Drew Boswell

a place for us to share ideas, talk about life, and learn together.

Six Month Review — How Are We Doing?

I just passed six months as the new Children’s and Family Pastor at First Baptist Church Valdosta. Just an aside — How long will I be the “new” Pastor of Children and Families? I think you have to be at FBCV like ten years before they throw you a banquet, so six months may get me a high-five. The first half of the first year was filled with figuring out how “things work,” where things are located, who I need to talk to deal with various “issues,” and settling into exactly what my job/ministry entails. There are always what is expected and once you begin in a new place, there are many unexpected job responsibilities once you get there. I can honestly say that the church has been a place of acceptance and regular encouragement. With only half the year under my belt, we still have some pretty big events coming up like VBS, a family mission trip, Centri-fuge, Children’s Retreat, Miss Patty Cake, (yes I did say, Miss Patty Cake!) etc. But if these events were like our Fall Festival and Christmas season then it will be spectacular. No worries.

Coming from a smaller church to FBCV I am reminded that human nature is the same wherever you go. For example, a blurb in the bulletin like “help is needed in (enter whatever ministry need)” gets little, if any response. A human conversation and “face time” (no, not the iPhone kind) is required in order to make projects move forward. Personal interaction and spending time with people is still very important (even in the day of Twitter and Facebook.) Also, people are busy no matter what the size of the church. So when we ask them to give up their time to focus on an event, teach a class, or serve in some way, it should be apart of a bigger plan where we are making families stronger and leading children toward Christ.

We all need to be reminded of the reason why we do what we do. Why is Church important? Why should we attend regularly? Why is Children’s Ministry important? Why can’t Drew do everything, isn’t that what we pay him for? (luckily, I have not had to deal with the last one). But is still begs the question of what staff should do and what the expectations of the congregation should be.

I have enjoyed eating dinner with my family and various others on Wednesday evenings, and I have relished seeing my children learning about music and singing to the Lord. There are many other blessings the Lord has poured out upon us in our short “tenture” at FBC, and I know that there are many more to come.

So in light of what I have experienced so far and reaching toward an awesome “second half” of the year I sit and prayerfully consider the rest of the year. The following are a few thoughts and ministry directions so you can pray for me and our ministry (and perhaps be the most awesome person on the planet by volunteering to do more) —

* I need to visit more families (so call me and invite me over), and kids at their school (so you may be getting a letter asking for your “ok.”).

* There needs to be a parent planning team (to chart out the year and help with various projects). I need a group of people who say, “How can we help?,” and “have you thought about (enter fantastic idea) and I will help put this together!” I am not really looking for people who readily identify problems but have no desire to help solve them. Having said that, I do welcome all loving, gentle, and well thought out constructive criticisms, just solve them first.

* We need to begin to focus on “tweeners” (5th and 6th Graders) — once we have a Youth Pastor in place I will ask for him to make it an initial top priority. The puppet ministry gig is still open — just saying.

* I need someone to help with weekly administrative tasks so I can focus on visiting families, elementary schools, hospitals, etc., and other “pastoral” duties. Note: see earlier note about broadcast requests not working — so I’m looking in your general direction right now.

* I need to put some things in writing (like a mission statement, a ministry manual, a yearly calendar, etc.), and make sure everyone on our team, and all parents know what it is and why we are doing ministry the way we are. What are trying to accomplish? It doesn’t help you or your family if it’s all in my head.

* How can we be more outward focused in our children’s ministry? How can we regularly reach out to new families? We need a plan.

* Does anyone want to get a CDL in my place?

Well, just a few ideas that I thought of in-between sips of a grande vanilla latte at Starbucks.  Thoughts?

 

 

Insights From A Foreign Mission Trip

The following are some thoughts that I noted down as I was on a mission trip to Guatemala. They are not in order of significance, only as they came to mind.
  1. Prayer and spiritual preparation should be done before you depart. God does not want to do a great work of holiness in your life; He is sending you to preach to the nations.
  2. Weigh your bags before you go – there is nothing worse (ok, that’s an exaggeration) than getting to the airport and having to pay extra, or move stuff in between suitcases in front of everyone. But it is a huge distraction.
  3. Have a team meeting before you go – people are comforted by information – even if you have to change the plan, gentle changes are more preferable than drastic snatches in direction. Let people know what you know.
  4. Take a jacket – there is nothing worse (ok, that’s another exaggeration) than being cold on the six hour trip to the airport, then cold at the airport, then on the plane, etc. when you know you have a jacket in your suitcase and it is just out of reach.
  5. To have friends, you have to be a friend. To be apart of a team that is fun and that has personality, you have to show some desire to know team member’s names, share your own stories (preferably funny), and have a desirable personality.
  6. Wherever you are, be there and be there with all your heart. Don’t look backward or forward to anything, be in the moment for the whole trip. God brought you here for that moment. If you are “any where else” you are going to miss it.
  7. Be a servant and the flexible. In the field things change constantly. Part of submitting is “going with the flow” even when things change or go off the itinerary.  When God moves, don’t try to control it, just follow.
  8. Fellowship is special on the mission field – friendships are formed quickly and last forever.
  9. You will get tired and it is ok to rest. In fact, you should build time into your schedule for it.
  10. The way to open the heart for the gospel is to serve – This was the example that Christ showed us. Jesus was concerned for them as a people, and as persons not numbers of “converts” to brag about at a “report session.” If you love them first, they will listen to what you have to say. Don’t do one at the expense of the other.
  11. Americans have too much stuff – it is possible to be happy with very little. It is just wrong for us to have so much and not to do something with it to bless the nations. We have shows like “Hoarders” while the nations go blind because of malnutrition. Their bellies swell from parasites, and their homes are little more than dirt and cardboard. Don’t forget what you have seen when you go back home.
  12. Don’t “preach” at those who haven’t been or didn’t see what you saw. It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict and send, it’s your job to testify to what you have seen and heard.
Just some thoughts.

 

 

Father Daughter Dance 2012

Kimberly and H-G putting on lipstick

Last night was the Valdosta Father Daughter Dance hosted by First Presbyterian Church. Kimberly made the evening even more special by getting H-G’s nails and hair done, along with matching boutonniere and corsage.  Friends from church met at Austin’s steakhouse and had dinner together. From there we traveled to the local convention center where we met a 1,000 plus crowd. Girls were dressed in their favorite new dress and dads were sporting their ill fitting suits and coordinating ties. Nails were done, and hair was lifted high.  The majority of dads there didn’t know what to do, so they stood in circles and watched their daughters dance in front of them. Some nervously punched on their iPhones. Some volunteered to get them something to drink every five minutes, and some found a space along the wall to sit.

There was one slow song for dad’s to dance with their daughters, so the majority of the songs were fast, and the focus was fun not sappy sentimentality. On a trip to the bathroom we had to run back because Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” was playing. H-G and I danced to many songs I had never heard of, much less know the dance moves (or the words). So I just pretended I knew what was going on, and H-G is not old enough yet to know the difference. Yes, we did the chicken dance and the Hokey Pokey (I think there is a book out there somewhere that mandates that these two songs be played  at dances.) Even at seven years of age, I am already beginning to try and put the brakes on her growing up — I was not crazy about the party dress, the make-up, the lip stick, the jewelry, and the big hair.

I was crushed this year at Christmas when all the Barbie stuff went back to the store for a refund. Barbie was so “last year.” My little girl is now past Barbie (sigh). But as much as dad’s resist and don’t want their little girls to grow up, they will. It’s like trying to hold back the tide. So, when opportunities arise, and God throws you a softball, you have to hit it out of the park.

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Here’s Five Reasons to Have a Father Daughter Special Night; 

1. Daughters need to hear their fathers say, “You are beautiful.” This dance provided an opportunity for H-G to dress up for me as her date, way before (and I mean way before) she dresses up for some young man. For years I get to tell her how wonderful and beautiful she is before anyone else does. She gets to hear the words of someone who truly loves her and speaks the truth to her, instead of the words from a school aged crush. When H-G had her hair done she didn’t smile when it was being done, and she didn’t smile the whole way home. When Kimberly asked her what was wrong, she said, “will daddy laugh at me?” Daughters need to hear that they are beautiful, and we get to tell them. When she got home from the hair stylist I said, “wow you are beautiful!” and the smile returned.

2. Daughters want to spend time with their dads (alone). Kimberly and I have four kids, and H-G had specifically asked me to spend some time together, “just us” she said. I got to talk to and spend some undivided time with H-G. But I recognize that this can not happen just one night a year — it has to be planned out and the time guarded closely. I will only get so many of these dances, vacations, walks, bike rides, etc. so I must treasure each one.

3. Daughters need to see their dads enjoying being with them. We had a lot of fun dancing and learning “moves” together. It is ok for dad to relax, dance, and have fun — and it means so much more to a child when they can tell you are having fun with them. We were both nervous at the dance because neither of us knew what to expect. And we both were able to relax as we had some fun, danced with each other, and laughed. One time during our dancing she was spinning and her heavily sprayed hair got caught on the buttons on the sleeve of my jacket. We both laughed as we worked to untangle it.

4. Dad’s need to hear their daughter’s say, “I love you dad.” Nothing warms a man’s heart more than when his beautiful little princess holds his hand and tells him that she loves him. This is what makes burly extreme fighter mountain men play tea party and talk in funny voices with stuffed animals.

5. Dad’s need to have “a win” from time to time. Men by nature want to accomplish something, climb a mountain, run a marathon, or make a big sale. Last night was “a win” for many dads.  There are so many times when we let our kids down, forget stuff, or have to punish them for undesirable behavior. So it’s great to know that for one evening you did a great job at just being dad. We naturally doubt ourselves, how we are doing in our relationships with our kids, and especially our daughters — so last night was a great way to feel great as a dad knowing that we did the right thing and that our daughters know that we love them.

We ended our evening with a stop by the local ice cream store and we were home by 9pm. I am so blessed to have such a wonderful daughter and thankful for an opportunity to share a special evening with her.

pinning on dad's boutonniere

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


"For by grace you have been saved through faith." Ephesians 2:8

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