8 Questions Answered

1. Jon said... What is one book you think every youth worker should read?
   The Bible. Seriously. I wonder if we're all spending a little too much time reading what everyone else is saying the Bible says, and not enough time reading it for ourselves. I'm guilty.
   
   
2. Phil Strahm said...The discipleship, fellowship, worship, and missions aspects of NMC's youth are fairly obvious on your blogs.Can you shine some more light on evangelism aspects of your ministry as it pertains to your students reaching out to other local students?
   Where we have specific programs that hit the aspects mentioned above (Small Groups for Fellowship, IMPACT for missions, etc.) we have discovered that evangelism aspect does not fit best in a "program". It is almost an all-encompassing emphasis that finds its way into everything we do. Here's a few examples...
   GO Trips: The GO Trip itself has a major emphasis on personal evangelism training... not The Way of the Master/ Street Evangelism stuff, but lifestyle evangelism. Every participant identifies 1-3 lost or spiritually struggling friends, and writes a letter home to them while at the trip. They are encouraged not to be "preachy" in that letter, but instead use it as a launching point to go home and share Christ in both words and actions with the friend.
   Prayer Groups: We challenge and help students as they form prayer groups at their schools. Several of those prayer groups will pray for specific individuals who don't know Christ.
   Wednesday Night: We seek to plan Wednesday Night Gatherings in a way that can allow students to bring their friends into a "safe" environment for "dangerous things to happen.
   Passion/ Platforms/ People: We're constantly infusing into our teachings the need for students to identify these 3 things in their life as opportunities to share Christ. It's especially pushed toward every day life.
   
   
3. Rob said...Who's going to win a championship next out of your beloved teams: Notre Dame football, the Indianapolis Colts, or the Cubbies?
   Let's clear something up first... there are only 2 beloved teams mentioned above; the Colts and the Cubbies. I am a nominal ND fan at best. But, between the 3, I'll take the Cubs (hopeless optimist).
   
   
4. Carrie said...Have You and Janelle thought of adopting again?
   Yes. Praying and taking steps. Trusting His leading.
   
   
5. Anonymous said...I don't have a relationship with my family, so they think I have been a Christian for a long time; however, I didn't make that decision until this past year. Anytime I do something wrong they tell me that if I am going to talk the talk I better start walking the walk. It hurts more than anything because they don't know I am new to devoting my life to Christ, but I love every second of it and trust in that experience. My point is, my family does not live for Christ and are judging me in my walk. How do I respond to their judgment?
   I feel a little like "Dear Abby" on this one. I have no perfect answer to this. I'd recommend some focused time spent in Matthew 5-7. Tons of insight on facing opposition, shining light, and responding to criticism. I also once heard someone say, "An unbelieving world may be looking more for people who repent well then they perfect people."
   
   
6. Ken said...Who was your favorite youth pastor growing up?
   Well Ken, so weird you ask this question. I had a youth pastor named Ken Weeks who was the coolest (and geekiest at the same time) youth pastor a high school guy (and especially a churched-out, over-religious, and missing out on a relationship with Christ) could ask for. In all seriousness, I wouldn't have gone to Bethel College had it not been for a Sunday Night conversation with my youth pastor while playing Super Mario Kart.
   
   
7. Anonymous said...How does asking "what if" questions help your group to grow spiritually?
   &
8. Anonymous said...Based on texts such as Philipians 1:10, Galatians 2:20, and John 3:30 someone has defined the true church as:"Christ PLUS Peter MINUS Peter EQUALS the church" How do you see this statement if light of the "Dreamer Lab" movement led by Erwin McManus? Are we helping people to identify themselves with the death of Christ (so they can live newness of life) by instigating them to be dreamers?
   Anonymous Questioner 7 & 8, I'm thinking you are the same who asked these questions as they are much alike, and I wish you would identify yourself considering the tone of critique the questions seem to be taking, but I'll move forward.
   I would look at the "Dreamer Lab" (never heard that label before) as completely acceptable and actually beneficial when keeping in mind those scriptures mentioned above. I'm working under the mindset that we are in the process of dreaming and asking "What if" in a manner that ushers in God-given dreams, burdens, and passions.
   As followers of Christ, I believe what the scriptures say in that the Spirit of Christ lives in us (I Cor 3;16; Col 1:27) to be true. I also believe that Joel 2:28 is true today. If young men will dream dreams and see visions, why would we not create an environment to see that happen?
   How does asking "What if" help the group grow spiritually? I'm not sure spiritual growth is the goal, I would say spiritual activism is the goal... yet I believe in the process students grow...
   - in their ability to discern hearing God's voice over their own or the enemies (Philippians 1:10).
   -as they get past themselves and dive into something bigger than themselves.
   - in understanding that God has a plan to use them for HIS glory.
   -about 100 other ways.
   Are we helping people identify themselves with the death of Christ as we challenge them to dream? I think so. If the dreams are from God, they will push students to live beyond themselves, and ultimately help them grasp the reality that the greatest potential is when they are surrendered over to Christ.
   
   My final thought... if dreaming is the only aspect of a ministry, that would be a huge problem. At the same time, if getting people identify themselves to with the death of Christ is the only (and ultimate) goal, I would say we are significantly selling short the message of the Gospel.
   

10 Questions

Haven't done this for a while. Whether you're reading this at www.derryprenkert.com or on Facebook; leave a comment asking a question, any question you want me to answer.

Once I get 10 question (or however many I have if it is just taking a long time), I'll answer.
One Question per comment.
One comment per person.

Ask away...

Friday 5: Responses to Questions

5 Questions asked yesterday... Here are my responses:

1. Want to play HORSE sometime?(Thought I'd start you out with an easy one)

First of all Dan, thanks for the easy one, they definitely got tougher. I'm in. Maybe we take a lunch sometime and duke it out in the old Aux Gym.

2. Are family devotions (Bible reading & prayer) important enough that the wife/mother should take the lead in doing them if the Christian father does not lead the family in this?

I'm trying to keep responses when doing this brief. This is a tough one to keep brief because there are multiple layers to look at in this question.

A few thoughts on several of those layers...

Definition of Family Devotions... Is it just bible reading & prayer, or is there more implied (frequency, form, etc) in the term "Family Devotions"? Although valuable, I do not see a biblical mandate for the family to sit down daily at the kitchen table/in the family room, and open the Bible, read, pray, etc. Spiritual family dynamics (including Bible reading & prayer) can happen both intentionally and unintentionally in the car, working on the car, in the yard, at a ball game, eating dinner, at bedtime,

Taking lead... Questions about sex roles; Does it really matter who takes lead? How does Ephesians 5:22-33 (look at question 5).

Marriage dynamics... To me, the most significant (and base) issue to address in this question is the discussion, attitudes, and motives leading into whatever is decided in this situation. I don't think this is a "you" or "me" discussion. If both father and mother are Christians, I think it's a "we" discussion.

Bottom line, I don't feel I can give a clear cut answer to this one. Sorry.

3. What responsibility does a youth pastor (or director of student ministries, or whatever guys like you are called) in the Missionary Church have to teach and train students in the theological and historical distinctives (what makes us unique; why we're the Nappanee "Missionary" Church and not something else; who are we?) of the denomination?

Once again, seeking to be brief on this is tough. I think that a youth pastor has a responsibility to do so. I think a key question is more in the whens, hows and to what levels?
At what age? Should we walk a 5th grader through the historical distinctives of the anabaptist movemnt? Should a 10th grader read the constitution of the Missionary Church? Should we hand out our doctrinal papers on "The Assurance of the Believer" on Wednesday Nights to High School students? (please note hyperbole)

A few thoughts...

• My (our) primary responsibility is first and foremost to seek and advance the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), or the Church (big C).
• My (our) responsibility to denominational lines is secondary, and I would even go so far as to say honorary in it's nature (oh, I just stepped in a big pile of something there). We seek to honor and uphold the historical and theological distinctives in all programming. At the same time, we are rare to stop and literally say, "this is a key point of being a part of the Missionary Church."

At the same time, I regularly will do this in more mentoring situations or discipling circles. A few examples.

• Talking War. Most often when this conversation takes place with 16-18 year old guys. I will regularly bring up the Missionary Church's historical stance of pacifism that took a strange twist during World War II.
  
• Believer's Baptism. I regularly will be in discussion with a student who comes out of a background where infant or childhood baptism took place. I'm able to explain what a significant role "re-baptism" has played in Missionary Church History.
  
• Charasmatic Wack jobs. Speaking in Tongues, healings, etc. When students run into a more supernatural world than their traditional, fundamental upbringing has allowed them to be exposed to, I love to explain to them how the supernatural work and gifting of the Holy Spirit is one of the main reasons (along with 4 part harmony, and translation from German to English) our denomination is who it is and where it is.
• Driving down CR 11. At various times, I will be driving toward Dunlap or Elkhart, with friends or students and we come up to the intersection at CR 38 and CR 11 where two churches sit (neither a Missionary Church). I love to tell them about how much of the history of the Missionary Church can be traced back to that very intersection, and another church (this one a Missioanry chruch) that is about 2 1/2 miles away from there. I tell them about Daniel Brenneman, and the rocky point of church splits that took place in the early 20th Century.

A couple on the larger scale:

• Filling of the Spirit/Sanctification/ Baptism by Fire. Whatever you call it. We regularly preach it, push it, pray with students to receive it (continually receive it).
• "Missionary". It's the denomination name we chose, and a significant cornerstone of her focus. I believe the body I am involved with lives, breathes, teaches and involves itself significantly in the act of "missions" work locally, regionally, and globally.
  

4. What is the most impactful book for your ministry that you've ever read? (I mean, what book has made the greatest impact on your ministry....good thing I'm not a writer...sheesh...)

Purpose Driven Youth Ministry by Doug Fields gave me a great programmatic framework for youth ministry.
Red Moon Rising by Pete Grieg was a book that I read and truly believe God spoke to me directly about steps for our youth ministry to take in 2007.

5. What's your feeling about the assumption regarding sex roles that underlies the second question?
Thanks to my brothers (source of questions 3 & 5) for continuing to play the role they did so well while growing up... couldn't just ask me if I'd prefer to watch Football over playing Softball, or if thought the Cubs could win the World Series. (geesh!)
I utterly despise the way I have seen Ephesians 5:22-33 and other passages of scripture concerning sex roles misinterpreted in a variety of manners. Without going into a historical, exegetical, and contextual critique of this passage and others, I will simply state...

• I believe there is a call for men (husband/father) to take a spiritual lead in their house. I do not see that as negating women (wife/mother) from taking a lead.
• I believe there are fundamental physical, emotional, and spiritual differences in how God created woman and man.
• I believe there are roles that a man can often play better than a woman, and the reverse is just as true.
• I can't think of a leadership role where I would be uncomfortable with a female.
• I'd be fine having a female as my senior pastor.
• I see no problem with a wife/mom taking lead in "family devotions", nor do I see that as a failure of a husband/dad to fulfill his "Christian Role."

There you go.
Thanks, Dan for asking me to play HORSE.

5 Questions/ 5 Answers

QUESTION #1: Its the end of the world. Zombies have overrun the Earth. You can take ten real life individuals to protect you, Janelle, and Katylynn. Who do you pick?
Answer: Real life makes this tough, I can think of many fictional characters. I'll stick to people who are currently alive as well.

1. Dog the Bounty Hunter
2. Man v. Wild dude (whatever his name is)
3. The U.S. army's best sniper (whoever that is)
4. The Israeli army's best sniper (whoever that is)
5. The World's best Halo player
6. The Wold's second best Halo player (gives me a good surrounding of shooters)
   
7. Albert Pujols (He can swing a bat real hard)
8. Wil Farrel (comic relief... you gotta laugh when Zombie's are around)
9. Benny Hinn (Maybe he could heal them)
10. Ray Lewis (He's just one tough dude)

Question #2 - What's the hardest lesson you've had to learn in ministry?
Answer - (still learning) There will be critics, naysayers, and enemies... The more you do right, the more there will likely be who come out against you. Who I am here to please though?

Question #3 - what's the funniest thing you've ever seen a student do in your youth ministry days? yes, you must choose ONE moment.
Answer - On a bus in the middle of Lima, Peru (2005). Our IMPACT team had just returned from the jungle area, and Austin Gerber was singing a song from the Little Mermaid at the top of his lungs to Kory Lantz. He messed up the lyrics. I lost it... couldn't stop laughing for about 5 minutes. Any time I try to retell the story, it's not funny. But in the moment, HI-LAR-EE-US!

Question #4 - In your humble opinion did Sammy Sosa use steriods?
Answer - Totally opinion. As I watched him pretend like he couldn't understand English at that congressional hearing, I lost a lot of hope that he was a clean player. He clearly corked his bat later in his career. No idea if he was doing that during The legendary '98 season. Short answer, I think he did.

Question #5 - Do you think you will adopt again?
Answer - We haven't given up hope or belief that we will still have a biological child some day. At the same time, we've learned to trust God for the guidance. We would love to adopt again, possibly international.

Thanks for asking!

Questions

The other two times I did this, it was called 10 questions. Once I got 10 questions in the comment section, I answered. This time around, you ask 'em, and I'll take whatever is there (3, 6, 10, 50) Wednesday morning and give my response.

Just a couple rules to be observed:
1. One question per comment.
2. One comment per reader.

10 Questions - Answers

When it gets down to it, we're really looking at 12 questions...

1. Who is your favorite 7-year old nephew and why? (submitted by a certain 7-year old nephew)
Well, it's a close race, but I'm going to have to go with my 7-year old nephew Calvin. He's my favorite because he likes Chocolate Ice Cream (like I do), he likes Katylynn (like I do), and he really enjoys going to my parents cabin in Michigan (like I do).

2. What's the number 1 thing someone in a leadership role (of anything, not just in the church world) needs to have? (from Bill Sines)

I'd love to pick one, but I'm convinced there's two that go hand in hand... Vision and Courage. People will come behind a vision. The leaders will need to have the courage to act on, push people toward, and defend that vision.

3. If you were to make a movie about your life story and you could a pick celebrity to act your part, who would you pick and why?
Kid me - Those Zack and Cody kids.
Teen me - Zac Efron
Current me - Mark Paul Gosselaar
Why, don't know really, their the first that popped into my head that they could possibly make look like me (Efron would need to get punched in the face a few times).

4. would you like to do lunch sometime? (from Chunk)
Give me a call.

5. How do you stay (ministry speaking) grounded and focused in a way to keep kids challenged when they have so many distractions in their life? (from Brian)
It's all about relationship. My ultimate goal is to make sure students are connected in healthy peer and adult relationships that will give them Kingdom perspective, and challenge them to live a life connected to the significant.
Personally, I struggle with focus in the midst of so many distractions, so I try my best to invite students into my journey, so they can see that their not alone in that battle, and hopefully catch some of the ways I'm seeking to live this out.

6.How do you communicate to them their significance in Christs ministry? (also from Brian)
We really underestimate two principles when it comes to this one...
First, it's caught more than taught. They need to hear it, but they also need to see and experience it.
Second, walk with them. They need someone to help guide them as they experience it.

7. What is your quest? (from Robby)
There are many. My current quest is to figure out what do with my hair next... keep it short, or grow it out through the winter.

8. If you could choose to have a picnic with any three people from all of history, who would you pick and what would you eat? why? (from Audrey)
Thinking quick here, so I'm not sure these would be the guaranteed three.
Noah - I want to know what in the world those Nephilim were, and the whole ark building process, the flood itself, and animal care in the ark intrigues me.
Teenage Jesus - I'm so intrigued with what went on between the temple and the desert.
Bono - Big fan. Would love to see how he'd interact with the other two. I'd ask him for a pair of sunglasses.
We'd eat manna because I've always wondered what it was, and what it tastes like.

9. What is one thing you wish you could do in student ministry you haven't done yet? (from)
Take a team of High School students across the ocean. India or Africa. I also think I would enjoy speak at a youth conference sometime.

10. Basketball, Football, or Baseball?
Watching live, Baseball or basketball. On TV, football.

11. Monopoly, Scrabble, or Chess? (from bill)
Scrabble. I like words. I stink at chess.

12. What would be the one that would make you stop playing fantasy football/baseball? (from Chris)
I'll give you to two. My wife or daughter asking me to, or if I feel it is hindering my life/ministry.

10 Questions

Still waiting on 2 more before I answer. Leave them here.

10 Questions

Let's do it again. It was fun the first time around.
You post a question in the comment section. Once I receive 10 questions, I answer them.
Once again, link love to Corey Mann for this idea.

More than 10 Questions

I have 11 responses, and one that just decided to abuse the guidelines. But, here we go...

1. Do you think you will be a youth pastor all your life?
In 1995 when God clearly called me into ministry, I had a specific burden to work with teens. Even more specifically that burden was for teens growing up in the church and around religion.
Ask me that question in 1995 and my answer would be "Absolutely". Ask me in 2002, and I would have said, "I don't know if I want to be a pastor anymore."
But you've asked me now. I have no intentions to do anything different right now or in the future. I honestly believe that God does not have a lead or senior pastor role in my future. I believe my occupational ministry life will always have a close connection to teenagers.

2. What career would you been in if you weren't a paid youth pastor?
I originally went to Bethel with an English major. I was looking to go into some kind of writing (free lance journalism, novelist, reporter). I'd probably be doing that, or working with Jack Bauer for the CTU until he had to kill me in order to stop a looming terrorist threat. One or the other.

3. If you were in a band, what instrument would you play?
Little known Derry fact. I was in a band in High School. "Cellophane Dream" covered Greenday, Ugly Kid Joe, Nirvana, and Collective Soul. We had 3 songs we wrote and then 2 of us graduated and the others went their separate ways. I was lead singer.
If I were in a band now, I'd go for lead guitar with the ability to add witty sidenotes and push political/social/spiritual propoganda from the second mic.

4. What is your favorite movie quote and why?
"Earn This."
Said by Tom Hanks in Saving Private Ryan. It's the Captain's (Hanks) dying words to Private Ryan (Matt Damon) after they have held off the enemy from the bridge and Ryan is going to head home.
It's a powerful picture of how we should view grace. Ryan receives a free ticket home, but others had to die so it could happen. The Captain's words are a call to live a life that is worthy of what he had already received.

5. From the students you get close to, can you tell which ones are going to stay on the "right" path and which ones are going to crash? How accurate have you been in your gut level predictions about this?
Wow, this is a great one. Maybe sometime I'll expound on this, but for now, yes I've seen some key habits, attitudes, and characteristics that tell me a student is going to stay on the "right" path. My gut level has probably been more right than wrong, but due to the continual process of knowing and growing in Christ, I refuse to write off anyone, and I have been heartbroken by some shocking crash and burns.

6. Question: which bear is best?
Nice Office reference. But I refuse to answer this question. I'm a Colts fan.

7. If you were an animal, what kind of animal would you be and why?
Some sort of Migratory bird that isn't hunted. I want to fly. I would be able to see a lot of the world.

8. This counts as one, so you really end up having to answer 20 questions. Tricky, huh? - uncalled for
Cubs or Santa Claus? Santa Clause... he'll give me what I want if I'm good. Looks like the Cubs are never going to give me what I want.
Coke or Pepsi? Coke
Beach or Mountains? Beach
Office or Lost? Lost
Crowder or Tomlin? Crowder in concert. Tomlin on my I-pod.
Poppycock or Phooey? Poppycock every time!
NFL or MLB? NFL
Summer or Winter? Summer
Crushed Ice or Ice Cubes? Cubes... but I really like the little pellets that the Nappanee Dairy Queen has.
Planes or Trains? Planes

9. If you could have a walk-on role in a movie or a tv episode...which one?
LOST. Multiple reasons. First, I get to go to Hawaii. Second, maybe I'd get an inside scoop on where it's all heading. Third, if it's a walk-on role, the odds are pretty high I'd get killed off... that would be kind of cool to say, "I got killed off of LOST."

10. If you could only make a difference in one place in the world outside of the USA where would you go? What would you do?
If I had to choose just one place, Northeast India. I would want to connect with those in that area who are seeking to bring light into their dark region and the three neighboring countries that are full of darkness as well. I would want to play the role of getting their story to those who can help support in prayer and resourcing for physical needs. I would also look to help with some sort of discipleship move specifically geared to those 12-25 years old.

11. If you were the general manager of the Colts and had to trade away Peyton Manning and Marvin Harrison, what two current NFL players would you want in return? (they don't have to be from the same team)
Jay Cutler for QB. Great career ahead of him. He's got a gun and seems to be a smart player. WR is tough. The best seem to have so much personal drama with them. I'd have to go with Larry Fitzgerald. He's seems level-headed. With Gonzalez and Wayne as speedy guys, I'd love a big dude who can take one in the middle or go up for the jump ball in the end zone.

Thanks for playing all!

10 Questions

Corey often does this on his blog. I like it, so I'll try it here (Corey, imitation is the greatest form of flattery)
Post a question in the comment section. Once I have 10 questions, I'll answer them.