Challenge Accepted!

"There is no such thing as a “perfect” church. Honestly, there will never be a perfect church because the people who occupy the church are imperfect."

This was the beginning of 5 Signs You're Part of an Unhealthy Church. This post really got me thinking about how important evaluation of ministry is. If we are not constantly being challenged in our beliefs we will never grow. I have found that making students explain why they think something really helps them understand why they believe it. If you surround yourself with people who just agree with everything you say, you will never be pushed. Two of the signs of an unhealthy church that the article from ChurchLeaders.com points out are: Leadership can never be challenged; and You are comfortable, never convicted. This tells me that evaluation is extremely important to a healthy church.


In a small town it becomes even more difficult to challenge a leader of the church. In a small town everyone knows everybody, and gossip spreads like wildfire (two stereotypes that I have found to be extremely true). In every church their is the church bully. The few people that opposes everything for arguments sake. If the church is talking about changing the carpet color to green, they would say blue would be better. These type of people can make for annoying long business meetings, but I think the concept is a good one. If we are challenged in what we do, we are forced to have a reason why we are doing something. I was taught very early in ministry that everything I do needs to have a purpose. The ice-breaker games need to have purpose. The silly fear factor games need to have purpose. It is very important that we know why we are doing the things we do in church.


Most people do not like confrontation. I am in the minority when I say, "I love to argue." I think that healthy arguments are important to progress. The key word being healthy. Many times if we become comfortable in a situation we become stuck. The biggest example of this I have seen in church life is in using the word "traditional." Tradition tells me that you do things because that's how they have always been done, and to me that is the most scary thing in a church. If you are doing things because they have been done that way since 1900, you are stuck. I am not saying that traditions are a bad thing, I am however saying that doing things for traditions sake is dangerous.

"A tradition without intelligence is not worth having." T. S. Eliot

I challenge you in ministry to set down from time to time and set goals, and then come back and evaluate those goals. Also read the article 5 Signs You're Part of an Unhealthy Church and share it with your ministry community. Evaluation is an important part of ministry, and must be done!

No Jobs Ahead

I live in a small town that is really in the middle of nowhere. 30 minutes one way is Harrison, AR which is a city of about 12,000 and a handful restaurants and small businesses. 45 minutes the other way is Branson, MO which has restaurants but is more of a tourist town so jobs are not entirely plentiful. Other than that there is a few family run diners and gas stations. I point this out to draw attention to the fact that many families in my area are impoverished, because of lack of jobs. This really affects the way I do ministry in this small town. I want to just share a few observations and ideas I have about how to impact a community where jobs are few and money is tight.

Where I grew up there was a city 5-10 minutes down the road that had an abundance of restaurants and retail shops. I was always taught the importance of work. When I was growing up most people who were 16 or 17 had a job. I took for granted the fact that there were so many jobs available. Now that I live 30 minutes from any real jobs, I see the effects it has on families. In my ministry I have come across the fact that in Lead Hill many families do not just have 1 or 2 children, most have 4 or more. Mixed with the lack of jobs available this makes life in our small town very hard. The parents that have found jobs have to drive to Branson or Harrison or even farther for work. This really changes the family dynamic in the home. The older siblings have to step up and be guardians to the younger ones, and even make sacrifices for their younger siblings. They learn responsibility as a survival skill. This makes my ministry at the church even more difficult. Just like parents do from time to time, those students who constantly take care of siblings want a break. And church should be that place of refuge for them. Somewhere they can relax and forget about their worries for a short period of time and lean on the everlasting arms of Christ.

If there is a positive spin on the poverty of the area, it makes outreach that much simpler. Me and my wife have recently started making our own laundry detergent. I anticipate it to save us a ton of money. We got the recipe from the Dugger's website (here). It is incredibly simple to make and very inexpensive. Basically all you need is: (1) Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda (2) Borax (3) a bar of either Fels-Naptha or Zote laundry bar soap and (4) water. All the ingredients can be found at Wal-Mart. They have even gotten smart and put all three right beside each other on the shelves. The borax and Washing Soda comes in a big box that sell for around $2.50 or $3 a piece and the soap bar is under $1. You can get many batches of detergent out of the boxes. I would imagine it cost somewhere around 20 cents per gallon of detergent. This summer somebody suggested that we put it into bottles and take it around to our community as outreach. I was floored! That was the greatest idea ever! We just used empty water gallon jugs. My wife being highly crafty and creative printed up cute labels for the jugs. We are going to use them as an icebreaker to go around and meet and greet our neighbors.

I would love to hear any other ideas that y'all have for doing ministry to a community that is stricken by poverty. I welcome and appreciate all comments!

Baseball Anyone?

My alma mater, Ouachita Baptist University, is co-sponsoring a Faith and Family night in Little Rock at the Arkansas Travelers minor league baseball game on August 3rd. Check out info about it here. OBU held a twitter contest and I won 2 tickets!! The best part is, American Idol finalist, Colton Dixon is doing a concert after the game! Dixon was very outspoken about his Christian faith during his time on American Idol. He released his debut album, A Messenger, this year. Check out his site here. I love baseball and I love Colton Dixon so I am pumped!

But y'all are not reading this blog for that. While I was getting excited about the game and reminiscing about my old baseball days, I realized that student ministry is kinda like a baseball team. Former Major League baseball player Curt Schilling once said "Baseball is not a sport that one can achieve individually." I think that that equates directly to ministry. You cannot achieve success as a church individually. 

One of the most popular pictures of unity of the church is a body. All the parts of the body working together. The body cannot function without all the different parts. Just as a baseball team is made up of 9 different position players that all together make only 1 team, student ministry is made up of multiple types of students that come together to make 1 group. In baseball each position has a different "baseball stereotype" attached to it. If you will hang with me I want to examine each baseball position and how the "baseball stereotype" helps us understand different students in our ministry. Just like a baseball team all the members must work together to be successful.

WARNING: This article assumes that you know about baseball positions and baseball terms. If you do not understand baseball I suggest you check out this article that breaks down each position. Also the views expressed are my own, I have played baseball since I was four years old and would consider myself a huge baseball fan. Each position breakdown is what I see as a common perception of each position. Okay here we go...

First Base

Stereotype: Power Hitter

Application: First basemen are known more for their batting at the plate than their play in the field. These are the students who are the heavy hitters. They like to swing for the fences. In discussions they try to make the "home run" point. They strike out more often than not, but when they make contact it spurs great discussions! If you can try and set them up it can really ignite the rest of the students.

Second Base

Stereotype: Always ready but not always involved

Application: I always played second base growing up. Because of the position on the field you don't see much action, but since you are in the infield there is always the chance the action will come your way quickly. Second base is more of a thinking position than an action position. These students are ones who are always ready for the action, but don't always see it. In discussions they want to make a good point but never get the chance. These students have skills that are not always needed. Making sure these students are involved is key to a good team.

Short Stop

Stereotype: All-star player

Application: On the baseball diamond the Short Stop is usually the MVP of the team. They play a position that is very active, and they become the face of the team. These are the students that crave the most attention. They like being involved in everything. The biggest thing to keep in mind when dealing with these students is need to be reminded that everyone needs to be involved. The worst thing I have encountered in ministry is asking a student to step back and let another student step up. Getting everyone involved is key to keeping the team healthy. Everybody wants to be an all-star but only a few truly are.

Third Base

Stereotype: Quick reflexes

Application: Third Basemen are very interesting on the baseball field. They play what is called the "Hot Corner." They have to be able to react on a spur of the moment. Sometimes they act like they aren't paying attention but always make the play. These are the students that seem to not be paying attention but when the time comes they show that they were absorbent as a sponge and sharp as a tack. When handling these students keep in mind that people have different ways of learning.

Right and Left Field

Stereotype: Not the most skilled but the most heart.

Application: In Little League the kids who really want to play baseball but have no coordination or skill are usually put in right or left field. They make the best of the situation and have fun. Sometimes these are the kids that just don't understand, but try really hard. A good idea when you have students like these is to get your other students involved in the teaching to them. Sometimes students understand students better than they understand adults.

Center Field

Stereotype: Best communicator on the the field

Application: The center fielder is the leader of the outfield. Of all the players on the field he has the most area to cover. Almost every time the ball is hit, he is moving. Because he has the best vantage point of the field he communicates to the other players what is going on. These students need to be challenged. They are glue that keeps everyone working towards a common goal. They can help solve problems within the team. 

Catcher

Stereotype: The behind the scenes leader

Application: The catcher calls for what pitches he thinks the pitcher needs to throw. In special situations he calls what plays he thinks the defense needs to enact. He is usually a direct line between the catcher and the coach. If you have a "youth council" or group of student leaders, they fall under catcher. They make the calls that they think will give the team the best chance for success. Keeping these students accountable is key to keeping them on the top of their game.

Pitcher

Stereotype: Always involved

Application: You would think the Pitcher would be the most important player on the team but remember there is not one player that is more important than the others. Pitchers are involved in almost every single play of a baseball game. These students are those who are always in every aspect of the ministry. These are the students whose parents are involved in the church. When ministering to these students keep in mind that keeping church fresh for them is important. These are the students that get bored with church. Keep these students interested and they will help keep excitement in the church.

Manager

We don't usually think of the manager when we think about a baseball team, but the manager is in charge of the moral support and everyday in and out of the team. For me this equates to my adult leaders. They are a vital part of my ministry. They pick up where I leave off. They step in and take care of issues I cannot get to. Every team needs managers, just like every ministry needs adult leaders.

I hope this helps re-invent the idea that as followers of Christ and a church that we are one team together. It takes all 9 players to play a game of baseball. If you lack a pitcher the play will never get started. If you don't have an outfield anytime the ball is hit out of the infield you're in serious trouble. All students are unique and together they make up a successful youth group, only if they are working together as a team!


As always all comments and suggestions are welcome and appreciated!

God Bless and PLAY BALL!
Tyler

School Time

One of the greatest parts of being in a small town is the connection that the church has with the school. Our school is a 1A school in Arkansas. The enrollment is right around the minimum of the state. With the school being so small it leans heavily on the community for support and for volunteers to help out. This is a blessing and a curse. Over the last year I had the chance to be active in the school because my wife taught at Lead Hill and I even volunteered to substitute teach. Here are some of my observations on the blessings and the curses and how to use the school to grow a small town youth ministry.

BLESSING

• One of the greatest feelings in the world is having a student at school introduce you to other students as "This is Tyler, he is our youth guy at church. He is cool." I have determined that no matter how much I go and invite students to come on Wednesday nights, I will never have the impact of one student telling another about how much they enjoy coming to church. And since I am only 24 and pretty athletic I am usually seen by the teens as someone who is upbeat and not boring.

• In our small town basketball is a big deal to the community. In a town of around 200 almost everyone can be found at the high school gym. It is place to be on Tues, Thurs, and Friday nights during the season. It is a great place to love on kids and develop relationships with their parents. I have found that in my ministry most of the relationships have started at a basketball game. As anybody will tell you, using the town pride is a great way to connect with students in a small town.

• It is also great to have most of the students centrally located in one school. Since 90% of the students that come to FBC go to Lead Hill School, most of the students know each other. This makes for great fellowship at church. The students come from different groups at school but with it being such a small school they all know each other one way or the other. Having students all together also makes passing along spur of the minute announcements and events easier. There is also no school to school rivalry among the students at church. 

CURSE

• Like I mentioned, basketball is a big deal in our school. Youth ministry across the world battles with sports and extra activities. In a small town it is worse. Most of the high school students are involved in either basketball, cheerleading, or band. All three practice all the time. This dynamic means that church and sports are constantly competing for the students time. This time of the year is by far my least favorite as a minister. Students are gone every Thursday-Saturday for basketball camps. They travel around playing 10+ games a weekend. Not only does that make it impossible to schedule any events for the teens, but it also means that come Sunday morning, the ones who are in church, are absolutely exhausted.  Not to mention the first few weeks of school will include who knows how many week long tournaments that play games on Wednesday nights. Do not get me wrong, I am a huge fan of sports and supporter of activities for the students. Okay, I'm done with my rant (for now). Sports are great but the commitment that the teens are asked to make during basketball season leaves the church on the back burner.

• Our small school is considered by many teachers to be a stepping stone school. Many teachers don't stay at LH much more than a year or two, before moving on to bigger and better schools. The teacher turnover rate is disheartening for the students. Students can't develop a trusting relationship in 1 year. Many of the students come from broken homes, so having the teachers leave is just another person in their life that is abandoning them. It makes it hard for the students to open up and trust. Now I am not against teachers trying to better themselves and provide for their families, it is just another curse of a small town.

• In substituting one of the hardest parts for me is being able to balance my "cool" factor and maintaining classroom control. Because it is not my classroom and they cannot just goof off while I am there, it sometimes puts me in a tough spot when discipline comes into the picture. I don't want to be seen as the super strict sub that is boring and mean, but on the other hand I don't want to be the guy who lets everyone get away with everything. Maintaining a classroom while still seeming fun is a constant struggle.

All in all having a school in a small town helps draw the community together. There is something special about when a town rallies behind a school with support. I cannot be more thankful for a school that allows me to come in and have lunch with the students and really build and solidify relationships that might just make a difference in their life. As with everything I am extremely thankful that God has placed me in a community where everyone including the school is open to God changing lives. 

Thank you for reading and all comments are welcome and appreciated!

Tyler

Introduction

Hi, I am Tyler.
I am the student minister at FBC in Lead Hill, AR. The population of Lead Hill is 273. Living in a small town is a lot different than living in a big city. For one, there is absolutely nothing to do! Life altogether runs differently in rural Arkansas. I set out to take what I see on a daily basis and apply it to my Christian walk. Sometimes this blog will be a place to vent about things I cannot understand, while others it will be keen observations on why small town life is the best.

I have learned that teenagers have an imagination that is limitless, when they use it. For this reason I have set out to share with y'all some of my experiences that I come across, and how they affect me and church life. But first I want to tell y'all a little about myself.

I am 24 and a graduate of Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. I grew up in Judsonia, Arkansas, a town with a population of around 1,800 but very spread out. January of 2013 I married my beautiful wife, Kelli (Caldwell) King. She grew up quite the opposite as I did, she is from the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex. She lived in Roanoke, Texas with a population around 7,000 and a surrounding population in the hundred thousands. Needless to say we come from completely different backgrounds.

I have been the youth minister at FBC Lead Hill since January of 2012. Check out our AREA 13 web page or Facebook Page to check out what our student ministry is all about. My wife is a elementary music teacher and absolutely loves children.

I am excited to start blogging! As this is my first experience with blogging, all comments and suggestions are welcome and appreciated.

I hope to share stories and stuff that helps people who live in small town America grow in faith and understand the mindset of life in a small town. I also hope to review books and movies that are helpful in my ministry to small town kids.

Thanks for reading and I hope you will come back!!
Tyler