Celebrating Baccalaureate

I started chairing Baccalaureate in 1998 and I did my first service in 1999. I was appointed by the then president of the Pearland Ministerial Alliance. My first service was wonderful and after the service, no one wanted to go home. People stood in the commons and visited. The Graduates formed a huge "99" and the parents ran to the second floor to take pictures of it.

The next year (2000), I decided that we needed a reception – since people wanted to stand around and visit. Vicki Frame, a friend advised me on how this should happen. Provide the table clothes and use plastic so that they all match. Vicki took charge of the reception that year and she deserves all the credit for it. She did a great job

For 2001, someone asked me what my idea of a perfect Baccalaureate was and I said a reception and giving a gift to the graduates. We handed a graduation key fob to the graduates. It was our first year to have Dave Edwards speak and he did a wonderful job for many graduates and their siblings. I know this because when I play a video of the service or when I showed seniors his picture, many would say – he spoke at my brother's (or sister's) Baccalaureate – he's hilarious!

In 2002, we ask a local graphic and layout artist to design a logo for Baccalaureate. By this time, we realized that we needed a catch phrase to describe Baccalaureate. We came up with "The blessing of the graduates." John Gilmore was wonderful to work with and a blessing to Baccalaureate.

In 2003, we started passing out a t-shirts to the graduates as a gift for attending the service. John Gilmore also laid out our t-shirts and the programs.

2004 to 2005 were years of small changes and constant turmoil with the Pearland Ministerial Alliance. I felt a kinship and a responsibility to the PMA and they always seem to feel like I was acting independent of them. I felt they were family and they seem to regard me as an untrustworthy outsider. The attendance at their meeting was irregular and there were no minutes, so no one (but me) could keep up with the decisions regarding Baccalaureate.

In 2006, our relationship with the school radically changed. We received a list of "suggestions" from administration, including that the service be shortened to 1 hour or less. We were no longer allowed to pass out Baccalaureate information on Campus. We started anticipating our need for 2 services Pearland and Dawson in 2010. I was greeted with high fives at the end of the 2006 service – I had come in at 59 minutes and 23 seconds. I didn't know the service was being timed!

In 2008, Warrick Baker was our first local speaker. The PMA disbanded in November 2008, leaving me and Baccalaureate without an accountability group. I decided that Baccalaureate was important to continue. The Committee supported this decision.

Tom Allen was our speaker in 2009. Tom asked me why I was continuing Baccalaureate. I told him I figured I could either continue it or drop it. He looked at me and said: It's good that you are continuing it. PISD would never let it start again. Tom was a former school board member.

The lost of the PMA affected Baccalaureate deeply. There was no longer a central reporting to a group or time. The progress as far as the churches and attendance was dimensioning. It was difficult to get the word out. I continue to operate as I was accountable to the PMA and considered their input when we made decisions.

January 2010, I was bombarded by youth pastors who felt like I was excluding them from Baccalaureate! I felt like I was begging people to participate – what a strange turn of events. By February, their program, their speaker were all decided. The only thing that we didn't go with was t-shirts for the service - we stayed with cap & gown. By March, the youth pastors were ready to be done with Mike, Vicki and II – the experienced committee members. I had always worked in cooperation for Baccalaureate, but some of the team was now down right hostile. By the day of the services in May, I think they saw that Mike, Vicki and I brought something valuable to the table. I don't think any of them want to take charge of the reception, setting up the school or picking up the t-shirts or pass them out.

During December 2010, I sat down with a group of pastors, youth pastors and several others. The bottom line was the pastors wanted Baccalaureate back and they wanted the chief hostile youth pastor to be in charge of it. He graciously let me know that the youth pastors were eager for me to serve them and I was welcome to be involved. . .

This chapter in my life – and it was a huge chapter is now closed. I still think 13 Baccalaureates is worth celebrating.

Another Blessing: A great student leadership team!

One of God's other blessings at Pearland Junior High East: Their student leadership team!

This group of students is amazing. First of all, they handle all the announcements at the club like clockwork. The Connection Club does the food drive, Pennies for Patients and a tab drive for the Ronald McDonald House. Each student grabs the visual reminder for their announcement and just does it.

I remember last year, when, if you didn't prompt them, there were lots of big silent pauses. Now, they just breeze through them, no prompts necessary!

One girl has taken on the job of introducing the speaker. She goes up and says hello, ask him what church he is from and makes other small talk.

It's one thing to talk about the grace and ease they have with making announcements. That is a sign of growth, maturity and developing leadership skills.

There are 5 students on the leadership team: 2 boys, 3 girls or 2 7th graders and 3 8th graders.

But it is the other issues that I see them dealing with and their push to continue what they are doing is what I find really moving.

One issue: The 7th grade boy brings in his 8th Grade handbook and wants to know why the Connection Club is not listed in the list of clubs.

I watch this group take ownership. And offense. They talk about the problem. They look at me and the sponsor and you can tell, they would like us to fix this. We put it back on their shoulders. "Who will ask the principal?"

For several weeks, this comes up. What should be said? Who should say it? Who will go and ask? Suggestions. Discussion. Tentative plan. The next week: repeat.

But they are wrestling with this issue. One girl said she said something to the principal. The group realized they need to follow up and starts discussing who should say what.

And Last year, they couldn't make announcements!

The other thing I saw this morning was this desire to continue their club, their leadership.

This group will all go to Pearland High School. The 8th graders in Fall 2010, the 7th graders in fall 2011. So, they are so excited that there is a club at PHS. This morning, they are discussing how they can join the club at PHS. A 7th Grade girl says: I have this idea: How about we continue the Connection Club at the High School?

Much discussion. I let them know, I will be happy to help them at the High School - if that is what they want to do, but there is a club there - iPray, but they are all or mostly Seniors.

There is also discussion on See you at the Pole, See you at the Pole Training. One girl tells how she went to the Saw you at the Pole and it was so awesome. (and I was wondering if I needed to continue that . . . )

I hear a desire to continue this ongoing ministry. I hear them looking to the future: 8th Graders planning for High School Club and See you at the Pole. 7th Graders planning for next year's PJHE's Connection Club.

I am so moved at what God has developed in this leadership team.


There are several things I realize:
1) I'm seeing fruit. There are so many ministries where you never see Fruit and you move forward by faith. Just simply the belief that this will bear fruit and you just do it. Seeing Fruit is such a Blessing especially on this side of Heaven.

2) I need to keep doing this. I need to keep doing this. I need to keep doing this.
And more of this.

3) What about Berry Miller and Junior High West? What are those kids missing out on because they don't have a club and can't be on a leadership team?

4) I need to do a field trip where I get the 5 junior highers from East to the 6:45 am iPray at Pearland High school. This is a little like saying you would like to take some Junior Highers to the Moon! But my mind is going: Could I get permission from the High School? Could I take them to McDonald's for Breakfast - How much could it cost to take 5 Junior Highers to McDonald's - better start fundraising. Could they ride the high School Bus to the High School and I will take them to their school After wards? How many permission slips will this take?

And last year, they couldn't make the announcements . . . What could they be doing next year with just a little more coaching?

Revial in Pearland

After I sent out an email announcing the next Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance meeting, Mike Rosas emailed me and said he couldn't wait.

I said I wanted more people like him, who couldn't wait for my meetings.

Here is his response:

Awe well you deserve it!

The day will come when everybody will. Your faithfulness will bring that day just like Simeon who was constantly praying for the Messiah and was able to see Jesus...your faithfulness and investments will bring a unity and revival to Pearland the likes of which have never been seen in these parts. Thanks for what you do!

It made my day! I'm still waiting for Revial in Pearland! woo hoo!

Thanks, Mike! mikerosas.org

How many Adults does it take to help support a student run an on Campus Christian Club?

This feels a little like "How many people does it take to change a light bulb?"

I have several other things to do today, but it struck me again today, just how many people it takes to help a club run well. Forgive me, but I was reminded when I saw a large trash can on wheels . . . .

Today at Pearland Junior High East, we had 60 students. And 7 adults were there at the connection club. Adults from all walks of life and all different churches. (And just in case you don't know, 1 to 10 is considered a safe student to adult ratio.)

Sue Himmel is the club sponsor and her co teacher sponsor. That's 2.

Patti Kachel picks up end of the day goods from Starbucks and came in, with her granddaughter and about 70 goodies from Starbucks.

Linda and Billy Shaw picked up about 35 sausage biscuits donated by Chick fi la, brought a tray and a knife and cut the sausage biscuits in half. Their grandchildren come to club.

George, the school maintenance man made sure we had an extra trash can. He attends a church in Pasadena.

Ms. Llope, the art teacher lets the club use her room.

I (Dottie) brought additional Starbucks and the sign in sheet and thank you cards. I picked up trash.

Jason Hess spoke - at the student leaders request and invitation.

The Joy Class from Fellowship Bible Church provided the juice boxes for today.

And Nora Dellinger, coordinated the pick up of Chick fi la.

That's Nine. Nine adults from at least 6 different churches. And that doesn't include the Sunday School class! We all did our part: Only Jason spoke, the rest of us, were behind the scenes, almost invisible support people. We were there, helping, in the background, making sure we honored the students efforts with our whole hearted support. Some of us were invisible - they weren't even there - George, Nora, the Joy Class, Ms. Llope.

So how many adults does it take to support an on Campus Christian Club? More than I ever knew!

And Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

I'm the Wrong person for the Job!

I'm the wrong person for the job. I can't even tell you how often I've told God this.

Here's the deal. I'm 50 ish, white, a woman and not a minister. I've never "out grown" working with students. But here is where I am all wrong. I work with really cool youth ministers. They are young. They are cool - so totally cool. They text each other in another language I can't even read. I still need vowels.

They shave their heads. They are really good speakers. And God called me to "connect them." I cried and begged and pleaded and told him I would follow Him, but this would take me 3 times as long, because I am all wrong for the job. First of all, I'm the wrong gender. For the most part, they are all male. I'm not.

Second of all, I'm the wrong age group. They are all 20 - 30 ish. I'm almost old enough to be their mother . . .

But we all love students. And we all love God. Those are the big things, right?

Yesterday (Acutally 1/14/10, but this has taken awhile to process!), I held a meeting. It was an amazing time. I'm still trying to wrap my head around it all. It was a stressful meeting. I was on the hot seat for much of it - answering for past actions that were misunderstood. Years ago, I realized without love, without relationships, there was no love to cover misunderstandings or miscommunications. So, I answered to the best of my ability, hoping that who I am and Who I serve would shine through. I just tried to relax and let God talk thru me. I prayed and then answered. And those guys needed those answers to clear up all the misunderstandings and miscommunications, that I didn't even know were there.

My misunderstanding: I thought they were so absorbed in their own churches, they didn't care about connecting with each other or serving the community. I was wrong.

I had tried to build relationships, but really who wants to hang out with their mom?

I remember what it was like to rebuild the Youth Ministry Alliance in 1997 or 1998. We were moving from a night time, part time youth pastor meeting to a day time full time youth pastors meeting. I had a wonderful youth pastor commit to being there with me. Thank God for Doug Brown! For several years, it would be me and Doug Brown and one other youth pastor - who would rotate. The classic meeting was 3 people, it's just that the third person rotated. Sometimes, it would just be me and Doug Brown.

It was a painful several years, but finally, it took off. Frankly, we did a skate night and the next meeting there were 8 or 10 youth pastors there. I was totally shocked.

My expectations for the Youth Ministry Alliance were about the same this time. I expected to move alone for a while, gradually, slowly, more would see the goal of unity and working together and over time, we would become a team.

This wonderful youth minister - Bryan - who I met with 2 years ago - decided to call these other youth pastor guys and ask them to come to the meeting. He told them "I need you to be there." People who told me no, told him yes. I'm use to showing up and being thankful for 3! There must have been 10 people there!

The out come of all this is: I am going to have 2 wonderful youth pastors join my Baccalaureate Committee. I'm going to move my struggling Pearland Youth Ministry Alliance meeting to Wednesday Lunch time and they are all going to come. And, get this - I don't have to recruit a presenter - they just want to "fellowship".

I'm the wrong person for this job, but God has called me. I'm sure to show His power, because anyone who looks at this will say: How did you do this?

Because God is God. Because God is good. Because Bryan made phone calls. Because I didn't give up! Pearland - in one lunch - now has a thriving youth ministry network!