhaps even lead a huge team of youth ministry staff; it’s time you got some fresh air and went on a field trip. Take your team, some key volunteers, or even your senior pastor to another church that you respect or know has certain aspects they thrive in that you are weak in. Don’t fool yourself, this all-star ministry will have its own kryptonite and unique set of challenges but what can you learn from them? What are they doing well? How did they get there? Ask a lot of questions and take notes.

A simple visit to another church can both help you dream and even troubleshoot with someone else in your profession. Pick up the phone and call your fellow peer, let them know you are coming to visit!

If you are ever in Austin, give me a shout, come observe and tell me what we can do better! chris_parker@gatewaychurch.com

Quick Tip: Clean out the inbox and keep it clean!

February 22, 2014 by Chris Parker Leave a Comment

Here’s a spring cleaning idea everyone needs to take action on. The inbox. Why does it always seem full, overflowing, and feel like you can’t keep up? Because 1/2 of those emails are trash, they need to be thrown away. Only a few hours can save you tons of time in the upcoming year.

Last year I spent a few hours setting up filters for my gmail accounts. This has saved me from headache and all those emails I don’t want from a store I bought something at, or that website I thought I really loved until they emailed me every other day. Sure, you can go through and delete all those emails, or try and track down the mailer and “unsubscribe”, but I find another method extremely helpful. Quit playing defense and set up a spring cleaning system that will keep that mailbox clean year round.

Gmail filters are very easy to use once you get the hang of it.

1. Click on the check box of the email you don’t want.

2. Under the “More” tab click on “filter messages like these”

3. Click on “create a filter with this search”

4. Click on boxes you want to apply, in my case, “delete it” (I never want to see you again!)

5. You can also apply to other similar emails in your inbox, I usually click on “apply filter to current conversations”

6. Click on “create filter” – Boom. You’re done…with that filter, now go make another!

It’s tedious work, but well worth it.

Check out this video if the steps above weren’t clear enough for you, there are a few more ways you can use these filters. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2Bk1Q9OquU

Spring clean your ministry space!

February 21, 2014 by Chris Parker Leave a Comment

My house has been through a remodel this year along with trying to make a yard out of a previous overgrown jungle. It seems like we are always spring cleaning at our house, but it feels good. It feels good to donate items to the local goodwill, sell some stuff on craigslist for cash or get those six yard bags to the curb from of all the pruning that was needed.

This isn’t only happening at home but at church too. My first “assignment” in ministry as an intern was to spring clean the church shed. Since then, I do my best to get rid of the things that aren’t needed and avoid piling stuff up in the closets. Student ministries around the country are notorious for hoarding. Don’t be a hoarder! If you haven’t used it in a year, throw it away, sell it or donate it to another ministry. The most uninviting thing a guest or family could experience is your mess, clean it up. Perhaps you need a change of scenery in your space, or you are so used to your mess you don’t see it. Ask others for feedback. You will be amazed at how much easier ministry is when you know where things are at and they are easily accessible. So, what does your storage space look like? If you don’t have storage but need some, how can I help you solve that problem or brainstorm?

Now the hard part, go clean!

Can two baptize one?

February 20, 2014 by Chris Parker 1 Comment

Last night was awesome.

As stated in my previous post about Young Life and my desire to partner with them… I had texted a few of their leaders yesterday and one responded by saying he was attending our churches baptism last night. Arriving at church I was introduced by one of my students to the local high school’s YL leader. We chatted for a bit and then discovered that we together were baptizing the same student! It was beautiful picture of the church and campus ministry partnering together to invest in the life of the next generation.

Our students need more than one positive influence and voice in their life. How can you cheer on those other positive voices that are outside your own independent church.

I hope to see this happen many more times in “our” ministry together reaching students for Jesus. What’s holding you back? How can you partner with your local school’s campus ministries. Do you have similar experiences to share?

Partner with a campus ministry.

February 19, 2014 by Chris Parker Leave a Comment

I am super excited about something that happened last week. I sat down with a a former youth worker from my church who also participated on staff with young life. As we chowed down on breakfast tacos I confessed my envy of young life and their fantastic contact work/ministry they do with high school students. I also confessed my frustrations of feeling like I had to compete with this ministry, wanting to see more of these kids plug into the local church, selfishly my local youth group and not just attend a YL club.

After feeling like I revealed my deepest and honest feelings, I then proceeded to share what God had been doing in my heart. I know at the end of the day I will have to give an account to my maker for what I have done with the time given to me, the resources entrusted to me, and the people put in my path. For this season, God has placed almost 2,500 students right down the road not only in the churches path but also young life. We will both stand side by side one day to give an account for the students on that campus. We serve the same God and are both trying to reach students with truth in a relevant way.

So, what is the best thing a local church can do for a campus ministry like young life, FCA, Cru? Find those who are doing the ministry and simply ask the questions, “How can I partner with you?” “How can I serve you?” “What do you need?”

I began this conversation today and already something amazing happened tonight… more to come.