People often laugh at me when I tell them that I spent three years in Muleshoe, Texas. I think they have this image of a Jeff Foxworthy redneck paradise. That of course is the farthest thing from the truth. Muleshoe is a very prosperous agriculturally based town. I moved there after 8 wonderful years serving on the staff at the Tenth and Broad Church of Christ in Wichita Falls. Muleshoe marked my first opportunity to fly solo and be in the role of preaching every week. Family reasons drew me to that small West Texas town more than any other factor. My mother died in 1991, so I felt compelled to be closer to my sister and her family. Jan’s family lives in neighboring Friona, so the benefit of their presence was appealing as well. Muleshoe would provide the proximity I wanted to family, but they would actually contribute things to my family life that I never expected.

Randall was six years old when we moved to Muleshoe. Daniel had just turned three. There was no Mitchell in the picture in 1995. Our family of four moved into a church owned parsonage in June of that year. I distinctly remember Gary Hooten and his 14 year old daughter, Amy, coming over to the house to assemble the swing set for our boys. I could not believe that any 14 year old girl would willingly accompany her dad on such a project. And she seemed to enjoy it… Little did I know that was an early indicator of things to come…

The teens who comprised the youth group at the church I served in Muleshoe to this day are some of the finest people I have known in my career in ministry. Ther were no Sunday night youth activities, so they showed up for evening services every week. They insisted on our young boys sitting with them during church. Daniel would fall asleep in someone’s lap every Sunday evening. My sermons can have that effect! The teens would take our boys to McDonalds after services were over. I had the privilege of teaching this stellar group of young people on Sundays and Wednesday nights too. What a treat! They were a joy to take on trips and a pleasure to serve. This group of teens sang at funerals, led worship, taught at VBS, and otherwise embraced the mission of a small town church.

That whole group is all grown up now. I have officiated at many of their weddings. Now they have children falling asleep during someone else’s sermons. Today they are lawyers, pharmacists, teachers, physician’s assistants, public accountants, missionaries, and moms and dads…I am as proud of them as I am of my own children.

What made the difference? Why was that group so strong? Why were they such good kids? Why are they such fine adults today? There is an answer. It is actually pretty basic. Their parents had their head in the ballgame. Their parents were engaged in the whole process of parenting. I moved to Muleshoe, so I could be closer to my family. I ended up learning how to be a parent during that three year stint. Here is what I learned from the pros of parenting in Muleshoe, TX.

Don’t wait on a youth minister to serve the spiritual needs of your kids. These parents took the teens in ski trips, and other social events themselves. They taught classes and mentored teens on a personal level.

Get involved in a personal way. My Muleshoe parents were personally committed to all kinds of school activities. They showed up at ballgames, but more importantly they volunteered their time with willing spirits.

Support other peoples kids. This group of parents went to see the basketball games of their friend’s kids. They would travel annually to Austin to the state track meet to see another person’s child compete! I was amazed and inspired by such commitment. It made a difference.

Love on the babies. Mitchell was born in 1996. He was passed around at church from the time he was an infant, but the ladies at church never got to hold him. It was the men who loved on the babies! What a great memory.

Teach the teens to serve. The young people were involved in every facet of church life. Some of that can be attributed to the size of the church. I think the adults were purposed in including their children in meaningful ways.

We left Muleshoe in June of 1998. I had decided at that point it was time for me to go back to graduate school to pursue doctoral level studies. I will be forever indebted to the real pros of parenting in Muleshoe, TX for teaching me how to be a dad. As I grieved the loss of both of my mother during that time period in my life, I needed some good mentors. I think God puts the right people in our life at the right time to prepare us to serve Him more effectively.